2025 Business Excellence Awards Winners Announced
Scenic Rim Regional Council proudly congratulates the winners of the 2025 Scenic Rim Business Excellence Awards, acknowledging businesses and operators who are shaping the bright future of the region through their resilience, dedication and innovation.
Sixty outstanding nominees were celebrated as Scenic Rim Regional Council announced the winners of the 2025 Scenic Rim Business Excellence Awards at a sold-out gala event held at the Boonah Cultural Centre, Friday 20 March 2026.
More than 220 guests gathered for an evening that showcased the very best of the region’s enterprise and produce, with a paddock-to-plate three-course menu devised by Scenic Rim Food Ambassador Daniel Groneberg and proudly catered by Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm.
Featuring locally sourced food and beverages — including signature drinks crafted by The Cauldron Distillery — the evening reflected the strength of the Scenic Rim’s celebrated agritourism and culinary identity. Hosted by MC Sofie Formica, with live entertainment from local trio The Inadequates, the awards were a vibrant and distinctly regional celebration of business excellence.
Mayor Tom Sharp said the calibre of nominations for the awards was outstanding.
“These awards showcase the extraordinary depth of talent across the Scenic Rim," he said.
"From hospitality and tourism to agriculture, retail and education, our businesses are not only delivering exceptional products and services — they are also creating jobs, building community and shaping the future of our region."
The prestigious Scenic Rim Business of the Year Award was presented to Canungra-based retailer My Country Escape, recognised for its outstanding leadership, community impact and contribution to the region’s visitor economy.
Business of the Year - My Country Escape
More than a boutique retail store, My Country Escape has established itself as a vibrant community hub in the heart of Canungra, employing 12 local staff and championing Australian-owned and locally sourced products.
Mayor Sharp said the judges were particularly impressed by the business’s clear vision, strong values, and measurable economic and community contribution.
“My Country Escape represents the very best of regional business," he said.
"It combines commercial success with genuine community spirit and plays an important role in shaping the Scenic Rim visitor experience."
The 2025 Awards were independently judged, with winners selected from 60 nominations across 10 categories.
Awards recognised excellence in hospitality, accommodation, tourism, education, health and wellbeing, sustainability and innovation, retail, agriculture and construction, emerging business, and vocational training.
Category winners included:
Excellence in Hospitality – Food, Beverage & Dining: Roast Beef & The Frog
Excellence in Accommodation: Clandulla Cottages and Farmstay
Excellence in Tourism: Kalbar Sunflowers
Excellence in Education: Boonah State High School
Excellence in Health and Wellbeing: Tamborine Mountain Psychology
Excellence in Sustainability and Innovation: Edge Hairdressing
Excellence in Retail: My Country Escape
Excellence in Agriculture, Trade and Construction: Franklin Plumbing and Gas
Most Outstanding New Business: Canungra Beauty
Trainee/Apprentice of the Year: Rose Heggie - Boonah State High School & Hairshine Fashions
Winners of the 2025 Business Excellence Awards
Mayor Sharp said the Business Excellence Awards play an important role in strengthening business capability, celebrating innovation, and reinforcing investor confidence in the region.
“Tonight’s winners demonstrate the diversity and resilience of our economy,” he said.
“From agritourism experiences and hospitality venues that elevate our destination brand, to education providers building our future workforce, and small businesses creating local employment — these awards highlight how we are delivering on our commitment to sustainable economic growth.
"Council's Scenic Rim Economic Development Strategy outlines three key pillars to achieve our community's shared vision of economic growth and prosperity.
"These awards, and ultimately the operators celebrated tonight, from winners to nominees, reflect this vision.
"Council is proud to be supporting local businesses to develop and grow, enhancing the Scenic Rim's profile as a premiere visitor destination, and nurturing the region's appeal as a place to live, learn, work, visit and invest."
"When our businesses thrive, our communities thrive - and that is exactly what the Scenic Rim Economic Development Strategy is designed to achieve" he said.
The Scenic Rim continues to strengthen as a dynamic regional economy. Latest estimates show the region’s Gross Regional Product (GRP) is approximately $2.49 billion, up on previous reporting years, with nearly 17,300 local jobs located within the region and close to 22,000 Scenic Rim residents employed across industries.
Approximately 5,000 local businesses are operating in the Scenic Rim, with 98 per cent of these classified as a small business (less than 20 employees). The awards provide the perfect platform to recognise and celebrate operators contributing to the region's prosperity.
The gala event brought together business leaders, industry representatives and community stakeholders to recognise excellence and encourage continued collaboration across the region.
Council congratulates all nominees, highly commended recipients and award winners for their outstanding achievements.
Visit www.ScenicRim.qld.gov.au/BusinessExcellenceAwards to see the full list of winners, highly commended recipients and nominees.