Revealed: Here’s all the award winners from all abilities event

Celebrating all abilities and businesses offering job opportunities, here’s the full list of winners from this year’s heartwarming event.

Max Murray (centre) was awarded the Elissa Flanagan ‘Aim High’ Scholarship. He is pictured with (from left) award sponsor and MP David Janetzki, Mikey, Robert, Grace and Emily Whitby, Vinita Saunders and Angela Brown. Picture: Matt Ryan

Record-breaking nominations were received for The Business DisABILITY Awards in Toowoomba this year, with more than 300 people in attendance.

Celebrating the region’s incredible people with different abilities and businesses offering employment opportunities, Thursday night was one to remember.

In attendance on the night were event co-founders Paul Wilson, Kim Stokes and David Wallis, along with Mayor Paul Antonio and the family of the late Elissa Flanagan.

Max Murray (centre) was awarded the Elissa Flanagan ‘Aim High’ Scholarship. He is pictured with (from left) award sponsor and MP David Janetzki, Mikey, Robert, Grace and Emily Whitby, Vinita Saunders and Angela Brown. Picture: Matt Ryan

Performing the role of keynote speaker was Paul Hockey, who lost his right arm to cancer at just three weeks of age.

Sharing his inspiring journey with the audience, Mr Hockey became the first person living with a different ability to climb Mount Everast from the north side.

Event MC Karni Liddell with Outstanding Volunteer Award winner Daryl Nicholson and sponsor Angie Brown from Angie’s Domestic Duties. Picture: Matt Ryan

Former Paralympic swimmer Karni Liddell MCed the event and opened up about her own experience of being born with a neuromuscular wasting disease.

The record-holding Paralympian said her parents were told by doctors that she would never be able to walk, crawl or live past her teenage years. Now aged in her 40s, Ms Liddell is a mum, clinical social worker and won a medal at every Paralympics she competed in.

After receiving record-breaking nominations, some categories awarded an overall winner, as well as a highly commended this year.

Mayor Paul Antonio congratulates Des Orr for winning the Judy Antonio Memorial Award, which pays respect to the councillor’s late wife. Picture: Matt Ryan

Full list of winners:
• Social Inclusion Award – St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba (winner) and Toowoomba Friendlies Mobility and Independent Living (highly commended).
• Outstanding Employer Award – Toowoomba Poultry.
• Outstanding Employee Award – William Denny (winner) and Shannon Wallis (highly commended).
• Outstanding Volunteer Award – Daryl Nicholson.
• Innovation and Access Award – Inclusion Access (winner) and Pure Hair Toowoomba (highly commended).
• Education and Training Award – Purple Truck Driving School.
• Indigenous Champion Award – Liza Chilly.
• Business Engagement Award – Ability Enterprises.
• Elissa Flanagan ‘Aim High’ Scholarship – Max Murray.
• Judy Antonio Memorial Award – Desmond Orr.