Torquay Business Awards finalists announced

COMMERCE Torquay, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Torquay, has today (Thursday, August 21) announced the finalists for the 2025 Torquay Business Awards, presented by the Surf Coast Times.

Now in its fourth year, the annual awards program acknowledges and celebrates the achievements of businesses of all sizes and from all industries operating across the 3228 postcode.

A total of 12 awards are up for grabs this year, including the coveted Business of the Year Award, the newly added Outside the Box Award and the bonus Sustainability Award.

Head judge Les Watson said more than 60 entries had been received this year, and year-on-year the quality of those submissions continues to impress.

“Not everyone can be a winner, but everyone can win in their own right, and I believe everyone who put in an entry is a winner,” Mr Watson said.

“It was incredibly difficult to pick finalists, because so many of the submissions were of a very high standard.

“People put a lot of effort into their entries because they care about not only their business, but their customers and what they do and why they do it. It was amazing, as a judging team, to see the calibre of the entries.

“The other thing that stood out was the passion that these businesses have for serving the community and their commitment to excellence, but really [their commitment] to having a go.”

The finalists for the 2025 Torquay Business Awards are:

Professional Services:

• ACNL Engineers
• Coastal Nectar
• Offshore Physiotherapy Torquay
• Torquay and Surfcoast Veterinary Clinics

Trade Services:

• Bellarine & Westcoast Refrigeration Services
• Braille Sign Supplies
• My Garden Therapy

Tourism and Hospitality:

• Samesyn 2.0
• Torquay Bowls Club
• Ocean Edge Holiday Rentals
• Coastal Hideaway Management

Not-for-profit:

• Ocean Mind
• Samesyn 2.0
• Surf Coast Environment Group

Personal Care:

• Dovida
• Something Hair and Makeup
• Yogi Peace Club

Outside the Box:

• Braille Sign Supplies
• Coastal Nectar
• Indigo Wolf
• Samesyn 2.0

Event of the Year:

• Art of the Minds
• Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club

Best New Business:

• Bronzium Tan Booth
• Digger Now
• Priceline Pharmacy Torquay
• Something Hair and Makeup

Retail:

• Ahki Illustration
• Priceline Pharmacy Torquay
• Wolf Telstra Partner Torquay

Sustainability:

• Bellarine & Westcoast Refrigeration Services
• Dovida
• Samesyn 2.0
• Something Hair and Makeup
• Yogi Peace Club

Business Leader of the Year:

• Courtney Weybury and Dr Niamh Logue, Surf Coast Women’s Health Group
• JJ Walia, Priceline Pharmacy Torquay
• Nathan Sayers, Indigo Wolf
• Rachel Parker, Ocean Mind

Business of the Year:

• Coastal Nectar
• Ocean Mind
• Samesyn 2.0

Mr Watson said win or otherwise, all finalists should be “very proud” of the submissions they’ve put forward.

“To actually become a finalist just shows that you stand out amongst the other businesses in Torquay.”

He encouraged those who weren’t successful this year to “learn from it and keep on going”, highlighting the efforts of all businesses across the region in facing the challenges of the current economic climate.

“It’s not about the award and it’s not about being a finalist … submissions bring clarity on what it is that’s working in a business,” he said.

This year’s winners will be crowned at a gala event on September 4 at The Sands Resort, Torquay.

For more information, or to secure your tickets, head to commercetorquay.com.au