For a decade they were known for their dreadlocks; now for braving the razor to raise funds and awareness for mental health.
Mates John Crozier, Lucas Paladino and Jarrod McQuade lopped off their locks in front of a 100-stong crowd at The Full Moon Saloon at Woodend earlier this month.
Two young men in attendance volunteered to shave their heads at the event for $500 each, raising an extra $1000.
The trio raised $22,000 for Youth Live4Life, smashing their goal of $20,000, and used the event as a platform to talk mental health.
“Growing up as a bloke in the country, being a tradie, you’re straight away put into the category of ‘man up’ and ‘be a tough guy’,” Jarrod said.
“It’s all well and good when things are going well, but when things are tough and you need to have a hard conversation, that’s when it matters.”
Jarrod encouraged people to regularly check in with their friends, family and colleagues, and to not be afraid of the bigger conversations.
The three men chose to raise funds for Youth Live4Life as it’s a non-profit that began in the Macedon Ranges and now supports young people right across Victoria.
Live4Life is the only mental health education and youth suicide prevention model designed specifically for rural and regional communities.
It delivers accredited youth mental health first aid training in schools and the wider community, creates local partnerships to lead conversations about mental health that reduce stigma, and promotes young leaders as mental health ambassadors.
The trio’s GoFundMe page closed at the weekend with an impressive result.
Jarrod, John and Lucas extended thanks to The Full Moon Saloon and their staff for generously donating their venue and supporting the shave.
They also thanked all the local businesses that donated money and goods to make the day a success.
