Here in Australia, a mate is a friend, a special person, somebody you can rely on in good times and bad. However, we use the term “mate” in a variety of ways. For example, the term “mate” can be used for the first time you meet someone, especially when you don’t know their name. “G’day mate, so great to meet you!!” or “Hey mate, you dropped your phone.” or when someone you don’t know does something for you, “Thanks mate, I really appreciate your helping hand.” It can also be used to question someone’s motives, eg “Mate!!! …. What are you doing?????”
I’ve taken it upon myself to declare the 8th May as World GeoMay8 Day. It’s a day to celebrate what I think is one of the best aspects of this great activity we all enjoy, the wonderful people we meet and often the life-long mates we make. I’m sure, like me, you’ve met some great mates. As many of you have done, I’ve made so many great geo-mates all around the world.
For the last 5 years, I’ve hosted an event at a local pub where we can come together as mates and share our geo-adventure stories over a feed and a coldie, (that ‘s a meal and a beer if you don’t speak Aussie.
)Last year, I also invited a number of cachers around the world to host their own GeoMay8 Day event. All up, there were 23 GeoMay8 Day events held in New Zealand, USA, Germany, The Netherlands, Portugal, the UK and of course, Australia.
My event this year has now been published and here is a link to it…..
https://coord.info/GCBJTPF
My goal for this year is for 50+ events being held. Would you consider hosting a World GeoMay8 Day event? It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, just a 30min catch-up, or longer, in a park or a drink at a local bar, anything, anywhere, would be fabulous. It also doesn’t have to be at a venue with a connection to Australia (but if you have one nearby and it works, fantastic!!) For a naming convention, could you please begin your event name with “World GeoMay8 Day”. Thank you.
If you do get onboard and host a World GeoMay8 Day event, please post here and let us know about it. Also, could you please send me a message via the Message Centre.
It would be fabulous if more World GeoMay8 Day Events popped up all around the world especially in new countries. Who knows, if the concept catches on, perhaps one day Groundspeak might make this into an annual day such as International Geocaching Day or Earthcache Day. They might even offer a souvenir!! Wouldn’t that be great!!
Here’s to a fabulous celebration of great Geo-Mates.
/ Calypso62