Emu Lane Cafe flying high

A Katanning cafe has won an award at the 2017 Western Australia Regional Small Business Awards held on the night of Friday, November 10.

The ceremony was a special acknowledgement of regional business success, and all the award winners were commended for their hard work and dedication.

Emu Lane Cafe won the award for the business with 11-20 employees category, and owners Julie and David Harries said they could not have done it without the Katanning community.

“For us, it’s recognition of the work the staff put into the business on a daily basis and a way of realising the fact that we do what the customers want and they are enjoying what we do,” Mr Harries said. “We are really proud that we could achieve this and it’s just a reflection of the hard work put in and the local Katanning community that supported us.”

Emu Lane Cafe started in April 2016, when Julie and David bought it from the Co-op Cafe.

“A month later, we took over running the regional sale yards campaign and July this year we took over running the WAMCO campaign at the Abattoir,” Mr Harries said.

Small Business Minister Paul Papalia was at the awards event at the Hyatt Regency and said he was impressed by the high calibre of entrants from across the State.

“Small businesses are playing a significant role in the regions by supporting major industries such as mining, agriculture and tourism,” Mr Papalia said. The nine category winners are from four regions and include businesses from Vasse, Margaret River,

Bunbury, Denmark, Katanning, Exmouth and Derby. Category winners each received $1000 from the Small Business Development Corporation.