A few days after the #illeatwithyou campaign launched at Samaras restaurant in Wollongong a special event happened at the Nemer family's second restaurant to the north.

After his 100th birthday on March 19, Ramez Joukador enjoyed his century celebration at the new Samaras Woonona.

Mr Joukador had already requested and received a letter from the Queen because he wasn't satisfied just getting one from the Prime Minister.

The Joukador family particularly wanted to hold the 100th birthday celebration in one of the Nemer family's restaurant.

"We have a Lebanese heritage and we have known Omar and his family for a long time," George Joukador said. "We are a Christian Lebanese family and they are Muslim but we don't care. They have absolutely great food."

Mr Nemer and Grahame Gould, of Lifeline had launched the #illeatwithyou campaign with a lunch in Wollongong a few days before.

The campaign was launched when the Muslim-owned restaurant's Facebook page was peppered with anti-Islamic posts recently, urging people to "boycott Islamic businesses".

Dawn Fraser booked

Director Glenda Papac had a big announcement to make at the Illawarra Women In Business networking lunch in March.

Mrs Papac revealed that Dawn Fraser would be guest speaker at the July 24 event.

Her focus is presently on the Illawarra Women In Business Awards, with entries closing this week, but she will email out information and registration details about the Dawn Fraser lunch soon.

Looking for heroes

Illawarra Innovative Industry Network (i3net) is seeking nominations for its inaugural Community Award.

The manufacturing cluster wants to recognise and promote a community organisation or individual that represents best practice in delivering social outcomes for the Illawarra and its people. It could be a charitable organisation or a volunteer individual, who contributes to the community.

Nominees should be Illawarra based, have a track record of charitable work and be making a difference to peoples' lives.

i3net is looking for those not generally recognised for their work, the unsung heroes of the community.

Nominations may be submitted to any member of i3net and their staff and close on April 10.

The finalists will be announced on April 17.

Cassel in spotlight

Former Minnamurra resident Michael Cassel returns to the spotlight as the latest production of Les Miserables he opened in Melbourne last year with Sir Cameron Mackintosh arrives in Sydney. After being involved in student productions at Kiama High School and helping out with annual Christmas shows in Wollongong and Kiama, Mr Cassel started his company MC Productions, which produced the Illawarra Business Awards for more than a decade.

Hawks as partners

The Illawarra Business Chamber is encouraging local businesses to consider committing to a commercial partnership with the Wollongong Hawks for next season.

Following community interest surrounding the club, businesses are being invited to think about the benefits a partnership commitment to the Hawks could bring next season.

The chamber suggests that by partnering with the NBL's only remaining foundation team, businesses would help ensure the Illawarra region continues to have a team competing in a national sports competition and keep Wollongong on the sporting map. The hawkstakeflight.com features the full range of commercial partnership options.

Easter fun day

Claire Roberts, of HiViz Events, and Kerrie Humphrey, of The Central Hotel, have organised an Easter Sunday Fun Day on April 5, with market stallholders having a portion of the fee to attend going to local charity Need a Feed.

Ms Robert said the day was designed for entire families to enjoy with free admission.

Little Artists Big Fun

Little Leonardo’s Art Studio starts its well established daily school holiday art program on April 8.

Each day there are new activities for children of all ages starting with three and four years olds at 9.30am, five to eight year olds at 11am and nine to 12 year olds from 1pm. The hour long workshops cost only $15.

Miss Universe

Chayde Nettle, of Thirroul, and Michaela Swamy, of Balgownie, competed in the preliminary round of Miss Universe Australia at Market City Shopping Centre on Saturday and Sunday.

The two young women got to meet Miss Universe Australia Tegan Martin.

Direct sales plan

A new networking group has started in Wollongong specifically aimed at party plan, direct sales businesses and business support businesses.

Alison Gatt said the first meeting in the Illawarra was in March and the plan was to have regular meetings.

Further information at www.savvycirclesnetwork.com.

Networking event

A free Networking After 5 event is being held at UniVenues, Building 11 at the University of Wollongong on Wednesday.

Supported by Illawarra Business Chamber it is billed as a great opportunity for its members to introduce themselves and their organisation to students.

The University's UOW Student Life Team has invited iAccelerate's Elizabeth Eastland to talk about entrepreneurship.

THE DIARY

April 1 - Free Networking After 5 event at UniVenues Building 11 at the University of Wollongong main campus.

Essential Personnel is holding a Community Participation Open Day from 10.30am at 167 Crown Street to help celebrate a brand new premises.

Expressions of interest to perform at the 31st Illawarra Folk Festival open and will close on May 30, 2015.

Stars of Wollongong Dance for Cancer at the Wollongong Innovation Campus.

April 2 - Sixth annual KidzWish Bowls Day at Wisemans Park Bowling Club with bowling from 1.30pm and function from 4pm. 

A business established by TAFE Illawarra Wollongong students called True Events Marketing is hosting a meet and greet at Pepe’s to showcase the sponsors of its corporate golf day. It will include a company vehicle display that will involve a convoy of vehicles driving a loop from Pepe’s to the lighthouse at Flagstaff Hill.

April 5 - Easter Sunday Fun Day at Central Hotel in Shellharbour from 11am to 4pm.

April 7 - Wollongong Small Business Club networking meeting at Villa D’Oro.

April 8 - Little Leonardo’s Art Studio school holiday art workshops begin.

April 9 - Launch of the 2015 Vinneas annaul CEO Sleepout in Wollongong.

Illawarra ITeC Business Basics Workshop.

April 11 - A BreastAware Education and Empowerment Workshop at the Lagoon Seafood Restaurant will encourage women to take two 2 hours out of their busy schedules to learn life saving techniques. Maralyn Young and the BreastAware committee work on the premis that prevention is better than a cure so that fewer women find a lump when its too late.

April 15 - Former Wallaby and the www.therugbybusinessnetwork.com (RBN) convenor Adrian Skeggs is hosting the naugural Wollongong Rugby Business Network meeting at The Atrium on the ground floor of iC Central at the Wollongong Innovation Campus with former Hungry Jack’s Australia chief executive Tim Tighe and former Waratahs’ players Peter Palmer, Michael Hayes and Richard Tombs.

Shellharbour City Business Network meeting with Melissa Browne sharing five tips on growing a business.

April 17 to 19 - Bravo Team Challenge.

April 17 - Wendi Leigh is doing a Community Cancer Link parade as part of her passion to help dress women through designing and making specific outfits for women who might be afflicted by cancer or other disabilities.

April 18 -  Need A Feed trivia night at Bellambi Bowling Club from 7pm. Registrations at www.trybooking.com/123373.

April 21 - Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce meeting at Helensburgh’s Centennial Hotel.

iAccelerate Educate Lecture on accounting and finance.

April 22 - South Coast Women in Building and Construction networking forum.

iAccelerate Entrepreneurial Women’s Breakfast with Larissa Robertson.

April 23 - Centenary of ANZAC luncheon.

April 28 - St Mary Star of The Sea College Women in Careers Expo.

May 1 - IWIB Business Women’s Awards Day 2015.

May 2 - Cristina’s House of Hope White and Red Dinner Dance.

May 4 - Night Markets at Lagoon Seafood Restaurant from 5.30pm.

May 22 - The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal business luncheon at City Beach Function Centre.

June 21 - Banquet at the Beach at City Beach Function Centre.