AN indoor night market introduced prior to Mother's Day 2014 has grown to become a regular event, and the number of stalls and shoppers doubled in 2015.
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On Tuesday night two locations at either end of the Lagoon Seafood Restaurant were designated to stalls.
Businesspeople such as Carima Couttas, of Mary Kay, are delighted with the number of people the indoor markets are attracting.
Initially the Lagoon Night Markets were to be an annual or biannual event to support small businesses.
Jonni Nicolaou's idea was to hold markets before Mother's Day and Christmas each year, but she added one for Father's Day in 2014 and may do so again.
She is also going to introduce adult evening art classes one Tuesday a month from May 26.
Giving to the Giver
George Harrison and Andrew Harrison are planning a fundraiser to help entertainer Graham Wilson, and brain cancer research, at The Lagoon soon.
Scott Radburn and Rikki Organ immediately jumped on board as MCs, and are expected to be joined by other entertainers.
Shellharbour artist Natalija Vocanec, of Little Leonardo's ArtStudio, was the first to offer an auction item and will paint a musically inspired artwork to be auctioned at the event. Robert Specogna, of CBD Centro, was also quick to donate prizes.
Jenny Jones and Tracey Jansen from the Cancer Council have volunteered to help out on the night.
Wilson had already agreed to be an ambassador for the Blue Mile Dash on May 19 before being admitted to hospital again this week. He is still planning to support that event later this week despite undergoing chemotherapy and not feeling very well at the moment.
He is keen to support the Blue Mile Dash because the proceeds will help Dr Kerrie McDonald study a new treatment for brain cancer.
IT on show
Advantage Wollongong is showcasing the city's information technology expertise at Australia's largest IT industry event in Sydney on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Advantage Wollongong stand is part of the NSW government's presence at CeBIT.
Advantage Wollongong is in partnership with Wollongong City Council, the University of Wollongong and NSW Trade & Investment.
It is the fourth year Advantage Wollongong has featured the city's IT capabilities at CeBIT, after Wollongong became the first city to exhibit there in 2012.
It is seen by civic leaders such as lord mayor Gordon Bradbery as an opportunity to demonstrate that Wollongong is a superior location for IT companies.
Cr Bradbery said the city's presence at the industry showcase was a key element of Advantage Wollongong's Knowledge Service Strategy, which has helped create 1500 jobs in the region.
NSW Trade & Investment recently funded an IT directory for the industry umbrella group ICT Illawarra (ICTI), which has more than 200 listings.
And the NSW government recently chose Wollongong as the site for one of its new Tier 3 data centres.
It is also helping fund the construction of a $20 million home for the iAccelerate, which has already supported 46 startups since 2012.
The new 4000-square-metre facility will have accommodation for up to 280 budding entrepreneurs and will be located at the University of Wollongong's Innovation Campus research and technology precinct, which itself has become a major attraction for IT companies.
NEC is opening a $25 million tech support facility on the new campus that is also home to companies such as Pactera, TeleCommunications Systems Inc, tickets.com and itree.
Cloud computing specialist Serenus and two startup IT companies from the iAccelerate business and technology incubator, Social Status and Me3D, are also exhibiting at CeBIT 2015.
Social Status has developed a unique social media analytics platform that is attracting international attention, while 3D printing specialist Me3D is a finalist in the CeBIT Business Awards for innovation and community service.
Appeal for Nepal
Mango Tree Indian Restaurant on Cliff Road is holding a fundraiser dinner on Thursday night to show support for the Nepalese people affected by the devastating earthquake.
Anyone interested in supporting the event can book tables at Mango Tree directly on 4229 2822.
Support for Salvos
A Red Shield Appeal High Tea is being held on May 17 from 2pm to 5pm at Ravensthorpe, near Albion Park.
Yvonne Walker, of HR With Ease, said tickets were $49 and all proceeds would to good works done by the Salvation Army in the Illawarra region on initiatives such as Carinya Cottage.
"It's also a fantastic Mother's Day gift and if people can't come along and still would like to make a difference, they can sponsor one of the Carinya Cottage ladies to come along and experience something they otherwise might not," she said.
The Sticky Tickets website (stickytickets.com.au/24919) is the place to order tickets.
Bible breakfast
The next Wollongong City Breakfast at the Wollongong Golf Club on May 26 will feature Bible Society chief executive Dr Greg Clarke.
Dr Clarke is the well-travelled author of the award-winning book The Great Bible Swindle.
Registrations can be made at trybooking.com/DIFP by May 22.
The Wollongong City Breakfasts are organised by Bishop Reg Piper, Peter Kell, Steph Dyball, Dorothy Piper and Ian McKensey.
Story of leadership
The Illawarra Connection dinner on June 2 features leadership expert Peter Baines, who spent 22 years with the NSW Police leading teams combating terrorism and natural disasters.
Mr Baines was part of the leadership team that responded to the Bali bombings in 2002 and a few years later led national and international teams in response to the Boxing Day tsunami. Creating sustainable leadership became a passion after he witnessed the devastating effects of the 2004 tsunami.
He was deeply touched by the number of children left orphaned by the disaster and was inspired to set up an organisation that could make a significant difference.
In 2005 he launched Hands Across the Water to raise funds for, and awareness of, the children of Thailand left orphaned.
THE DIARY
May 6 - Wollongong Eisteddfod's annual volunteers morning tea in Wesley Church Hall, Crown Street Mall.
- Clever Edge Business Group Coaching is a workshop on visualising and achieving your dreams with a vision board at the Clever Centre in Corrimal.
May 6 and 7 - Advantage Wollongong is hosting a Wollongong stand at CeBIT in Sydney.
May 7 - Mango Tree Indian Restaurant on Cliff Road is holding a fundraiser dinner for the Nepalese people affected by the recent earthquake.
- The HIVE Business Coaching and Networking meeting hosted by Ruth Thirtle at Quality Suits Pioneer Sands.
- Red Shield Appeal Southern Highlands Business Breakfast and Launch at Bendooley Estate.
May 8 - Cleverlink lunch at the Clever Centre with Michael Dobie, of Strategic Edge.
May 11 - Figtree Lions Club's golf day at Calderwood Valley is hoping to raise more than $10,000 for the Illawarra Kids Disability Trust. Donations of auction items still being taken.
May 17 - Red Shield Appeal High Tea at Ravensthorpe.
May 20 - The Illawarra Grammar School's annual Biggest Morning Tea here at The Lagoon Restaurant. Registrations to www.tigs.nsw.edu.au/events-and-bookings.
