2022, A Year In Review

To say it’s been a ‘massive year’ would be an understatement, on multiple levels! It’s true that a lot of bad things happened such as Vladimir Putin’s (Russia’s long-standing president for anyone who opts out of watching the daily news) invasion of Ukraine, continuing COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdowns, multiple natural disasters around the world, catastrophic floods across NSW and QLD, and sky-rocketing interest rates. Still, there were also some wonderful things that happened as well.

Overall, it was a great year for women around the globe with Queen Elizabeth II celebrating her Platinum Jubilee, Karen Bass elected the first female mayor of Los Angeles, Georgia Meloni becoming the first female Prime Minister of Italy, Karine Jean-Pierre was appointed White House Press Secretary and Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first black female Justice of the Supreme Court (and only the 5th woman in US history).

Locally, Ash Barty won the 2022 Australian Open Women’s Tennis and Stephanie Gilmore won her 8^th world surfing title and officially became the most successful women’s surfing champion in history. We could keep going, but you get the idea.

Let’s end the year on a happy note and remember some highlights!

WORLDWIDE: Belgian Zara Rutherford (19) became the youngest female pilot to circumnavigate the world in January, followed by her brother Mack (17) in August who became the youngest male (and overall) pilot to do the same.

AUSTRALIA: International borders re-opened for vaccinated travellers and visitors for the first time in two years in February.

📷 John McArthur via Unsplash

WORLDWIDE: The XXIV Winter Olympic Games opened in Beijing, China in February.

WORLDWIDE: Queen Elizabeth II marked 70 years on the British throne with her Platinum Jubilee in February. Sadly though, she passed away at Balmoral Castle, Scotland in September at the ripe old age of 97 and was farewelled with the largest (and well-deserved) state funeral Britain had seen since her father, King George VI, was buried in 1952. She was the longest-reigning monarch in British history and the longest-reigning female monarch in the world.

📷 Tomas Martinez via Unsplash

BONDI CHAI: We launched our brand new 250g packs and our new Faces of Bondi Chai packaging in one go in March.

WORLDWIDE: New Zealand re-opened their borders to international visitors in May.

WORLDWIDE: For the movie fans Top Gun sequel Maverick opened in cinemas in October (36 year after the original film) and Avatar, which famously took movie graphics to a whole new level when it was launched in 2009, finally released the sequel The Way of Water in December (13 years later).

WORLDWIDE: The 2022 Commonwealth Games opened in Birmingham, England in June.

AUSTRALIA: It was the end of a 37-year era with the final episode of ‘Neighbours’ airing on July 28. We’ll miss you, Ramsey Street!

AUSTRALIA: The cruise industry got back on the water with the first cruises post-lockdown setting sail in September.

AUSTRALIA: Photographer Spencer Tunik raised awareness for skin cancer with Skin Check Champions by gathering 2,500 volunteers to pose naked on Bondi Beach in October. 🎵 Banana Boat, fun sun protection… 🎵

BONDI CHAI: Our Ginger n Spice flavour started being served in the Hema chain of stores in the Netherlands in October.

BONDI CHAI: We officially entered the China market in Shanghai in December!

And... that's a wrap for the year from the team at Bondi Chai! What were your highlights in 2022?