The team at Reynella Medical Centre smile in their blue uniforms with a woman in the middle holding their award.

Award-winning Onkaparinga

Published on 29 January 2025

Our bi-monthly column recognising those who’ve been honoured with state, national or international awards is back for 2025, and this one’s got everything from mullets to medical centres!

See our previous Award-winning Onkaparinga column here.

The fairest in food

It’s official – Onkaparinga has the state’s best restaurant, according to the SA Life Awards.

Muni in Willunga took out the coveted Restaurant of the Year Award at the December 2024 awards ceremony, which celebrated the “absolute best of our magnificent state”.

The High Street restaurant was also one of 10 Onkaparinga restaurants honoured in the Australian Good Food Guide’s 2025 Chef Hat Awards, which has been awarding Chef Hats to outstanding chefs across Australia since 1982.

McLaren Vale’s Maxwell Restaurant was the region’s top-ranked restaurant with 16 Hats (“Outstanding quality – Worth a detour”). See the full list – which includes restaurants from the Vale, Willunga, McLaren Flat, Aldinga and Port Willunga – here.

Mega mullet

Eight-year-old Aldinga resident, Ambrose Skrypek, recently beat a crowded field of 40 other kids with luscious locks to win The Advertiser’s Kid Mullet Cup 2025.

But rather than simply basking in glory, the long-haired legend told The Advertiser he’s keen to use the mullet for good by raising money for the Flinders Foundation and donating his hair to be made into wigs for cancer patients.

Biosecurity champion

McLaren Vale viticulturist Anton Groffen from Wirra Wirra Wines has been named the winner of the inaugural Vinehealth Australia Biosecurity Champion Award.

Entries for the award were assessed on biosecurity and farm-gate hygiene knowledge and activities across multiple categories, including pest and disease management and prevention.

“We were impressed by Anton’s comprehensive biosecurity activities to keep Wirra Wirra vineyards safe from pest, disease and weed threats,” said Vinehealth Australia judge, Sam Scarratt.

“Congratulations on a very well-rounded application which demonstrated the integration of biosecurity practices into daily operations. Anton is a worthy winner and a leader in biosecurity, especially in consumer-facing biosecurity management.

“Overall, Wirra Wirra’s biosecurity practices are robust, well-aligned with industry standards, and present opportunities for enhanced scalability and innovation.”

National gong for Reynella Medical Centre

Reynella Medical Centre (staff pictured) has taken out a national Data-driven Clinical Excellence Award at the PenCS Awards.

The annual awards recognise achievements in primary healthcare in Australia, with respect to primary health networks and Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations, who support them to deliver improved patient outcomes.

The centre – SA’s only award winner – was recognised for its progress in early interventions for chronic disease among individuals, including through hearth health assessments.

In case you missed it

The City of Onkaparinga’s annual Australia Day Awards were presented last Sunday 26 January at the South Adelaide Football Club, with Kerry McKeen, Layla Bovell, Steven Alderson and the Christies Beach Surf Lifesaving Club taking home awards.

Read more about the winners in our story.

Have an award win to submit?

Eligibility

For inclusion in the column, all of the following criteria must be met:

  1. Businesses, organisations, groups or individuals located in the City of Onkaparinga
  2. Winners of state, national or international awards in their chosen field
  3. Award received up to two months before submission.

Submission

Email to onow@onkaparinga.sa.gov.au

Please include:

  1. Your name and contact details
  2. Name and (if known) contact details of the winner
  3. Name and details of the award
  4. If available, web links to the award
  5. If available, high-resolution images.