By Abbey Cannan
The Sunshine Coast staked its claim to be home to the best agents in Queensland, scooping five of the 19 awards at the REIQ Awards for Excellence gala, as more than 500 real estate professionals gathered at the RNA Showgrounds.
The Innovation Award was given jointly to two agencies, with one winner being Cooroy-based Wythes Real Estate in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and the other being LJ Hooker Nerang, which also won Large Agency of the Year.
Breaking Justin Nickerson’s iron grip on the REIQ Auctioneer of the Year Award, Gavin Croft claimed his first REIQ award, ending Nickerson’s hopes of winning a fifth consecutive title.
Croft, who is only the second auctioneer to win Auctioneer of the Year for two different states, said the honour was a huge thrill and humbling at the same time.
“This win puts me in the company of some of the best auctioneers in the world and that’s a humbling honour,” he said.
In her speech REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella thanked special guest Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath for her promise that the Palaszczuk Government was committed to introducing mandatory CPD across the entire real estate profession, to rousing applause from the REIQ membership.
Ms Mercorella said the Awards for Excellence showcased those real estate professionals who had achieved outstanding results to rise to a level above their peers.
“To achieve at this level requires enormous commitment, tireless work and incredible motivation and the finalists and winners here tonight have successfully demonstrated their ability to do that,” she said.
