Haines and Whittley share top industry award
Two of Victoria's most respected and successful boat manufacturers shared the prestigious Marine Manufacturer of the Year award at the 2008 Victorian Marine Industry Awards. 
'Celebrating their Marine Manufacturer of the Year Award are John Haber and Kelly Cameron of Haines Hunter with BIA Victoria President Gordon Howlett (left) and General Manager Robert Coco.'
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Haines Hunter and Whittley Marine Group shared the Boating Industry Association (BIA) of Victoria's top award.
Both companies are previous multiple winners at the awards, presented at the IC Frith Marine Industry Awards Breakfast during the BIA Melbourne Boat Show.
The Manufacturer of the Year award recognises outstanding achievement in the manufacture of boats or marine related products, combining the two categories for the first time.
Whittley and Haines Hunter have led the industry in commissioning modern, environmentally advanced new factories in Melbourne in recent years, ensuring the highest standards of Australian trailer boat manufacturing.
For their achievements, they are among a growing number of marine businesses which have been inducted into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame.
Others honoured in the Victorian Marine Industry Awards were the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard for Safety Initiative by an Organisation, Gippsland Ports for the Environment Award, and Leon and Paul Savage's Streaker Boats as Retailer of the Year. 
Whittley Marine Group was the big winner this year, taking home five of the nine awards.
In addition to its Marine Manufacturer award, it won the Exporter and Business Growth Awards and was named Industry Achiever for 2008, while Whittley apprentice Dean Oltoumis was Apprentice of the Year.
Judges for this year's Awards were BIA Victoria President Gordon Howlett, IC Frith & Associates Victorian manager Paul Mattiassi, John Donaldson from the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, Mark Dingle from Marine Safety Victoria, and Parks Victoria Acting General Manager Chris Hardman.
by AAP MediaNet 
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