Page 2227 - Week 07 - Thursday, 7 August 2014
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including cheeses, olives, antipasti and locally produced and imported cured meats. All salads, as well as many hot food lines, are made fresh in store every day and the quality of the produce is second to none. I know from many of their customers that their cheese section is seriously world class and attracts customers from across Canberra and outside the ACT.
They also own the adjoining liquor store, Ainslie Cellars, and stock wines from all wine regions throughout Australia and overseas. Importantly, they are also supporters of the Canberra and region wine show, held each year in September at the RNCAS Exhibition Park, demonstrating their commitment to supporting Canberra.
The only disappointment on the night of the awards was the lack of recognition of the ACT. Manny Xyrakis and his sister Irene Mihailakis were continually described as being from IGA Ainslie in New South Wales, despite Manny’s less than subtle prompting of the MC, Paul McDermott, who, as an ex-Canberran, should have known better. He was in fact less than positive about Canberra. But Manny has always been a proud Canberran and he stood up to the rather crude taunts of the MC. Manny had the last laugh as he picked up the two major awards on the night and certainly put Canberra on the map in front of the 1,500 by then cheering attendees.
The Sydney Morning Herald on 23 July ran this story on page 22, giving Manny recognition of his championing of Canberra. So for those who would like to know the full story, I suggest you seek it out. It is certainly worth reading.
Other than that episode on the night, the night was, by all accounts, a great success. It is a huge achievement for a local Canberra suburban store to win such prestigious awards. Congratulations to the Xyrakis family; they are great ambassadors for our city.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
The Assembly adjourned at 5.10 pm until Tuesday, 12 August 2014, at 10 am.
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