More than 60 students rocked the chop to support a fundraising initiative for cancer research.
The Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School students took part in the Ponytail Project which encourages students to chop off their ponytails.
Year 10 student Bronte Schmidt had a very inspiring reason to chop her hair – her grandmother, Helen.
“I’m cutting my hair for my lovely grandma Helen,” Bronte said.
“She’s gone through three different cancers, bowel cancer, breast cancer and skin cancer and has managed to survive all of them and is now in remission.
“She is an absolutely fantastic woman I’m in awe of her.
“She has so much strength and I just wish that I can be like her.”
Helen Schmidt said she couldn’t believe her granddaughter was doing this for her.
“I was just flabbergasted,” Helen said.
“She has had her hair this length for ever, so has only been to the hairdresser once in her life.”
Helen and Bronte Schmidt
Grace Overton, Caitlin Whaley (centre) Givannie Wendt and Paige Lawson. Caitlin’s hair is measured at 70cm before the chop.
Year 10 student Quinn Venz organised the event hoping she could maybe get a few people to join her.
“The support has been overwhelming, I never expected this many girls to join me,” she said.
“I wanted to make a difference, no matter how small.
“In 2019, with social media at its peak, it is really hard for people – especially teenage girls – to realise and really understand that they are much, much more than their appearance.
“By cutting off my ponytail, I hope to show my peers the difference that can be made by making a stand and I feel raising money to stop cancer is a great way to show it.”
Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School dean of students Rebecca Sullivan said the whole event was exciting because the girls came up with the idea and organised everything themselves.
“The girls drove it, it has been a passion project for them, they took on all the organisation themselves really owning it which makes it just so meaningful,” Mrs Sullivan said.
“I think it can be really difficult being a teenager today when so much of your sense of self is tied up in the physical, so this gives the girls really tangible evidence of their care for others.
I’m very proud of them.”
Four hairdressers from Gaye’s Hair Fashions volunteered to chop the student’s hair.
The Cancer Council Ponytail Project fundraising page is open for donations until December, so there is still time to donate here.
About Ponytail Project
In 2015, a member of the St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School parent community was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Students Beth Flint, Meg Fraser, Maria Cobain and Annabelle Crossley were moved to help launching a student-led fundraising initiative they called ‘The Ponytail Project’, believing that chopping off their ponytails was a small price to pay to support those impacted by cancer.
The Ponytail Project received a groundswell of support in its inaugural year, fuelling the drive for an annual campaign.
Sadly in 2016, St Margaret’s students had even more reason to support the initiative with the loss of a beloved teacher and past student Amanda Minotti, who passed away from cancer.
$332,005 have been raised since then with 765 students participating from around Australia.
