Local stars of business shine bright

The cream of the Illawarra and South Coast’s small business owners and operators gathered at Shellharbour Worker’s club last Wednesday night for a gala evening of dining, entertainment and award presentations in celebration of the 2008 Illawarra and South Coast Local Business Awards.

Close to 400 guests, arriving by car, taxi and stretch limousine converged on the Club’s auditorium to participate in the event, hosted by Precedent Productions along with major sponsor, the Commonwealth Bank and Media Partners, Southern Independent Publishers (Lake Times, Wollongong and Northern Leader and Kiama Independent newspapers).

Over 150 finalists were vying for ‘Best Business’ awards in 21 different categories along with four regional ‘Business Person of the Year’ awards, and the ultimate award – ‘Business of the Year, 2008’.

In a Hollywood-esque ‘night of nights’, akin to the Oscars (but without the red carpet), attendees were treated to a sumptuous three-course dinner and some sparkling entertainment, provided by Aaron Taylor from the smash hit Sydney musical, The Choir Boys and nightclub singer Evelyn DuPré with dancers Ashley Evans and Michelle Hopper. MC for the evening’s proceeding was well-known national TV and radio voice-over queen, Ella James.

On a gala night that featured the best of local small business, it was Lagoon Seafood Restaurant that claimed the spotlight at evening’s end.

Receiving the ultimate honour at this year’s Illawarra and South Coast Local Business Awards, held at the family-owned dining establishment was crowned the 2008 Business of the Year.

The business also picked up awards for Restaurant of the Year and Business Person of the Year.

Andrew Harrison, 29, has been managing the Lagoon for the past four and a half years.

He began working there as a dish washer at the age of 10 before graduating to a front-of-house role at 15.

Mr Harrison said it meant a great deal to be publicly recognised for all the hard work.

“It’s a fantastic honour actually, it’s a privilege to even be involved in these sort of awards but to win and to win three awards was pretty special for us,” he said.

“I’ve got my sister and my fiancé there everyday with me and my parents obviously established the place 22 years ago (and) they’re always around – it makes it a lot easier.

“It’s definitely a family business, it’s not like a corporation where you never get to see the owners, it’s not a hierarchical system it’s more of a flat system of management.

“Our staff are like our extended family here – we’ve got people who have worked here for 18 years.”

Also on the awards night Wollongong and Northern Leader Editor, Amanda Beadman, presented a number of awards including the best Antiques, Arts & Crafts business to Indulgent Corporate Gifts, Thirroul and Best Men’s Fashion Store, awarded to Indulge Clothing store in Figtree.

Southern Independent Publishers Features Editor, Simon Forbes, presented regional Business Person of the Year awards to Charmaine Wheatley of Curves in Kiama, Belinda Kawalek of Dynamic Moves Dance Studio in Dapto, Andrew Harrison from Wollongong’s Lagoon Seafood Restaurant and Ruth White from Bay Boutique in Bateman’s Bay.

Complete coverage of the awards and details of all the winning businesses will be included as part of a special feauture in next week’s Wollongong and Northern Leader.