On the 8th of September nearly 800 people gathered at the Palladium Room at Crown Casino to hear who would take home this year’s Awards for Excellence.

Barry Plant CEO, Nigel O’Neil, was thrilled with the evening. “We wanted to put on a spectacular evening to make up for two years of virtual awards. It’s important that our high achievers feel valued and celebrated.”

The evening was themed “A touch of Gatsby”, and entertainment was provided by the Tim Campbell band but the highlight was a performance by Maria Page, a longtime member of the Barry Plant team and director of the Barry Plant Sunbury office. Professionally trained in opera, Maria has years of experience in musical theatre and treated attendees to a standout performance of Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.

Co-founder Mr Barry Plant gave a talk on the state of the market, sharing his in-depth knowledge of an industry he has been in for over 50 years.

The Barry Plant Awards have always aimed to highlight high achievers in all roles within their group. With our team of professional Agents selling more than 10,000 properties last year and managing almost 34,000 properties through a challenging year, perhaps more than ever, we were keen to celebrate not only individual success but the success of a number of teams across the network.

The Barry Plant Franchise Office of the Year, voted for by their peers, was Barry Plant Heathmont - Ringwood, under the leadership of Louise Carrigg. The office also has the Receptionist of the Year, with their Amanda Rosaroll taking home the honour.

The prestigious Founders Recognition Award went to Kylie Wilson from the Rowville office for her years of outstanding service. Lea Anderson from the Emerald Office was crowned Business Support Person of the Year.

The Manningham office had a very successful night winning the Top Office of the Year (Large) for gross commission for the fourteenth time since 2008 – an amazing effort. They also took out Top Office (Large) for Highest Number of Sales. Co-director Mark Di Giulio, topped the rankings for commission earned by a director, a new award that acknowledges the efforts of business owners. He also took out Senior Auctioneer of the Year. Manningham’s Scott George was Top Seller (with PA or team), and also number one for gross commission earned in the same category.

Sales Rising Star of the Year was Hayley Taufa from the Berwick office. Hayley, who has only been in real estate for just over a year and a half, is having the success of far more seasoned agents and to prove it she topped the list for gross commission earned by an agent with no PA.

Samira Hughes from the Frankston Office, who had only been in real estate for eight months when she competed in the Novice Auctioneer competition, took home the Auctioneer Rising Star of the Year Award after a stellar performance.

Geelong office director, Chari Emirzade was number one in the rankings for business owners when it came to the number of sold properties, while Roy Khoder from the Glenroy office was number one in sold properties for an agent with no PA.

Property Managers were recognised with Saida Elhaouli from Tarneit office, taking out the Property Management Rising Star Award and Nicole Pedreros Gonzalez from the Point Cook office named Property Manager of the Year. Jose Panameno from the Essendon-Keilor East office was Business Development Manager of the Year and the office also took away the Property Management Department of the Year award.

Office awards were divided into three categories depending on the size of their market. Mitchell Shire, in the small market category, was top office for number of properties sold as well as earning the most gross commission.

In the medium market category, Noble Park-Keysborough sold the most properties, while the Highton office topped the commission ladder.

Nigel concluded that it was a night for the ages and one that will go down as perhaps being the most glorious and memorable in Barry Plant’s history.