Old Coach Road, Aldinga, is a contender in the Mainstreet SA People's Choice award.

Published on 22 October 2020

Southern superstars

A round of applause for the south!

A range of City of Onkaparinga residents, businesses and community and sporting groups have been recognised in the past fortnight with nominations and wins in prestigious state and national awards.

Last Monday saw the winners or nominees announced for not one, but three major awards celebrating the best in wine tourism, restaurant and catering, and surf lifesaving.

New Port Noarlunga breakfast burger bar, Cheffy Chelby’s, was named the state’s Best Burger Bar at the 2020 Restaurant and Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence, while neighbouring Porties’ institution Hortas won both the Best Seafood restaurant, and the Hall of Fame – Seafood Restaurant awards.

McLaren Vale’s d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant took home the Best Restaurant in a Winery award.

McLaren Vale wineries also cleaned up in the South Australian Best of Wine Tourism Awards, with the following finalists now in the running to be crowned at the Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Awards, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Beresford House was named as a finalist in the Accommodation category, Dowie Doole in Architecture and Landscape, d’Arenberg in Art and Culture, Alpha Box & Dice in Innovation, Battle of Bosworth in Sustainability, Coriole in Restaurants, and Wirra Wirra and Chalk Hill Wines in Tourism Services.

Onkaparinga’s surf life saving clubs rounded out last Monday’s bumper awards showing, collecting three nominations at Surf Life Saving Australia’s 2020 National Awards of Excellence.

Christies Beach Surf Lifesaving Club was nominated for the DHL Club of the Year award, while member Josh Rollings was nominated for Youth Surf Lifesaver of the Year.

South Port Surf Lifesaving Club’s Alex Botha was nominated for Surf Sports Coach of the Year, with the awards to be presented on Saturday 7 November.

Last Tuesday saw the presentation of the 2021 SA Australians of the Year Awards, and while she didn’t take home the top award, Jennifer Howard—the Christies Beach-based founder of not-for-profit registered charity Safe Pets Safe Families—was one of four nominees for the prestigious SA Australian of the Year.

McLaren Vale’s Never Never Distilling Co was then crowned SA’s Fan Favourite spirit in BWS’s national Local Luvvas competition.

There are also several awards yet to be crowned where you can help southern superstars take home a win.

Old Coach Road at Aldinga has been nominated for the Mainstreet SA People’s Choice Award, which recognises outstanding loyalty and support by the community for the mainstreet, laneway, town centre or precinct. Voting closes on Friday 6 November.

McLaren Vale and Willunga also need your support to win the 2020 South Australian Agricultural Town of the Year award, with voting closing on Friday 30 November.

Meanwhile, council staff are excitedly preparing to announce the finalists of the 2020 ON Business Awards; waiting to see if City of Onkaparinga will win a Cities Power Partnership 2020 Climate Award for its community engagement; and reflecting on the achievements of the 2020 History and Heritage Award winners, presented by council in late September.

City of Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson said it has been a phenomenal month for the south.

“I’d like to express a huge congratulations to all the winners and nominees—you’re a credit to the City of Onkaparinga—and good luck to those still in the running for awards,” Mayor Thompson said.

“I’m constantly amazed at the talent, determination and creativity of the residents, businesses, and sporting and community groups across our city, and these awards offer just a small insight into their many achievements.”

CAST YOUR VOTE

Old Coach Road, Aldinga, is a contender in the Mainstreet SA People's Choice award.