Trinity College Gladstone students had the opportunity to grow facial hair last month to support Movember fundraiser

Trinity College Gladstone’s senior students were allowed to bend the rules for a good cause recently. Read more about the school’s initiative here:

Trinity College Gladstone staff, including principal Stephen Babbage (middle), showcasing their handiwork during Movember.

A Gladstone private school allowed its senior students to bend the rules for a good cause last month.

Trinity College Gladstone relaxed its facial hair policy for older students during Movember, so they could grow a moustache or beard to raise awareness around men’s mental health.

Trinity College Gladstone staff, including principal Stephen Babbage (middle), showcasing their handiwork during Movember.

The school started the Movember challenge among staff in 2019, with principal Stephen Babbage telling The Observer it gained momentum in 2020.

“Last year the entire Health and Physical Education faculty got behind the cause, which made us want to aim even bigger in 2021,” Mr Babbage said.

Everyone at Trinity College Gladstone was trying to get involved in the Movember cause.

Despite the College’s relaxation of the rules, not all students managed to keep their facial hair growing for the whole month.

“I had to shave it off for the Year 12 Formal,” Kyle Whittingham in Year 10, brother of Taryn Whittingham, explained.

Everyone at Trinity College Gladstone was trying to get involved in the Movember cause.

Trinity College chaplain Mel Ruge said men often found it hard to talk about what was going on for them.

“Movember is monumental because it opens up an opportunity for a conversation that brings connectedness, healing and hope,” Ms Ruge said.

Even the College's bus was trying everything it could to get involved in the Movember fun.

Mr. Babbage said one of Movember’s focuses, which Trinity College chose to highlight, was mates checking on mates with mental health check ins.

“Stereotypically, men are not very good at sharing when they’re going through a tough time, and we wanted Movember to encourage a conversation between blokes, particularly between our students,” he said.

Trinity College Gladstone staff and senior students participated in Movember this year in order to raise awareness about men's health.