Last Updated on July 3, 2025 by Graeme Sennett

Foundation Civil and Mining wins top honour at Federation University Gippsland Business Awards

Foundation Civil and Mining has won the region’s top business award at the 26th annual Federation University Gippsland Business Awards.

The business was named Business of the Year winner at the Gippsland Business Awards gala dinner at Federation University auditorium where over 300 people from across the region were celebrating the best of the region’s business sector.

Bairnsdale’s Dwyers Group joined an impressive list of Gippsland businesses to be inducted into the Gippsland Business Awards Hall of Fame.

Awards Chair, Graeme Sennett, congratulated all the winners on their achievement.

“Yet again, we are astounded by the calibre of the awards’ participants. The variety and diversity of businesses across the region is truly remarkable,” he remarked. “With such an impressive array of finalists, once again, choosing the winners proved to be a challenging task for the judges.”

Mr Sennett said Foundation Civil and Mining had demonstrated exponential growth since it was established, driven by a strong focus on value and providing return on investment for major customers.
“Demonstrating a real passion for their industry and the local community, Foundation Civil and Mining has continually identified and capitalised on opportunities for growth, while also planning for their future development and long term sustainability.”

Each GBA finalist is assessed and independently rated by five different judges across eight judging criteria.

The category winners came from across the region and are listed below, together with a precis of judges’ comments:

Accommodation – Beachcomber Holiday Units, Lakes Entrance
Adopting a strategic approach, proactively combatting challenges, differentiating the business in a competitive market, while undertaking comprehensive property renovations and providing a meticulous approach to service, has delivered increased trade, recognition and various awards.

Beauty and Personal Care – Indulge Yourself Beauty Therapy Skin & Laser Clinic, Moe
Evolving in response to client demand, success has been achieved by understanding clients and the need to deliver value while meeting business needs. Supported by an innovative approach to staff recruitment that demonstrates strong industry leadership and wise business planning.

Business and Professional Services – Regional Migration Australia, Traralgon
An exceptional business with a clear vision for continued growth and development, by increasing support to their clients while focussing on meeting exceptional demand and ensuring compliance across all aspect of the business’ operations.

Food & Wine Producers – Maffco Brewery & Distillery, Maffra
Successfully evolving to meet market needs, adapting to satisfy customer expectations, with a commitment to offer something for everyone, while limiting environmental impact and supporting other local food and wine producers, sets this business apart.

Health and Well Being – Baw Baw Physio and Fitness, Drouin
A holistic, client focused provider who has grown significantly, opened a new location and delivered increased patient capacity by continually delivering excellent customer service, reviewing practice processes and adopting technology to streamline business activities.

Hospitality – The Vines on Avon, Maffra
A trusted venue with a personal approach that demonstrates a real community focus by doing what it can to give back. Along with continuous facilities improvement and commitment to staff, The Vines on Avon are proud to provide assistance to other hospitality businesses in the area.

Innovation – Native Seed Box, Wonthaggi
Embracing technology for future growth, this business is not only innovative in product development, but have also innovated manufacturing processes to increase capacity and efficiency, improved product design and ranges to support for a diverse customer base.

Manufacturing – Plasgain, Drouin
With a diverse workforce and a passion for sustainability and innovation, this business and industry leader utilises recycled products for new applications, producing quality products to meet the requirements of Australian standards challenging the status quo.

Mechanical Trades and Construction – Foundation Civil & Mining, Traralgon South
With a proven track record of success, responding to the needs of their clients and differentiating themselves through community engagement, D&I initiatives and delivery of new solutions, Foundation Civil & Mining competes with major players in providing services to heavy industry.

New Business – The Collective. Cospace, Traralgon
An innovative and inspiring new business that has identified an opportunity, expanding on the concept of work from home to meet a new community demand to provide a shared low-cost accessible work environment that encourages the collective to collaborate, network and grow.

Retail – Moe Fresh Poultry, Moe
Prioritising exceptional customer service and achieving consistently high levels of satisfaction by implementing improvements and continual innovation, while offering high quality products that are accessible to a wide range of customers and catering to people with different dietary needs.

Tourism Activities and Attractions – The Berry Dairy, Maffra
An innovative tourism business where commitment and passion has delivered great growth and a successful first year, with multiple challenges overcome, while utilising technology solutions to create a new tourism experience that provides high levels of customer satisfaction.

Hall of Fame – Dwyers Group, Bairnsdale
A family business established in 1898, which has evolved, adapted and survived economic, social and technological change for over 125 years, along the way supporting their community and receiving industry recognition for their excellence in customer service.

A full list of winners and finalists is available here: Media Release – 2024 GBA Winners Announced

For additional media comment please contact GBA Chair, Graeme Sennett 0417 509 149