Last week, the Barr Planning team came together to celebrate the end of another busy and rewarding year with a Christmas event focused on connection, laughter, and time spent together outside the day-to-day of project delivery.

The afternoon kicked off at MANIAX Newcastle, where the team took on the challenge of axe throwing. From impressive accuracy to some very creative techniques, the session delivered plenty of laughs and friendly competition. Highlights included Erin claiming the title of Sharpest Thrower, Steve delivering the most clutch yells (not always at the right moment), and Jo showing that a slow start doesn’t stop a strong finish when the pressure is on.

Following the axe throwing, the celebrations continued with an extended office Christmas catch-up at Foghorn Brewery, where the team was joined by others from our shared office space – Heart HR, NJ Lane Property Advisory and The Spatial Lab. It was a relaxed and festive way to reflect on the year that was, strengthen connections, and enjoy good company.

Adding to the fun was a Secret Santa exchange that somehow managed to remain genuinely secret – a rare and impressive achievement – rounding out an afternoon that perfectly captured the spirit of the season.

Events like this are an important part of our culture at Barr Planning, providing time to recognise the effort of our team and celebrate the relationships that underpin our work. As we head into the holiday break, we’d like to thank our team, clients, collaborators, and wider office community for their support throughout the year.