St Therese's Bendigo staff, students shave hair for Leukaemia Foundation

St Therese's Bendigo staff, students shave hair for Leukaemia Foundation fundraiser.

Students, teachers and members of the St Therese’s Primary School community experienced a close shave on Monday. 

Urged on by raucous applause from onlooking pupils, 14 willing participants agreed to part with their hair in a fundraiser for leukaemia research.   

The idea for the World’s Greatest Shave event germinated in the mind of grade 6 student Grace Devlin after a family friend battled with cancer. 

“We also knew a lot of people who had died from the disease,” she said.

A committee of senior students erected banners around the school and placed notes in the newsletter for two months before yesterday’s haircutting ceremony, raising more than $8500 for the health cause.

The figure included a $2000 donation from a member of the public battling with leukaemia. 

Grade 5 student Audrey Turner explained head-shaving was not the only way to contribute to the Leukaemia Foundation.

“It’s still raising awareness, even if you just donate money or colour your hair,” she said.

Among those who ascended the stage inside the school’s hall to go under the clippers was St Therese’s board chairman Conor Cunningham.

The event was well-timed for the part-time actor, who will play bald character Uncle Fester in Bendigo Theatre Company’s upcoming production of The Addams Family. 

But Mr Cunningham admitted to some nerves before his haircut. 

“I’ve never, ever done it before, so it’s daunting,” he said.

“But I’ve loved getting on board with it.”  

The haircuts were executed by an army of students from Bendigo TAFE who, under the tutelage of Julie Mott, are studying a Certificate III in hairdressing.

Ms Mott said the initiative was a fitting fundraiser for leukaemia, with many of the disease’s sufferers upset to farewell their hair during treatment.

“It’s the first thing you look at and it’s part of their personality,” she said. 

“You’re very exposed once you lose your hair.

“It’s only for the brave.”

Adding her voice of congratulations to the those involved was teacher Jo O’Connell, who oversaw the organisation committee.

She said generosity was part of her school’s ethos, with each age group within the school tasked with organising an annual charity fundraiser. 

“They’re passionate about things now, they’re enthusiastic,” Ms O’Connell said.

“And they’re excited about what they’ve achieved.” 

The St Therese’s middle unit – students in grades 3 and 4 – will also host a market at the school on Thursday afternoon.