Close to 370 business owners attended the 2018 Peak Connect Carillon Business Awards gala evening, held at the Bathurst Goldfields on Friday night.

Owner of Bathurst Goldfields, Debbie Campbell, said she was still in shock taking out the top gong.

“I knew it wasn’t a joke, but I thought they were joking,” she said, adding it had been a very busy couple of years since she and her mother purchased the business.

“When we brought the place it was closing, it was already gone, all the staff had already been put off, and they were basically selling off the land.

“The educational experience was never going to continue. 

“Now it has 20,000 kids a year going through the property.”

Ms Campbell said it’s been a remarkable four years since the property was purchased.

When they brought the property it had a six week cooling off period in the contract, and Ms Campbell said she clearly recalls wanting to pull out.

“I was bawling my eyes out and I never cry, I called mum and said we’ve got to pull out there’s just far too much to do.

“But Mum told me to pull myself together,” she laughs, saying she now has no regrets.

“To think of where we’ve come from to winning this award is really incredible,” she said.

“When we started taking [future] bookings, the function centre was nothing other then a shell and a piece of dirt.”

She said she remembers the first functions held at the centre, two school graduations.

“The door was hung on the building at 4pm and graduation began at 5. 

“I’ll never forget it.”

“But I’m absolutely thrilled where we are now, and I still can’t believe we won.

“I’m just in shock, and I couldn’t do it without my team.

“They are awesome people to work with, I’ve got a staff of about 40, their passion is unbelievable, I’m really, really lucky.”

President of the Bathurst Business Chamber, Angus Edwards, said the event was a great opportunity for local business owners to come together and network.

“It was a great venue and a great atmosphere on the night.

“It really is the pinnacle for local business; it’s a chance for business owners to have the night off and reflect as a community the success of others in local business.”

Mr Edwards said it was great to see representatives from all levels of government in attendance.