How to get free food and other tips from our O-Week Director Robby Magyar

Undoubtedly, the highlight of every new year is our beloved O-Week festival. Always a heady mix of making new friends, catching up with old friends, joining a whole bunch of clubs and societies, getting a taste of the best comedy and musical entertainment Sydney has to offer, more freebies than you can handle, and some epic parties. 

But how do you navigate this 3 day extravaganza? For new students the experience can be overwhelming in every sense; for returning students the challenge comes from finding a way to somehow eat your way around the festival without spending a cent.

So with the big O just around the corner, O-Week Director Robby Magyar has hit us up with the inside scoop on O-Week 2013. 

Tell us about this year's theme and the sort of vibe you'll be creating on campus during O-Week?

This year’s theme is an Alice in Wonderland inspired extravaganza. We wanted to find a way to excite first years, and reinvigorate the enthusiasm surrounding O-Week and university for second and third year students. We want to see a vibe that encourages people to get involved and inspires people to fall in love with the great things the University of Sydney Union has to offer.

What are the must-sees during O-Week?


My faves are:

·         The Final Act in Manning Bar on Friday 1 March – so keen to see Ball Park Music!

·     Peeping Through the Wineglass in Hermann’s on Thursday 28 February – a scandalous burlesque sketchingnight with tea pot cocktails hosted by Fine Arts Society

·       Pack of Jokers in MacLaurin Hall on Thursday 28 February - always a fantastic night that sells out FAST!

·       A Mad Tea Party in the Quad on Thursday 28 February – free cupcakes for the first 400 visitors with tea and treats from Tea Society and Darcy Soc, with performances from Costume Society and SUDS

·       Wonderland Costume Party in Manning Bar on Wednesday 27 March – dancing, Cheshire cat onesies, and a silent disco hosted by inthemix!

·     O-Week Band Competition on the Main Stage on Wednesday and Thursday from 1pm – 3pm, Finale in Hermann’s on the Friday from 2pm – 5pm – The bands in the competition are freakin’ awesome, like, really awesome! I cannot even… SO KEEN!

Do you have any tips to make the most of the free food, free drinks and other freebies floating around at O-Week?

There is free food everywhere – if you see a corporate on the list that is related to food or drink (like Coca Cola or V) then they are most likely giving out free samples. This year we are giving out free bacon and egg rolls in Manning for breakfast. There is also a bonus juice and piece of fruit and free fairy floss, AWESOME! We also have free Sumo Suit wrestling, tarot readings and awesome rides, like teacups…TEACUPS! Clubs and Societies often have awesome freebies too, but you’ll have to join their club to take advantage of these.

Sounds amazing! So what will you personally be doing during O-Week? Running after rabbits in trench coats and eating/drinking food that says eat me/drink me respectively! Well, I’ll actually be ensuring  all events go to plan and that nobody is bored, liaising with staff and students, coordinating events, making sure everyone is doing exactly what needs to be done and when it should be done, and having fun, sometimes!

Hannah Morris

USU Board Director