31/08/2026
On the 28th of August, our team had the privilege of attending the Hillcrest AIDS Centre 20th annual Gogo Olympics.
HACT hosted approximately 800 Gogos this year, in this event that aims to shine a spotlight on the resilience and leadership of these incredible women in our communities: the grandmothers, affectionately known as Gogos.
The Gogolympics is about far more than sport. It is an important community event that creates a space for gogos to come together, connect, laugh, be active and, perhaps most importantly, feel a sense of belonging and community.
Many of these incredible women are caregivers, raising grandchildren and supporting entire households in challenging circumstances. For them, the Gogolympics provides a much-needed opportunity to step away from their daily responsibilities, celebrate themselves and reconnect with others. The impact reaches far beyond the day itself — supporting emotional wellbeing, dignity, confidence and social connection.
This year, Hello.Poppy.Npc played an important role in highlighting these remarkable women and the importance of the Gogolympics. Through a photographic exhibition at HACT, featuring powerful portraits of the gogos, beautifully captured by renowned photographer Brett van Dort(Brett van Dort ), Hello Poppy helped to share their stories and raise awareness of the people and communities behind the event. You can see some of these beautiful images at the end of this video.
The exhibition marked the beginning of a broader fundraising journey, that not only supported the Gogolympics but also contributed towards longer-term initiatives such as community grow gardens, irrigation and food security projects.
What a way to end off Women’s Month.
