🌞 The coffees combatting homelessness

After my (desperate) callout for good news last week, so many of you responded with positive things occurring in your life and community.

While it was my first instinct to include all the stories in this newsletter, I’ve restrained myself. Having been in this industry for a while, I know that it’s probably better to include one reader story per edition, just to keep the magic going a little bit longer.

And because so many of you asked* I thought I’d also share my good news of the week: I’ve been recognised as a regular at my local cafe. They know me by name, but don’t worry. I haven’t let the fame get to my head.

Anyways - please keep the good news stories coming! My inbox is always open. 

*Okay fine. Nobody asked. I’m just an oversharer. 

TDA’s all about coffee - and this newsletter’s all about kindness, so this story was right up our alley. 

Cup of Kindness is a community initiative that helps support vulnerable young Australians through coffee. Participating cafes will donate $1 from every coffee sold to Youth Off The Streets, a non-profit youth service that supports NSW and Queensland youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness and disadvantage. 

Fittingly launched on International Coffee Day, the campaign will run throughout October. It is Sydney-based, with more than 10 cafes and businesses already registered and more expected to join. If you're a Sydneysider, you can check out your local participating cafes here. If you’re not a Sydneysider, feel free to come by to see what real coffee tastes like. 

Youth Off The Streets CEO Judy Barraclough said: “We wanted to create something simple that would allow Australians to turn an everyday ritual into an act of kindness for young people doing it tough. Something as simple as a warm drink could be the beginning of meaningful support for a young person in need.”

Six First Nations university students have been selected to do a 10-week placement at NASA. 

The program is part of Monash University’s National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA), which “aims to build Indigenous participation in Australia’s growing space sector.” 

Of the selected students, Jordan Roulstone has been awarded an inaugural Boeing NISA Scholarship. Jordan is a proud Warumungu man with connections to Tennant Creek and Alice Springs who grew up in north Brisbane and Caboolture.

He said: “I want to build a career that contributes to Australia’s future in space and advanced engineering, but I also want to help create a future where more Indigenous young people can see themselves in STEM. QUT has supported me on that journey, and this scholarship is another step towards making that vision a reality.”

At NASA, students will contribute to work such as ocean exploration vehicles and the International Space Station. 

NISA has funding from the Australian Space Agency, and is supported by CSIRO, Boeing and the Andy Thomas Space Foundation.

This is a special one from Skye and Claudia, who are on TDA’s Partnerships team. Claudia’s dog George is giving hugs to their friend Sam 🥹

Here’s Margaret with her good news: 

“My good news story for the week is that my council area (Northern Beaches Council) in Sydney, has given residents the opportunity to "Nominate an Iconic Tree".

Absolutely love the initiative… What a way to help residents appreciate their local environment and add a bit of joy to your day! Trees are the best; they don't discriminate - and they're free!

I will be nominating this truly iconic Moreton Bay Fig in Bower Reserve, which has provided residents and visitors safe harbour under its branches for literal generations. Worth a visit if you ever find yourself in the area."

Speaking of trees…

Earlier this week, the UK’s Environment Secretary announced that £53 million (around $AU101 million) will be invested across 3 years to plant up to half a million trees outside woodlands. 

I’m sure you all know that trees are amazing - but here’s another spiel anyways.

Trees are really effective in protecting against extreme weather. In certain environments, trees can reduce air temperatures by up to  4°C. They can also intercept around 15,000 litres of rainwater a year, protect biodiversity and improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing. 

According to the government, “the funding will empower local authorities, mayors, community groups and environmental organisations to bring nature closer to where people live and create more resilient neighbourhoods.”

An Australian-Sri Lankan playwright is bringing his award-winning 2018 play Counting and Cracking to The Big Apple.

S. Shakthidharan wrote the play on his family’s story of leaving Sri Lanka for Australia during its civil war. It holds universal themes of “loving across difference”, “hearing each other’s truths across difference” and “keeping our families going and our democracies alive”. Shakthidharan is also the author of several other plays, a memoir, and an upcoming film.

The play will be staged in the middle of Central Park as part of the Public Theatre’s ‘Free Shakespeare in the Park’ initiative, making this Australian story accessible to a broad audience.

In a post to Instagram, he said: “This is where The Public normally do Shakespeare in the Park.” He added that “there’s never been a South Asian story, or an Australian one.”

It will run next year. You’re in for a treat, New York.

Reporting by Pavitra Ravi.

Did you know fewer than 1% of TDA readers contribute?

It's true, and we're not mad about it. We make this (and all our newsletters!) free to read on purpose, because we think every Aussie deserves to understand the news. Our advertisers help make that possible, and so does the small group of readers who contribute through TDA+U. But imagine what we could do if that number got to 3%.

That could mean more of the feel good stories you tell us you want to see. If you've ever forwarded TDA to a friend or quoted us at dinner, you're already part of the club. Contribute what you can, once or monthly, and make it official. We appreciate your support so much!

It’s been a while since Heated Rivalry has been on our feeds, but it’s back - and for good reason.

The hit TV show chronicles the secret relationship between star hockey players Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander. The show is based on a book series by Rachel Reid. In the book series, Shane and Ilya launch the Irina Foundation, named after Ilya’s mother who struggled with mental health. 

Earlier this week, Heated Rivalry’s production company Accent Aigu Entertainment launched the Irina Foundation IRL. Co-founded and led by Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady, the Irina Foundation “envisions a world where LGBTQIA+ individuals and underserved communities experience genuine belonging and opportunity through organized sports and arts programs - creating inclusive spaces that build confidence, connection, and a strong sense of community.” 

As a big TV show girl, it’s always so heartening to see books and TV shows have such a meaningful impact beyond the screen. 

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has launched the ‘Opera for All’ initiative. A partnership between the City Council and the Metropolitan Opera, the initiative will “provide 70,000 free tickets this season to New Yorkers who have never attended a performance at the Met”. 

Every month from September, the Met will release 10,000 tickets each month, which New Yorkers can access through a lottery or the Met’s app. 

Mamdani said: “Opera is one of the greatest art forms we have, and there is no better place to experience it than the Metropolitan Opera House. But art should not be reserved for those who can afford it. Every New Yorker should have the opportunity to sit in these seats, hear these voices and experience this stage, no matter what’s in their bank account.”

The program is set to continue, with the Met having committed to extending the initiative in future seasons. 

Burger chain Grill’d has marked a new milestone: they’ve served more than 100,000 free meals to struggling Australians through their City Support Dinners.

The monthly initiative sees Grill’d close 7 restaurants nationwide, “creating a welcoming space to focus on serving people experiencing homelessness and sleeping rough.”  

Every first Tuesday, Grill’d staff work with Vinnies and Salvos volunteers and members to give guests a free meal. Initially launched in Melbourne 4 years ago with 184 burgers on the first night, the program has passed the 100,000 meal mark nationally. 

Grill’d Founder Simon Crowe said: “We are proud to offer people experiencing homelessness somewhere safe to sit down, eat well and be treated with dignity. It’s a small way we can support people doing it tough and help them feel welcome in our restaurants… If someone leaves feeling a little more connected than when they arrived, then that means a lot to us.”