Kapunda Business Alliance Awards

Ms PRATT (Frome) (15:35): A few weeks ago, the Kapunda Business Alliance celebrated their inaugural awards, and I take this opportunity to recognise the recipients. Thirteen hundred votes were cast in support of Kapunda businesses in those inaugural awards. The awards recognise the highest ranking businesses in Kapunda based on Google reviews, with 34 businesses meeting that eligibility criteria of having at least 25 reviews.

The KBA committee, which is ably led by Chair Bridget Kimber, organised these awards in recognition of fantastic local businesses in Kapunda. I want to offer my congratulations to the following people and businesses. Peta and Troy Apps, who run the Prince of Wales Hotel, took out Business of the Year, which is extraordinary. They took on the pub just a few years ago. They have been making lots of improvements, building on their brand in social media and growing their business, possibly with local help, I am sure. They have brought back food offering, which really was impacted by COVID. They have introduced Wednesday night trivia, Thursday night poker and food van Fridays.

Maggie Bosankoe from Com Viet is a fantastic success story. She had two wins: Best New Business and Best Window Display. Maggie grew up in Vietnam, where her mother ran a restaurant, so is not any surprise that she loves cooking, but the story gets better. When she first saw the opportunity to have a stall at the Kapunda Makers Market, she jumped at it, but she has since moved to bricks and mortar in the main street, winning, as I said, Best Window Display. I am sure the member for Schubert will be pleased to hear that Maggie is going to be featuring at the Gather Round in the Barossa, where she has been chosen to set up one of the food stalls at the match.

Tim Daley and Paul Fisher from Anlaby Station, which is a proud landmark in our Light region, were awarded in recognition of innovation, transformation and sustainability. Hannah Heintze and Kayla Oliver from Pure Grace Handmade took Best Market Stall of the Season at the Kapunda Makers Market. They are sisters who started a small business selling crochet headbands, which are hugely popular. Their range has expanded to include placemats, coasters, stubby holders, earrings and, of course, their signature headband brands.

Peter and Andrea Duregon from Kapunda Home Hardware, helping all of those DIYers around Kapunda, took out Outstanding Customer Service. It is a recent acquisition for Peter and Andrea, who set out to improve the premises and provide that standard of retail in the main street. Sally Hunt from Sally's Treasure Hunt was named Retail Star. Sally's shop is just up the main street on Smedley, full of lots of intriguing little goodies.

Ben Feltus from Feltus Electrical was named Trade and Industry Star. He started his own business at the beginning of last year. Ben has quickly established himself as reliable, punctual and friendly, which we all love as customers. It is not hard to see why Georgia Tydeman from Beauty Vine Barossa took out Services and Community Star. She is always happy to put up her hand to assist in the community. Georgia's beauty business is a welcome addition to the main street. Finally, for these awards, Malcolm Johncock and the Kapunda Historical Society, museum committee and the volunteers were named Tourism and Hospitality Star.

For those who have not been to this place, you should do yourself a favour. This museum, while not privately owned, is run fully by volunteers. There is a fabulous display which tells the history of Kapunda and its surrounds. It is an opportunity to really understand the history of the town by walking through. There are displays of agricultural equipment; a motor pavilion, which contains Kapunda's old fire engine, an ambulance and a hearse; war memorabilia; the printing press that printed the first edition of the Kapunda Herald in 1864; and medical equipment, which includes an early X-ray machine and operating table. It is not for the faint-hearted, I would argue.

Secondly, I want to draw attention to an event that took place in Clare on the weekend that was hosted by the RFDS Clare group ably led by Christine and Colin; but, of course, there are all the volunteers who are on the committee. While the fellas could have bought their tickets, I think the girls worked out that it was an opportunity for a ladies' day, and I was happy to host my own table. Over 120 women flocked to the Clare Oval in support of not just this fantastic organisation, which represents Australia's largest waiting room, but it really was an opportunity to farewell the late Lee Burgess who was an enthusiastic member of the Clare RFDS group.