Pointing to the successful local businessmen elected to the new district council, he said all the councillors in their election campaigns had promoted business growth and prosperity.
Nine awards were up for grabs with arguably the most popular choice being the Judith Timpany Memorial Award which went to the redoubtable Ed Boyd of H&A Print.
The award honoured the late Ms Timpany, a chamber board member for many years, a teacher, a Quaker, councillor, and leader of the Community Foundation, and it found its perfect match in recipient Mr Boyd, whose unstinting support for innumerable community endeavours was rightly recognised.
The evening was a particular triumph for husband-and-wife team Kevin Double and Melita Farley of Double Farley Creative Partners who took out the ACU Supreme Award, as well as the CentrePort Wellington prize for professional services; the Safemode award for digital services; and a highly-commended in the NZME small business category.
* The striking illuminated awards handed out were designed by Rob O'Keeffe Joinery and were a representation of the Durie Hill war memorial tower.
The full awards were:
Paua Group: Not For Profit
Highly-commended: Life To The Max Trust; Whanganui River Markets
Winner: Whanganui Learning Centre
The Dentists: Emerging Business
Highly-commended: The Drawing Room; Working Feedback NZ
Winner: Local & Loyal
Whanganui & Partners: Hospitality
Highly-commended: Japanese Kitchen; Hatrick Raceway
Winner: Mud Ducks
CentrePort Wellington: Professinal services
Highly-commended: ecoBuild Developments (eHaus)
Winner: Double Farley Creative Partners
Chamber of Commerce: Judith Timpany Memorial Award
Winner: Ed Boyd, H&A Print
NZME: Small Business
Highly-commended: Double Farley Creative Partners; Mud Ducks
Winner: Whanganui Experience Scenic Jet
Visit Whanganui: Tourism
Highly-commended: Whanganui Experience Scenic Jet
Winner: Hatrick Raceway
Safemode: Digital Services
Winner: Double Farley Creative Partners
ACU (Aotearoa Credit Union): Supreme Award
Winner: Double Farley Creative Partners