Why this nurse shaved off her waist-length locks

Locals gathered at Gayndah Hospital this morning to watch Chaille Twine's waist-length locks drop away.

GOOD CAUSE: Chaille Twine shaved off her long locks in the name of charity at Gayndah Hospital on March 13. Picture: Felicity Ripper

CHAILLE Twine has devoted most of her life to caring for sick people, as a nurse.

So it came as no surprise to her friends and family when she announced that she was going to shave her head to raise money for cancer patients.

Alongside dozens of other locals, they gathered at Gayndah Hospital this morning to watch her waist-length locks drop away.

"Leukaemia is very much a childhood cancer and I don't think kids, any kids, should have to go through that,” Ms Twine said.

"Being a nurse, and working with kids throughout my career, I have been wanting to do this for years, but this is the first year that I've been game enough.”

Ms Twine registered with the World's Greatest Shave and smashed her fundraising target.

Through online and cash donations she has raised around $800 for the Leukaemia Foundation so far.

"I've been blown away by how generous people have been,” she said.

Ms Twine received a number two buzz cut, sprayed purple, by Angela's Hair and Beauty.

Greatest Shave

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The nerves were high in the moments before the big buzz, as Ms Twine's impressive mane had been her trademark her whole adult life.

Her hair was plaited before the pigtails were snipped off.

The pigtails, longer than 20cm, will be used to make wigs for cancer patients while the shorter clippings will be used to make floating booms to absorb oil spills at sea.

"I thought that was really cool,” Ms Twine said.

Director of Nursing Sue Coward said Gayndah Hospital wanted to get involved to help raise awareness for the cause.

"Chaille is a former employee, but she still has a lot of connections to Gayndah Hospital so we agreed to hold a morning tea alongside her shave,” Ms Coward said.

"The hospital is a pinnacle place to hold an event like this and it's also good to bring a group of people together and have that reminder to look after yourself.”

Ms Twine's neighbour, Kerry Best, said she wouldn't expect any less from the former nurse, who she considers like a mother.

"This is just who she is,” she said.