On Friday, 6 February 2026, the Happy Friday Supper Club (HFSC) – a close-knit group of Greek and Cypriot Australian friends – hosted its 16th Annual Awards Gala at the Establishment Ballroom.
With 180 guests in attendance, the night transformed black-tie formality into something far more personal, blending long-standing friendship, sharp humour and genuine generosity.
It wasn’t the kind of gala where silence followed speeches or guests politely waited their turn to applaud. This was a room alive with laughter – the kind that rolls, interrupts, and keeps coming back for more.
Jokes landed before the microphone could cool. Cheers erupted mid-sentence. And between the punchlines, there was an unmistakable sense that everyone in the room knew exactly why they were there – not just to give, but to celebrate each other.
There was constant banter. Roasting that only works when it’s built on trust. Off-the-cuff humour that landed because everyone knew the history behind the jokes. And throughout the night, throwback-style video footage – including 80s and 90s MTV-inspired music clips starring members of the club – kept the room buzzing, laughing and cheering.
It was high-energy, uninhibited in the best way, and unmistakably authentic.
A monthly promise that became a movement
Serving as MC, Supper Club President Peter Antoniou reflected on how the group began back in 2009 – not as a charity, but as a safeguard against drifting apart.
“At some point, we started falling… not seeing each other,” he told the room. “So we decided – how about we catch up the first Friday of the month?”
That promise stuck.
Sixteen years on, the HFSC has now marked 188 actual dinners, a rare feat in adult life that speaks not only to longevity, but to the discipline of friendship. Over time, the monthly dinners evolved into an annual awards gala – complete with democratic voting, friendly rivalry and plenty of self-mockery.
But the club’s purpose shifted decisively when members rallied around a friend raising funds for a child attending the specialist school Giant Steps.
“That night, the money had an immediate impact,” Antoniou said. “From that point, the direction of the club was set.”
Giving – without the ‘charter’
The Happy Friday Supper Club has no formal bylaws or hierarchy. But it does operate by an unwritten rule that defines everything it does.
“If we’re going to help somebody,” Antoniou said, “they have to see the lion’s share of the proceeds.”
That philosophy has guided years of giving to causes close to members’ hearts, including Starlight, Cure Brain Cancer, Raising Ryan, Giant Steps (twice), and Bear Cottage. In 2026, the club dedicated its fundraising to the Steve Waugh Foundation.
True to the Supper Club’s ethos, there were no auctions, raffles or pressure tactics on the night. Instead, a simple QR code appeared throughout the evening – and generosity followed naturally.
Initially set at $25,000, the fundraising target was quickly revised to $50,000. By night’s end, and with donations still trickling in, the total had surpassed $63,000 – a powerful result driven by goodwill rather than obligation.
A foundation built on long-term commitment
A defining moment of the evening came with the address and Q&A featuring Steve Waugh AO, one of Australia’s most respected sporting figures and a former Australian Test cricket captain, whose leadership on the field has translated into decades of service off it.
Waugh founded the Steve Waugh Foundation more than 20 years ago to support children and young people aged 0 to 25 living with rare diseases – particularly ultra-rare conditions that often fall outside mainstream healthcare and funding systems.
As Waugh explained, the foundation focuses on illnesses with a prevalence rate of less than two in 100,000 – conditions so uncommon they are frequently misunderstood, under-resourced and overlooked.
“These are the children and families who are often forgotten,” he said. “Not because they don’t need help – but because their conditions don’t fit neatly into existing systems.”
What distinguishes the foundation is not only who it supports, but how it supports them.
Rather than offering one-off assistance, the Steve Waugh Foundation maintains deep, long-term relationships with families, remaining closely involved as children grow and their needs evolve – whether that involves specialised medical equipment, communication devices, mobility aids, oxygen support or other life-changing resources.
“Kids don’t just need support for one year,” he said. “As they grow, their needs change – and we stay with them.”
Lean by design, personal by nature
Operating with a deliberately slim expense model, the foundation ensures the vast majority of funds raised go directly to families rather than administration.
With a small staff, a volunteer board and strong community backing – including Lynette Waugh OAM, Chairman Kevin Wright, and Director Nicholas Pappas AM – each grant is assessed individually and directed toward a specific family and need.
Over the past 22 years, the Steve Waugh Foundation has:
- Supported 3,700 children and families
- Delivered more than 1,200 individual grants
- Assisted families affected by over 400 rare diseases
Stories shared on the night – including that of Liam, a young man once told he may never communicate, who later grew into a confident public speaker and fundraiser – illustrated the foundation’s deeply personal approach.
Families are not treated as case numbers, but as people known by name, story and circumstance – a philosophy that resonated deeply in a room built on loyalty and long-standing bonds.
Roasting, recognition and loyalty among friends
Following Waugh’s address, the evening returned to its natural rhythm.
Vice President Garry Pavlis – quick-witted, unfiltered and deeply familiar with the room – kept guests entertained with affectionate roasting and sharp observations that only work among people who know each other well.
Behind the scenes, the night’s much-talked-about video segments were the work of Paul Apostolou, whose creative direction and nostalgic flair brought the Supper Club’s humour to life on screen.
The evening also included a video tribute from respected broadcaster John Mangos, adding another layer of warmth and recognition.
Among those in attendance were Simon Katich and his wife Georgie Katich. Katich, who played under Steve Waugh at Test level, is a close friend of Supper Club member Costa Christou and a longstanding supporter of the group.
Awards with meaning and mischief
The Supper Club’s much-anticipated awards were presented amid cheers, laughter and good-natured rivalry:
- Golden Grinder (Gold): Costa Christou & Christopher Sozou
- Silver (Joint Winners): George Kafataris & Con Costas
- Bronze: Anthony Antoniou
- Special Platinum Award: George Vatiliotis
As always, the awards were less about prestige and more about shared history – a reflection of effort, attendance and commitment across the years.
A room that knew itself
Perhaps the night was best summed up in a message shared by Mr Pappas, who expressed to a Supper Club member, “We all had a ball. You guys are an exceptional group. I was proud last night that our community has produced successful, humble and generous people… and I know that Steve and Lynette were also very moved. Your generous donation will make a huge difference.”
What made the evening unforgettable wasn’t just the entertainment or even the impressive funds raised. It was the sense of belonging – of a group that has kept a promise to each other for more than a decade, and in doing so, quietly built something that changes lives.
From the first Friday dinners in 2009 to a black-tie awards gala in 2026, the Happy Friday Supper Club has remained true to its origins – proving that when friendship is sustained with intention, generosity can follow naturally.
The Greek Herald is proud to support the work of the Happy Friday Supper Club. To learn more about the group and its initiatives, visit www.hfsc.com.au.
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