Hannaford Eyewear, based in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, has received international attention, with husband-and-wife team Grant and Thao Hannaford receiving two prestigious awards in the same month.
On 23 September at Silmo in Paris, Grant Hannaford was presented the prestigious Silmo D’Or International Optician of the Year Award. The award was presented in recognition of Mr Hannaford’s important role in the optical business, and excellence in professionalism, communication, innovation, specialisation, and advocacy.
I’ve tried my absolute best in my career to deliver education
“I’ve tried my absolute best in my career to deliver education and have been lucky enough to work overseas and provide aide work,” said Mr Hannaford.
Mr Hannaford said his interest in aide work began in 2001 when he was working out who he was and what he wanted to achieve as an optician. After taking a punt on an opportunity that arose, Mr Hannaford found himself involved in the delivery of eyecare both in Nepal and Mongolia where he, and his wife Thao (the practice’s principal optometrist), delivered free eye testing and spectacles to thousands of patients.
Speaking of the significance of receiving the award, Mr Hannaford said, “It’s a very strange feeling, all the mistakes and successes and everything that we’ve learnt has all culminated in this one moment. But it’s not just me, it’s my wife, it’s my family, it’s my teachers.”
On 3 September, Hannaford Eyewear was named a 2022 Australian Small Business Champion Award Winner.
Having served Bowral, Moss Vale, and Mittagong since 2004, Ms Hannaford said the practice is grateful for the national recognition.
“We’ve been entering the Local Business Awards and Australian Small Business Champion Awards by Precedent Productions at local and national levels since 2007 and this was our first-time taking home the national award”.
In the past, the practice has been recognised in the Illawarra and South Coast, and Southern Highlands categories of the Local Business Awards.
“There were some years I didn’t even feel like applying but I always did it for my team. They deserve to be recognised nationally and I am absolutely delighted it finally happened,” she said.
