The October 2024 newsletter of the Buffalo Club, from https://freobuffclub.org/so/42P9RxqcM
October Newsletter
Salutations members and patrons!
Welcome to the sweet season of Kambarang – brollies up, legs out, and flowers blooming all over the City. It’s also October – which was once the eighth month of the year before they added January and February.
And, this month’s bit of old order history;
The culture of mid-18th century London was greatly influenced by the theatre. A club was established at that time by actors and their patrons named The City of Lushington. The club was a parody of the London City Council. Members were inducted as citizens and divided into quarters to take part in mock trials.
Citizens would, drink, accuse each other of wrongdoings and be ordered to pay fines or to render service. Lushington became so popular that ordinary folks could not gain entry. The original Buffalo’s (RAOB) were established as an everyman version of The City of Lushington, named after a popular song at the time.
Our Buffalo Club came into being when the Fremantle lodge of this fraternal order was made to incorporate in the mid-1960s.
A creed of the old order: “No one (sic) is at all times wise”.
Committee @ The Buff
With the summer heat on its way, we’d like to acknowledge that the aircon is a priority. There’s a fundraiser in the works, thanks everyone for your continued patience on this.
The AGM will also be coming up in the next month or so – and there’ll be separate emails to follow with details. The AGM is an opportunity to see who’s who and discuss where the club is heading, before casting a vote on a new committee.
The call for a broader set of community events and programs is being answered. Through this, the past couple months have seen a consistent increase in engagement from new members. It’s been satisfying to see different crew coming through the space.
Thanks to all members for extending that rough hospitality the club is known for. It’s quite often that we have new guests or members speak of the club as a place they can be at ease.
Part of that is due to members and staff who are willing to speak up when folks aren’t being respectful, which happens every now and then. Thanks to those folks who help maintain the level of respect we have at the Buff. It’s not a given and it takes patient effort.
Membership @ The Buff
With the AGM incoming, it's time to get ya membership up to date to decide who’s in the hotseat this coming year. Membership only $50 per year ($30 Concession). You'll also have the benefit of member prices on drinks, events, and bookings.
We’ve got a bit of merch coming in soon (hats up first, I think), to help y’all, represent the broad and beautiful herd when you’re out there in the world.
Social Hall
The project of developing the upper hall continues. We’re now hosting a bunch of different community programs up there, including:
_Yoga – Mondays and Wednesdays 6pm-7pm. $10.
_Life Drawing – Tuesdays 6.30pm-9pm. $20.
Also Tuesdays_Group Portraiture Classes 5pm-7pm downstairs. Free.
_Community Meal – Thursday fortnightly 5pm-7pm, 10th and 24th this month. Free.
This month will also be the launch of a Youth Open Mic from the folks at Headspace and the City of Freo. The major work in the hall at the mo is around getting it prepped for our first visual art exhibit early next month.
Please get in touch if you have time or material to donate to the project.
Volunteer Shout Out
Huge thanks to the vollies this month: Bruce and Neil in getting the Buffalo Head up on the wall; Emily, Jon and Sof for beginning the project of rehashing our booking systems; Kevin for his donation of a stage for the front room; and Danarchy for hanging the sign out front. Nothing is perfect but it’s all coming along.
If you’re interested in helping at the club and have a particular trade, check in with Kevin or Zane. If you’re interested in helping in some other way, come along to a volunteer meet held with the Buff working groups each month. This month’s is 11am on Sunday the 20th.
Upcoming Events
Regulars
EVERY MONDAY
Mad Cow Mondays – Comedy Night
MONTHLY THURSDAYS
Oct 3rd - Tomás Ford Songwriter's Bonfire
Oct 10th - Room Full of Feelings Poetry Night
Oct 17th - Cryptid's Exhibit Music Showcase
Oct 24th - Early Worm Improv/Poetry Showcase
This Month
Already well underway with Ratshit Strap absolutely smooshing it last night, alongside our Geraldton friends Ratsalad (pictured). It continues, with-
_October 10th, our monthly poetry night Room Full of Feelings, courtesy of the lovely Rosie Shute and many others!
_October 11th, Tomas Ford again for an irresistible DJ night.
_October 12th, the phenomenal Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice, bringing some East Coast punk to WA
_October 16th, the band Cuss are returning to us after a year’s odyssey in the east!
_October 17th, the Cryptids Exhibit- a monthly showcase of the local cryptids of our music scene.
_October 18th, the DJ stylings of Neil Blan.
_October 19th, a massive and highly anticipated gig with NEST FM fundraiser for Palestine & Lebanon- including DJs and a live art auction! Proceeds to Delia Arts Foundation.
_October 24th, Jugular Co’s illustrious Early Worm showcase- featuring improv jams, poetry and surreal productions.
_October 25th, another huge night- the launch of the Jack Carroll band upstairs, and downstairs Oakabella Mae’s new single launch!
_October 26th, the killer combo- Clubb Medd upstairs and Fisherman Style downstairs, really putting the "club" in "Buffalo Club."
And finally, closing out the month, _October 30th- Only Clowns, which can only be advertised by how many times we had to check whether their antics would even be possible here! A variety cabaret show. Check it out.
Keep charging those storms Buffaloes. You never know when you'll be struck by lightning and develop magic powers.