Cheese And Lawn Mowers Basis For Business Success
Newcastle Herald
Saturday November 13, 2004
HIGH-PROFILE Maitland developer Hilton Grugeon, who began his extensive business empire mowing lawns at 16, was last night named business person of the year.
The 55-year-old director of Hunter Land was honoured by the Hunter Business Chamber at the annual President's Dinner.Businesswoman Kate Woodward, founder and managing director of Hunter Belle Cheese at Scone, was named young achiever of the year.Chamber president Kyle Loades said Mr Grugeon had created prosperity through initiative and endless energy."Hilton created a lawn mowing and landscaping business when he was just 16 and has built one of the icon businesses of the region," Mr Loades said.Mr Grugeon's group of companies had interests in manufacturing, construction, irrigation, transport, travel agencies, car dealerships and cattle."He launched the business Paramount landscaping in the early 1970s and by 1987 the landscaping business was the largest in the country, with government contracts throughout NSW," Mr Loades said.Mr Loades said the developer was not only known for his involvement in business but also his generosity to the community."He has donated millions of dollars to causes that care for people, yet like so many who are generous, he never sought acknowledgement," Mr Loades said.A former Sydney Royal Showgirl, Kate Woodward can trace her business success back to a love of Brown Swiss cows.She opened her Hunter Belle Cheese Factory in January this year and won a gold medal for her fetabelle at the recent Australian speciality cheese makers association show held in Melbourne.Mr Loades said the honours graduate from the University of New England quickly established a reputation in research into genetics in dairy cattle."During this period Kate acquired an interest in breeding Brown Swiss cows, which she found produced milk highly suitable to quality cheese making," he said."She won a $50,000 grant through the Hunter Structural Adjustment Fund and sales of her cheeses began at Easter this year."Two full-time staff and four casuals are testimony to her company's success."The awards were held at The Glades at Warners Bay.
© 2004 Newcastle Herald
