Quality Dolphin Pools wins Australian Pool of the Year

The SPASA Australia Pool of the Year has been won by Western Australian pool builder Quality Dolphin Pools.

The award was presented to director Shaun Conley at the gala awards evening at Doltone House, Pyrmont, which was held following the inaugural SPASA Convention.

Emotional acceptance speech

As well as thanking his business partner Adrian Elphick, Conley thanked his family, staff and suppliers in an emotional acceptance speech.

Conley helped his father build swimming pools when he was a child in Zimbabwe in 1971.

“We came to Australia in 1983,” he said to rousing applause. “To the most magnificent country in the world.”

“I’m lucky to have a great partner Adrian,” he said. “We built a business over the past 25 years together. Without him and my family’s support, and also my suppliers – AstralPool Solutions, Austral and other people like PoolWater Products and Chadsons – people who’ve supported me over 20-30 years. Without them I couldn’t have achieved what we’ve done. And to me that’s also the success of our business. The people we work with. It’s not just about me. My staff don’t work for me, they work with me.

“And I’d like to thank all of you tonight. And one last thing I’d like to say. I’m a very emotional person.

“We lost a very dear friend in Ben Beale. He was an amazing man and touched my heart like you would not believe. And to the Beale family I don’t know what to say. You are just amazing people.”

Other major winners on the night

Spa of the Year - Laguna Pools and Spas

Retailer of the Year - Pristine Pool & Spa Service

Supplier of the Year - LoChlor

Product of the Year - Sunbather

For the full list go to the SPASA Australia website (available from September 7).

There will also be a full list in the upcoming issue of SPLASH!