As you may have heard, Gig Buddies will be marching at this year's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.
We're now on the hunt for prop designers. In line with this year's Mardi Gras theme, we'll be displaying our message of ‘together we shine' - and we're calling on the Gig Buddies community to help us get creative and make our message ‘pop’!
We'll be hosting two prop designing sessions, one in Sydney and the other on the Central Coast. For more information about both - including how to sign up - load up the links below:
The Sydney session will take place at our HQ, 125 Blues Point Road, McMahons Point while those on the Central Coast will meet in Umina Beach, at Common on West Co-working space, Level 1, 286 West Street.
Please note, you do not have to be marching in this year's parade to attend the prop designing session. Last year we made some fabulous signs (see below) - and now we call on you to help us design our 2022 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras placards.
If you have any questions or would like more information about our Mardi Gras prop design sessions, send us an email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or info@gigbuddiescentralcoast.org or call/SMS us on 0402 708 814.
Another match!
We’re delighted to share news of the latest Central Coast pairing.
It’s wonderful to welcome Karen and Lisa (L - R) to our growing community. We’re looking forward to hearing about their forthcoming adventures.
Excitingly, we’re in a position to reveal more matches soon…..
Let’s get quizzical!
Thanks to those who joined us last Wednesday (9/2) for the first of our February quiz events.
Our team, ’Pizza 4 breakfast’, represented Gig Buddies with great application. The results are irrelevant, it’s the taking part that counts! A good time was certainly had by all.
Round two
We’re calling on the Central Coast community to come together and help us challenge at our remaining quiz gathering.
We’ll be catching up at The Entrance for a spot of pub grub and trivia on Tuesday 22 February.
Our meet up at The Lake’s Hotel is free to attend, and we’ll be arriving in time to order food. For more information about the gig, including how to sign up, load up the link below.
- Pub trivia @ The Lake's Hotel, The Entrance: Tuesday 22 February: 6:30 - 9:30 (quiz starts at 7:30)
As a reminder, Gig Buddies is all about expanding social circles and trying new things. Everyone, irrespective of whether that person is matched with a buddy or not, is welcome to attend our events. We’re a friendly, inclusive and growing community - and we encourage as many of you as possible to come along.
Art buddies
On the subject of our social events, tickets are still on sale for our gathering at the Art Gallery of NSW, where we’ll be sampling the Matisse: Life & Spirit. Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou, Paris exhibition.
We have a limited number of tickets available. For more information, including how to sign up, load up the following link:
- Matisse: Life & Spirit: Wednesday 23 February, 6 - 8pm @ Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
Watch with us
For those of you who missed out in marching with us at this year’s Mardi Gras, you are invited to join us in the stands of the world famous Sydney Cricket Ground.
Come join us and show your support for the LGBTQI+ community and help Gig Buddies celebrate diversity.
We’ll be cheering on those who represent Gig Buddies, plus the thousands of others who will make their way around the famous stadium.
As a reminder, the event takes place on Saturday 5 March. For more information, including how to buy your ticket, load up the link below:
If you have any questions about outings at the Art Gallery of NSW or our involvement with the Sydney Mardi Gras, send us an email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org, get in touch on Facebook Messenger or contact us via text or on the phone on either 0422 061 990 or 0412 145 819.
Let’s get physical
As for this week’s online social gathering, we invite you to ‘Get fit with Gig Buddies’.
It’s time to roll out the yoga mat as we work up a sweat to a number of YouTube fitness videos.
Our Zoom session will last for one hour. We will be stopping for plenty of rests and will encourage attendees to “go at their own pace”.
In addition to Wednesday’s online fitness session, we also invite buddies to connect with us at 4pm today (Monday 14/2) for our weekly chat. To attend get in touch via text: 0422 061 990 or Facebook Messenger.
And to find out more about this week’s online offering (and to sign up), load up the link below:
Wednesday 16/2
All online games will take place via Zoom. For information on how to use Zoom, load up the following easy read guide written by Learning Disability Wales. Alternatively, click here to check out our 'how to use Zoom' video.
If you have any questions or would like more information, send us an email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or info@gigbuddiescentralcoast.org or call/SMS us on 0402 708 814.
Work with us
Applications for our Gig Buddies Western Sydney Hub Coordinator close soon.
As a reminder, we’re looking for an energetic team player to work in Sydney’s Western suburbs, to help us grow and develop the Gig Buddies project within the region.
The Gig Buddies Western Sydney Hub Coordinator will be the first point of contact for those based in Sydney’s western suburbs. The appointee will work with the Sydney team to connect with existing and potential service users - helping us to increase awareness of who we are and what we do.
For more information about the role, click here to see the job description.
And if this sounds like something you would be interested in, please send your CV to project CEO, Carol Smail at carol@assistcom.org. If you would like more information about the position, call us on 02 9419 6951.
Happy birthday, Sydney!
Yesterday marked the Sydney project’s seventh birthday.
While it’s been a low-key celebration, we’ll most definitely mark the occasion accordingly - once things make a return to normal.
We can’t wait to blow out our birthday cake candles with our Coastie buddies!
A word from the pros
In light of the ongoing Covid situation, we’re going to continue pushing referral services for those who may be struggling.
Mental Health First Aid Australia have issued the following guidelines on assisting someone distressed by the Covid-19 pandemic, and they’re also providing mental health first aid in the time of ‘social distancing. Additionally, the team from ideas.org.au have shared their ‘look after your mental health in the COVID-19 crisis’ list of ideas.
reachout.com have also released their 10 ways to take care of yourself during coronavirus guide, while for those of you now working from home, Black Dog Institute have put together the following checklist to support your mental health.
We’re here to chat
From our perspective, while we’re not trained professionals, we are available for a chat.
For anyone experiencing increased social isolation, send a text or call us at 0402 708 814 (Gig Buddies Central Coast) or 0422 061 990 (Gig Buddies Sydney).
Alternatively, feel free to get in touch via Facebook Messenger or connect courtesy of email: info@gigbuddiescentralcoast.org or info@gigbuddiessydney.org
Matthew Collins
Gig Buddies Central Coast coordinator
Would you like more information about Gig Buddies Central Coast? 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.
Gig Buddies Central Coast is an initiative of ACL Disability Services.