Above: Former English Test cricket captain Graham Gooch with Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce president Renae MacNamara.By Shaun Inguanzo
FORMER English Test cricket captain Graham Gooch entertained Greater Dandenong’s business community at Sandhurst Golf Club last week as the latest round of Premier Regional Business Awards nominees were announced.
Walker Street retailer Baby Second Heaven, horse feed business Hy Gain Feeds, and sanitary giant PZ Cussons Australia were the latest nominees for the awards.
Winners of the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce Premier Regional Business Awards will be announced in March 2007.
Mr Gooch shared a plethora of stories – some true, others just tall tales – of his time with the English cricket team.
But the best stories came from the three nominees, who have each strived for years to be the best in their respective industries.
Baby Second Heaven owner George Banjac told the audience he had worked with wife Sue on the business for 10 years, and could not imagine doing anything else.
“I get holidays for maybe two days of the year, because I love the job as much now as I did 10 years ago when I started,” he said.
The business stocks a selection of pre-loved and new baby goods, and Mr Banjac said repairing baby items such as prams made up more than 70 per cent of business.
Among the business’ biggest clients are major airlines, which often damage prams in transit.
“Do airlines sometimes damage prams?” asked master of ceremonies Jamie Sturgess.
“Not sometimes – all of the time!” Mr Banjac replied with a laugh.
Baby Second Heaven was nominated in the categories of Retail, Small Business, and Service Excellence.
Hy Gain Feeds, now based in Officer, was established in Brighton Road, Dandenong, in 1983.
It has taken more than 20 years, but managing director Greg Manley has successfully created a company that provides horse feed to more than 15 countries.
His feed is so popular that this year’s Melbourne Cup Japanese duo Pop Rock and Delta Blues were eating Hy Gain feed prior to their race, while staying at Sandown Park.
The company won the Regional Exporter Award in the prestigious 2006 Governor of Victoria Export Awards.
It is a nominee in the categories of Export, Innovation, Service Excellence, and Employment.
PZ Cussons Australia, an extension of the British company, came to Dandenong in 1987 and is situated in Hammond Road.
The factory’s claim to fame is that it is the only PZ Cussons factory in the world that manufactures Morning Fresh tablets for dishwashers.
It is a nominee in the categories of Innovation, Service Excellence and Employment.
