Ben and Rhiannon Hickman, of BLR Painting & Decorating, won two prizes at the Master Painters NSW awards for excellence in Sydney while Michelle and Rob Hudson, owners of Poolwerx Albury Wodonga, took out the Victoria Franchise Partner of the Year award at the Poolwerx international convention in Fiji.

BLR Painting & Decorating’s efforts on a Thurgoona display home built by Alatalo Bros earned the company best new work under $20,000 as well as the ACT residential project of the year honour.

Mr Hickman said he had not expected to win with this project, which was completed about the same period as his son was born.

“Everything was going on at the time, quite an eventful couple of months that was,” he said.

The business, which also won NSW awards for excellence last year, has eight staff.

“What’s grown the most is just us as a group, we all complement each other’s work,” Mr Hickman said.

Mr and Mrs Hudson started their business in 2009 and achieved 16 per cent growth last year. They both grew up in the area and had returned from Melbourne in 2008 to be closer to family.

Mrs Hudson said the Border had a strong economy and diversity of industry. The Hudsons had tapped into local expertise through their staff.

“Our store manager in Albury is a former industrial chemist, while our Wodonga store manager has 34 years’ experience in commercial swimming pools,” she said.