Haircuts and shaves for homeless `a simple act of kindness’

A mobile hairdressing service organised by a church group made a real difference in the lives of the city’s homeless. Check out the before and after pictures.

Lyndle Dryan and Beth Shannon from hair on the move cut hair for "Gary " and Dylan McDonald at Wentworth Park. Picture: John Appleyard

IT’S an ordinary part of life most people take for granted — getting a regular haircut.

But for the 40 homeless people sleeping rough under the railway arches at Wentworth Park, the simple act of having their tresses trimmed is almost something from another lifetime.

It’s the kind of generous act that will be the spirit of DoSomething Day on July 19.

Last week, thanks to the C3 Church at Rozelle, some of those who live in tents and makeshift shelters under the Inner West Light Rail viaduct received some rarely given special attention.

The church’s Tiffani Young organised for two hairdressers from Hair On The Move to visit the park and offer free haircuts.

Beth Shannon from Hair on the Move cuts Sam’s hair. Picture: John Appleyard

Ms Young said she had been moved by seeing an internet video of a hairdresser in the US offering his services to homeless people through his mobile barber shop.

“I thought that this simple act of kindness was a great way of giving people back a bit of hope, a bit of self esteem,” she said.

“Sometimes, I think, that fixing up the outside of a person can have a positive impact on what’s going on inside that person.

“And it also helps bring a smile to a person’s face.”

Sam Corliss before his haircut.

AFTER: Shaved on sides and long on top.

On Wednesday, Hair On The Move’s owner, Lyndle Bryan, and her colleague Beth Shannon, set up two chairs and plugged their hair clippers into a portable diesel-powered generator.

Within minutes the pair had their scissors flashing and clippers purring as the first of the locals sat down for a trim. They even had hair gel and oil at the ready.

Ray Griffiths with his pet "Birdy:" Picture: John Appleyard

“We were happy to help out,” Ms Bryan said.

“I actually got a bit emotional when I drove up this morning and saw all these tents under the bridge.

“Here we are living in a prosperous city and right on its doorstep we have homeless people living in a park.

“We don’t realise how lucky most of us are.”

Dylan half way through his cut.

AFTER: Pleased with the result. Picture: John Appleyard

Wentworth Park resident Sam Corliss, who helped C3 set up the hairdressing day, asked for his long brown locks to be trimmed and the sides of his head shaved.

Mr Corliss, 36, said he had been in Wentworth Park for three years and been living on the streets, on and off, since he was a teenager.

“What the church has done for me and the other people down here is great and it’s all down to Tiffani,” he said.

“The haircuts are about people getting back a bit of their dignity back.

“You feel like you are being treated like an ordinary person, not just some loser living under a bridge

“It’s great to get a bit of attention.”

WHAT IS DO SOMETHING DAY?

Do Something Day on July 19 is Australia’s biggest celebration of volunteering in our communities, recognising the extraordinary contributions made by everyday locals. It seeks to inspire people to make a difference and give back by volunteering, making a donation or carrying out a simple random act of kindness.

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?

There are endless ways you can help others - and you don’t need to wait until Dosomething Day to start. However, as July 19 is the focal point of this celebration, it would be great to turn your attention to it on that day. Let the “kind-o-miser” generate a kind deed sugestion for you to do. Try our Do Something Day Quiz which will help match you with a charity that reflects your ideals.

ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Tweet, Instagram or Facebook a picture that captures the spirit of kindness and generosity on Do Something Day - and use the hashtags #dosomethingday and #giveyourbest. It could be a picture of a volunteers at charity you are already involved with. It could be a picture acknowleding someone in your community who selflessly works for others. It could be a snap of the nice person who serves your coffee every day with a smile. so many ways to to acknowledge the kindness in our community.

Ray Griffiths with his pet "Birdy" getting his hair cut by Lyndle Dryan and Sam Corliss’ hair is cut by Beth Shannon. Picture: John Appleyard