Jurgen & Owen - Buddy Pair Of The Year 2009!

Which of our buddy pairs most encapsulates what is to be a Best Buddies Pair this year? We wanted to recognise the mutual effort that goes into making a friendship work. And so the inaugural Best Buddy Pair Of The Year Award was born. Up for grabs was a Helicopter Ride Over Sydney courtesy of our sponsors Redballoon.

When Best Buddy Pairs are matched at a school they are matched on; similar age; same gender; living not too far apart and ideally having some similar interests. But we all know that these things are not enough for a friendship to blossom. We ask pairs to talk to each other regularly and see each other outside of school twice a month. We know that this is not always easy...there is homework to be done, family members to spend time with, long term friends to see etc etc. Both sides of a pair must make the effort.

8 nominations were whittled down to 4 finalists: Harmanjot & Breannan; Michael & Josh; Jared & Alex (all from Kellyville) and Jurgen & Owen from SSC - Leichhardt. More information was sought; tell us about your friendship; decribe what you did last time you met your buddy/peer buddy; what are the best things about your buddy/peer buddy and why should you win?

Some of the phrases used by the buddies in answering these questions encapsulate what the program is about and illustrate the bonds made through Best Buddies this past year:

'I can always count on her to be there when I need her, it's fun to hang around her because we laugh and things together.' (sic) Breannan about Harmanjot.

'He is kind and funny and he is helpful and he helps me when I need help.' Michael about Josh.

'Being friends with Michael has taught me a lot not only about him and other young people with intellectual disabilities, but also about myself.' Josh about Michael.

'Alex and I see each other in the holidays and weekends. We have sleepovers and ride our bikes together...' Jared about Alex.

'He listen to me...I see Owen some weeks. See in school every day. I have been to Owen's house. I met his family. Owen is like brother.' (sic) Jurgen about Owen.

A very difficult decision ensued. As Naomi Simson (Chief Experience Officer -Redballoon) said before presenting the winning pair at our Best Buddies Day on November 27th; 'How do you judge a friendship? Each friendship is special and unique.' 

But there could only be one winner.

The winning pair, Jurgen and Owen, had only been matched for 11 months but clearly demonstrated a strong friendship. Regular time spent together on the weekends had enabled them to get to know each other and find things in common. This came through strongly in the way that they talked about each other and their shared friendship and in their easy, relaxed manner with each other.

Congratulations Jurgen and Owen - Buddy Pair Of the Year 2009!

Report by Natalie Bishop - Program Manager.