Feel-Good Friday: 10 January – Shot Takers and Spritz Makers

It has been a long, hard first week back in the office, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Friday has finally arrived and the Man of Many team is already prepping their weekend plans, tapping out of the workday and feverishly closing off tasks. It is business as usual for us and we hope you have enjoyed the easy slide back into regular programming. To complete the process and make sure this week finishes as strongly as it started, we’ve pulled together another instalment of vibe-inducing stories. Settle in and soak them up, here is your Feel-Good Friday treat for this week.

Australia’s Biggest Basketball Festival, Summer Jam, is Returning

Game on. Australia’s biggest and most iconic basketball festival is set to make a triumphant comeback in February, with Summer Jam returning to Peanut Farm Reserve in St Kilda. From 7 to 9 February, the St Kilda hotspot will come alive with a celebration of hoops, music, fashion, sneakers, food and culture, bringing hundreds together on one court.

Now in its thirteenth year, Summer Jam has grown from a one-off street tournament to a thriving cultural movement. Powered by Jordan Brand and Foot Locker, the globally recognised event attracts top players from across Australia with international teams from Japan and New Zealand all vying for the coveted Streetball Champions title and $20,000 in prize money. A showcase of streetball moves and solid fundamentals, the high-stakes tournament has firmly established itself as one of the sport’s best home-grown events, and in 2025, things are heating up.

In addition to the Men’s and Women’s 5v5 Championship Games, Summer Jam 2025 will also see a U21 Championship and Wheelchair Championship, a National Slam Dunk Contest and an all-new Creator Cup. Guests will also enjoy performances by emerging musical artists and a host of diverse cultural offerings, from food trucks and DJ sets to NBA 2K gaming stations, open-air bars, and even a jam eating contest.

As Summer Jam co-founder Daniel Ella explained, this year’s event caps off what has been an incredible decade of growth for the festival. What started as a joint project between himself and co-founder Eamon Larmon-Rippon has become something bigger than he could have ever imagined.

“Reaching thirteen years of Summer Jam is an incredible milestone for Eamon and me,” Ella said. “What started as a grassroots event has evolved into a celebration and destination of culture, community and basketball – an integral part of our lives that feels like an extension of our family. For us, Summer Jam is more than just a sporting event; it’s about building connections and creating an experience and atmosphere that inspires and unites everyone who takes part.”

Tickets for Summer Jam 2025 are now on sale with early bird pricing starting from AUD$50. Be warned, past years have sold out in record time, so if you’re keen to see Australia’s biggest basketball festival up close, you better get in quick.

Breast Cancer Patients Score Affordable Treatment Boost

In a move that will bring a smile to your face, the Australian Government has confirmed that Olaparib will now be available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients with a faulty or mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. Additionally, germline BRCA testing will now be reimbursed for all metastatic and early breast cancer patients, significantly reducing costs and helping bolster medical support.

In Australia, statistics suggest that more than 21,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer over the next 12 months, with approximately 5-10 per cent of all breast cancers due to a strong family history or genetic mutation such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Recent studies from Breast Cancer Trials, Australia’s leading breast cancer clinical trials research organisation, have found that Olaparib reduces breast cancer recurrence by 42 per cent, in patients with early-stage breast cancer who have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation. Further, the treatment also reduces breast cancer deaths by 32 per cent for this patient population where the cancer had not spread beyond the breast or under the arm. According to Dr Nicholas Zdenkowski, chair of the Breast Cancer Trials Scientific Advisory Committee, this research contributed to Olaparib being listed on the PBS for Australians with a hereditary form of high-risk, early breast cancer.

“Hundreds of Australians may benefit from the PBS listing of Olaparib, which offers a new, affordable treatment option for patients with an inherited form of metastatic breast cancer,” Dr Zdenkowski said. “Providing patients with effective oral therapies that are well tolerated is vitally important and clinical trials are the only way that these new treatments make their way safely to patients. Olaparib is a targeted treatment that will assist with this in patients with metastatic breast cancer and an inherited (germline) mutation.”

Aperol Aperitivo Hour Launches at Australian Open 2025

A slice of Italy has landed in Melbourne for this year’s Australian Open. From Monday 6 to Sunday 26 January, Terrazza Aperol is flinging open its doors, offering guests a chance to indulge in an Aperol Spritz and a delectable aperitivo box whilst watching the tennis. Better yet, with extended opening hours this year at Terrazza Aperol, you can savour the experience for as long as you wish.

Located in the heart of Grand Slam Oval at Melbourne Park, Terrazza Aperol features a bespoke 15-metre-long bar, comfy lounges, an elevated cabana experience and the much-loved Aperol Adventure Dispenser. Here, you’ll be able to score experiential prizes like food and beverage vouchers, AO Live tickets to see Kaytranda and Kesha, and exclusive VIP experiences. Mastercard cardholders can also unlock exclusive, priceless experiences, such as behind-the-scenes tours of the Australian Open, Player Pod Dinners, and the opportunity to enjoy an Aperol Spritz with a tennis legend.

According to Jacopo Borsa, managing director for Australia at Campari Group, Terrazza Aperol is the perfect setting to watch tennis, gather your nearest and dearest and embrace the timeless Italian tradition of Aperitivo Hour.

“Aperitivo Hour at Terrazza Aperol is more than just a moment to enjoy a refreshing drink; it’s a celebration of togetherness,” Borsa said. “Melbourne, with its vibrant culture and love for socialising, is the perfect backdrop for this Italian tradition. Whether you’re catching up with old friends or making new ones, there’s nothing quite like sharing an Aperol Spritz while soaking up the summer vibes at the Australian Open.”

“Tennis and Aperol are the perfect match, both bringing people together to enjoy the finer things in life – great company, thrilling moments, and unforgettable experiences. It’s where the joy of tennis meets the art of socialising, creating memories that will last long after the final match point.”