Lockdown Gogglebox dads Wayne, Tom and Mardi Gras

lockdown goggle-DADS

2020 was not kind to Former Gogglebox fan favourites and parents Wayne and Tom, faceing increased feelings of loneliness and isolation. This was particularly true of Wayne, who is a huge hugger! Being Melbourne based, and experiencing months of lockdown, the loss of physical connection with others and their children had a real impact, but the pair remain thankful for each other’s company. While they still haven’t seen their two eldest daughters in more than 12 months, they thankfully were finally able to drive to Sydney in February to see their youngest. The pair recently teamed up with ANZ to bring a little extra love and support to their community in the recent Mardi Gras – particularly for the many families and children who loved watching them on Gogglebox and have felt the ‘chosen family’ love from the duo since.

“Issues of isolation and loneliness have resulted in a disconnection from our community. These feelings are just a fraction of what our LGBTIQ+ community faces almost every day.”

Wayne and Tom say their community is resilient, and they have come together many times to support each other through many challenging times and events. This time is no different, whether it was supporting LGBTIQ+ businesses, using online platforms and chat rooms to host virtual parties or just simply asking are you okay. There’s a natural characteristic that bonds the LGBTIQ+ community together. New research from LGBTIQ+ community support service QLife, prepared exclusively for ANZ, has revealed there was a 75% increase in calls from under 18’s in 2020, with many callers experiencing feelings of isolation and loneliness. During the second half of 2020, QLife experienced a 58% increase in the number of people wanting to access its telephone and web services. It also recorded a 31% increase in calls from people who said they had experienced feelings of “isolation” and “loneliness”.

QLife saw a 75% increase in demand from LGBTIQ+ Under-18’s in 2020

The social effects of the pandemic proved to be particularly challenging for LGBTIQ+ Australians living in rural and remote communities, where QLife experienced a 78% increase in the total number of calls made to the service, year-onyear. ANZ has announced a $100,000 donation to QLife, the equivalent of an additional 2,250 hours of anonymous, free telephone and web chat as well as peer support to LGBTIQ+ community members throughout 2021. This is part of ANZ’s long term commitment to supporting the LGBTIQ+ community and as Principal Partner of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

As Wayne and Tom say: “We may not have been able to make it to Mardi Gras this year, but the strength of the community is as powerful now as ever. Even on our own, we’re still together.” For more info visit www.anz.com/mardigras To learn more about QLife visit Qlife.org.au