While Maralyn Young has been recognised many times in recent years for her business success and her charity work, Mrs Kingston was a prominent businesswomen in the Illawarra and recognised with many business awards 10 to 20 years ago for her Fairy Meadow business that produced clothing under the name of Crystal Bears and Poppets School Wear.

Both women have the same entrepreneurial spirit, have designed and made clothing and operated textile factories in the Illawarra.

One made children's clothing and the other lingerie.

But the two pioneering entrepreneurs had never met before.

Mrs Kingston revealed how she was still very active in the Illawarra community as well as in highlighting the breast cancer cause.

She said she had heard about the work Mrs Young and her business, Casa Mia Bra Fitting, and a post-mastectomy specialist, was doing to both promote early detection and teach women how to do regular checks through BreastAware.

"It is phenomenal," Mrs Kingston said.

"I hadn't been to one [free BreastAware workshop] before. I am actually the chairperson of the Dragons Crystal Bears Women in League and we support the Joanne Mackay Breast Cancer Foundation.

"So we decided to get a group of our ladies from our committee to come along to this to spread the word again that there is more to helping people with breast cancer if they can just find out about it early enough and be aware of it. Everything to do with breast cancer has to work together."

The next free workshop is scheduled for the Lagoon Seafood Restaurant on May 19.

The venue has been made available by Jonni Nicolaou, who has joined the BreastAware committee because she said early detection was very important to her.

"I believe early detection saves lives," she said. "Every woman should be breast aware and do regular checks."

The two hour workshop on May 19 starts at 5.45pm and registrations can be made at www.eventbrite.com/e/breastaware-education-and-empowerment-workshop-tickets-16171990860.