With the end of the year fast approaching, it’s time to reflect on what we achieved in 2024.
From a numbers perspective, 2024 was a productive year: across Sydney, the western regions, south Sydney and the Central Coast we revealed 79 NEW matches. This is a rise on 74 from the previous year.
Since our beginnings back in 2015, we have now paired up a whopping 632 buddies!
Our year in numbers
In line with our desire to provide participants an opportunity to meet more people and experience new events, in 2024 we facilitated a total of 95 social gatherings - a record number for us.
In that time we connected with over 1,200 attendees as we facilitated catch ups across Sydney, the west and greater western regions, south Sydney and the Central Coast.
Of our 95 outings, 13 were organised in collaboration with mainstream festivals and events. This year Gig Buddies benefited from discounted (or on occasions, free entry) to gigs put on by Sydney Festival, Vivid Sydney and Fuzzy.
Ready to go
And in 2024 we facilitated 24 online training sessions - prepping a total of 78 new volunteers.
Are you looking to volunteer?
We need volunteers! Click on the image above for current roles on the Central Coast and the graphic below for opportunities in Sydney.
If you have any questions or would like more information, contact us via Facebook or email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org
Summer’s here
Sydney Festival, you’ve done it again!
Thanks to the generosity of event organisers, we have a number of FREE tickets to give away to three top Sydney Festival gigs taking place in January:
Cash Savage and The Last Drinks & BARKAA: Saturday 11 January, 8pm @ City Recital Hall
Parvyn: Friday 17 January, 7:30pm @ ACO On The Pier (The Thirsty Mile)
Ishmael Ensemble: Friday 24 January, 9pm @ ACO On The Pier (The Thirsty Mile)
Tickets are strictly limited to signed up Gig Buddies' participants ONLY. To reserve your place to any of the three events, load up the following link.
For the past nine years we have attended numerous Sydney Festival events for free. Once again we’re indebted to the generosity shown by event organisers, and we thank them for their ongoing support.
To see what else is happening at next year’s Sydney Festival, click here.
And then there was one
As previously mentioned, in 2024 we have hosted a whopping 95 social events - and we’re now down to our final offering.
Tomorrow night (Tuesday, 17/12) we’ll be meeting up in Randwick to watch The Holiday. To join us in the eastern suburbs, jump on the link below.
2025…. Come get some
And looking towards 2025, our January offerings are starting to book up.
As a reminder, for the first month of the new year we’re inviting buddies to join us in Milsons Point, Avoca Beach, Burwood, Brooklyn, Mona Vale, Merrylands and Kirrawee.
We’ll be meeting up for a trip to the art markets, for fish and chips on the beach and our 35-and-over catch ups return, while the Chinatown Markets, one of two brewery stop offs, and a night of delicious desserts are also on the cards.
To join us in January 2025, load up the links above.
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.
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.
Doubling up
It’s wonderful to welcome our final pair of pairings for 2024.
Say hello to Ciaran and Chris (left, L - R) and Jolie and Niamh (right, L - R). We look forward to hearing more about their forthcoming catch ups.
Call to arms
Following conversations with our user-led team, Soul Fly Buddies, we are excited to propose the potential creation of a LGBTQIA+ equivalent.
Our LGBTQIA+ user-led team will be made up of existing buddies and volunteers. The group will have two main functions:
A quarterly online or possibly a face to face group meeting to share events in the LGBTQIA+ community, share stories, share links to services, share ideas and be in a safe space together. (This group will only be open to people within Gig Buddies who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community).
A dedicated social event that will take place within the LGBTQIA+ community, facilitated by a Gig Buddies team member. (This event will be open to people within the Gig Buddies community who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community AND allies).
We’re now calling for expressions of interest. To sign up, jump on the following link.
Breaking news
For those who may have missed it, we made an appearance on Channel Nine’s NBN News last Tuesday.
We’d like to say thanks to Blake, Jack, Kade, Grant, Andrew and Nick for joining us at Gosford Leagues Club.
To watch the clip, load up the link by clicking the image above.
Out of office
That’s it in terms of the Gig Buddies’ newsletter for 2024.
Thank you to everyone who’s read, shared or contributed to our weekly bulletin, or has connected with us via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Our newsletter will return on Monday 6 January.
School’s out for summer
And this is us informing you that we’ll be offline from 5pm this Thursday (19/12).
Our lines of communication, along with Gig Buddies HQ, will reopen from 9am on Monday 6 January.
One last thing……
And finally, we want to say Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a huge THANK YOU to everyone who’s connected, supported or engaged with us in 2024.
Our Gig Buddies’ community continues to go from strength to strength - both north and south of the Hawkesbury River - and we look forward to doing it all again in 2025.
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: Project officer, Sydney (0411 252 228)
Aylin: Western Sydney coordinator (0466 389 961)
Lara: Greater Western Sydney coordinator (0478 045 121) Charlotte: Northern Beaches coordinator (0403 184 404)
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.
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