A popular Coast club is celebrating a standout achievement on the national stage after claiming two major titles at the Australian Wedding Industry Awards, held in Sydney this month.
Caloundra Power Boat Club was awarded First Place – Wedding Venue (Licensed Club), placing it among the best wedding venues in Australia.
The club’s functions manager Priscilla Wilcox was also crowned Australian Wedding Venue Coordinator of the Year, emerging as the top nominee from a competitive field of 45 finalists nationwide.
Renowned for its sweeping waterfront views over Pumicestone Passage at Golden Beach, Caloundra Power Boat Club has built a strong reputation for delivering relaxed yet polished weddings tailored to each couple’s vision. The national awards recognise excellence in service, professionalism, communication and overall client experience, with winners determined through a rigorous process driven by real couples.
President Les Broughton said the dual wins were a proud moment for the entire club.
“This is a huge honour for our club and our functions team,” Mr Broughton said.
“We’re incredibly proud to be recognised on a national stage and grateful for the continued support from our Sunshine Coast community and the wonderful couples who choose to celebrate their special day with us.”
The Australian Wedding Industry Awards were previously known as the Brides Choice Awards, a program established in 2008 to recognise outstanding wedding businesses in regional Australia. Rebranded nationally in 2022, the awards continue to stand apart from many industry accolades by relying heavily on verified customer feedback rather than paid nominations or judging panels.
Voting is conducted by newlywed couples who have engaged the services of venues and suppliers. Couples are allocated a set number of votes, which they can distribute across different categories such as venue, coordinator, stylist or celebrant, based on their experience. These votes are independently tallied and combined with a comprehensive “secret shopper” audit conducted by the awards’ body.
This audit assesses response times to enquiries, professionalism, marketing, online presence and overall business practices, ensuring a level playing field for businesses of all sizes.
For the club, the recognition reflects both the appeal of the venue and the expertise of the team behind the scenes.
As functions manager for the past 8 years, Priscilla Wilcox has overseen hundreds of weddings, drawing on more than 25 years of experience in the events industry. Under her leadership, the club has grown into one of the Coast’s most sought-after wedding destinations, hosting around 50 weddings each year.
Ms Wilcox said the national coordinator award win was an unexpected and deeply rewarding moment.
“This is the first time I’ve won the Australian Wedding Venue Coordinator award, and I honestly wasn’t expecting it,” she said.
“To be recognised at this level is incredibly humbling, especially knowing the votes come from the couples themselves.”
She said the club’s ability to offer ceremonies, wet-weather backup options and receptions all at one location was a major drawcard.
“It’s just easy here,” Ms Wilcox said.
“Couples can have their ceremony by the water, move upstairs to our glass-enclosed balcony if the weather turns, and then flow straight into their reception. It makes the day stress-free for the wedding party and their guests.”
Reflecting on the judging feedback, Ms Wilcox said responsiveness and showing a genuine interest in her wedding customers were key strengths highlighted through the process.
“I pride myself on getting back to people quickly,” she said.
“If you don’t respond to an enquiry straight away, you can miss an opportunity. Couples want to know you’re interested in their wedding and that the process will be easy. Planning a wedding can be stressful, so our goal is to make everything as smooth and straightforward as possible.”
She added that representing the club on a national stage was something she felt deeply proud of.
“I just love this club,” Ms Wilcox said.
“It’s a beautiful venue, but more importantly, we have an amazing team. From reception to the kitchen to the staff setting up the rooms, it’s a real team effort. To see how far our wedding offerings have come in the time I’ve been here is incredibly rewarding.”
For more information contact Caloundra Power Boat Club.
