Tasmanian aged care communities support Movember 

13 November 2017

A resident, the chaplain and several staff members from two Launceston aged care communities said goodbye to decades of facial growth last week in the name of men’s health. 

The team from Kings Meadows Community, Aldersgate and Newnham Community, Aldersgate Village, shaved clean last Wednesday for Movember.

Leisure and Lifestyle Coordinator, Karen Robinson, said it was the first year the ‘Aldersgate Beauties’ had taken part in the movement, which raises awareness and funds for men’s health. 

“One of the staff members, Eric Robertson, approached me asking if we could get involved,” she said. 

“We have a lot of male staff and a lot of valued male clients, and we want them to take notice of their health.”

The Movember Foundation aims to raise awareness of several major men’s health issues, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

In the name of men’s health, the Aldersgate Chaplain, Reverend Ian Wheeler, said goodbye to his moustache of more than 40 years.  Darren Hammersley, one of the seven staff members who committed to Movember, removed his beard of two decades for the cause. 

Both will now spend the month regrowing their facial adornments.

Karen also spent over an hour ridding resident Chris Lindsay of his thick ‘face locks’.

The Aldersgate Beauties have already begun fundraising, with the aim of reaching $1,000. 

“We had a casual clothes day for the staff to kick-off the fundraising efforts,” Karen said. 

“Now we’ve got donation buckets around the place and we are planning a few more projects.  

“We also have a photo display board in the front foyer showing the participants clean shaven, to remind people of the initiative.”

To find out more about the Movember Foundation, visit https://au.movember.com