Close shave

Posted on 12. Mar, 2010 by Editor in ForestryTas

FORESTRY Tasmania will be one of the many businesses around the country supporting the Leukaemia Foundation’s annual fundraising Great Shave on March 19.

Among the first two `volunteers’ are Chief Scientist Dr Steve Read and Manager, Planning John Hickey.

It is the first time either has actively participated in the event, but the recent diagnosis of a colleague with leukaemia and an increasing awareness of cancer have spurred them to take part this year.

“When one gets to one’s 50s the nature of life and mortality become a consideration,” Dr Read said.

“There is an increasing probability of a personal experience of cancer.”

Dr Read has had his beard since a trip to the Northern Territory in 1991.

“My children and my last two wives haven’t seen me clean shaven,” he said.

“I tend to keep it as some pretence of maturity and it will grow straight back within few weeks. I’m not worried about having it shaved off but I am nervous about who will wield the razor.”

Neither is Dr Read concerned about the cold.

“I’m from Britain,” he said. “I’ve been in Australia 25 years and haven’t felt cold yet.”

Mr Hickey said he had always believed the shave was in a good cause.

“I haven’t been part of the shave before but I’ve had laugh at previous participants,” he said. “This time the laugh will be on me.”

Mr Hickey jokingly said he was bearded at birth.

“I did shave it off in the mid 1980s and it was immediately recommended that I grow it back,” he said. I am very nervous at the prospect of having it shaved off again, particularly if a certain staff member does the shaving.

“The beard will be back to normal in a few weeks, but the hair may never recover!”

The shave is being organised by FT Hydrology Research Scientist Dr Sandra Roberts who is encouraging as many staff as possible to take part.

“Every hour of every day at least one person in Australia is diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma,” she said.

“The shave is to raise as much as we can for the Leukaemia Foundation. Their vital work provides patients with practical support during their long and tough treatment, as well as funding important research.”

Secure online donations can be made by credit card at

http://my.imisfriendraising.com.au/personalPage.aspx?SID=117251