Locals lauded

FREMANTLE’S business community came out in force recently to celebrate the achievements of the most successful local businesses at the Fremantle Business of the Year Awards night.

Category winners at the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce function included the Sprout Factory for Fremantle business of the year 2000 and for a business with fewer than fifty employees, Information Enterprise Australia for a business with fewer than employees and Felicity Peterson for entrepreneur of the year.

Culley’s Tearooms was named retailer of the year while E-Shed Markets received the tourism operator of the year award and Austal Ships was named youth operator of the year.

The inaugural Hall of Fame award, recognising a significant contribution to Fremantle was awarded to Victor Paino, of Sealanes.

Born in Fremantle in 1936, Mr Paino left school at fourteen to work for his father’s business, Sealanes, established in 1928.

His community contributions include around fourteen years service as a member of Fremantle Rotary Club.

He is also a member of the Fremantle Hospital Medical Research Foundation Board, a Justice of the Peace and a

governor of Notre Dame University.