Macker’s Meats and Mullins Building take out 2024 Hay Business of the Year gongs

By Tertia Butcher

The team at Hay’s Macker’s Meats have taken out the Business of the Year at the gala awards evening for the Business Excellence Awards.

The glittering event was held at Hay Services Club on Friday night, with an appearance by Bali bombing survivor Jason McCartney. Mr McCartney was the guest of Hay Shire Council and enthralled the crowd with his story of survival, and his return to professional AFL.

Their nomination read “Gary and Sandra McRae (and Zoe and Vicky and the other staff) consistently provide an excellent service to the community of Hay and have done so over many years. They work incredibly long hours cutting up meat and preparing fresh meals and cuts of meat daily.

“A good butcher is such a godsend, and we certainly have one in Hay. Some members of our family who often live away, enjoy coming home, with their friends and head straight to Mackers for a rib eye steak, or the sausage rolls or some yummy sausages with interesting names.

“Need some beef strips marinated to make beef jerky, not a problem; need some dog bones cut up; not a problem; need some fish for a change; not a problem; need some yummy home-made chicken pies; not a problem – I could go on and on. Everyone has a Mackers story.

“They also deliver and provide meat boxes for get togethers and great hams and turkeys for Christmas (Sandra checks what you ordered last year – yep, I will have that again please).

“The meat is first class and affordable and fresh. And of course, you get to have a yarn with the staff whilst getting dinner. And the newly painted shop front looks great!

“Well done, Mackers, you are a great butcher and deserve an award as a way of our community saying thank you.”

Other nominees in this category were Hay Children’s Services and Mullins Building.

Mullins Building received multiple nominations this year, in a variety of categories and each nomination praised the skill and work ethic of this local-grown tradesman. Proprietor Aidan Mullin’s took home the Small Business of the Year Award as well as the gong for Excellence in Trades and Services.

“Aidan's main service to Hay and district is prioritising local contractors and businesses to compliment his building operations. Local services and trades involved in our project included concrete work, painters, plumbers, electricians, tilers and cabinet makers. Aidan is also a generous sponsor of activities and events. I am aware of his generosity as I am involved in some local community events and committees.

“Aidan employs two very good assistants, Matt and Ben, who worked very hard and were very proficient at their many and varied tasks. The standard of his workmanship was excellent, and the site was maintained in a clean and tidy manner at all times. I have spoken with other clients of Aiden's, and all are extremely satisfied with his work.”

Other nominees: for the Small Business of the Year were AM & Co, and Macker’s Meats.

Other winners:

Excellence in Hospitality - Ben and Marie – South Hay Hotel

Excellence in Customer Service – Kimberly Grabham – The Riverine Grazier.

Excellence in Health & Beauty – Adele Kinces – AM & Co.

Excellence in Agriculture and Industry – Hay Trees on Plains Landcare Group

Employee of the Year – Lucy Stokes Early Childhood Teacher at Hay Children's Services.

Employer of the year – Jasen Crighton - Crighton’s Rural Engineering

Apprentice or Trainee of the Year – Amy Young.

2024 Business Champion – Rainbow on the Plains Festival

Grab the March 6 edition of The Grazier to read all the winning nominations.