The greatest show on earth is set to return. The Paris Summer Olympic Games launches this week and to celebrate we’re bringing back our very own Alternative Olympics.
Who can forget our lockdown efforts during the Tokyo Games? Our Alternative Olympics featured some truly magical sporting moments, where golds were won and records tumbled. Our highlights video (below) managed to capture a truly remarkable night of Alternative Olympic history!
And to celebrate the start of the Paris Olympics, we’re doing it all again.
We encourage the entire Gig Buddies community to join us on Zoom for one night only. The Alternative Olympics 2024 takes place this Wednesday (24/7) at 8pm.
We’ve spent the past three years in training, honing our skills for the return of classic Alternative Olympic sports such as ‘heads or tails’, ’pencil on your face’, the ‘alternative treasure hunt’ and our ‘egg and teaspoon sit down’.
And new to the Games roster for 2024, we’ll be introducing the sporting world to ‘roll the dice’ and ‘guess the person’.
To sign up (and to find out what equipment is required to enter our events), load up the link below:
Alternative Olympic glory awaits!
Are you looking to volunteer?
We need volunteers! Click on the image above for current Sydney roles and the graphic below for opportunities on the Central Coast.
If you have any questions or would like more information, contact us via Facebook or email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org
The September switcheroo
Away from the virtual world, we’ve a total of 18 face-to-face socials lined up between now and the end of September.
As revealed last week, in September Gig Buddies’ staff will be taking to the road and connecting with buddies in the CBD, Coogee, Rhodes, Campbelltown, Cronulla, Avalon Beach, Gosford and Kellyville Ridge.
Our ‘September switcheroo’, where the majority of our gatherings will be hosted by a different Gig Buddies’ hub coordinator, include outings to The Archibald exhibition, a fish and chips catch up, lunch offerings and lots of live music.
To join sign up (and to find out which Gig Buddies’ staff member is hosting), load up the links below.
Our August action
And next month we’ll be saying goodbye to winter by connecting with buddies in Mortdale, Roseville, Erina, North Sydney, Five Dock, Penrith, Auburn and Manly.
To join us for either dinner outings, movie catch ups, an over 40s gathering or our three festivals, jump on the links below:
Please note, our Sunday roast catch up in Paddington and axe throwing in Marrickville have both sold out.
Are you free this weekend?
And we’re down to the final few tickets for our two remaining July gigs.
This forthcoming weekend you’ll find us in Emu Plains (Saturday 27/7), where we’ll be catching up for dinner and drinks. One day later (Sunday 28/7) we head to the Northern Beaches, specifically to Duffys Forest where we’ll be lending a hand and partaking in tree planting.
To join us for either gathering, load up the links below:
And if you have questions about any of our forthcoming events, get in touch: we can be reached via Facebook Messenger, email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or via text or phone call on 0411 252 228.
Sing when you're winning
And if you ever wanted to know what goes on at one of our socials, we facilitated two in the past week.
We were there for the historic State of Origin win, celebrating the occasion in the city. And on Saturday we headed to Surry Hills for a spot of karaoke.
Thank you to everyone who joined us. To see more snaps from both gatherings, click here.
Three more matches
Our socials aside, we’re excited to reveal three new matches.
It’s great to welcome Rachel and Hannah (left, L - R), Helen and Ellen (right, L - R), plus Callum and Satya (not pictured) to the family.
Ready to go
And we’ve also been busy on the training front, prepping three new volunteers.
Thank you, Tom (above), plus Yasmin and Markus (not pictured) for logging on last Friday for training. We look forward to pairing you up in due course.
Are you in the market for Gig Buddies’ merchandise?
Click on the image above to get your fill on Gig Buddies goodies. If we haven’t got the size you’re after, get in touch via text Facebook Messenger.
"I am very happy…."
Every month we share updates from those who make up our user-led team, Soul Fly Buddies.
For July we hear from Nalyn, who tells us more about her volunteering, netball and own personal achievements.
“This year it is my 36th birthday! I will be volunteering at Storytime on my birthday and we will be celebrating by having cupcakes after reading stories, singing, dancing and making cat crafts. On the weekend I will celebrate with a small group of friends and my family.
In May I was nominated for the City of Ryde 2024 Volunteer Recognition Awards. The presentation night was held at Curzon Hall, which was a really great night.
Other good news is that I have made it into the NSW State Netball competition coming up in September and we are playing in Queensland. I am very happy about this and really looking forward to it. Meanwhile I have been training every Sunday and also doing strengthening exercises during the week.
My most exciting news is that I have moved out of home into my new apartment! I have been in my new home for 5 weeks and there are nice shops and cafes nearby. My neighbours are also friendly and I feel like I have settled in very nicely.”
- Nalyn, Soul Fly Buddies
Join the team
And on the subject of Soul Fly Buddies, they’re on the lookout for THREE new members.
For those not in the know, Soul Fly Buddies, formerly known as Soul Fly Band, is the project’s advisory group. Made up of participants from Sydney and the Central Coast, they meet monthly, advising and overseeing the ongoing work of Gig Buddies.
In line with our desire to ensure a fair representation from the areas we cover, we’re looking for the following:
- 1x member from the Western Sydney area. This means buddies based in any of the following council areas can apply: Blacktown, Parramatta, Fairfield, Cumberland, Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, Castle Hill (and the Hills Shire area).
- 1x member from the Southern Sydney area. This means buddies based in any of the following council areas can apply: Sutherland Shire, St George, Georges River, Liverpool or Bayside.
- 1x member from the Northern Beaches area. This means buddies based in any of the following council areas can apply: Northern Beaches Council.
For those of you wanting to know more about Soul Fly Buddies, check out this brief video containing past and present members.
And if you want to know why you should join our current members (Stavros, Lachy, Jack, Alex, Nalyn, Bevan, Karen and Audrey) for our monthly meetups, the following video may provide you with some answers.
Our user led-team have been around since 2016. They meet on the last Friday of each month for around 1 hour, usually via Zoom. They have an in-person meeting twice a year.
If you would like to join the Soul Fly Buddies, register your interest by clicking here. Alternatively, if you would like more information, feel free to get in touch. We can be reached via Facebook Messenger, email: info@gigbuddiesydney.org or text: 0412 145 819.
Matthew: Central Coast coordinator (0402 708 814)
Carol: CEO (02 9419 6951)
Chelsea: NDIS coordinator (0412 145 819)
Tony: Funding and sponsorship coordinator (02 9419 6951)
Bec: Sydney coordinator (0411 252 228)
Aylin: Western Sydney coordinator (0466 389 961)
Lara: Greater Western Sydney coordinator (0478 045 121)
Sandon: Southern Sydney coordinator (0478 043 996) Gemma: Northern Beaches coordinator (0466 793 100)
Would you like more information about Gig BuddiesSydney? You’re only a click away. Connect with us via the links below.
Fancy revelling in legendary status? If so, please support us in our cause to get more people out to live events in Sydney.
Donations over $2 are tax deductible and all are gratefully received.
The Gig Buddies Sydney project is an initiative of ACL Disability Services.
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