There were eight major categories, and within each of those eight there is another range of sub-categories to distinguish conglomerates from small local businesses. For example, within the Tourism category, a Bed and Breakfast is in a different sub-category to a Resort belonging to a major chain.
The Tweed is the north coast of New South Wales which extends from Tweed Heads, which is twinned with Coolangatta on the Queensland border, to the south at Ocean Shores and to the west at Murwillumbah. However these areas fall within different electorates in both State and Federal divisions.
The Gold Coast Airport Corporation is the major sponsor of these Business Excellence Awards. The Queensland-New South Wales border cuts the Gold Coast Airport in two, with one portion in the Coolangatta suburb Tugun, and the other portion in Tweed Heads West.
Businesses in the Tweed compete with the Gold Coast (Coolangatta to Coomera in the north). The Gold Coast is the fastest growing region in the nation where water and infrastructure are monumental issues. The latest feat was the $536 million Tugun bypass which reduces the travel time from Tugun to Tweed Heads in peak hours from 35 minutes down to a five minute expressway drive.
And Tweed business is booming too, it is within the top five fastest growing areas of Australia, and is particularly popular with the post-war baby-boomer age group. The region is littered with retiree-type housing, numerous multi-million dollar Resorts, a tourist industry that highlights the delights of the rural hinterland along with Mt Warning, expanding shopping complexes that rival any major city and ocean front blocks, a mere $4.5 million each.
"In this environment, it is an honour for Well-Being Australia to be named a finalist in 'Professional Services' sub-category of 'Small Organisations' in these BEX awards," M V Tronson commented excitedly.
The Tweed wing of Well-Being Australia provides respite for Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) athletes, coaches and the cricket fraternity (including their families) at 'Basil Sellers Tweed' which is part of the Surfing Australia High Performance Centre's 'Domain Resort' (on the beach at Casuarina).
This centre is sponsored by the Australian Sports Commission. It hosts sporting teams in training from Japanese rugby clubs, Queensland sports representative teams, the Queensland Reds and a host of others.
Moreover, WBA's Country Town Tour ministry has athletes and coaches travel to rural Australia in mentoring roles. Although these are two major aspects of WBA ministry, there are numerous other activities such as art and the environment benevolence, community ministry, research and the Internet.
"WBA is an active member of the Tweed Chamber of Commerce and the Kingscliff Chamber of Commerce and through these, numerous opportunities have offered themselves for ministry to business and corporate people," M V Tronson explained.