Major real estate franchise group Harcourts Group Australia marked its 20th-anniversary milestone during a three-day conference held 29-31 May at The Star Casino, on the Gold Coast. Kicking off the signature event was a performance by ARIA award winning artists The Veronicas. The annual conference was a mixture of learning, inspiration and ideas presentations from a variety of noted property leaders mixed with industry networking and strategy sessions, culminating in a gala black-tie awards evening where outstanding performers were recognised across 33 categories in residential and commercial sales, property management and business achievements. “Our annual awards not only recognise the top achievers across our 400-office network, but the evening also served to honour the tremendous achievement of 20 years as an Australian business,” said Marcus Williams, CEO Harcourts Group Australia. “I cannot be prouder of the hard work and dedication each team member contributes year in and year out to make Harcourts the best client experience in real estate. “For Harcourts Group Australia to have achieved a record-breaking result of $11 billion in settled sales over 2016 and reach the #3 position in real estate brands across Australia is simply extraordinary.” AWARD WINNERS Harcourts Foundation Award – Harcourts Solutions (Brisbane) Top Sales Consultant – Stephanie Williams, Harcourts Williams (Adelaide) Top Office – Harcourts Coastal; also named #5 office internationally (Gold Coast) Top Office Administrator of the Year (tie) – Hayley Kendall, Harcourts Kingborough (Tasmania) and Natalie Ekers, Harcourts South Coast SA Rising Star of the Year – Kim Durrand, Harcourts Warragul VIC Novice Auctioneer of the Year – Christian Hamilton, Harcourts Solutions (Brisbane) Auctioneer of the Year – Mark Sheppard, Harcourts Sheppard Property SA Property Manager of the Year – Carolyn Brereton, Harcourts Solutions (Brisbane) Top NAI Harcourts Commercial Agent of the Year – Phil Grant, NAI Harcourts Pinnacle Aspley QLD Top Landmark Harcourts Agent of the Year – Neville Tutt, Landmark Harcourts Albany WA INTERNATIONAL HALL OF FAME Inducted into the International Harcourts Hall of Fame was Lee Perry of Harcourts Mandurah (WA) into the Harcourts Hall of Fame. Mr Perry joins an exemplary list of real estate professionals who have been recognised for their personal and professional contributions to the successes, growth and stability of Harcourts. Described as a person who is always willing to share his knowledge and experience with anyone within Harcourts, Mr Perry is known as a role model in how to put people first and do the right thing. “Lee has been a long term valued member of our team and has always been an outstanding ambassador of the Harcourts Group both home in Australia and abroad,” said Marcus Williams, CEO Harcourts Group Australia. “He is always happy to assist all team members to be the best they can possibly be. We’re all so thrilled he was inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame.” Starting his career in real estate 16 years ago, Mr Perry found his calling when working in the mines, just before he and his now wife, Diana were about to get married. Deciding fatefully to work one more shift to save for the upcoming nuptials, the decision would be one that changed the course of Lee’s life forever. During the shift, Lee fell five metres onto his back, breaking his pelvis and spending months in a hospital. It was during this time of reflection, Lee thought seriously about pursuing his passion for real estate and chose to go for his qualification. In the time since starting out, Lee has gone on to become one of Harcourts Australia’s most successful real estate agents, selling more than $400 million in real estate and also establishing his own business – Harcourts Mandurah - along with business partners Wayne Davey, Ben Hatch and Clare Seamer. Lee was determined that the people who worked within their office wouldn’t simply feel as though it was a place of business. A place to come in, and sit down at your desk, with your head down. It would be an environment of support, where you felt as though you were part of a group that truly cared about one another, and where people found real enjoyment in what they did, it would be a real family.
