Dubbo businesses have been recognised by the community after being nominated across multiple categories for the 2019 Rhino Awards.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
President of the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce, Matt Wright, said this year he had noticed a lot of new businesses entered among the finalists for the Rhino awards.
He said there were also a lot of young people, including young business owners and younger employees.
"One of the things that were highlighted, and a lot of people commented on, was the number of young people nominated for the awards," Mr Wright said.
"It's really positive, it gives me a lot more comfort moving forward, knowing the strength of the businesses going forward is looking bright."
Mr Wright said he hoped to see some of the first-time nominees continue to enter themselves into the running for a Rhino Award next year.
"It's good to see a lot of new businesses nominated this year. They tend to be more successful in the second or third year so hopefully if they don't win this year they won't feel discouraged and they will enter themselves in again next year," he said.
"The fact that they've gotten this far is a benchmark in itself. You're not far off from the winner, it's pretty damn close."
Axxis is one of the businesses among the finalists for multiple awards including the Qantas Award for Excellence in Customer Service, the Regional Development Australia - Orana Award for Outstanding Employer of Choice, the Dubbo Turf Club Award for Excellence in Small Business and the Taronga Western Plains Zoo Award for Excellence in Sustainability.
Axxis' Mathew Dickerson is also a finalist for The Breakthru Award Award for Outstanding Business Leader.
Other businesses in the running for multiple awards include 123tix and Fitness Focus Dubbo.
Mr Wright said his hat went off to the businesses who had taken the time out to submit the paperwork required to enter themselves into the running.
"To enter it's a fair bit of effort so my hate goes off to the businesses who have taken the time to enter themselves for an award," Mr Wright said.
Mr Wright said the Rhino Awards were a public recognition of hard work and all-round strength and provided a reward for the hard effort put in by the businesses.
"There's only a couple of days left for the finalists to get their tickets. If the businesses don't have their special code provided to them by the Chamber of Business then they have until Friday to contact us."
The winners in each category will be announced at the 2019 Regional Australia Bank Rhino Awards gala night on October 18.