It’s the final day of the working week and that generally means responding to every email with ‘happy Fri-yay!’ and resisting the urge to gauge your own eyes out. Thankfully, there’s good news afoot. Whether it’s news that Futurama is coming back, Netflix’s 80 new films on the way or Australia’s international borders finally opening, there’s plenty to be stoked about. Here’s even more in our Feel-Good Friday for the week.
You’ll also like:
Feel-Good Friday: 4 February – Top of the Froths
Feel-Good Friday: January 27 – Cheers, Beers and Aussies of the Year
Feel-Good Friday: January 21 – Slams, Jams and Sex Toy Fans
Image: Levi’s
Levi’s Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pioneers
In the lead-up to Pride 2022, denim legends Levi’s have gone back to the birth of the Queer liberation movement, celebrating the pioneers who kicked off the fight for equal rights. The new iteration of the annual Pride collection sees Levi’s draw from the powerful messaging of signs and posters from that era. In support of this collection, Levi’s makes an annual USD$100,000 donation to OutRightAction International, a global organisation working to advance human rights for LGBTQIA+ people all over the world. You can check out the new collection via the link below.
Lifeline’s 24/7 Crisis Text Service Opens Up Support for Hard-to-Reach Groups
Lifeline Australia’s Crisis Text helpline has copped a $1.5 million boost from the Australian Government to help fast-track the expansion of text and chat services to 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week. Lifeline Crisis Text is currently funded by the New South Wales State Government through a $6 million four-year grant agreement. The service has also been supported under the COVID-19 response funding ($2.5m) provided to Lifeline by the Australian Government.
“This is a landmark in suicide prevention in Australia and is all about bringing help to people who are in situations and environments where accessing support through digital communication is the only safe or viable option,” Lifeline CEO Colin Seery said. “The service is unique in that it allows for genuine privacy during contact, so it is well suited to support cohorts at heightened vulnerability such as help seekers experiencing domestic and family violence or those living with a disability.”
Image: Curry Brand
The First International Curry Court Opens in Australia
Aiming to ‘Change The Game For Good, Curry Brand, powered by Under Armour, has forged a partnership in Australia with Charity Bounce, an organisation designed to inspire change, build resiliency and positive job opportunities for young people at risk, using the power of sport. As part of the deal, Curry Brand has rejuvenated the facilities in Arncliffe, New South Wales, Australia used for Charity Bounce programs, making it the first official Curry Brand basketball court outside of the U.S.
The newly developed Arncliffe Youth Centre will cop a Curry Brand FIBA-approved floor with not only a top-of-the-line play surface, but a glistening centre stage for all future Charity Bounce programs and initiatives.
“Play is a fundamental part of childhood and is critical to development. So much of who I am as a person and a leader today is because of playing sports as a kid,” Steph Curry said. “I learned the value of hard work, resilience, teamwork, communication, time management—sports teach young athletes so many critical life skills, which is why I’m passionate about making sure everyone has access to these opportunities, first through my foundation and now through Curry Brand.”
The new Curry Brand Arncliffe court was unveiled to delighted young athletes on Friday, 28th January 2022 and marked officially open via a ribbon-cutting ceremony, on Tuesday, 8th February 2022.
Image: Frenchie
Frenchie Teams Up with QT Hotels for a Sexy Valentine’s Getaway
Australian sexual wellness brand Frenchie has partnered with designer hotel, QT Bondi for an exclusive Pleasure Pop-Up 20 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him. Running from Friday February 11 to Monday February 14, the pop-up offers discounts across the full product range with every purchase coming with a complimentary floral arrangement courtesy of concept florist, Mr. Flamboyant.
“Frenchie and QT Bondi want to redefine Valentine’s Day by inviting everyone to treat themselves to a little extra indulgence, no matter if they’re single, a couple, a thrupple or anything else,” says Shayne Mele, Frenchie Founder & CEO. “There can be no better way for someone to display their love than by purchasing a sex toy for themselves, a best friend, a partner or that special someone in their life.”
To celebrate the pop-up, every booking for one of the 69 (nice) rooms at QT Bondi from Friday February 11 to Sunday February 13 will receive complimentary Frenchie condoms and lube to spice up the stay. In addition, QT is running its Valentine’s Day Love is Blind promotion where the hotel will dole out random upgrades on all bookings of the package from Friday February 11 to Tuesday February 15 2022. The Frenchie and QT Bondi Pleasure Pop-Up will be situated at QT Bondi, 6 Beach Road, and will be open 10am-6pm on each of the four days.
