The shire’s Business gala will be held at the Barooga Sporties from 6.30pm.
Council economic and industry development liaison Merran Socha said stakeholders are excited to let loose and have fun after a year of challenges.
‘‘So many businesses, especially in our tourism industry, have had a really hard time of it,’’ she said.
‘‘But I think this is going to be a nice celebration of business after a difficult time.’’
Despite COVID-Safe restrictions, Ms Socha said attendance at tonight’s event will be on par with the 2019 awards.
The atmosphere will be light and fun, with Rockwiz’s Brian Nankervis taking centre stage as master of ceremonies.
‘‘I actually judged the last Campaspe Murray Business Awards and he (Nankervis) was the entertainment, and he was just so much fun and a really good entertainer,’’ Ms Socha said.
The competition for the awards will be tight, Ms Socha says, with dozens of excellent businesses vying for the prizes available.
The People’s Choice Awards have been particularly closely followed by the public.
‘‘There were so many people interested in it, and there were so many votes we are actually going to have a runner up and a winner.
‘‘We haven’t done this before, but we just thought with the amount of people that contributed to it, it would be a possibility.’’
People’s Choice finalists were Trigger Performance, Lashes by Michelle , Barooga Laundromat, Tocumwal Myotherapy and A2 Pilates Studio, Mark II Automotive, Finley Country Club, Finley Returned Soldiers Club, Bushlands on the Murray, Berrigan & District Aged Care Association, Sweetness Café, The Garden Stable Tocumwal, and Strictly Waste Management.
Awards for Excellence in Innovation, Resilience or Growth and Excellence in Shopfront and Online Integration will also be awarded tonight.
Finalists in the Excellence in Innovation award are The Berrigan Book Shop, Fussy As Cleaning Service, Finley Workspace, The Original Beef Chief, Tocumwal Post Office, Expandable Container Holes, Finley Returned Soldiers Club and Berrigan and District Aged Care.
Finalists in the Excellence in Shopfront and Online Integration award are The Berrigan Book Shop, Finley Workspace and The Original Beef Chief.
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