General News
4 November, 2025
Sweet win at business awards
EMERALD Creek Ice Creamery has been named Mareeba Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year at a gala dinner on Saturday night, attended by Queensland Premier David Crisafulli.
The business, which has been owned and operated by Clare and Mike Bees since 2021, is known for its premium handcrafted ice cream and sorbets, as well as other locally made food products, and more recently extended its opening hours to allow for night time events, with its first poker night to be held next week.
The ice creamery also took out the Excellence in Retail category, one of nine awards handed out at the ceremony hosted by the Mareeba International Club.
Before the awards were announced, Premier Crisafulli gave a stirring speech to the audience, talking about his desire to see regional communities grow and thrive and be places that young people will want to live, start a business and raise a family.
“I want to see country communities not just maintain population but grow and develop,” he said.
“There was a time when young people believed their only solution for their future was to go to a city, get an education, get a degree and stay in that city.
“I believe that’s changing. I think people’s mindset is changing and I want them to,” he said, adding that decentralisation of Queensland was an important focus for him.
“I don’t want cookie cutter societies, I don’t want people to have to live in big cities to count for something and that’s why tonight is so important.”
The Premier said small businesses were critical for the prosperity of regional communities.
“At the heart of every community are people who put everything on the line every day to make it better, to make an opportunity for them and their family, but also their staff, and the opportunity for people to earn a living in the community where they grew up,” he said.
“I want people to be able to dream of running a business in a community they grew up in – I want people to be proud to be working for that small and family business.
“That matters – that’s at the heart at everything we do,” he said, acknowledging that business was overregulated by government and change was needed to cut red tape and costs.
“Every change we make is about tipping the needle back in favour of smaller family business and small regional communities.”
Mr Crisafulli congratulated all businesses at the event, saying “your contribution is valued and keeps your community thriving”.
Earlier, Chamber president Joe Moro welcomed the Premier and reminded him that Mareeba was still waiting on a bypass, and a new Barron River bridge at Kuranda.
Mr Moro thanked Mr Cisafulli for his role in allowing the steps which resulted in the de-amalgamation of Mareeba from Tablelands Regional Council when he was Local Government Minister in the Campbell Newman government.
Mr Moro also took time to encourage everyone in the Mareeba Shire to have their say now on the future of the town’s central business district.
“There are some significant changes to the way the street will function,” he said, urging local businesses to give their input.
“Now is the time to really make your comments known, either at the pop-up shops, or talk to your councillors because at the end of the day, they make the final decision.”
BUSINESS AWARDS:
Excellence in service – B&B Fibreglass, Panel & Paint
Excellence in Tourism – Savannah in the Round
Best revitalised business – Circuit Tree Mobiles & Technology
Best Not-for-profit business – Mareeba and Communities Family Health Care
Best new Business – Mish & Moo
People’s choice excellence in customer service – Angelica Micieli – Whole Life Pharmacy
People’s Choice – Community Event or Group or Individual of the Year – Michael Musumeci and the Mareeba Pioneer Cemetery Volunteer Group
