September 2002 Volume 83 Number 9 "serving the protectors"
Charity head shave for kids with cancer
By John Ballantyne

Eighty police and emergency workers around South Australia had their heads shaven last month to raise more than $100,000 for children living with cancer.

Adelaide participants in this year’s Bluey Day head shave gathered at the Clipsal Powerhouse, Findon, on August 10, for a fun-filled Saturday afternoon, hosted by ABC Radio 891 breakfast announcers, the “Bald Brothers”, Tony McCarthy and John Kenneally.

Bluey Day, since its inception in 1995, has succeeded in raising more than $1 million for the Oncology Unit at Adelaide’s Women’s & Children’s Hospital.

And this unique annual fund-raising concept has proven such a success that it has even spread overseas.

This year’s Bluey Day at the Clipsal Powerhouse got underway with police and State Emergency Services (SES) workers first having a short basketball game, umpired by 36ers players, then a tug-of-war.

Shortly after 3pm, the head shave participants were ushered – 10 at a time – to their allocated seating for the main event. There they were surrounded by their families and friends, as well as by children with cancer.

A special VIP guest participant was the State Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Jay Weatherill, whose head was shaven by Police Minister Pat Conlon.

Participants raised a minimum of $1,000 each.

Professional hairdressers stepped forward to perform the task in two stages.

First, they used electric razors to crop off the hair, sometimes initially clipping the hair into humourous shapes. Then they gave the scalps a smooth finish with the aid of shaving foam and razors.

On hand were young police rangers, who acted as “runners” for the hairdressers.

Among the Police Association members taking part were PASA secretary, Andy Dunn, and PASA committee member, Dave “Bully” Reynolds, who is also the Bluey Day national co-ordinator.

Reynolds has been involved in the event since its inception.

Crop-a-Cop – as it was originally called – began in the central Victorian town of Horsham in 1995. Local Senior Constable Karl David wanted to raise money for children living with cancer who often lost their hair through chemotherapy.

He thought it might boost their morale to see bald policemen.

Leukaemia sufferer, Katelyn Walters, 7, of Riverton, and officer-in-charge of Brinkworth police, Neil Anderson

Reynolds at that time was stationed at Beachport in South Australia’s south-east when he volunteered to take part in the head shave.

“I’m a real softie when it comes to kids,” says Reynolds. “Being a dad, you imagine how you’d feel if one of the kids with cancer was one of your own.”

Another Bluey Day veteran is Neil Anderson, officer-in-charge of the Brinkworth police.

Asked about why he has had his head shaven every year since 1995, Anderson says:

“My hair will grow back and I can put up with a bit of ribbing for a few weeks.

“These kids don’t have a choice and many of them are seriously ill, often losing their lives.

“I want to give them something to laugh about and make what lives they have more enjoyable – that’s what it’s all about.”

This year’s head shave, according to Bluey Day state co-ordinator, Su Merget, has raised well in excess of $100,000 in South Australia.

And, as Merget is quick to point out, all money raised in South Australia stays in South Australia, and goes towards research and equipment for cancer patients at the Women’s & Children’s Hospital.

Bluey Day has no expenses to pay for, such as salaried staff, office premises or other overheads. All the work is done by volunteers from the police and emergency services.

Fundraising manager for the Women’s & Children’s Hospital, Kerry House, thanked and praised “the wonderful participants and their supporters” for the success of this year’s event.

Bluey Day now involves not only police, but emergency services personnel and nurses, and has even inspired similar events overseas.

Police in Vancouver, Canada, and in San Francisco, US, have taken up the idea.

Recently, New York police made a special trip downunder to attend this year’s Bluey Day in Sydney.

And the effort to help find cures for childhood cancer has been slowly paying off.

According to Merget, medical research into cancer treatments over the past 25 years has seen the cure rate for children diagnosed with cancer rise from 20 to 75 per cent.

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