Cleaner clinches top award

By Bridget Cook
BROWN Gouge Dry Cleaners took out the top honour at this year’s Dandenong Retail Traders’ Association (DRTA) Annual General Meeting and Business Awards Dinner on Tuesday night.
The Dandenong business was announced the winner of the Central Dandenong Retailer of the Year award at the event held at the Dandenong Club.
The business employs just five people, including owners Graeme and Theresa Ross.
Mrs Ross said the main reason they entered the awards was to get some recognition for their staff.
“We believe our staff does a wonderful job and should receive some form of recognition for their efforts and this is a great way to do that,” she said.
“Without our staff our business would not be as successful as it is today.”
Mr Ross said they implemented many measures to ensure their business was successful and sustainable.
“Every staff member is fully qualified … we often have other dry cleaners calling us to ask how to do some things,” he said.
“People come to us from a 20 kilometre or more radius, as we have a very strong referral base.”
As winner of the major award, Brown Gouge Dry Cleaners is an automatic entry in the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce Premier Regional Business Awards.
The Retailer with More Than 10 Employees award went to Beletti Restaurant Cafe Bar, the Retailer with Less Than 10 Employees award was presented to Leah S Designs and CW Cakes won the Innovative Retailer Award.
Pretty Creations took out the Retailer with Excellent Store Design award and CJ’s Indian Restaurant won the Business That Represents a Culture category.
DRTA chairperson Roy Aspinall congratulated all the winners.
“We had an excellent range of entries for these awards and that made the job of the judging panel all that much harder,” he said.
Former regional editor with Fairfax Newspapers, including the former Dandenong Journal, Peter Simcock, the guest speaker on the night, also received the Chairman’s Award.
Speaking on the night, Mr Simcock said despite new technology on the scene, he believes printed community newspapers will never disappear.
“They bring communities together, and I hope all of you read your community newspaper,” he said.
“It’s only by doing that, that you will get an appreciation of community news and community views.”
The DRTA also held its AGM on the night, at which Mr Aspinall was voted back as chairman.
Peter Butts was re-elected vice chairperson and Harry Mechielsen as the treasurer.