Page 14 - Australasian Paint & Panel Jan-Feb 2023

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20202 WBOINDNYESRHSOP AWARDS
P P A A I I N N T T & & P P A A N N E E L L JS AE NP TU EA MR YB E/ RF E/ BO RC UT AO RB YE R2 02 20 32 2
NIGHT OF NIGHTS
I
in
T WAS THE BIGGEST AND
best Bodyshop Awards night
ever on Friday 11 November at the Aerial Function rooms Melbourne. A total sell out, 280 people gathered to celebrate the achievements of the finalists and to hear the names of this year's winners. It was our first in-person awards since 2019. Thanks to our many sponsors for sup- porting these awards, especially our headline sponsor Compass, they enable the team at Yaffa Media and our event company Two de Force to run the awards
program and night of nights.
The formalities were expertly MC'd by
comedian and television presenter Lehmo, who announced the winners, kept a crowd that was eager to network focussed during the award announce- ments and certainly had this editor cry- ing with laughter at his comedy set.
This year, to accommodate more net- working, drinks and canapés were served instead of a formal sit down en- tree. First up were the individual and best practice awards presentations and
the presentation to the inaugural Paint & Panel Hall of Fame inductee.
I thought I had glammed up with some sequins and diamantes but I was totally out-dressed by stunning outfits from the many women attending. The gentlemen scrubbed up beautifully too. It was great to see a lot more diversity than in previous years and that extends to gender, ethnicity and age. There was a real sense of occasion and it was a privilege to be able to put on an event worthy of this vibrant industry that helps to keep this country mobile.
It was brilliant to be able to acknowl- edge many of the people and businesses who had won in the last two years when our awards were virtual. There were many there and it was great to give them in person applause.
After the main course it was onto to the best shop awards. Formalities ended in plenty of time for people to hit the dance floor and to take pictures at the media wall.
It was announced that next year the awards will be held on the Gold Coast.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Winners are grinners; Best manager winner Jeremy Wilks, Northshore BMW Bodyshop; Johnny and Sarah Karavasilias MPSR, left Lynette Rochford, Paint & Panel, Rosh Golzar, Compass; left James Frape, Compass, Lachlan Smith, Collision 1;
From left Zane Lee, Bonny Gale and Daniel Palmer, Sheen Panel Service.
MORE PHOTOS ON THE NEXT PAGE