It’s all been a bit much recently, hasn’t it. Amid all this tragedy – on our shores and abroad – it’s difficult not to feel helpless and slightly overwhelmed. That’s how the owners of Sydney’s Bar Suze felt this week.
“We were watching on as the damage was revealed across Queensland and New South Wales, and then learned that a few of our friends had lost everything,” says co-owner Gregory Bampton. “It felt way too close to home.”
So they phoned some friends, asked around, and put together an online raffle and fundraiser. The Bar Suze Flood Relief Fundraiser (nice and straightforward name) is this Sunday. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly to Flood Relief Cook Up, a crowdfund that helps Northern Rivers chefs and businesses prepare and deliver food to flood-affected people, and the Bundjalung Community Fund by Koori Mail – which supports the Bundjalung, Bunjum, Buyinbin, Kurrachee and Nungera Aboriginal co-ops and tribal societies. (All of which have been badly hit by flooding.) Each ticket is $50; you can buy as many as you’d like.
Inside Bar Suze.
(Photo: supplied.)And you’ll want to buy as many as you can. Because the line-up of prizes is a pearler. There’s a two-night stay at a retreat in the Byron Hinterlands, valued at $4000, which sleeps 12 and comes with its own outdoor cinema and saltwater swimming pool. Plus there’s a one-night stay at Sydney’s highly anticipated Ace Hotel; original artworks by Stuart Cook; a three month Coffee Supreme subscription; an Archie Rose gin tasting session; a six-pack of Phaidon books; a natural wine pack from DRNKS; a full set of In Bed linens; a copper outdoor shower; restaurant vouchers and more all up for grabs.
Tickets are available until 4.59pm Sunday March 6, after which prizes will be drawn. If you live in Sydney, you can head on down to Bar Suze in Surry Hills from 1pm this Sunday for some drinks before the live draw. Reeftip Drinks, Poor Toms, Johnnie Walker and Tanqueray have all hopped aboard to provide some drinks. And La Salut, Tokyo Bird, Mates in Spain, the Blue Door – and, of course – Bar Suze will be serving up snacks all-day long (with all proceeds going to flood relief).
Bar Suze is no stranger to the curveballs that the last couple of years have kept throwing.
“With the timing of opening Bar Suze in between lockdowns last year, it can feel like we’re always asking our community for something,” says Bampton. “Thankfully they’re still there and giving.”
With the fundraiser homing in on its goal of raising $20 000, everyone’s desire to help seems stronger than ever.
Tickets for the Bar Suze Flood Relief raffle are on sale till 5pm Sunday March 6.
