A mo-st hairy happening for Timaru brigades

JOHN BISSET/Timaru Herald

MO-MENTOUS: Qualified firefighter Lloyd (Mo) McMillan (right) measures up senior firefighter Gary Harford's week's worth of whiskers, while Red Watch colleagues look on. At rear, from left, are Stuart Harnett, Marty Wiles, Wayne Gray, Martyn Bennett, Bruce Wallace, and Al Thornley.

JOHN BISSET/Timaru Herald

MO-MENTOUS: Qualified firefighter Lloyd (Mo) McMillan (right) measures up senior firefighter Gary Harford's week's worth of whiskers, while Red Watch colleagues look on. At rear, from left, are Stuart Harnett, Marty Wiles, Wayne Gray, Martyn Bennett, Bruce Wallace, and Al Thornley.

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TIMARU firefighters are used to close shaves, but this month they're putting away their razors.

Whiskers are winning at Washdyke and Timaru fire stations, as 25 of the town's 36 firefighters grow their way to moustaches to mark the month of Mo-vember.

Senior station officer Martyn Bennett mooted the mo-growing, and was one of four firefighters who had to lose their existing moustaches to start on a level playing field with their colleagues.

For some, that meant sacrificing decades of growth, and revealing to their children for the first time a facial fungus-free father.

It's mo-stly a mo-rale-boosting idea, and there are no plans to "badger the public" for funds, but the men have paid a tenner to enter and any funds raised will go to the appropriate cause, the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

The big shave off is planned for November 30, at a get together at the station.

Lloyd (Mo) McMillan refused to sacrifice his lip warmer on the basis it was a Scottish award-winning model, so he's been appointed a judge, on condition he wears the kilt he won.

Firefighters are also hoping Timaru speedskater Nicole Begg - who trains in summer with firefighter Trevor Karton - might be convinced to come along and add her opinion to the judging process.