By CASEY NEILL
FINEWELD Steel, CHEP and Patterson Cheney Cars and Trucks are the final nominees for this year’s Premier Regional Business Awards.
At the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce breakfast last Tuesday they joined previous nominees Hairhouse Warehouse Parkmore, Iveco Trucks Australia, Burbank Group of Companies, Ginger Jones, Lupe Wines, Victorian Smash Repairs, FlexiCut Engineering, Heidi Rose, Chobani, Boss Products, Noisette and Bacchus Distillery.
The winners will be announced at a dinner in March.
On 19 November former Australian fast bowler Merv Hughes had guests in stitches with tales including David Boon’s beer-drinking record and the art of “verbal intimidation”.
Hughes said Australia was a chance to win the Ashes series, which started last Thursday, if it won three or four coin tosses.
He said the new video review system put the benefit of the doubt with the umpire, not the batsman.
“It’s not about getting the decision right,” he said.
And Hughes urged Cricket Australia to give players time to recover physically and mentally.
“Stop playing meaningless games,” he said.
Sam Billing and James Simonis were announced as the morning’s Youth Enterprise Award nominees.
Sam is completing an Advanced Diploma Computer Systems and started his studies because he “used to sit at home 12 hours a day on the computer”.
The Dandenong North student’s teachers described him as caring and said he took time out to help fellow students understand hard to grasp concepts.
“From here I want to go on and do the Bachelor of IT,” he said.
James is in his final year of Automotive Technology Studies – Heavy Vehicle.
Teachers said he was a natural achiever that went beyond what was expected of him, and they struggled to keep up with his thirst for knowledge.
He wants to help the industry become more efficient and effective, and buy his own fleet.
Tony Eichstadt and a business partner started Fineweld Stainless Steel in 1988. He was 19 and had only recently finished his sheet metal apprenticeship.
“It was a struggle,” Mr Eichstadt said.
“But I wouldn’t have done it any other way.”
Fineweld is now leading the innovation, design and manufacture of stainless steel tanks and processing equipment in the state, employing 16 people in Carrum Downs.
The Australian Government formed the Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool (CHEP) post-World War II.
It was privatised in 1949 and now operates in more than 50 countries.
Its headquarters employs 120 people and has been in Dandenong South since 2008.
CHEP six months ago introduced warm ups before and after shifts to help reduce sprain and strain injuries, as part of a wider health and wellbeing program.
Patterson Cheney is celebrating 30 years since its head office moved to Cheltenham Road, Dandenong, and will soon mark 100 years since its birth in Flinders Street, Melbourne, in 1915.
It employs about 170 people in Dandenong, 450 overall, and thanks to a policy of promoting within it has half the average industry staff turnover.
Patterson Cheney offers 24-hour service and one-hour express servicing.
The Premier Regional Business Awards are in their 23rd year, highlight successful businesses in the region and include corporate and social responsibility, service excellence, employment, innovation, retail, manufacturing, small business and Premier Regional Business Awards.
