Business Chamber president Les Lawry said the awards system was being examined by him and his executives, with a move away from popular voting planned.

Until that was organised, the awards – aside from the Business Leader Award – were on hiatus.

He said the feedback from the majority of his business members was that they wished for the annual awards to be put on hold and re-jigged.

The Orange Business awards had moved away from poplar voting to a merit judging system; a system Mr Lawry was keen replicate.

“They are a lot of money and a lot of work, so they have been put in abeyance until we re-look at how they are held.”

The annual Business Leader award was an exception, he said, and would

continue to be held annually, something he believed was very important.

The recipient of the award will be announced at the Cowra Business Cocktail Party at the Quarry Restaurant on Friday, November 20.

Past winners have included Bill Bundy and George Kollas.