Wayne Bradley teams up with basketball legends for Alphabet fundraiser
You may know Wayne Bradley, Queanbeyan painter, punter and pub patron, but you might not know that Wayne’s true passion lies with his incredible side-hustle: fundraising events.
In 2012, Wayne and Bec Gilby started “Loose Change Events”, a company that takes the stress out of fundraising money for your sports team or cause. The duo started their business to give back to the community, and say that they work hard to host events that not only raise important funds, but are unique and leave an impression.
“Bec and I put our heads together and said ‘look we seem to enjoy it’, there is a bit of work involved but why don’t we make a little business out of this and we can start raising some money. We’ve been doing it for 10 to 12 years now and we’ve raised in excess of $200,000 for sporting groups or people who are sick who need a bit of a helping hand, but we are open to anything that helps people,” Wayne said.
The Queanbeyan Masters Basketball team enjoying a beer and lunch at the Boathouse Hotel after a game.
The next event by the Loose Change Events team is in support of the Queanbeyan Basketball Masters team. The team is a who’s who of Queanbeyan with players like Jason Codey, Alan “Hoppo” Hopkins, Jamie Browne, Mark Steele, Peter Buchaniec, and is also managed by Wayne Bradley (how does this bloke have time to paint?!). They head to the Pan Pacific Masters Games every two years on the Gold Coast to go head to head with 15,000 what Wayne calls “retired athletes” competing in 42 sports.
“It’s like a mini Commonwealth Games for older people. They come from Papua New Guinea, India, they come from everywhere, all over the Pan Pacific area so it’s a massive event.. And you’ve got to have about $15,000 because it goes for a week. With your accommodation, your registrations, your uniform and everything, it all adds up.”
Some of the Queanbeyan Masters Basketball players during a timeout, deciding on their next play.
To raise the funds needed for the Masters Basketball team to compete, Loose Change Events are hosting an ‘Alphabet Fundraiser’ on 19 May at The Royal Hotel in Queanbeyan in their Upper House function space. The team is bringing a unique fundraising concept where ticket holders will buy a letter for $25 and then come in fancy dress as something to do with their letter. Prizes for best dressed will be awarded on the night,
“We changed up the trivia night, and a lot of people are interested. I’ve got a few auctions and a lot of raffles on the night, I’ve got a DJ playing and there will be plenty happening on the night to keep you entertained,” Wayne said.
Wayne Bradley with some of the players at a Queanbeyan Masters Basketball team event.
The Royal Hotel will be offering a beautiful Chorizo BBQ smorgasbord that will run all night long. The barbecue will be optional, but if you pay to eat, the hotel will give $10 from every meal back to the Masters Basketball team.
“We’ve recently brought on Nikita Hayes, a good little social networker and this is her first event with us, we are really looking forward to getting her involved. The food will be amazing, the auctions and raffles will be really impressive and we just encourage everyone to come along and have a good time, it’s going to be a brilliant night,” Wayne said.
Event Details:
When: Friday 19 May 2023, 6pm-11:30pm
Where: Royal Hotel, Crawford Street, Queanbeyan
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About the Author: Holly Winchester
Part Jennifer Coolidge, part Jennifer Garner (gaudy and geeky), Holly idolises Dolly Parton and Princess Di and loves NRL. When she's not creating killer content, you’ll find Holly at the Maccas drive thru getting her chai latte fix or buying 1990s memorabilia for the walls of her Googong home. Specialist subject: the Woolies carpark.
