After surprising everyone when she got up at a singing competition several years ago, Wollongong hairdresser Dragana Uzelac regularly performs in Sydney.
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But she does not get as many opportunities as she would like to play in the Illawarra.
That changed recently when Ms Uzelac and Goran Zaric, Dragan Vujadinovic and Stojan Lovric were invited to entertain at a Serbian Band Night at Gigi's Restaurant, Wollongong.
Among the audience was Wollongong entertainer Graham Wilson who enjoyed the show just a few days after surgery in Sydney.
With him were several friends such as Honda Tom Veljanov who helped lead off the dancing.
Gigi's Restaurant's Giuseppe Gigliotti said he was looking to do it again in a couple of months and sees it as a great way to share and enjoy some of Wollongong's diverse and rich culture.
ICTI presentations
Illawarra's Information Communication and Technology cluster ICT Illawarra (ICTI) is hosting its Lightning Talk on May 20.
It features some interesting presentations from Chris Hunt, of TypeSafe, and one of ICTI's founders now based in the US.
Geoff McQueen, formerly of Internetrix, is the founding chief executive of AffinityLive in San Fransisco.
Mr McQueen was also involved in supporting iAccelerate and in the early stages of Wollongong getting a startpad.
His AffinityLive team is now headquartered in the SOMA District of San Francisco but his office for engineering, research and development remains located in Wollongong.
Mr Hunt currently works for Silicon Valley startup Typesafe and has previously worked on a number of large opensource products.
Typesafe helps developers build high-performance applications that are responsive, resilient and message driven.
He will share his perspective of working remotely and how he handles any challenge.
He will also talk about the advantages of telework.
UOW innovation
The University of Wollongong (UOW) is bringing together innovative manufacturers in the Illawarra with university researchers to form a Southern Manufacturing Innovation Group.
The group will be officially launched by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation Professor Judy Raper at UOW's Innovation Campus on Wednesday.
That will be followed by a series of themed networking events to provide a forum for manufacturers in the region to connect with researchers from UOW.
"The aim of this group is to create a three-way exchange of ideas and specific collaborative opportunities," UOW Director of Innovation and Commercial Research and chief executive of iAccelerate Dr Elizabeth Eastland said.
"The common characteristics of the group are innovativeness, and interest in learning from each other as well as collaborating on projects."
Discussion topics will be determined with the help of participating organisations and may include areas such as new product development and process improvement.
Researchers from a range of disciplines at UOW will present their research in such areas.
Manufacturing and Innovation Leader of Global Challenges Professor Geoff Spinks said the floor would be open to companies to discuss their own experiences, challenges or opportunities.
Further details at globalchallenges.uow.edu.au/manufacturing-innovation/UOW191273.
Angels hard at work
The 2015 Angels at Work raising funds to help the Leukaemia Foundation support local families starts this Thursday with a Warilla Business Chamber Breakfast at Shellharbour Beach Hotel.
That will be followed by a corporate golf day run by TAFE Event Management students at the Links Shell Cove on Friday and then the annual Angels at Work Corporate Breakfast at Diggies on May 22 followed by angels collecting across the Illawarra.
The fundraising activity will conclude with the Angels at Work Markets at Reddall Reserve, Lake Illawarra, on May 30, after the day starts with a Paddle Like An Angel event run by JPD Surf early that morning.
Salvos appeal lunch
The Salvation Army will hold its 2015 Illawarra Red Shield Business Appeal luncheon on Friday, May 22, at City Beach Function Centre, Wollongong.
The lunch will feature University of Wollongong Chancellor Jillian Broadbent.
Ms Broadbent is also the chair of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, a director of Woolworths as well as chair of Swiss Re Life & Health Australia.
With winter coming and the task for the Salvos growing every year the annual appeal becomes more important as more people are slipping through the cracks.
That means the Salvos' need of support from the Illawarra business community is greater than ever.
Reservations and information from Karen Walker on 02 4224 4337.
Caring for families
CareSouth is asking local families to consider becoming CareSouth Carers during National Families Week from May 15 to 21.
CareSouth has a unique range of options for anyone considering making a difference in a child or young person's life.
It supports vulnerable children and their families across Southern and Western NSW through a range of programs including Foster Care, Family Choices and Aunties & Uncles.
Useful technology
A technology information seminar was held by Telstra for local business owners in Wollongong on Tuesday.
More than 80 local business owners attended the event at Wests Illawarra all with an aim of growing and advancing their business offering with some of the latest apps or software that can help increase efficiency through many areas of business.
It follows a recent insights gathering by Telstra that found few small to medium sized business owners could identify which apps or software they could most benefit from.
The Telstra technology information seminar hosted by the Wollongong Telstra Business Centre was designed to help address the information gap by educating business owners on how to work smarter with technology.
THE DIARY
May 13 - The University of Wollongong (UOW) is launching a Southern Manufacturing Innovation Group.
- Domayne Warrawong is hosting an exclusive event with special guests such as Inside Out editor in chief Claire Bradley, dream interpreter Joan Hanger and chef Paul Jurd.
May 14 - Warilla Business Chamber Angels at Work Breakfast at Shellharbour Beach Hotel.
May 15 - Angels at Work Corporate Golf Day run by TAFE Event Management students at the Links Shell Cove.
- Cleverlink workshop at the Clever Centre in Corrimal on avoiding three common mistakes most businesses make when solving problems.
- Illawarra Business Chamber Federal Budget Lunch at the Chifley Hotel.
May 17 - Red Shield Appeal High Tea at Ravensthorpe.
May 19 - Australian accounting software provider Reckon brings its annual national roadshow to Wollongong.
May 20 - Angels at Work visit Business In Heels at Bella Portofino Shellharbour.
- The Illawarra Grammar School's annual Biggest Morning Tea at The Lagoon Restaurant. Registrations to tigs.nsw.edu.au/events-and-bookings.
ICT Illawarra (ICTI) hosts its next Lightning Talk with some very interesting presentations from Geoff McQueen, of AffinityLive, and Chris Hunt, of TypeSafe.
Shellharbour City Business Network meeting in the Community Room at Stockland Shellharbour with 2015 business tax tips from Garry Pinch.
May 21 - Shoalhaven Coast Winter Wine Festival launch with president Shayne Bricker and members of the Shoalhaven Coast Wine Industry Association holding a reception at Gabbys Berry from 6pm.
McGrath Estate Agents office opening at 2/63 Burelli Street, Wollongong.
May 22 - Angels at Work Corporate Breakfast at Diggies followed by the annual angels collection across the Illawarra.
The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal business luncheon at City Beach Function Centre.
Shaken Not Stirred Links Seaside black tie charity dinner to help Parkinson’s NSW fund research into Parkinson’s Disease.
IWIB Coffee Club at Cleverlink, Corrimal.
A Night for Kerryn Barnett fundraiser at the Fraternity Club, Fairy Meadow. She was Barnett was diagnosed with chronic and severe Gastroparesis in 2014. She now need life saving surgery which isn’t covered by Private Health Cover.
