Celebrating Excellence at the Collie Chamber Awards: Highlights and Insights

Celebrating Community, Sustainability and the Spirit of Collie

What a night for Collie, and what a night for Forest Explorers.

At the recent Collie Chamber Business Awards, we walked away with the Sustainability & Environmental Award, the Sole Trader Award, and Runner-Up in Hospitality & Tourism. I'm still pinching myself.

Forest Explorers started with a pretty simple idea, help people connect with nature, local stories, heritage, and community. Over the years that's grown into guided walks, wildflower experiences, mural and heritage tours, school programs, community events, trail support, and some pretty unforgettable adventures across WA, including our iconic Canning Stock Route expeditions.

These awards aren't just about one business. They reflect the community spirit that makes Collie such a special place to live, work, and explore.

A massive thank you to the Collie Chamber and the sponsors who back local businesses and help our stories get told - South32, Bluewaters Power, Development WA, Synergy, Channel Seven, South West Times, Triple M, IPS Management Consultants and many more. It means a lot.

The Chamber Awards celebrate more than business success. They shine a light on innovation, sustainability, leadership, and the people who quietly keep this community ticking. The room was full of passionate, hardworking people and it was genuinely inspiring to be among them.

For Forest Explorers, sustainability has always been at the heart of everything. Whether we're introducing visitors to our incredible flora and fauna, sharing local history, supporting trail users, or just encouraging people to slow down and notice the bush around them, we believe tourism should care for the places we love, not just pass through them.

As a sole trader, being recognised alongside so many outstanding businesses meant the world. Running a small business solo means wearing every hat there is, often behind the scenes, and just trusting that the passion and hard work will count for something. Turns out it does.

But honestly? These awards belong to everyone who's come on a tour, shared a story, recommended us to a mate, or just cheered us on. Thank you. Genuinely.

With the generous media vouchers from the night, I'll be shouting about Collie's forests, trails, wildflowers, and heritage from every rooftop I can find. There are so many stories still to tell.

Collie keeps evolving, inspiring, and surprising - and when a community gets behind each other, incredible things happen.

Here's to local success, looking out for each other, and showing the world what makes this place extraordinary.

Yay Collie!

Honoured to be embracing connections in Collie, Western Australia

Congratulation to all nominees and the lovely business connections we have here in Collie WA

Before the Collie Chamber of Commerce - Awards Night and we are still smiling.