'Tooheys on Tour' kicks off on 25 January | Image: Supplied

Feel-Good Friday: 17 January – Free Rides and STEM Guides

Nick Hall
By Nick Hall - News

Published:

Readtime: 6 min

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Who doesn’t love a blustery Friday in Summer? For us, the end of the week marks a new opportunity to drop the work shackles, slip on a pair of comfy pants and slump onto the couch for a full weekend of Australian Open tennis. Mark my words, it will be 48 hours of high-octane, ace-inducing action on the court that promises to deliver a few upsets, surprises and (hopefully) meltdowns. In the meantime, we’ve got you covered with another instalment of Feel-Good Friday vibes. Let’s get stuck in.

Uber and Kia Serve up Free EV Rides for the Aus Open
Uber and Kia Serve up Free EV Rides for the Aus Open | Image: Supplied

Uber and Kia Serve up Free EV Rides for the Aus Open

Australian tennis’ biggest event has just kicked off and to mark the occasion, two icons of transport have teamed up. Ridesharing platform Uber and automaker Kia have joined forces to offer tennis fans free rides during the Australian Open this summer in a new fleet of new electric vehicles. Available to over one million Uber One members, the offer is designed to help Australians reduce their carbon footprint while also making the most of the blockbuster sporting event.

“As the major partner of the Australian Open, we’re already moving Grand Slam athletes around in a fleet of hybrid and electric vehicles and we wanted to give spectators the chance to ride to the tennis precinct in the same style, comfort and with the same reduced carbon footprint that the players are,” said Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith. “We’re incredibly proud of our global partnership with Uber which helps unlock activations like this in Australia, allowing their members perks like free trips to and from the tennis in full VIP comfort.”

For the duration of the tournament (12-26 January), Uber One members can travel between Melbourne CBD and the tennis precinct for free by booking complimentary rides in a fleet of 50 fully electric Kia vehicles, including the EV6, EV9, and recently unveiled EV5. You simply need to select the Melbourne tennis precinct as your pickup or drop-off location to score a free ride across the period. Rides are capped at AUD$100 per day and will appear on the Uber platform as ‘Kia Electric’, subject to availability.

'Tooheys on Tour' kicks off on 25 January | Image: Supplied
‘Tooheys on Tour’ kicks off on 25 January | Image: Supplied

Tooheys and Dune Rats Team Up to Revive Pubs and Live Music

Two Aussie pub legends are joining forces to help revive the ailing live music industry, one schooey at a time. Beer brand Tooheys has teamed up with legends of surf rock, Dune Rats, for a three-date run that promises to put good tunes, great vibes and cold brews back on the menu this summer. Across January and early February, the ‘Tooheys on Tour’ activation will see the band roll into classic New South Wales venues, beer in hand, to deliver a night of vibrant anthems, pub staples and a fittingly rousing rendition of Tooheys’ iconic jingle—all in celebration of Australia’s bubbling pub culture.

“Growing up playing in all sorts of bands it was crucial to have local pubs to play at. Without pubs, bands can’t hone their craft, work out the sort of act they want to be and be inspired by other acts,” the band said.

Dune Rats won’t be the only local heroes making the rounds, either. In addition to merchandise donations and a $10k lump sum to Support Act, the ‘Tooheys on Tour’ events will feature home-grown local support bands hand-picked by the Dunies. NSW bands can go in the running to support by posting a cover version of the iconic Tooheys jingle to their socials, tagging Dune Rats and Tooheys on Facebook or Instagram.

“We’ve always believed that pubs and live music are the beating heart of Australian culture. They bring people together, foster creativity, and create unforgettable moments,” Karen Sterling-Levis, brand director for Core Beer at Toohey’s parent company, Lion, said. “With ‘Tooheys on Tour,’ we’re proud to support the venues, artists, and communities that make this all possible. Partnering with the Dune Rats—true Tooheys fans who live and breathe Aussie music—allows us to celebrate this incredible legacy in a bold and exciting way. Together, we’re raising a glass to the pubs and music that unite us all!”.

‘Tooheys on Tour’ will kick off on 25 January 2025 with a show at Entrance Leagues Club in Bateau Bay. The second show will be held on 31 January at the iconic Beach Road Hotel in Bondi Beach, and the third event will take place on 1 February at the Mona Vale Hotel.

TikTok launched dedicated STEM feed | Image: Supplied
TikTok launched dedicated STEM feed | Image: Supplied

TikTok’s STEM Feed Inspires the Next Generation of Engineers, Scientists and Doctors

Social media platform TikTok has launched a new STEM feed designed to help Aussies find answers to their longest-lingering questions. Across January, more than 500 Aussie STEM creators, including Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, astrophysicist Dr Kirsten Banks, and microscopic interrogator Walt Carroll, will feature on TikTok’s STEM feed to offer unique insights into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics studies.

The Aussie arm of the initiative comes after a successful rollout of the STEM feed in the U.S., Canada, and the UK, which saw Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics content on TikTok grow by 35 per cent. In fact, new data suggests that one in three young people on TikTok visit the STEM feed every week in regions where it is available. According to Simon Bates, head of content for TikTok Australia and New Zealand, it’s about time we got on board.

“More than 8.5 million Aussies use TikTok to discover, be entertained, or learn, and our dedicated STEM feed makes it easier to find enriching, educational content on TikTok,” Bates said. “It also gives creators and leading Australian organisations the opportunity to have their research seen around the world.”

As part of the Summer of STEM, the Australian Museum (@australianmuseum) will be taking Aussies behind the scenes at the country’s first museum and its extraordinary collection of 22 million specimens and objects as well as its scientific discoveries on TikTok LIVE throughout February.

Nick Hall

Editor-in-Chief

Nick Hall

Nick Hall is an award-winning journalist and the current Editor-in-Chief of Man of Many. With an extensive background in the media industry, he specialises in feature writing, lifestyle and entertainment content. Nick is a former Mumbrella Publish Awards ‘Editor of ...