Passion for plants leads to success for Territory’s top business woman
14 Oct 2011
A Darwin woman who transformed a run-down property into a nationally recognised nursery has been named the 2011 Northern Territory Telstra Business Woman of the Year.
Estelle Cornell, founder and Managing Director of Allora Garden Nursery, took over a deserted, two-hectare nursery in Berrimah ten years ago and created a thriving business that is so highly regarded it was inducted into the National Nursery & Garden Industry Hall of Fame in 2008.
An experienced transport business operator with truck driver’s and pilot’s licences, Ms Cornell had no horticultural qualifications when she launched what she called “an adventure into the unknown” by starting her nursery.
Ms Cornell learned by trial and error on the job, took short courses on plant propagation at Charles Darwin University and taught herself how to use book-keeping software.
Today, Allora is one of Australia’s top nurseries with Ms Cornell considered a leading plant expert who has judged at national industry awards.
The self-taught entrepreneur attributes her success to a passion for both plants and people, which has seen Allora attract gardeners from all over Australia and her staff win NT Young Leader Awards in the nursery industry five times in the past six years.
Ms Cornell also won the Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award at the 17th Telstra NT Business Women’s Awards presentation in Darwin today.
Kate McKenzie, Telstra Group Managing Director for Innovation, Products and Marketing and TBWA Ambassador, said: “Telstra established the Awards program in 1995 to celebrate the success of inspirational business women and provide motivation for others.
“The Awards judges were impressed with Estelle Cornell’s obvious passion for her business, industry and community. They also remarked on her willingness to continually introduce activities to add value for her customers and to keep on learning , which have proven to be the keys to her success,” Ms McKenzie said.
Karen James, General Manager of Affiliate Business Banking and Women in Focus at Commonwealth Bank, said the quality of businesses in this year’s program was impressive.
“This is an achievement Estelle Cornell will have for the rest of her life. Now is the time for her to reflect on her success, and plan the journey ahead,” she said.
Jodie Milne, co-owner and operator of Quest Palmerston Serviced Apartments, took out the Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award.
Ms McKenzie said the Awards judges described Ms Milne as “an outstanding role model who demonstrates enthusiasm, resourcefulness and initiative in everything she does.”
Mark Steyn, CEO of Hudson Australia/New Zealand, said: “Hudson has been a proud sponsor of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards for ten years and it is a privilege to be associated with an event that showcases the excellence calibre and quality of talented women working across Australia .
“We are passionate about profiling successful women in business such as Jodie Milne and the valuable contribution they continue to make to corporate and community life,” he said.
The Northern Territory winners proceed to the national finals of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards which will be announced in Melbourne on 18 November.
Winners of the 2011 Telstra Northern Territory Business Women’s Awards are:
Telstra Northern Territory Business Woman of the Year
Estelle Cornell Allora Garden Nursery, Berrimah.
Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award
Estelle Cornell Allora Garden Nursery, Berrimah.
Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award
Jodie Milne Quest Palmerston Serviced Apartments, Palmerston.
Jodie Milne is co-owner and operator for the Quest Palmerston franchise that she purchased and opened last year with her partner. A former member of Quest’s national sales team in Victoria, Ms Milne is property manager and business development executive at the 4.5 star accommodation in Palmerston, She built a sustainable portfolio of national and international customers within six months of opening by meeting corporate travel representatives in locations all over Australia, instead of focusing solely on local area marketing. The results were high-occupancy rates from corporate clients and the establishment of Palmerston as a business destination - she also chairs the Palmerston Tourist Board.
White Pages Community & Government Award
Priscilla Collins North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, Darwin.
As CEO of North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, Ms Collins provides Aboriginal people access to justice and aims to reduce both their contact with the criminal justice system and incarceration rate. Apart from overseeing operation of the service, which handles 10,000 legal matters a year, and managing 77 employees, Ms Collins is responsible for funding. Thanks to her efforts, the agency is able to fund a program to reduce recidivism by supporting prisoners while they are in gaol and on release.
marie claire Young Business Women’s Award
Kylie Beumer Royal Australian Navy, Darwin.
Ms Beumer, 32, is the only female patrol boat Captain in the Australian Navy. As the Commanding Officer of HMAS Broome, one of the Navy’s 14 Armidale Class Patrol Boats, she spends 150 days at sea each year. Ms Beumer’s leadership, planning and execution, including during the Iraq War, has been recognised with Navy awards and commendations. During her first year as Commanding Officer of HMAS Broome, she co-ordinated the challenging rescue of all 86 passengers from a sinking vessel 90 nautical miles off Christmas Island.
More information on the Telstra Business Women’s Awards can be found at
www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com
Media contact:
Michael Grealy | 0438 835 835 | Lighthouse Communications Group
James Woollard | 0419 130 588 | Telstra
www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media-centre/
Reference: 312/2011
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Telstra Business Women's Awards Network