Published Wednesday, 21 November, 2007 at 07:00 PM

Minister for Communities, Disability Services, ATSIP, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr

Catering for seniors is good business: Minister

Businesses are being honoured for offering excellent service to older Queenslanders at a prestigious awards ceremony in Rockhampton tonight (Wednesday 21 November 2007).

Communities and Seniors Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said eight regional awards and the supreme Exceptional Business Award will be presented at tonight’s 2007 Seniors Card Business Excellence Awards.

“Congratulations must go to this year’s overall winner Northern Automotive Service and Support from Garbutt for leading the way in providing outstanding service to seniors,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“With more than 555 nominations, this year’s awards were hotly contested by businesses making it easier for Queenslanders to continue to live life to the full.”

Held since 1995, the awards acknowledge businesses participating in the Seniors Business Discount Card scheme for their outstanding services to card-holders.

“More than 560,000 people in this State hold a Seniors Card or a Seniors Business Discount Card and the number will continue to grow, with tens of thousands of Queenslanders turning 60 and opting into this money-saving scheme,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“Seniors are now the largest retail growth market in Australia, spending almost double the national average.”

Member for Keppel, Paul Hoolihan, will present the 2007 Seniors Card Business Excellence Awards tonight.

Mr Hoolihan said the number of regional awards increased from seven to eight this year, reflecting growth in the Seniors Card program in rural and regional Queensland.

“This year also sees the expansion of the regional series of Seniors Card Business Discount Directories to eight to include a Far North Queensland edition – enabling even more card-holders to locate their closest discount providers with greater ease.”

This year’s regional Business Excellence Award winners and highly-commended award recipients are:

Greater Brisbane
Winner: Trains 4 U at Roma Street Parklands
Highly-commended: Court Terrace Restaurant in Brisbane city

Gold Coast
Winner: Coast to Coast Rock n Roll at Runaway Bay
Highly-commended: Gloria Jean’s Coffees at Robina

Sunshine Coast
Winner: Gloria Jean’s Coffees at Buddina
Highly-commended: See and Save Optometrists at Buddina

Central Queensland and Wide Bay
Winner: PCS – Printer Cartridge Services at Bundaberg
Highly-commended: Ultra Tune at Rockhampton

Moreton
Winner: Fun Over 50 at Springwood
Highly-commended: Plaza Shoe Repairs and Key Cutting at Woodridge

South West Queensland and Darling Downs
Winner: Lamtech at Westbrook
Highly-commended: Engineering Hair at Oakey

North Queensland and Whitsunday
Winner: The Shoe Shop Superstore at Mackay
Highly-commended: Mathers at Ingham

Far North Queensland
Winner: Brumby’s Manunda
Highly-commended: Flame Tree Coffee Lounge at Tully.

Ms Nelson Carr said more than 10,000 businesses participate in the Seniors Business Discount Card scheme, offering generous discounts to card-holders for a range of goods and services, from holidays to haircuts.

The 2007 awards are supported by APN News and Media, and Australian Senior Publications.

For more information about participating in the Seniors Business Discount Card scheme, telephone 13 13 04 or visit www.communities.qld.gov.au/seniorscard

Media Contact: Minister Nelson-Carr’s office 3235 4280
Mr Hoolihan’s office 4939 5732