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Wow, we had HUNDREDS of votes for the 2013 Coffs for Kids Excellence Awards – an amazing response.

A *BIG* congratulations to all the winners listed below:

1. Best Playground – Brelsford Park

2. Best Beach for Kids – Jetty Beach

3. Favourite place for a picnic or BBQ – Boambee Beach Reserve

4. Indoor Activity – Tabatinga

5. Outdoor Activity – Big Banana Waterslides

6. Favourite Local Tourist Attraction – Pet Porpoise Pool

7. Local Shop for Kids Stuff – Little Einstein

8. Best place for an organised Party – Tabatinga

9. Family Event – Buskers Festival

10. Swim Centre – Coffs Harbour Olympic Pool

11. Best kids facilities/activities at a Club – The Greenhouse

12. Place to buy Healthy Food – Coffs Growers Markets

13. Fish and Chip Shop – Jetty Co-op

14. Place to get Ice-cream – Cold Rock

15. Favourite Bakery – K’Pane

16. Favourite new business/shop – Plaster Pizzaz 4 Kids

17. Best school holiday activity – Tabatinga

18. Favourite Restaurant – Greenhouse Tavern

19. Favourite Cafe – Beachstone Cafe

20. Favourite Pizza Place – Almalfi’s.

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SPECIAL MENTIONS:

There were a few categories which were SUPER-CLOSE between places so I wanted to make a mention to:

• Category #14: Place to get ice-cream: the votes were SO close between Cold Rock, Baskin Robbins and Jetty Ice-creamery.
• Category #16: There were only 3 votes between Plaster Pizzaz 4 Kids (1st place) and Coffs Coast Kids Club (2nd place)
• Category #20: Urban and Wholly Cow were also top favourite cafes.

Here is a selection from additional comments people left with their voting form:

Another great family café/restaurant is The Wholly Cow in Sawtell! ;-) (Kelly-Anne)

Best entertainment smiley productions (Amanda)

Best hand made and home made things for kids Tizzyd. (Amanda)

Best Markets, would have to be Made with Love ones. (Sandra)

The ladies from Made With Love Markets! What a great idea!!! (Tegan)

Wholly Cow Cafe have a great kids menu, lots of yummy milkshakes and a welcoming family friendly atmosphere. (Susan)

Burnside Coffs Harbour do an amazing job for young mums and families Nadine who runs everything is so welcoming (Jade)

C-Change adventures easter egg hunt was great fun! (Lindy)

C4 martial arts very kid friendly supportive and reasonable priced the coach listen and interact with the kids there a wonderful business (Jamie)

C4 Mixed Martial Arts- great for kids confidence and teaches practical self defense and anti bullying. Ages from 5 up. (Louise)

Goodstart Early Learning Centre – Best Long Daycare/Childcare in Coffs Harbour. They are very interactive with the children. As well as looking after the children from 6.30 am – 6.30 pm, they teach the children and they learn from experiences they have done. The staff are very polite and helpful from little things like finding shoes to paying bills and looking after accounts. I highly reccomend this local business. (Tamsyn)

COFFS 4 KIDS – u are just an amazing resource for families in Coffs harbour, (Yay! Thanks Anthony!)

Coffs coast health club is such a great place for the child care, such a happy family friendly environment, everyone is always smiling and they are always keen to be involved in community events! (Fauve)

There were a few comments regarding the brand new Coffs Coast Kids Club – this is just one: Coffs coast kids club has had an immediate positive impact on able body kids, disabled kids & special needs kids through the joy of zumba & yoga. They deserve to win at least a special mention if not their category (Duncan)

Curry fest was a brilliant day out!!! It was so well organized!! (Gemma)

i just highly recomend Plaster Pizzaz 4 Kids as when i went the with kids they were very nice and friendly and patient (Jessica)

I think the lady at the red sparrow tea shop really knows how to treat a customer and many business’s could learn a thing or two from her. (Rebecca)

Just like to commend plaster pizazz 4 kids .. Cheap wholesome fun for the whole family rain or shine creating keepsakes.
And WICKED BERRIES yumm Great business!! (Tamaryn)

Little Einstein is forever going out of their way to help me find the perfect gift or to order something in. Great customer service! (Nicole)

Love the kids menu at greenhouse tavern.. Specifys which kids meals are healthiest:)
Lakis jetty pizzeria is also great for my family.. Friendly owners and staff, homemade pizzas from scatch fresh daily and good prices:) (Jodie)

Love your website and info, really helpful for someone who is relatively new to the area (YAY! Thanks Jackie!)

Monnee tavern is great for kids on sturdays they have face painting jumping castles and the kids room and there is a great fenced yard for the children to run around outside :) (Grace)

Muffin break at Palm Centre are very supportive of schools and give vouchers away to mums who have given time to local schools. (Nicola)

North Coffs Junior Roos (AFL) makes everyone feel welcome right from their first day. It has a stong culture of playing sport for the enjoyment of it, being a mate, and being a good sport. There are no stars, everyone gets a go, it’s all about teamwork. So happy to have my kids a part of the club! (Karen)

OOSH – Fun Factory at Tormina they are great people and without services like theirs we would not be able to juggle work and children.  The kids have the best time and we can relax at our jobs knowing the are safe and having a ball. (Natasha)

Plantation hotel for affordable family meals. Darlington beach holiday park for fabulous family getaways. (Darelle)

Tabatinga is hands-down the best attraction locally – always clean, always dry, always open! (only closed on Xmas day – the recent public hols they have been open normal business hours) (Donna)

The Bellingen Riverfestival is an annual free event held in November each year. It is in its 3rd year in 2013 & is a wonderful day of community & family celebration with lots of free activities for the whole family & local entertainment.
I would love it if this great local event could be acknowledged in some way.Thank you (Ben)

The Harbour Tennis Academy definitely deserve a special mention as they have great tennis and fitness activities for kids and teens….my son attends several activities there each week and loves it! (Michelle)

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THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO VOTED….

Our grand prize is a weekend getaway for up to 6 people from BIG4 Trial Bay worth $589.00:

* 2 nights in a Luxury Cabin for up to 6 people

* Discount Vouchers worth $147.00

* FREE DVD’s for the duration of your stay

* FREE Putt Putt

THE WINNER IS – Danielle Morgan

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THANK YOU again to everyone who voted, we had such an overwhelming response! And of course, THANK YOU to Big 4 Trial Bay for once again donating such an amazing prize. The Excellence Awards will be back in 2014!

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