Awards ‘buzz’

Lara will unveil the winners of the town’s first business awards next week.
More than 20 local traders have been nominated for the inaugural Lara District Business Awards since entries opened in June and closed last month.
The awards, an initiative of the town’s chamber of commerce and Lara District Community Bendigo Bank, will be presented on Wednesday night.
The awards were timed to coincide with Victoria’s annual Small Business Festival, which runs throughout August.
The chamber and bank branch have given the awards significant points of difference to open up entry to as many businesses as possible. The program does not require long written submissions or entry fees, unlike some other awards.
Chamber president Natalie Candy said the initiative had created a lot of excitement around Lara.
“I have been asked many times over the past few weeks when the winner is going to be announced, it is great to see the buzz around the town about these awards”
Bank branch manager Damien Foster was thrilled with the response to the call for entries in the Independent, which is sponsoring the awards.
“Twenty-two businesses have been nominated by the community. It’s such an overwhelming response that supports the great community we live in.”
Tony Galpin, the Independent’s managing editor, said the awards demonstrated the community spirit of Lara.
“It’s great to see locals wanting to acknowledge businesses providing great goods and services while also supporting the community in return,” he said.
Next week’s Independent will provide a full report on the awards presentation.