Clarence Town Hall was packed on Saturday, May 18, for the announcement of the winners at a gala dinner.

The Barracks, Tocal, was named outstanding new business with two runners up - Stella Bistro and Valley Dance Academy.

Ros Runciman was inducted in to the hall of fame and Chic and Antique picked up the Chamber member's award.

Clarence Town Community First Responders were a popular crowd favourite when announced as the winners of the Colleen Duffy Community Sector Award, re-named to honour the much loved, tireless community worker from Clarence Town who passed away suddenly earlier this year.

Runner up for this award was Dungog Relay For Life

Other winners were:

Retail winner - Hidden Valley Clothing; runner up - Farmers Warehouse, Dungog

Tourism and Hospitality - Tinshed Brewery with runner up Carawirry Forest Escape.

Rural Producers, Manufacturing and Industry winner - Cox Rural Fencing with runner up Sneddens Fencing Products.

Professional Services winner - Restart IT with runner up Clarence Town Medical Centre.

Trades and Construction winner -Wayne Smedley Plumbing with runner up Dungog Personalised Furniture and Kitchens.

Outstanding Employee (U 25) was Tahlie Colefax from Lovey's Grocers IGA Clarence Town with runners-up Chelsea Greentree from Ray White Rural Dungog and Clarence Town and Zoe Hopson from Valley Dance Academy.

Outstanding Employee (Over 25) was Christopher Sawyer from Lovey's Grocers IGA Dungog with Vanessa Rush from Dungog Pizza the runner up.

Customer Service winner was Vacy General Store Cafe Gifts and LPO with runner up The Mutual Bank, Dungog

The Environment and Sustainability (Golden Axe award) went to the Common Recreation Reserve Land Manager with Dungog Bee Rapt the runners up.

The full list of award winners and the category sponsors:

Tourism & Hospitality

Sponsored by Dungog Regional Tourism.

WINNER Tinshed Brewery

RUNNER UP Carawirry Forest Escape

Rural Producers, Manufacturing & Industry

Sponsored by Lovey's Grocers IGA

WINNER Cox Rural Fencing

RUNNER UP Sneddens Fencing Products

Professional Services

Sponsored by Settlers Arm

WINNER Restart IT

RUNNER UP Clarence Town Medical Centre

Trades & Construction

Sponsored by Ray White Rural

WINNER Wayne Smedley Plumbing

RUNNER UP Dungog Personalised Furniture & Kitchens

Outstanding Employee (U 25)

Sponsored by Dungog Rotary Club.

WINNER Tahlie Colefax Lovey's Grocers IGA Clarence Town

RUNNER UP Chelsea Greentree Ray White Rural Dungog & Clarence Town

RUNNER UP Zoe Hopson Valley Dance Academy

Outstanding Employee (O 25)

Sponsored by Insurance Advisernet

WINNER Christopher Sawyer Lovey's Grocers IGA Dungog

RUNNER UP Vanessa Rush Dungog Pizza

Retail

Sponsored by Tinshed Brewery

WINNER Hidden Valley Clothing

RUNNER UP Farmers Warehouse Dungog

Customer Service

Sponsored by Mai-Wel LabourForce Solutions

WINNER Vacy General Store Cafe Gifts & LPO

RUNNER UP The Mutual Bank, Dungog

Environment & Sustainability (Golden Axe)

Sponsored by Sneddens Fencing Products

WINNER Dungog Common Recreation Reserve Land Manager

RUNNER UP Dungog Bee Rapt

Outstanding New Business

Sponsored by Addison Partners

WINNER The Barracks, Tocal

RUNNER UP Stella Bistro

RUNNER UP Valley Dance Academy

Community Sector (Colleen Duffy Community Sector Award)

Sponsored by Chic & Antique

WINNER Clarence Town Community First Responders

RUNNER UP Dungog Relay For Life

Hall of Fame

Sponsored by Dungog Fitness

WINNER: Ros Runciman

CHAMBER MEMBER'S AWARD

Sponsored by Restart IT

Winner - Chic & Antique

OVERALL BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

Sponsored by Dungog Chronicle

Winner - Vacy General Store Cafe Gifts & LPO