2002 NATIONAL WINNERS OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS ANNOUNCED

The 2002 Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships are in their fourth consecutive year recognising creative associations between the community and business sectors. The focus of the Prime Minister's Awards is to recognise partnerships which clearly demonstrate shared commitment, trust, energy and creativity, at both, a state and national level.

11-12-02:
The winners of the 2002 Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships were announced today during a ceremony held at Parliament House in Canberra.

Close to 400 people attended the special lunch event, including representatives from the nine national finalist partnerships and the four Special Award winners, members of the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership, Members of Parliament and Senators, award judges and key representatives from community and business organisations.

The Prime Minister and Minister Vanstone honoured seven community business partnerships for their positive contributions that have helped to generate opportunities, hope and support for thousands of Australians. The winners of these awards have each demonstrated how shared energy, creativity and commitment can build stronger communities.

Many of today’s finalists have been working in that spirit for many years, demonstrating a commitment to each other based on sharing skills, energy and trust.

Three partnerships were chosen as the leaders in their respective business category.

Winning the Small Business Award was the partnership between Access Dinghy Sailing Systems, Access Dinghy Foundation and Sailability. Together they created the ‘Sailing for Everyone’ program that provides affordable sailing to people with disabilities.

TATE Associates and Melbourne City Mission were awarded the Medium Business Award for the efforts of staff from TATE Associates and Melbourne Citymission working together with a group of at-risk young people to develop resources to assist other young people in overcoming life challenges.

The Winner of the Large Business Category was BHP Billiton and Conservation Volunteers Australia for their ‘Revive our Wetlands' project that has helped protect and preserve the nation's most endangered wetlands.