Published in The Ararat Advocate, Ararat's local weekly newspaper published by West Vic News Pty Ltd.
Students at Ararat 800 Primary School have taken isolation haircuts to a new level, shaving their heads to support Kids Helpline.
What started as a bit of fun for friends, William Hope and Jack Bartlett, the Mohawk look has now turned into a school-wide fundraising effort that has already surpassed $2,300.
School Principal Ryan Oliver couldn’t be prouder of his students and the initiative they have shown to turn a shave into a meaningful cause.
“When you see pure philanthropic leadership like we're seeing from these people today, we know it's something that comes from the heart,” he said.
“It's for no egotistical or personal gain, it's purely to do something good for society.”
The boys’ teacher, Matt Haddow, said that it has been great to allow the students to think for themselves, organise the fundraiser and come up with their own conclusions.
Jack and William’s peer, Acacia Merrick, has also joined in and is committed to shaving her head on the last day of term.
“Acacia’s got a real think-of-other-people mentality. Over the years she’s done a lot for kids in Nepal and stuff like that. I don't think she really minds about how she looks because she knows it's for the greater good,” Mr Haddow said.
When Acacia found out what her friends were doing, she wanted to get involved immediately and help people in need as she has done in the past.
The kids aren’t the only ones getting a new hairdo. Mr Haddow shaved his head this week and Mr Oliver will do the same on the last day of term when the fundraising culminates in a Crazy Hair Day.
“If we raised over $200, which we have, our principal promised to shave his head,” Jack said.
Mr Oliver said that shaving his head is a very small sacrifice compared to the enormous amount of work Kids Helpline do for the youth of today.
“I think it's very important because if (Kids Helpline) isn't there, and you're feeling stressed - a lot of problems are better once they're shared and you talk about it,” William said.
Donations can be made at give.everydayhero.com/au/CrazyHairDay