ALEXANDRA'S Commercial Hotel has been selected as a finalist in the Australian Hotels Association Victoria Awards in its first foray into the competition. Owner Tanya Rusden said she was overwhelmed to learn the hotel had made the finals in two categories; outstanding community service and achievement and best bistro in country Victoria.

The hotel is renowned for its commitment charity fundraising, having raised more than $20,000 since establishing the Parmy Army Fundraising Angels last year. After looking at the criteria for each category, Ms Rusden felt the hotel had a chance in each. "The two areas were quite different," she said. "I really thought they deserve to enter into it," Ms Rusden said.

The Grant Street hotel serves more than 300 parmas a week and prides itself on its country style menu that contains a variety of meals as well as 40 different parmas. In her submission to AHAV, Ms Rusden didn’t mention the hotel’s huge list of parmas. "The judges would have got a surprise when they saw the parma menu," she said. But Ms Rusden thinks it isn’t just the iconic dish that ensured their place in the finals. "The atmosphere in here has a lot to do with it; it’s just relaxed" she said. Staff play a big part too, she said. "They are really welcoming and friendly."

Ms Rusden and staff will attend the awards night at the Docklands next month. "This is good for the staff and for the town," she said. "We're really glad we got into this."