Image: Toby’s Estate
Toby’s Estate x Icebergs Pool Party
Free coffee in Australia’s most picturesque location? What could be better than that? To celebrate the launch of Toby Estate’s Not Hot Coffee Range of ready-to-drink cold coffee cans, the iconic coffee brand is taking over the Icebergs Pool on Friday 18th February between 7am and 10am. Best of all, it’s shouting all visitors an early morning swim, breakfast and a chilled can of Toby’s Estate Cold Brew Coffee. Check out the details below and get amongst it!
Date: Friday 18th February 2022
Time: 7-10am
Location: Icebergs Pool, 1 Notts Ave, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Entry: Free pool entry, free pastry breakfast and free can of Toby’s Estate Not Hot Coffee Range
ReachOut’s Laps for Life is Back
Youth mental health service ReachOut’s swimming event Laps for Life is taking place this March and this year, there’s a big name on board. Ian Thorpe is encouraging all Aussies to make a splash and swim laps at the local pool or beach throughout March to raise critical funds and awareness about youth mental health and suicide.
“This March is the time to rally together as a nation to participate in ReachOut’s Laps For Life in support of youth mental health and suicide prevention. As the pandemic continues, young people are being disproportionately impacted and can feel stressed about key issues such as the impacts of COVID, and concerns about the future,” Thorpey said. “All funds raised in the month-long swimming challenge will provide vital support for the one in four young people in Australia currently experiencing mental health issues.”
Laps for Life is open to everyone across Australia and is easy to take part in. People can get involved by visiting lapsforlife.com.au, signing up as an individual, or as a team with their colleagues, family or friends, setting a goal using the lap calculator, swimming and logging their laps.
Image: We-Vibe
Melbourne’s Hidden Sex Toys
To celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, couples sexual wellness brand We-Vibe has hidden sex toys in locations around Melbourne for adventurous couples to go out and find. Five We-Vibe Syncs will be hidden around town on Saturday, 12 Feb – and whoever finds them automatically wins a year’s supply of sex toys from We-Vibe. For more information on the scavenger hunt, check the link below.
Image: Blunt Umbrellas
Blunt Umbrellas Teams Up with Safe Space Alliance to Support LGBTQI+ Community
The legendary BLUNT Umbrellas have just released a new limited edition brolly in collaboration with Safe Space Alliance to raise money for the organisation. Safe Space Alliance helps people identify, navigate, and create safe spaces for the LGBTQI+ community worldwide.
The BLUNT + Safe Space Alliance Metro Umbrella is unapologetically vibrant with a bright, bold and illustrative style. The collaboration umbrella is now live on their website for $139.00, with $5.00 from every sale going to Safe Space Alliance and Australian charity Minus18 to help continue their amazing work in the community.
Image: Samantha Schultz
Moon Dog Fizzer ‘Proud to Be’
Moon Dog Brewing has extended its commitment to stand up against LGBTQIA+ discrimination in Australia, launching a Proud to Be mixed 10-pack next month in March 2022. Moon Dog will also be donating $1 from every limited edition mixed 10-pack to IDAHOBIT which celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and creates free educational programs and resources to help combat LGBTQIA+ discrimination in Australia.
“We want to encourage people to think about what they’re proud to be, whether it’s part of the LGBTQIA+ community, an ally, an LGBTQIA+ person’s parent or carer or maybe learning about or discovering these parts of our ourselves or our society”, says Maurice McGrath – Moon Dog Brewing’s CEO (he / him / his).
For this limited edition pack, Moon Dog Fizzer has engaged NSW based artist, Luke John Matthew Arnold (he / him / they) to design the packaging for this celebration of the Australian LGBTQIA+ community.
“I’m proud to be a queer creative. I have evolved to a place where I am comfortable and confident to create whatever I want without fear of public scrutiny or hate. I was stoked to be able to create artwork for a bevvy that will have proceeds donated to IDAHOBIT”, says Arnold.
With 100 per cent of the funds raised going to programs that support LGBTQIA+ Australians, Moon Dog Fizzer’s donation will go towards free and accessible digital resources to help workplaces create safer environments for LGBTQIA+ people.
Image: Oppo
OPPO is Handing Out Free Ice-Creams With Your Face On Them
Smartphone brand OPPO is launching a #SelfieServe ice cream truck across Sydney this month, starting from the 12th of February. All you need to o to score a feed is turn up, snap a selfie and score a free ice cream with your face printed on it.
The OPPO #SelfieServe will be at popular locations around Sydney each weekend including; the Northern Beaches, Chatswood, Sydney CBD, Coogee and Rushcutters Bay between 12pm and 4pm. The free scoops come in 8oz cups, filled with Madagascar Vanilla gelato and topped with a personalised selfie printed using 100% natural coffee extract.
You’ll also like:
Feel-Good Friday: 4 February – Top of the Froths
Feel-Good Friday: January 27 – Cheers, Beers and Aussies of the Year
Feel-Good Friday: January 21 – Slams, Jams and Sex Toy Fans
