Victory is cream on the coffee

After a tumultuous period fighting for its right to operate outside the Broome Japanese Cemetery, the Mollie Bean coffee company graciously accepted a Broome Shire-sponsored business award last week.

Broome shire president Graeme Campbell presented Julie and Donald Hart with the Shire of Broome Small Business Achiever” Award during the 2011 Broome Small Business Awards last Friday evening, an accolade he said was well-deserved.

“This community can at times be a very sit-on-its-hands community, and to one of the biggest events to happen here, the development of Broome North, the Shire received 40-odd submissions,” he said. “In the case of Mollie Bean, there were 900 people supporting it.”

Ms Hart promised Mr Campbell a free coffee and muffin as she addressed the crowd with tears in her eyes.

Mr Hart gave genuine thanks to “each and every one of the councillors of Broome, who were very supportive of us and very understanding, contrary to popular belief ”.

Mark and Tania bin Bakar of Mary G Enterprises accepted the Small Busines Development Corporation Indigenous Business Achievement Award. Mr bin Bakar thanked his wife, acknowledging her part in the “two-person show”.

“I always wanted to be a rock star, but I ended up being a man dressed up as a woman,” Mr bin Bakar said.

“But I when I realised the power of the character, it was a case of choosing between being a drag act or a character somewhat like Dame Edna, and one who could make a difference in the indigenous community, not only towards lifestyle and health, but towards reconciliation.”

Liz Janney of LizArt Productions won the Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa Home Based Business Award.

Tim Bigmore of BNB Fencing won the Broome International Airport Micro Business Award for a business with one to five employees.

Broome Auto Excellence took home the Horizon Power Award for a business with six-10 employees, while Broome Motors won the Woodside Energy Award for a business with 11-20 employees.

HydroKleen (Broome) won the Broome Advertiser Franchise Business”Award.

See our official coverage of the Broome Small Business Awards in next week’s edition.