Operation Sickie at The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre

Overview

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise — chucking a sickie is as Australian as meat pies and lamingtons. Even former Prime Ministers agree, with Bob Hawke famously declaring after Australia's historic 1983 America's Cup victory: "Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum."

In that spirit, Marrickville's Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre is hosting Operation Sickie, setting aside six designated sick days this summer where guests can score discounted food and drink. Just show text or email proof that you chucked a sickie, and the team will take 49% off your bill. That'll help you blow the froth off a few ambers.

Best of all, you and your sickie-throwing pals will be tucked away in a secluded spot away from prying eyes. "Whether it's extending a long weekend, heading to the cricket, or spending the arvo at the pub with mates, every good sickie needs a strategy. You can't get caught out. And that's where we come in," says Hawke's co-founder Nathan Lennon.

Strategically selected, the six days fall between Tuesday, December 9—Monday, March 2, 2026, with Operation Sickie encouraging locals to skip the last working day before Christmas or extend their Mardi Gras recovery. "Chucking the occasional sickie isn't just our cultural right — it's a more sustainable approach to work–life balance," says Lennon.

Images: The James Adams