November 1, 2014
There’s a few more clean-shaven faces on the streets of Kingaroy today following Friday night’s Movember “shave-off” launch at the Kingaroy RSL Club.
Thea Applebee, from SG’s Hair Designs in Shoppingworld, joined former barber Andrew O’Toole in the Tobruk Room to remove a collection of beards and moustaches so their owners could start growing them again for Movember.
Movember is an annual event across Australia designed to raise awareness about men’s health issues.
Staff members at Kingaroy RSL Club have been eager participants for the past few years.
Friday’s shave-off was an opportunity to have fun, but there was also a serious message.
Jill and Brian Costello, co-founders of the men’s health support group ManUp!, spoke to the crowd.
Both have had their fights with cancer: Jill with breast cancer, while Brian had prostate cancer.
Their experience has given them a unique insight into the different supports available for women and men who are travelling on a cancer journey.
This led them to starting ManUp! in a bid to raise awareness of prostate cancer, and raise funds for prostate cancer care nurses.
Some prostate cancer facts from ManUp!
- One in five Queensland men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime (the national average is one in seven)
- Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis
- There are about 120,000 men living with prostate cancer in Australia
- By 2016, there will be 5000 new prostate cancer diagnoses in Queensland every year
- Survival rate is very high, especially if it is detected early
- Mortality rate is greater in rural areas, most likely because it is diagnosed late
- 3300 men die of prostate cancer in Australia every year
Jill said that in the early stages of prostate cancer, there were often no symptoms which was why it was important for men over 40 to “man up” and have annual PSA tests (a blood test) and digital rectal examinations.
“It’s five seconds that can save your life,” she said.
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Other Movember events planned at the Kingaroy RSL:
- November 11 – Movember Trivia night in the Tobruk Room. Maximum of six to a team. $2 per person. Prizes for 1st and 2nd and throughout the night. Raffles and other fundraising.
- November 28 – Mo Party in the Tobruk Room from 7:30pm. $10 per person. Three judges will assess the various moustaches. Live entertainment by Jeff Hancox.
The club will also be holding raffles, games and other fundraisers throughout the month.
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