It was record breaking night at the recent Business disAbility Awards held in Toowoomba, Queensland.
The sold-out gala dinner welcomed 368 guests to the event that recognised people and businesses helping to create a more inclusive workplace and community for all abilities. There were 10 award categories that attracted a record number of nominations and entries.
The evenings top gong, the Judy Antonio Memorial Award, was presented to educator and disability advocate Sharon Boyce, current chair of the Queensland Disability Advisory Council. Boyce lectures at the University of Southern Queensland and works across the state as disability awareness consultant.
The Social Inclusion Award went to Wilsonton State School. The school had their signing choir perform at the event last year when it received a standing ovation.
Deputy principal -inclusion Lisa Meiklejohn said the award was an amazing thing for a state school to have and all the students were excited to see the award certificate on parade at the school on the following day. You can read more about the school in the December issue of Link disability magazine.
Keynote speaker at the dinner was DJ and business entrepreneur Tom Nash, who had both legs and his arms amputated at 19 after contracting meningococcal septicaemia.
Photo: Toowoomba regional council mayor Paul Antonio, Sharon Boyce and Mark Burke, Burke Industries.