By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Le Pine and White Lady Funerals were the deservedly standout winners at the annual Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce Business Awards on 21 November.
The funeral home fresh from a high-tech makeover took out the overall Business of the Year category as well as best large business.
Touting itself as a funeral home for “today and the future”, it provides a wide spectrum of choice.
It hosts the largest chapel in the South East for up to 200 visitors as well as offering the increasingly popular informal lounge as a venue.
The recent merger also offered the choice of the “theatrical”, “soft”and “sensitive” White Lady service and the traditional Le Pine offering that draws on more than a century of experience.
“We work in tandem. When a customer comes in we talk with them and work out what brand is better for them,” regional manager Tia Worrall said.
The other worthy winners included Financial Foundations, which took out best small business.
The financial-planning firm have been wealth creators for mums and dads as well as businesses for 35 years.
“We regularly are dealing with mum and dads, their mum and dad and their children,” says chief executive Ty Cockle.
“We know our clients in-depth and we’re all about that long-term relationship.”
Afghan Rahimi Restaurant, well-loved by foodies locally and interstate, won the retail award.
The traditionally-prepared Afghan food and attentive service has built this institution.
“This award will encourage me to work harder, not only with the business but in the wider Australian community,”owner and co-chef Baryalai Rahimi said.
Dandenong Basketball Association romped in the Corporate Social Responsiblity award.
With 20,000 visitors a week, the association branches out with a long list of inclusive programs.
Such as school outreach, all-abilities basketball and youth teams from the African community.
“It’s all about the community,”chief executive Graeme Allan says.
Advanced Robotics Australia was a showcase winner of the innovation award.
The firm has partnered with CSIRO and manufacturer Titomic to design the largest metal 3D printer in the world.
Advanced Robotics helped design state-of-the-art equipment for cold gas spraying of titanium powder.
It effectively turns powder into metal – with far-reaching applications in the aerospace industry, says general manager Robert Stojanovic.
Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre with its incredibly diverse workforce and clients took out the employment award.
Its vast, loyal and multilingual volunteers are largely former clients. They help support more than 7000 new arrivals a year, guiding them to education,training and work.
“We have a very multicultural workforce,” chairperson Brian Oates told the awards audience.
“That’s the business we’re in. Though if you’re in Dandenong and you’re not working in a multicultural business, you’re probably missing out.”
Rita Karki’s extraordinary journey as an engineering student at Chisholm Institute was rewarded with the Youth Enterprise award.
She had been supported for 10 years under a scholarship in Nepal, while being a tutor and fundraiser for needy schools.
Nine months ago, Ms Karki arrived in Australia as a self-funded international student and is among the brightest in her class.
