This week, 260 guests from across the Ray White Rural and Livestock network were able to meet in person for the first time in three years to recognise the achievements of the top offices and individuals throughout the leading network.
Ray White Rural and Livestock managing director Stephen Nell (pictured above) opened the night and said he was excited they could finally come together again after two years of online awards.
“I have to firstly start by saying how wonderful it is that we are finally together again and added to that, I’m so thrilled to share with you all, that tonight’s awards night is the largest gathering of Ray White Rural and Livestock members in its history,” he said.
“What’s been achieved by this company in recent times is nothing short of remarkable.
“It was only five short years ago when our trading value sat at just over $1.2 billion and a bit over 1,300 transactions annually. This year, we’ve traded in excess of $4.4 billion and just on 5,500 transactions.
“This is a combination of a number of things, the highlights being the skill of our agents and the growth of our membership numbers.
“Our company now finds itself having moved so significantly forward we are now the market leader in Australia for rural and lifestyle property, and that is something that we should all be immensely proud of.”
In the last financial year, Ray White’s Rural and Livestock network produced 18 Chairman’s Elite performers, 78 Elite agents and 127 Premier agents. Included in this was the Ray White Livestock business which Mr Nell said has been exceptional this year and for the first time in the company's history, four members achieved Chairman's Elite status.
The coveted Top Selling Salesperson (Settled Commission) award went to Stewart Murphy of Ray White Emms Mooney. Mr Murphy was also ranked as the No. 1 NSW/ACT Salesperson (Settled Commission). He was followed by Sam D’Arcy also of Emms Mooney and Ray White Rural Canberra | Yass’ George Southwell.
The Ray White Emms Mooney office also took out both the Top Rural Office and Top Livestock Office awards for settled commission and were recognised as the No. 1 NSW/ACT Office based on settled commission. Ray White Rural Queensland came in second for Top Rural Office (Settled Commission) followed by Ray White Parkes | Forbes | Condobolin | West Wyalong. Ray White Rural Casino | Kyogle was recognised as the runner up in the Top Livestock Office category for settled commission.
After another impressive year, Bruce Douglas of Ray White Rural Queensland was named as the Top Principal for settled commission and No. 1 Queensland Principal (Settled Commission), followed by Richard Brosnan of Ray White Rural Rockhampton and Ray White Rural Agnes Water principal Damien Gommersall respectively.
Owners of Ray White Rural Gracemere, Gary and Netty Wendt, received the prestigious Outstanding Contribution award for their commitment to their own success and the success of the overall network.
“The Outstanding Contribution award is an award that you do not win, you receive. The rest of the awards are determined by results,” Mr Nell said.
“This award is in recognition of commitment to the overall business, not just necessarily their own but also loyalty, tenure and trust amongst our members.
"The commitment that Gary and Netty show to not only their own success, but to the overall success of other members and our whole network and agency is quite frankly humbling.
“Additionally they are wonderful people and enormously popular. I know for a fact that there are a number of significant events that happen throughout the year for our network that these two give up their own time for, and I’m sure these events would not be as successful without their involvement.”
Liam Kirkwood, young gun principal of Ray White Geaney | Kirkwood took out the Charlie Maher award for his work in the livestock industry.
Ray White Rural Livestock Manager Paton Fitzsimons presented the award and said for livestock agents nationwide, the name Charlie Maher to this day is still echoed throughout saleyards, feedlots and processing plants.
“Eight times world bull riding champion Don Gay has often been described as "the source" when it comes to bullriding, its history and development. When it came to cattle sales, saleyards, auctioneering, picking the pace and developing relationships, Charlie was the source,” Mr Fitzsimons said.
“This year's winner of the Charlie Maher award goes to a stock and station agent that possesses all the attributes that Charlie demanded.
“A huge work ethic that rubs off on the people around you, the ability to know the markets better than anyone else, the ticker to back yourself and back your judgement when your competitors are doing the opposite.
“The award this year goes to an agent that gives everything to his business and ours.”
Continuing on, Ray White Emms Mooney was again in the spotlight, taking out the Top Auction Office award while George Southwell of Ray White Rural Canberra | Yass was named as the Top Auction Agent.
The Clients’ Choice (Individuals) awards were given to Stuart Wilson from Ray White Rochester, Suzey Whitby from Rural Atherton, Geoff Trost at Rural Crows Nest, Caley Mok from Emms Mooney and Jade Gibson from Rural Dorrigo | Bellingen.
Ray White Rural Agnes Water, Rural Atherton, Rural Esk | Toogoolawah, Rural Oakey and Tamborine Mountain were all awarded as Clients’ Choice (Office).
Ray White Rural Tumbarumba and Ray White Rural Esk | Toogoolawah were both awarded the Community Contribution Award for 2021-22, while Rural Esk | Toogoolawah was also awarded the International Community Contribution Award.
In the property management space, Laurel Johnston from Ray White Rural Dayboro | Eumundi, Natalie Bower of Rural Guyra | Armidale and Rural Dorrigo | Bellingen’s Sarah Beaumont were all named as Property Managers of the Year.
April Radnedge from Ray White Rural Charleville, Carissa Harris of Rural Dayboro | Eumundi and Tyler Berkley from Rural Inverell were awarded the Sales Assistant of the Year award.
Brianna Wade from Ray White Rural Esk | Toogoolawah, Carly Sawyer of Livestock Guyra | Armidale and Biloela’s Wanda Robertson were named as the Administrators of the Year.
