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Hi Buffaloes
Welcome to May. The month of workers, Mother’s Day, and the time of year when the nights start getting cooler and the Buff somehow gets warmer. And speaking of mothers: we’ve got the mother of all months lined up for you.
April was a huge one around the Club. We hosted our biggest Bufflings yet, with Legs Electric blowing the roof off the place, while our friends The Gremlins transformed the Buff into a full-blown fantasy realm for a massive Wizardfest. Loud rooms, packed floors and good people: just how we like it.
Now May rolls in with plenty more on the horizon: Didion’s Bible return to launch the deluxe edition of their latest album, our friends at Audible Edge are putting on a fundraiser supporting artists affected by war and displacement, and of course there’s the all-important May Day event. After marching with your comrades, you may as well dance with them too.
As always, catch it all in the Club Calendar: the all-encompassing, ever-reliable bovine encyclopedia of what’s happening at the Buff.
Digging through old Buffalo history can sometimes feel like opening a time capsule, and every now and then you stumble across someone so extraordinary that they stop you in your tracks. One such figure is Charles “Curley” Molyneux, a Fremantle Buffalo remembered by his fellow members as the “King of Philanthropy.”
From the 1920s onward, Curley devoted himself to caring for the sick, lonely and struggling around Fremantle. Week after week, year after year, he visited local hospitals, bringing company, meals, small comforts, and often simply the reassurance that somebody cared. According to Buffalo records of the time, he made more than 4,300 hospital visits over 28 consecutive years, rarely missing a week and refusing to even leave Fremantle for holidays in case somebody needed him.
The stories told about him are remarkable. He comforted lonely sailors stranded far from home, supported injured workers, organised fundraisers for disabled children, and spent years visiting patients who otherwise had nobody at all. Fellow Buffaloes wrote that “rain or shine, cold or heat, Curley was always on the job.”
His work became so respected that Buffalo Lodges around the world eventually honoured him with a memorial fountain dedicated to his extraordinary service and compassion.
At a time when the Buff often talks about community, solidarity and looking after one another, it’s worth remembering figures like Curley. He embodied the old Buffalo motto of “Justice, Truth and Philanthropy” and reminded everyone that Buffaloism was never just about the building or the bar, but about showing up for people when they needed it most.
Shout-outs and Call-outs
Shout outs to:
- Billy and his lovely mum for their generous donation of stools to the Club. Plenty more places for Buffs to park themselves with a pint.
- John Denhold for also chipping in with extra stools for the herd.
- Shannon for donating some much-needed stage lighting and helping the Buff shine a little brighter.
- Pen Cap Chew Studios for their generous donation of microphones.
Call outs (help wanted!):
- More volunteers! The Club runs on members pitching in. If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved, now’s the time. Big jobs, small jobs, weird jobs, there’s always something to do at the Buff. Jump into the WhatsApp and introduce yourself, or (for the shy Buffs), email deskjockey@freobuffclub.org to put your hand up.
Deep Crates Delivers
Big shout out to beloved Buffs Dorien and Chloe, who put together Deep Crates last month — a laid-back Sunday DJ session that doubled as a fundraiser for the Club’s very own DJ setup.
The afternoon was a huge success, raising almost $1300 towards decks for the Buff. That means more member-run DJ nights, more spontaneous selectors spinning records, and even more ways to keep the music flowing through the Club.
Five Months of the Free Shop
The Buff’s Free Shop has now been running for five months strong — and what a beautiful little community resource it’s become. Fresh rotations of clothing keep finding their way onto the rack, helping get clean, usable clothes into the hands of people who need them.
A big thanks to everyone who’s donated so far and helped keep it stocked and tidy. If you’d like to contribute, please hang clothes up neatly yourself and pop any spare coat hangers into the baskets below the rack.
Buffalo Volunteer Day
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to get more involved in the Buff, this is it.
On Sunday 24th May from 1PM, we’re throwing a Buffalo Volunteer Day: a chance for curious newcomers and seasoned volunteers alike to come together, meet the Club’s subcommittees, and see what goes into keeping this grand old social club alive and kicking.
Whether you’re interested in music, maintenance, history, events, community projects, or just lending a hand where needed, there’s a place for you in the herd. And if you’re already volunteering, come down too. Your knowledge and experience help keep the Buff spirit strong.
Oh, and there’ll be free pizza and a middy for volunteers, because revolutions run better with carbs and beer.
Sunday 24th May
1PM at the Buff
Get Inky: The Lazy Screen Printer
Ever wanted to give screen printing a crack without turning your house into a paint-splattered disaster zone? This one’s for you.
On Saturday 9 May, The Lazy Screen Printer (aka Sof.O) is hosting a relaxed, hands-on workshop down in the Buff’s finest dank basement. It’s a “hack share” — covering the basics of getting started, plus stencil tricks, Riso tips, and all sorts of fun, messy printing methods.
Bring something you’re happy to get dirty (including an old shirt if you want to print on it), and a small donation for materials if you can. If you’re keen to print your own design, reach out ahead of time and Sof.O can point you in the right direction. RSVP here.
Saturday 9 May 1–3PM
Buff basement (stairs only)
Members only
Maintenance Update
A few quiet wins from the toolshed crew:
- Zane and AJ have been putting in work on the railings for the upstairs curtains — small details, big difference.
- Ollie is currently cooking up a plan to tackle the sagging ceiling sheet on the balcony. Watch this space.
As always, big love to the volunteers keeping the old girl standing.
Policy Roundup
Behind the scenes, the Committee and a dedicated crew of volunteers have been hard at work developing a range of policies to help the Club run smoothly, tackle challenges, and keep things (mostly) by the book.
New additions include our Youth Policy, Subcommittee Protocol, Sexual Harassment Policy, and Disputes & Grievances Policy, all designed to support a safer, more organised and more inclusive Buff.
And underpinning it all is the Buffalo Club Constitution: not new, but the foundation everything else is built on.
Keen for a deeper look? Have a squizz via the links and see how the Buff keeps itself ticking.
Two years of Kevin!
A huge congratulations to our heroic Club Manager, Kevin Sanderson, who this month celebrates his two-year Buffaversary at the Club.
It’s no exaggeration to say Kevin has been a massive part of the Buff’s survival and revival. From wrangling finances and staffing, to negotiating with the ATO, fixing fridges on his hands and knees, hauling kegs, doing emergency ice runs, and answering the phone on nights when he absolutely should’ve been switched off, Kev has continually gone above and beyond for the Club.
Behind the scenes, his steady hand, sharp business sense and ability to communicate through the chaos have helped steer this grand old ship toward calmer waters and a brighter future. Somehow, he’s also managed to survive three different committees along the way.
The Buff is stronger because of the work Kevin puts in every single week, often quietly and without much fuss. So next time you see him around the Club, give him a cheers and a pat on the back.
Thanks, Kev. The Buff loves ya.
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