Community
17 January, 2025
A funny Friday for a good cause
THE Anglican Parishes of Camperdown and Holy Apostles are preparing to tickle the funny bones of residents for a “Funny Friday” this afternoon.
The afternoon of laughter and fun also aims to support the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which aims to bring smiles to children suffering serious illness through play, social connection and creativity.
Reverend Matthew Jones said the Funny Friday was born from the increase in serious news across the world in recent months.
“The idea came because there is so much serious, heavy stuff on the news lately – there’s a lot of stuff about war, natural disasters and financial pressures,” he said.
“We were at a morning tea and someone told a joke, and everyone started laughing - I then thought, ‘we need more laughter’.
“I talked to a few people about putting an event on where we just find funny things like telling a joke, and then we decided we wanted to do something not just for the church, but we wanted to do something for the people and also for outside our own church community.
“We’re going to have a joke-telling afternoon, and 100 per cent of the money from the donation bowl will go towards the Starlight Foundation.
“We’re going to turn laughter into a smile for sick children.”
The fundraiser will run from 2pm-4pm, with residents invited to come along and share their favourite jokes.
Three prizes are on offer for those who receive the loudest laugh, with a prize also on offer for the joke that receives the biggest groan – attendees will also go into the draw to win the lucky door prize.
All prizes have been donated by those involved in organising the afternoon, with a general theme of laughter and smiles.
A selection of cakes and slices and tea and coffee will be on offer for afternoon tea, with no bookings required.
“It’s open to anyone – we’re just going to put chairs out for people to sit on,” Rev Jones said.
“The only thing is we say to people is to please bring a joke.
“If they don’t like telling jokes, I’ll be the emcee and I’ll tell it for them.
“If they don’t have a joke, they can ask their children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren – I’m sure someone has a joke.
“It can just be a simple one-liner – it doesn’t have to be anything complex.”
Rev Jones said the afternoon will be “a bit of an experiment” to gauge community response, with plans for a similar event if the response is positive.
“Laughter is such a good thing – people like telling jokes, and the jokes will be appropriate,” he said.
“The prizes are just silly little funny things, but it’s all in the theme of laughter and smiles.
“We had trivia days, which have been really funny, and we thought this was just another way of having some fun.”
Anyone interested in sharing a laugh is invited to drop in to the St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall at 11 Church Street, Camperdown.
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