Gotta get me some of those Automotive Industry Awards

17 May 2023

I had a ripper night recently at auto’s night of nights – the Automotive Industry Awards.

The best automotive businesses and people in Victoria and Tasmania were crowned and – as MC – I had the best seat in the house.

Held as part of the President’s Gala Dinner at Crown Palladium on 13 May, the Automotive Industry Awards were reimagined for 2023 and now incorporate our mates in Tassie and we took the time, too, to welcome VACC and TACC Automotive Apprenticeships’ graduating apprentices and award winners into the industry.

Check out the full event gallery here!

We had a record amount of entries and a standards expert conducted judging and auditing to separate the close field which, this year, set the bar really high.

VACC President Chris Hummer presented two special new awards, the President’s Award: Employer of the Year, and the President’s Award: Employee of the Year. These awards highlight people, the most valuable thing any automotive business can have.

The categories for the 2023 Automotive Industry Awards were:

• President’s Award Employer of the Year
• President’s Award Employee of the Year
   
• Best Small Automotive Business – Regional Victoria
• Best Large Automotive Business – Regional Victoria
• Best Small Automotive Business – Metropolitan Victoria
• Best Large Automotive Business – Metropolitan Victoria
   
• Best Small Automotive Business – Tasmania
• Best Large Automotive Business – Tasmania
   

The gala was chock-full of entertainment, gourmet food and drinks, magic, music, and dancing. It was brilliant.

The Voices Supergroup – with Boom Crash Opera’s Dale Ryder, Bachelor Girl’s Tania Doko and Choirboys' Mark Gable and my good buddy Rob Mills – cranked up their Marshall amps to 11, and people really let their hair down. Illusionist Matt Hollywood had the audience reaching for their wallets. His underhanded skills really enticed.

Special thanks to major event partner DENSO for its support, as well as category sponsors Podium, OurAuto Insurance, Haynes Australia, Commonwealth Bank and Bendix.

On the apprenticeship front, Spirit Super, Mas National, the Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance, and SP Tools sponsored the award-winning graduates.

For all the goss, check out the Automotive Industry Awards website: automotiveindustryawards.com.au

Well done to VACC President Chris Hummer for a superb night and congratulations to all the entrants, finalists and winners.

We’ll do it all again next year.

See ya on the road, folks!

Words: VACC ambassador Shane Jacobson.

Want to hear more from Shane? Catch him – along with co-hosts Greg Rust and VACC CEO, Geoff Gwilym – on THE GRILLE podcast each month. There'll be auto news and views, industry insights and trends, special guests, and plenty of laughs along the way. Visit: thegrillepodcast.com.au