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The North Shore Times 2008 True Local Business Awards recognise and celebrate local businesses and their significant contribution to the North Shore.
Visit the True Local Business Awards website for more information. Voting closed on 18 July 2008.
This year a new Access Award category has been introduced, proudly sponsored by Willoughby City Council.
The Access Award is aimed at recognising local businesses, organisations and community groups who have contributed to improving access to their service or facility for all people.
Access improvements include:
- ramps
- lifts
- lighting
- colour contrast for people with visual impairment
- assisted hearing devices for the hearing impaired or deaf
- education in disability issues
- translated information
- all inclusive workplace, policies and procedures
- clear signage for people with a visual impairment and those with an intellectual disability
- home delivery and pick up for those who cannot leave their home
In Australia more than 19% of the population have a disability. Together with their family and friends the number of people affected by disability is larger still. More than half of people aged 55 years and over have difficulties with mobility, sight and hearing. While they might not consider themselves to have a disability, easier access is greatly beneficial.
Improvements in access benefit the responsible organisation as it improves the potential for customers, clients or members.
Good access also benefits parents or carers of young children, particularly those with prams or strollers. Others who benefit from easy access include delivery people, those with sporting injuries, people on crutches and shoppers with heavy bags.
Improved access is often seen as a legal responsibility; however some businesses, services or organisations go beyond the legislated requirements. The Access Award is an opportunity to recognise and thank these groups.
The 2007 Winners
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Health & Community Services
Joint Winners:
St Leonards Rotary St Leonards Rotary has provided an Odd Jobs Service for Willoughby Community Aid to frail aged people and people with a disability in the Willoughby Local Government Area since 2005. The service is provided by volunteer members of the St Leonards Rotary and they provide minor maintenance and odd jobs services such as fixing gates, taking curtains down, changing light bulbs, opening stuck windows and putting new batteries in smoke alarms. The little jobs that are impossible for some members of the community. Recently they have even helped an elderly person who needed to relocate her crockery to suitable height cupboards. This service would not operate with out the volunteers from St Leonards Rotary.
DARTS The Disabled Alternative Road Travel Service (DARTS) provides travel for people with a physical disability who require a wheel chair on the North Shore. DARTS operates with the assistance of many very supportive and kind volunteers without whom the service could not operate. Some of the volunteers have been assisting DARTS for up to ten years. DARTS opens up social, recreational and educational possibilities for wheelchair dependent adults, and enables isolated people to get out into the community. They also ensure the venues they are transporting their clients to have the level of access required by their clients.
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Retail and Commercial
IGA Willoughby Since opening IGA has provided an excellent service for all people in the LGA especially the more frail and disabled members of the community. They initiated a partnership with Willoughby Community Aid who sends the store shopping lists for frail elderly and disabled residents in the community and IGA do the shopping and deliver the goods for a very inexpensive fee. We have had reports that some of the delivery staff even put the goods away into the fridge for some more frail customers. IGA also provides an accessible environment in the store with a lift from the carpark, and the store provides tea and coffee for Seniors on Tuesdays.
Hospitality and Residential
Char Grill Charlie’s Char Grill Charlie’s has been reported to provide an exceptional service for local elderly people and those with a disability. As well as providing excellent access to the shop and extra large servings in their roast meal packages Char Grill Charlies staff deliver meals to local older people and those with disabilities and have been known to check up on frail locals when they have not seen them for a few days. They have brought a “community store feel” to the local community.