What I See with Peter Fiorenza: MWCCI’s Business Excellence Awards highlights healthy, diverse sector

I was a guest at the recent Midwest Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Business Excellence Awards. It was a wonderful night that showcased the tremendous success and uniqueness of businesses big and small in our region. This year the awards were held at Batavia Hall and from the moment I arrived, there was an enthusiastic buzz in the air that remained all evening. The COVID pandemic seems a long time ago now when businesses, including in Geraldton and surrounds, really took a hit. But I believe Saturday night was evidence enough that we have well and truly bounced back. Hundreds of individuals came together to celebrate the healthy competition, growth and diversity that makes you feel proud to be part of this community. The awards covered everything from hospitality to service industries, customer service and managements of big and small teams. There were fashion stores to counselling agencies, along with agriculture and machinery businesses to our cafes and restaurants. And the innovation on display was simply outstanding. As the night unfolded, I could not help but marvel at the ability of our region to demonstrate its willingness to push its capacity to continually provide as we delve further into the 21st century. And there is no doubt that the MWCCI plays a significant part in enabling this to happen. I have followed the chamber for many years and it has been an organisation that has always asserted itself. It has acceptingly held the hand of local business and industry, helping to navigate the challenges while assisting with changing trends and ideas. This year’s Business Excellence Awards were solid proof that it continues to do this and not as a leader but a partner. The business community of any city or town is the major fuel that drives an economy. If the business and industry sector is healthy, we all benefit from the dividends. Yes, Governments local, State and Federal play their parts, but they only hold the leads. As they say: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink”. In my opinion, encouraged by the MWCCI, this horse cannot stop drinking. And let’s hope it stays that way for some time to come. Peter Fiorenza hosts Sports Shed on Saturday (9am to noon) and Fiorenza on Sunday (10am to noon) on Radio MAMA