More than 240 guests attended the annual Ray White Rural and Livestock awards in Toowoomba to celebrate the achievements of the top offices and individuals throughout the network.

The awards also celebrated the 30th anniversary of Ray White Rural and Livestock, which network managing director Matthew White (pictured below) described as an enormous achievement.

“Thirty years is a very significant milestone for Ray White Rural. I remember when the Ray White Rural achieved its 10 year anniversary. I remember chairman Paul White saying that in 10 years we became an overnight success.” Mr White said. 

“Ray White entered the rural property and livestock business and took on some giants in this space. These giants were tired but they were and still are giants. 

“Through a creative approach to servicing vendor clients, Ray White Rural gained significant market share in the agricultural arena and in just 10 years became a success. 

“In the next 10 years, through dogged determination we became market leaders. 

“So what is the significance of 30 years? Well in 30 years we have seen other real estate giants, large American and European companies come and go. 

“They have hit the market full momentum and fallen away. In 30 years, Ray White Rural has established itself as a market leading and enduring business.

“What is the reason behind this? Well it’s simple, we are a company made up of great people. People who saw an opportunity to do things better in their respective markets and take on their own giants, breakthrough and achieve market leadership. 

“These are the achievements we recognise this evening. This is what makes this so important to our company. We will continue to strive with the same ambition that Paul White started with 30 years ago.”

LR: Stephen Nell, Ray White Rural and Livestock chairman Paul White and Matthew White

Ray White Rural and Livestock CEO Stephen Nell congratulated everyone in the room for another stellar year and provided some words of wisdom for the year ahead. 

“There is change happening in the marketplace. We cannot complain about that, in fact, we have to embrace it,” Mr Nell said. 

“If our industry was not cyclical, then we would not exist. What it comes down to, is being able to navigate and steer our clients through each cycle, and when done correctly, the winds will blow harder in our favour.  

“This is how I see it, being in a company like ours is a balance between three things, the household name, the local ownership and the delivery of service. This combination is our point of difference. In my experience, the more things change the more they stay the same. 

“I need to be very clear about something, growth and momentum is oxygen to a company like ours. 

“We are determined to continue to provide real value to you, on which we are unwavering. Enhancing your skills, providing market leading branding and technology will see our market share grow.

“I have never been more confident about driving this business in rural and livestock Australia.”

The prestigious Charlie Maher award was given to James Brown of Ray White Rural Albury, Ray White Livestock GTSM and Ray White Wodonga (pictured above). 

“It’s a big honour, we all know who Charlie Maher was and what he did for the livestock industry as a whole, especially for the Ray White Group,” Mr Brown said.

“I was looking at the names on that list and there are some big names and very big agents who have paved the way for upcoming agents and other people who strive to achieve this award.

“I never set out to do that, I’m really a little bit speechless and it’s still sinking in that my name is on that board with all those other recipients from years gone by.”

The Outstanding Contribution award went to Ray Piper (pictured above), owner of Ray White  Tumut | Gundagai. Mr Piper’s office also received the Community Contribution award. Mr Piper recognised his team as integral to his success. 

“It’s a privilege to be among those who I consider to be the best of the best,” Mr Piper said. 

“I’m looking at some of these faces and thinking there are people here who I believe are more deserving than me.

“It’s my team that really drives me. The team, the brand and the people who presented this award to me. I feel very humbled.”

The top office in the Rural network for settled commission and #1 Rural NSW/ACT Office, also for settled commission, was Ray White Parkes | Forbes | Condobolin | West Wyalong (pictured above).

Managing director and principal Tracie Robertson was incredibly humbled by the award, which she said came down to teamwork and creating a business with a strong foundation. 

“It makes you reflect, to think there are so many impressive people in this organisation, and to sit there in that room and look around and think, ‘what are we doing right?’,” Ms Robertson said.

“I guess there are so many small things we’re doing right, there’s not one big thing, there’s nothing glaringly obvious, it’s just a lot of little tiny building blocks that are working to such an extent that we’ve been able to get to number one in such an impressive group. 

“It’s very humbling and very exciting.”      

Nick Kelly of the Central West Ray White Rural business was also named Top Salesperson for the Rural network and #1 Rural NSW/ACT Salesperson by settled commission. The Ray White Parkes | Forbes | Condobolin | West Wyalong team controlled the list of top agents in the 23-24 financial year, with fellow sales agents Brendon Allegri coming in at #2 and Paddy Ward at #4 on the list.

In the Top Livestock Office by settled commission, the winner was Ray White Rural Livestock Tamworth (pictured above). 

Mark Muldrew (pictured below) of Ray White Emerald took out the top gong in the Top Principal by settled commission category, along with being named the #1 Queensland Rural Principal. 

Salespeople and offices that also distinguished themselves in the auction space were awarded with the Competition Creators award. Ray White Rural Tamworth took out the award in the office category while Nick Kelly (pictured below) of Ray White Parkes | Forbes | Condobolin | West Wyalong added another trophy to his cabinet, being named the Top Competition Creator in the Rural network for an individual. 

In the Clients’ Choice Office award category, Ray White Rural Warwick, Ray White Rural Lifestyle Sydney and Ray White Biloela were ranked in the top three. Ray Piper, Ray White Tumut | Gundagai, Damien Gomersall, Ray White Rural Agnes Water and Rebecca Denson, Ray White  Tumut | Gundagai all came in as the top three for Individuals in the Clients’ Choice awards category. 

In the Brand Territory awards category, Scott Simshauser of Ray White Rural Tamworth won the Livestock Marketer of the Year. Rob Chapman from Ray White Manning Valley (pictured above) won the Property Marketer of the Year and Jez McNamara from Ray White Rural Queensland won the Property Campaign of the Year for his ‘Elamakana’ campaign. Mr McNamara also won the Brand Territory Marketing Innovation Award. 

Marketing is at the heart of the Ray White Rural Group, and it continues to dominate the media with the greatest share of voice. Ray White Manning Valley was the Top Advertiser in The Land, Ray White Rural Queensland topped the list for Queensland Country Life, Ray White Parkes | Forbes | Condobolin | West Wyalong was the leading advertiser for both the North Queensland Register and Stock & Land while Ray White Rural South Australia was named in the Stock Journal category. 

The joint Property Managers of the Year were Janelle Weekes from Ray White Rural Mundubbera and Emma Moy of Ray White Rural Tumbarumba (pictured above). Meanwhile, the Ray White Tumut | Gundagai property management team was awarded the top Property Management Team of the Year award. 

Ray White Rural Oakey received the Top Property Management - Revenue Growth award and Ray White Parkes | Forbes | Condobolin | West Wyalong won the Top Property Management - Net Growth prize.

Gabby Neale from Ray White Manning Valley was named Sales Assistant of the Year. Alex Wilson and Rebecca Saunders (pictured above) of the Ray White Rural Tamworth administration team topped the list for Administration Team of the Year, while Administrator of the Year was Kristie Sibbald from Ray White Rural Tamborine Mountain.

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