Being named the business of the year is not just reward for the past 12 months of toil, but four years of hard work.

Gary and Margot Webster started Cityfit in 1986 and sold the business in 1999.

But they returned in late 2010 and the business has not looked back since. The judges and customers recognised that on Friday night.

But the Carillon Business Awards are not just about the winners, they are about celebrating all the businesses in Bathurst – large and small – that keep our city thriving.

And the fact 500 people turned out at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre on Friday – and many more could not be squeezed in – shows how much there is to celebrate.

One of the great joys of living in Bathurst is the opportunity to enjoy shopping at everything from small boutique businesses to large national outlets.

Those businesses employ thousands of local people and pump millions of dollars into our local economy in wages.

Many business owners rise before dawn and remain at work well after the sun goes down for the satisfaction that comes from creating something of their own.

They support local sporting clubs and community groups and contribute in no small way to the fabric of our city.

So, while not everyone can be a winner when the Carillon Business Awards are handed out each year, nor are there any losers.

And that is truly something to celebrate.