Key Karratha businesses in the spotlight at 2024 7NEWS WA Community Achievement Awards

Doing the Pilbara proud, Lo’s Cafe and Brida took home community achievement awards for their dedication to enhancing the community. The winners of the prestigious 2024 7NEWS WA Community Achievement Awards were announced at a gala dinner at Pan Pacific Perth on Friday, November 22. Lo’s won the Konica Minolta customer service award for enriching Karratha’s social fabric as the town’s go-to spot for a cuppa and a chat since 2018. With a blended Taiwanese and Western cuisine, the business serves 500 customers daily and brews more than 450 cups of coffee. Known for its welcoming atmosphere, Lo’s sponsors community events and is a proud partner of Indigenous hospitality training programs. “Since day one, Steven, who is our manager and my brother, and I created a genuine space together,” owner Ginger Lo said. “From the start, we have never changed. We are ourselves because when you are being real, your customers are also real with you, which is important for the Karratha community. “To win this award is huge for us, and our customers are part of that. They, too, win the award.” Brida won the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development economic development award for empowering the community through culture, financial independence and health improvements. As a 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned social enterprise, Brida started with eight employees in 2008 and now employs 152 staff, 55 per cent of whom are Aboriginal, delivering $8 million annually in wages. Brida’s initiatives, such as YCrew, offer work-ready programs and help reduce welfare dependency. “We have very different business model objectives to many other local businesses and we’re primarily focused on social outcomes, which is the employment of local people and generating wealth so that we can then deliver social programs for the community of Roebourne,” Brida chief executive Francois Langlois said. “The work that we all do up here, the recognition from this award, just reaffirms and confirms the amazing work undertaken by the team.” Winners each received a prize package including a complimentary membership of The Career College valued at $594, and a trophy.