And the winner is …

By SIMON FORBES

The cream of the Illawarra and South Coast’s small business owners and operators gathered at Shellharbour Workers’ Club last Wednesday night for a gala evening of dining, entertainment and award presentations to mark 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).

More than 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. The MC for the evening’s proceeding was the well-known national TV and radio voice-over queen,Ella James.

Excitement in the room continued to grow throughout the evening as we got ever closer to the announcement of the Business Persons of the Year and the Business of the Year awards.

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 the best Men’s Fashion Store to Indulge Clothing, of Figtree.

The writer (SIP features editor) presented the regional Business Person of the Year awards to Charmaine Wheatley, Curves, Kiama (Kiama Independent Award); Belinda Kawalek, Dynamic Moves Dance Studio, Dapto (Lake Times Award); Andrew Harrison, Lagoon Restaurant, Wollongong (Wollongong & Northern Leader Award) and Ruth White, Bay Boutique, Batemans Bay (South Coast & Tablelands).

Wollongong’s Lagoon Restaurant took out this year’s ultimate award (Business of the Year) giving it the hat trick for the night, having already picked up the Restaurant of the Year and Business Person of the Year awards earlier in the evening.

The Lake Times will run a special feature in next week’s issue, highlighting all the category winners – meanwhile, we congratulate all winners on their awards.