Ray White and Loan Market celebrate 2024 achievements in WA

The leading network was also celebrating 30 successful years of operation in Western Australia.

Ray White Western Australia chief executive officer Mark Whiteman thanked everyone, especially his father Ross Whiteman, for the courage to start the business some 30 years ago.

“Dad, you pulled two very different businesses together, and created a culture and you took us to market leadership here in the West.” He thanked all the 30 year members on stage - Ross Whiteman, Julie Touchell, Lindsay Gibson,Maxine Gibson, Angela Padula, Karen Smart, Michael Smart, Marylin Maclennan, Steve McMahon, Malcolm McMillan, Peter Sukiennik, Diem Whiteman and David Whiteman.

“We are in the business of leadership. We provide leadership to our customers in making their decisions and solving their property and finance needs and leadership to one another in performing our roles,” Mark Whiteman said.

“Leadership is the most important ingredient for any organisation or family to succeed. At Ray White this starts at the top with the White Family. Without the leadership and support of Dan and his family none of this would be possible. They continue to provide us with the best tools, support and resources in the marketplace.”

“And finally in the important Fremantle market the iconic business that is Dethridge Groves, has become part of our family. Former REIWA and REIA President Hayden Groves along with new General Manager Michael Harries and members of the team are with us tonight.

“It’s been a big year, with so many milestones achieved and yet as we celebrate our 30th year here in Western Australia we have so much more potential ahead of us.”

The coveted sales awards saw powerhouse agency Ray White Dalkeith | Claremont once again take home the prize for Top Sales Office based on the highest settled commission, and the dynamic principal Vivien Yap was again named as the Top Principal in 2024 - for the seventh year in a row. Vivien Yap was also crowned No.2 International Principal across all of Ray White in Australia and New Zealand.

“It is so humbling to win these awards again. This is my seventh year receiving this honours, and I truly can't believe how quickly time has flown by. When you’re passionate about what you do and surrounded by a dedicated team, it doesn’t feel like work at all. I’m incredibly grateful to my team, my clients, and the Ray White network for their ongoing trust and support. These awards are a reflection of the collective effort that goes into every transaction. We are constantly striving to raise the bar and deliver the best possible outcomes, and it’s deeply rewarding to see that commitment recognised,” Ms Yap said.

In the category of multiple office groups with Ray White, Ray White Stocker Preston won the award in its first full year with the franchised group, with offices in Busselton, Margaret River, Dunsborough and Augusta.

In a stunning achievement for the hard-working agent who is known for her relentless work ethic, Vivien Yap also won the Tony Fountain Auction Listing Award - Individual and her business Ray White Dalkeith | Claremont once again also won the top Tony Fountain Auction Listing Award - Office too. The coveted Marketing Excellence Award once again was won by Ray White Dalkeith | Claremont.

The unstoppable Elsie Corby of Ray White Rockingham | Baldivis was named the Top Principal by Number of Sales once again. Living in the Rockingham | Baldivis area for more than 30 years, Ms Corby’s passion for her community and genuine appreciation of all this exciting region helps her business to shine. Her business Ray White Rockingham | Baldivis won the Top Office - Number of Sales for 2024.

Louis De Chiera of Ray White Stocker Preston was named as the top sales agent - based on settled commission. Toby Huggins of Ray White Urban Springs won the top salesperson by number of sales volume.

Mr Whiteman awarded the coveted Ross Whiteman Award to Tony Hart, the highly regarded leader from Ray White Broome, Derby and Port Hedland.

“Each year we take time to recognise someone among us who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and made a contribution to Ray White Western Australia so significant that if it were not for this person’s efforts we would all be the poorer,” Mr Whiteman said.

“Named after Dad, our inaugural CEO who laid the foundations upon which we all build today, each recipient’s name you see scrolling through on the screens around you has lived up to the example Dad has set. This is our top annual award.

“This year’s recipient has played a critical role in our position here in Western Australia. They (along with their business partners) were integral in re-establishing Ray White in a destination market. Rebuilding our reputation and becoming the clear market leader.

“As the business moved through different life cycles our recipient changed and evolved, establishing a unique business structure and style, the business continued to evolve taking on additional markets to great effect.

“Tony has developed some outstanding people. Investing in their growth and supporting their individual ambitions. Tony has supported Ray White’s initiatives and direction since joining more than 15 years ago.

The Damien Mills Community Contribution award went to Heather O'Donnell of Ray White Denmark (pictured below) for her outstanding contribution to become the lead fundraiser for Melanoma March held annually.

Mr Whiteman said the award was named in honour of Damien Mills, an outstanding Loan Market broker and major supporter of charities, community organisations as well as his colleagues, both Ray White and Loan Market.

“The Damien Mills award was born out of the tragic loss of our good friend Damien Mills too early. Damien wasn’t just a great broker and contributor to the White Family group, he was a great contributor to his community,” he said.

“Just like Damien’s story, Heather’s award came from another tragic loss, one that could have seen our recipient succumb to grief. Heather comes from a family famous for their community spirit and their generosity, so they were never going to give up, rather they chose to use the tragedy as fuel to drive their purpose, to raise funds to make a difference and to improve the chances for others in the future.”

The night also saw a number of gongs handed out for property management achievements. Once again the long established business Ray White Karratha was named top property management office for 2024. This business is in the heart of WA’s mining centre and is famous for having a huge focus on its loyal property investors to achieve maximum financial results.

Sarah Ellis of Ray White Kambalda was named Property Manager of the Year, and Doug Corby of Ray White Rockingham | Baldivis once again won the Property Management Business Development Business Manager of the Year award. Ray White Mandurah won the award for Property Management Office - Revenue Growth. Ray White Rockingham | Baldivis also took home the Property Management Office - Net Growth award. Ray White Broome won the Property Management Growth Office (Acquisitions) award. Kiara Beech of the Ray White Ialacci Group won the Rising Star - Property Management.

Ray White Jurien Bay was named as the Top Office - Growth, while Emma Langley of Ray White North Quays was named Top Salesperson - Growth.

Phoebe Pini of Ray White Jurien Bay was named as the John Seddon Rising Star while Pasquale Italiano of Ray White North Quays won the Compass Award. Sarah Lyons of Ray White Jurien Bay won the Front Desk Operator of the Year.

The Stocker Preston Corporate Team (Jodie Moore, Sharlene Day, Jo Paddick, Kerry Purkiss, Keli Hosking, Abbey Winch) were named as Administration Team of the Year, while Alysia Rowe of Ray White Urban Springs was named Office Manager / General Manager of the Year. Courtney Beatty of Ray White Broome won the Personal Assistant of the Year.