CHRONICLE COLUMN – 2 JULY – BEA, HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Today, the Toowoomba Chamber acknowledges the beginnings of the Business Excellence Awards and the remarkable individuals who create this legacy.
Let’s set the scene, the year was 1987 and it is like going on a Virgin flight to another planet – except that Queensland did win the State of Origin (with a team that included Wally Lewis, Alfie Langer and Fatty Vautin).
It was the era of power dressing yuppies, Jane Fonda moves and the emergence of Goths.
We were dirty dancing, at Caesar’s Palace, Duran’s, Voyages, Rumours International and Powerhouse (well Todd wasn’t he was way too young) and drinks were a mere $1.
Toowoomba had its our own news bulletins, seriously, and TV shows filmed right here in the DDQ10 studios. City shaper, philanthropist and local legend, Clive Berghofer was mayor, video shops were big business, you could smoke at work (well everywhere), and everyone had a fax machine. Yes, a fax machine.
Oh, they were heady days for sure!
During the 1980s, New Zealand Insurance (NZI) was encouraging business awards throughout regional Australia, with great success. In 1987, NZI’s Toowoomba manager, Russell Bresland, approached Toowoomba Chamber with a sponsorship offer too good to refuse.
Rosemary Morley was the Chamber President at that time (Toowoomba Chamber’s first female president in its then 99-year history). It seems unbelievable, now, but Rosemary worked in a voluntary capacity for the first seven years of the awards. She has fond memories of those early BEA days.
BEA, How itall began
Rosemary reflected, “It was a huge job and I organised most of it on my own.
“But I loved how the whole community got excited about the awards. Back then, people were asked to nominate a business and then they would go into the draw to win major prizes which were donated by local businesses.
“We worked with Rotary Clubs to do the judging in secret.
“And the actual dinners were always fantastic with hundreds of guests.
“Seeing it all come together was just wonderful.
“We had excellent speakers too and it was amazing to learn from these incredible people.
“Of course, I especially loved to see how proud the winners were and how they used the awards to promote their businesses and recognise their staff”, expressed Rosemary.
In 1987 the Inaugural New Zealand Insurance Toowoomba Business Awards
was held at Four Seasons Hotel on Saturday 7 November and tickets cost $27.50 for a three-course meal and drinks package. The award categories were service trade, service professional, retail, manufacturing/wholesale, and tourism/travel/hospitality. Nominations were a staggering 2838 nominations resulting in 568 entrants and 20 finalists. And the winners were Lords Restaurant, Heritage Building Society, Sugden Kerr Pty, Pixie Ice Cream and Clem Nicol Chair Centre. In 1987, the awards were presented by none other than, Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke Peterson.
What a truly incredible beginning, led by Rosemary and her team who have left a legacy. One we at the Toowoomba Chamber hold tightly.
In 2023, we are in our business awards season, with the Focus HR Business Excellence Awards launched and nominations and applications open. So, remember to nominate a great business, and encourage that business to Tell Their Story by applying for this year’s awards by going to www.toowoombachamber.com.au
Help us, maintain this magical beginning, and continue the legacy of the rich business excellence awards tradition of celebrating, out of this world, business community.
