Five men from Travel Counsellors’ Melbourne Head Office have taken an active part in supporting Movember, the movement changing men’s health by tackling issues from prostate and testicular cancer to mental health and suicide prevention.
Ben Quinn, Jason Bell-Davey, Jack Fielding, Dean Hickford formed the “Bristle Batons” and committed themselves to each growing a moustache for one month. Also one of the Bristle Batons, Tom Temple, did a “Reverse Movember”, trimming a portion of his facial hair each week for the first time in seven years.
Each week the Bristle Batons used their own social media channels and the company’s internal TCTV program to reveal a growth update and their new look with Travel Counsellors, friends and family from across the country getting involved and pledging their donation. “We received amazing support from the TC community and our friends and family. It was funny watching everyone’s very different facial hair take shape!” Ben Quinn said.
With a starting target of $1,000, it quickly became apparent that the target was too conservative. As the team edged closer to $4,000 in donations, IT manager Rob Mason promised to shave his own head if the donations exceeded $4,000.
On 1 December 2019, the Bristle Batons proudly donated $4,214 dollars to the Movember Foundation, and the head was shaved.