In late 2020, Waddy Point Ranger Jeremy Thompson joined Leukemia’s World’s Greatest Shave identifying March 4 2022, as his shave date.

In mid-2021, fellow Orchid Beach resident ‘Pud’ contacted Jez to join the shave, and due to the boys’ amazing facial hair, ‘The Beards’ team was created.

Orchid Beach township placed collecting cans in the town’s rentals and with residents to donate all proceeds on the big night. An email was also sent throughout the QPWS Coastal and Inlands Region for colleagues to donate.

Orchid Beach Trading Post contacted Jez to offer to host the shave night and assisted with advertising. The Leukemia Foundation’s fabulous support staff, including Renee Osbourne, sent videos and messages of support throughout the fundraising process and merchandise for the big night.

On the big night, Orchid Beach Trading Post decorated the bar. It advertised the event through social media, helping raise funds for the team and what followed was an incredible community-driven event.

Jez and Pud had the big chop! Jez’s hair was put into pigtails and raffled off with some very excited people willing to cut off some locks! The hair was then donated for wigs.

Rainbow Beach Meats donated two meat trays to be raffled off, with three of the Butchers cutting off their beards and hair, raising additional funds on the night. Long time camper and ex-pro fisher Henry shaved off his 30-year-old beard with an impressive $1,000 raised by the Orchid Beach Progress Association.

Andrea from Rainbow Recovery was the amazing Hairdresser for the night. Rainbow local, Kroppy donated his time to MC the evening. Bob’s Tyres (a supplier to the Orchid Beach Trading Post) donated a bar fridge to raffle on the night. Zoe and Ange provided IT support, raising online awareness and selling raffle tickets, raising $1,200 for the team!

Just when everyone thought the night was over at almost $29,000, local Ross Nimmo offered to shave off the goatee he’d had since 1996 for another $600.00 (as long as Dave, the shop owner, lost his)! It took about 30 seconds to raise funds!

The current total is $30,257.50, with fundraising open until June 30 2022. Please click here if you would like to donate.

A huge thanks to the boys who shaved off their beards – Jez, Pud, Scott, Jake, Josh, Henry, Ross, Dave and Kroppy, the Orchid Beach Community for coming together to support local QPWS Ranger Jez and everyone who jumped on board to make it a fantastic effort through donations on the big night. The event showed true community spirit with some spectacular fundraising.

The Big Shave looks to be an annual event within the Orchid Beach Community due to interest shown from visitors and requests through the Orchid Beach Trading Post.

Article contributed by Orchid Beach Association and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships