First Friday back behind the wheel and we’re feeling groovy, even on this fine Friday the 13th. After two weeks of eating Chrissy pud and melting by the pool, the Man of Many team has shuffled its way into the office for another 12 months of spine-tingling, soul-enriching, Feel-Good Friday vibes. Don’t believe us? Here’s the first instalment, on the house.
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NFL is Looking for Australia’s Most Deserving Super Bowl Fan
Ante up football fans, it’s almost Super Bowl time. The National Football League (NFL) is on the hunt for the most dedicated fans in Australia and New Zealand, to surprise them with a ‘once in a lifetime’ trip to Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix, Arizona. The sporting organisation is asking for people to nominate a deserving fan who fits the criteria, with one fan from Australia and one fan from New Zealand copping return flights, three nights’ accommodation and two tickets to the game for them and a friend.
Nominees must demonstrate one of the following criteria to be considered for the prize.
- A passion for the NFL or an avid fan of a club
- Someone to actively supports the development of youth or grassroots American Football,
- Someone who has dedicated time to their community or country
“To go to the Super Bowl really is a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience and we are delighted to be offering a dedicated fan from Australia as well as a fan from New Zealand the chance to win the opportunity to attend,” Charlotte Offord, GM of NFL Australia said. “Super Bowl LVII will be a global sporting experience like no other, and it will be fantastic to have a fan
from both countries in the stadium on game day.”
The competition is open now with nominations set to close on 11pm AEDT on 23 January 2023.
Mastercard Champions Blind and Low Vision Tennis for the Australian Open
Just a few days out from the start of the Australian Open, the nation has some serious tennis fever but it’s important to remember the unsung heroes of the sport. New research commissioned by Mastercard in partnership with Blind Sports Australia (BSA) has revealed that 2.2 million Australians with a disability believe there is not enough representation of people with a disability in sport.
To combat this, Master is championing inclusivity on and off the court, bringing former world No.8 singles tennis player Alicia Molik along for the ride. The Mastercard ambassador took to the court with Courtney Webeck (Blind & Low Vision Australian B2 Champion) and Mick Leigh (Blind & Low Vision Australian B3 Champion) whilst wearing simulation glasses – playing with two blind and low vision (BLV) tennis champions – to simulate the game from the perspective of a person living with a vision impairment. The experience gave Molik a new-found appreciation for blind and low vision tennis and the need for growth in this code.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been tested during matches, but this felt like a totally different ball game,” Molik said. “The most challenging part for me, while simulating the lived experiences of a person living with a vision impairment, was picking up the sound when the ball was in flight – it made me feel like I was very incapable of a skill that ordinarily I’d be an expert at.”
In an effort to make more people living with a disability feel included during the AO, Webeck and Leigh will play a match of blind and low vision match at the National Tennis Centre, with the AO celebrating its inaugural All Abilities Day this year (24 January). To support inclusion at a grassroots level, Mastercard is funding a Blind Sports Australia (BSA) grant to grow blind and low vision tennis across the country.
Peroni Picnic Party for the AO
A spot of tennis and a picnic lunch, what could be refined? To celebrate the 2023 Australian Open, partner Peroni Nastro Azzurro has unveiled a new set of exciting events and activities for tennis tragics and summer sesh-lords alike. Continuing the activation from last year, The Peroni Bar will return to offer fans an immersive on-site experience at Melbourne Park, complete with the iconic blue Peroni ribbon and crisp white palette. Located just a short walk from Rod Laver Arena, the bar offers a delicious Aperitivo menu and the full range of crisp Peroni Nastro Azzurro: Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Peroni Nastro Azzurro 3.5% and Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%. But that’s not all.
Peroni will also be hosting a Picnic with Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% – a one-day exclusive, Italian-inspired luxury pack designed for summer. The picnic packs will be given away for free on the 21st of January from 11am to 5pm. Located at the Botanical in South Yarra, on Domain Road, Picnic with Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% will feature an Italian deli stocked with all your favourites. If you want to make the most of the warmer weather, Peroni has you sorted this January.
Drumstick Release New Flavours with Clean Up Australia
To celebrate 60 years of bringing Australians iconic summer scenes, ice cream legends Peter’s Drumstick has teamed up with environmental charity Clean Up Australia, with the goal of creating more tasty moments. Peter’s will be pledging $250,000 to go towards Clean Up Kits and calling upon fellow Aussies to help join in on Clean Up Australia Day via a Clean Up Our Summer campaign. Better still, the brand has dropped three new flavours to celebrate the partnership – Clean Up Our Beaches Hokey Pokey, Clean Up Our Parks Choc Cookie and Clean Up Our Rivers Vanilla Caramel Choc Chip.
“Australians tell us every day that they are concerned about the world we live in but often feel frustrated and unsure how to make a positive impact,” Pip Kiernan, chair of Clean Up Australia said. “So we are thrilled to be working with Drumstick to get Aussies involved in cleaning up our summer! This collaboration is a great opportunity to encourage all Australians to make a real difference by taking practical action.”
