Don and Coral Halliwell have been supplying and engraving trophies for three generations and just recently have decided it’s time to lock the trophy cabinet for good.

The couple, who worked different jobs during the day and operated their trophy business from a room in their Lismore Avenue home at night, have certainly done the hard yards but believe they are the ones who have taken out the most prestigious award.

“We’ve been so lucky over the years with the support of thousands of Maitland people who would return to us on a regular basis and have us supply them with trophies and engraving,” Coral said.

“Don’s engraved everything from dunny seats to dance trophies and we’ve never let anyone down,” she said.

The business started in 1980 when Don was working as a truck driver and Coral working at Bullen’s IGA Supermarket at Rutherford. 

“We’d come home after work and sometimes work on the trophy business until midnight,” Coral said. “We’ve produced thousands of trophies – I’d hate to hazard a guess at how many Don has engraved,” she said.

Now Don, aged 79, and Coral 72, said enough is enough – particularly with Don’s ailing health. “We had to make a decision and it was hard and very sad,” Coral said.

“We have engraved and supplied trophies for cricket, football, soccer, swimming, darts, netball, basketball, schools and dance studios. 

“We’ve engraved everything from toilet seats to bed pans and giant dummies and laughed every step of the way. 

“More recently we have engraved awards for the grandchildren of some of the people who received our trophies in 1980 when we started the business,” she said.

Halliwell’s trophies are not just gracing the sideboards of homes in Maitland. They have also gone to Queensland, the Upper Hunter and the Central Coast.

“It has been a wonderful business and we have to thank everyone who has supported us,” Coral said.