Morris joins biz hall of fame list
TERRY Morris delivered a passionate speech to hundreds of businesspeople about his love for the Gold Coast after becoming the 13th person to be inducted into the Gold Coast Business Hall of Fame.
He joins a list that includes Dreamworld founder John Longhurst, Sea World founder Keith Williams, and developers Jim Raptis and Norm Rix.
The Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards, held on Saturday night at The Star Gold Coast, was attended by more than 600 people.
Mr Morris told attendees that he and wife Lurleen were grateful to the Gold Coast business community for giving them the opportunity to forge a highly successful career.
He also defended the media, including newspapers, radio and television, saying it has an important role to play.
Mr Morris was born in Victoria and owned a successful insurance business in the La Trobe Valley before moving to the Gold Coast in 1976.
His current business, Morris International, grew into a pioneer of database management and marketing after Mr Morris saw an opportunity to offer cheaper Queensland cigarettes to Victorians via mail order. It evolved into a vastly different venture over the years and now encompasses a variety of businesses including Carrara Markets, the Performance Driving Centre at Norwell, and The GoodTimes Pub Group.
Another business grew from a sporting passion. Mr Morris said he was never good at ball sports which led him to car racing. His love of car racing spread to son Paul Morris, who became a successful V8 Supercar driver, and led to Mr Morris owning a racing team.
The highest profile Morris business is Sirromet Wines, opened in 2000 on the family’s 200ha Mt Cotton property.
Also at the awards, highprofile construction company Condev was named the Gold Coast Business of the Year.
In the other categories, Dairy Free Down Under was named the winner of the Emerging Business Award, Usher Group won Family Business, JSW Powersports won Retail, Wholesale and Distribution Award, Digga Australia won Manufacturing, Orbitz Elevators won Professions and Business Services and Balense Skin won Health and Wellbeing. OnPlatinum ICT won IT and Digital Business, Gold Coast Turf Club won Tourism, Hospitality and Events, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary won Student Employability, Southport-based Pivotel Satellite won the Mayor’s Innovation GC Award and BITS Technology Group won the Encouragement Award.