Whitehaven Coal is the 2024 Business of the Year

The region’s largest employer, Whitehaven Coal, has been awarded Business of the Year at the Narrabri and District Chamber of Commerce Santos Business Awards.

This year’s gala awards dinner was again staged at The Crossing Theatre, with more than 300 people assembled inside the auditorium on Saturday evening.

Comedian Kat Davidson presided as master-of-ceremonies, with updates provided by chamber president Russell Stewart and Santos’ NSW development manager Brendon Child prior to the presentation of awards.

Businesses across the broad spectrum of sectors and industries were represented at the celebration.

The evening marked the 18th Narrabri and District Chamber of Commerce-hosted event.

Mr Stewart said it was great to see continued support for the evening, with tickets to the dinner selling out two weeks prior to the event.

This year’s chamber dinner was again heavily subsidised thanks to the contribution of sponsoring businesses.

“It is the biggest business gathering in the region,” Mr Stewart.

“Our business awards are always exceptional value for money thanks to our sponsors.”

The chamber again kept ticket prices for the gala gathering the same as last year while continuing to offer a three-course dinner and drinks package.

Mr Stewart congratulated the trophy winners and award nominees for their contributions to the community.

“You should be proud of yourselves to be recognised for what you do,” Mr Stewart said.

“Chamber is proud of all businesses and will continue to enthusiastically represent the community.”

Mr Stewart has encouraged people to start thinking about nominations for next year’s awards.

“Our awards are the envy of most chambers. We are recognised as a particularly strong chamber,” Mr Stewart said.

“Out-of-town visitors have said it was the best awards night they have been to.”

Representatives of Business NSW who were also in attendance on Saturday evening praised the significance of the Narrabri Chamber’s awards event.

Following the success of the business awards, the chamber will now turn its attention to the much-loved Narrabri Christmas Street Carnival to be held in December.

The event will again be held on a Friday evening.

“We’ve tried to keep it affordable for families,” Mr Stewart said of the street carnival.

The street carnival is a significant undertaking by the chamber across many years and draws thousands of people for an evening of festive fun in the primary retail section of Maitland Street.

Mr Stewart said popular elements of the festive celebration, including kids’ rides, will return.

Similar to the business awards, the success of the street carnival is also thanks to significant sponsorship.