By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
AFTER giving his all to the Maryknoll community for ‘40 odd years’ a much-loved friend, father and role model, Brad Waterhouse won’t be the only Maryknoller with a bald head come Saturday 18 April.
The former CFA captain is battling stage four cancer and with 12 chemotherapy sessions on the horizon more than 10 people from the Maryknoll community will shave their heads in support.
The fund-raising effort will get started at 1pm at the Maryknoll Recreation Reserve with a barbecue, raffle and local hairdressers who have volunteered their time and equipment to ensure a clean shave.
Claire Templeton, 21, has long blonde curly locks that haven’t been cut short since birth.
“I’m really nervous but it’s definitely worth it,” Ms Templeton said.
“He’s such a crucial part of our community in Maryknoll and it’s our opportunity to raise as much money as possible for his family,” she said. Captain of the CFA for six years, Mr Waterhouse led the Maryknoll brigade through the Black Saturday bushfires. After the diagnosis, his wife Peta took the reins.
Old friend, Rob Mackie said Brad’s illness hit him very hard.
“Brad’s always the first to put his hand up for anything; he wouldn’t bat an eyelid if he had to go and help someone else and leave his own job,” Mr Mackie said.
“One of the things that hurt him most when he got cancer was that he couldn’t go interstate to help fight fires, he was spewing he was stuck in hospital,” he said.
The team of friends, locals and the Maryknoll CFA have banded together with Facebook pages promoting the shave named ‘Go Bald for Brad’.
“We’d be stoked if $10,000 was raised,” Mr Mackie said.
Ms Templeton said Brad had been around for as long as she could remember.
“He does so much for us as a community – the shave is only a small contribution compared to what he’s done for us,” she said.
Donations towards the shave can be made through the Facebook page and on the day.
