Business NSW New England North West has recognised the outstanding achievements of local entrepreneur Cameron Hayton and his team at Walcha Coffee, following their recent success at the Business NSW State Awards.
Under the banner of ‘Walcha Coffee – the Perfect Blend’, the gathering was not only an opportunity to congratulate Hayton on his major award, but also to highlight the importance of the NSW Business Awards process in understanding the personalised narrative of small businesses and how they create a connection between the business, the people behind the business and the strength of the business that comes from building a trusted brand – ‘the perfect blend’.
“This business is expanding, it’s strengthening the local community and putting money back into it, and providing jobs”, said Mr Tim Coates, President of Business NSW NENW.
“But at the end of the day, these awards celebrate not only the achievement but the positive impacts the business has on the community, and you can never underestimate the importance of that.”
Coates noted that while the award carries prestige, the real value lies in the recognition of effort, growth and place.
“Winning such an award is definitely about prestige, it’s about people talking about the winners, it’s about people talking about Walcha Coffee. But that’s not everything, it also creates momentum and recognition of place.”
“It’s not about the award, it’s about the effort that’s gone into the business, into sustainability and growth.”
A Regional Success Story
Walcha Coffee has become one of the New England North West’s true success stories, admired for its commitment to quality, community, and exceptional regional hospitality. Ethically sourced and roasted fresh each week, they show that passion and caffeine really can fuel extraordinary success. Their state-level win places them among the most outstanding businesses in NSW and shines a spotlight on the strength and innovation of our region.
Federal Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, praised the Hayton family’s achievement and the broader implications for the region.
“It’s a marvellous thing for a place like Walcha to have a business that has proven itself at this level,” Joyce said.
“It augurs well for others to see what Cameron and his family have accomplished and say, ‘If they can do it, we can too,'”
Recognition Amid Resilience
Member for Northern Tablelands, Brendan Moylan MP, said the recognition comes at a meaningful time for Walcha.
“The thing I love about the Walcha community is the ability to get through the tough times, and there have been many tough times for this community this year,” said Member for Northern Tablelands, Brendan Moylan MP.
“I’m confident the next 12-months will be far better and the business community will keep growing and building on the successes like Walcha Coffee and Cameron Hayton. To receive this recognition is a tremendous boost for the community.”
‘Still Sinking In’
Despite the accolades, Hayton remains humble about the win.
“I think it’s still sinking in,” he said.
“We were excited to win the regional awards, and happy to enjoy a great night out in Sydney for the State awards. We never expected anything like this.”
Coates concluded by emphasising the value of storytelling in the awards process.
“It’s about telling a story which people can relate to,” said Coates.
“There were many great stories told from our region, and I like to include the Alternate Root from Uralla here, as they also had a great story, but just not quite as great as Cameron’s.”
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