The chamber won the Best Local Chamber of Commerce Award at the 2017 NSW Business Chamber State Business Awards on Friday.

President Stacey Cooke attended the awards with her husband Michael and did not expect to take to the stage.

“I was in absolute shock; not because we don't deserve it, because we totally do, but more because I had read the biography on all the other chamber nominees and there were 14 other chambers in on the running for this,” she said.

“To go on to state was a nice feather in our cap [but] we didn't think we had made it to that sort of calibre yet.”

Mrs Cooke said she had one regret – not preparing a speech.

“It felt like the Logies - it really did,” she said.

“As soon as they announce you, the light goes on you and it follows you the whole way up. I was thinking, ‘What am I going to say?’, the whole way up there.”

Mrs Cooke said the award helped the chamber to step back and see just how much had been accomplished.

“When you're in it, you don't realise how much you've done,” she said.

“For a little regional town, we have actually accomplished quite a lot.

It was brilliant to get that recognition. It's really motivated us a lot more now. We've sort of sat back and said ‘Wow, look at us’.” 

The president said it still felt “surreal”.

“You know what's really lovely? I've been getting emails today from other chambers in the area,” she said.

“They've all sent messages to me congratulating the Gunnedah Chamber, saying it's fantastic.”

Mrs Cooke was particularly impacted by an email from Armidale Business Chamber’s interim executive officer, Tim Allerton.

“[He said], ‘I hope can emulate your efforts in the coming years’,” she said.

“Imitation is the great form of flattery so to have another chamber say, ‘We want to do what you're doing’, is amazing.”

Mrs Cooke is no stranger to the awards, attending last year to represent the chamber in the same category.

“We've kept the momentum, in  the last three years in particular. I think Friday night's win was a combination of the last three years,” she said.

“It's just that we'll still continue to do what we're doing with the same sort of an energy and drive.

“If we make it as a state finalist again, then we'll go into the hall of fame. We'd be the first regional chamber in the hall of fame if we make it.”

Mrs Cooke said it was great to have some local company on the awards night, with Jodi and Stuart Dolbel representing Riley’s Furniture and Carpets, and Wholegrain Milling staff also attending.