Just Cuts raises $8,890 for Royal Flying Doctor Service
A chilly night on the first day of winter didn't deter Just Cuts™ stylists at this year's Cut-A-Rama hair styling extravaganza in Mudgee. Running throughout the evening of Saturday, June 1st, stylists shaved, snipped and sprayed their way through a record number of participants to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service on the eve of the annual Royal Flying Doctor Outback Car Trek.
Grant Denyer was the MC for the evening "It was an amazing night - we had over 350 people attend; locals, Sydney-siders, Queenslanders and people from as far away as New Zealand. With the help of Just Cuts™ stylists we raised $8,890, a record amount. This year was Just Cuts' ™ tenth Cut-A-Rama event, which coincides perfectly with the 80th anniversary of the Royal Flying Doctor Service," says Denyer.
Cut-A-Rama is the kick off event to the Royal Flying Doctor Outback Car Trek. The trek commenced at 6am Sunday morning and saw drivers travel from Mudgee to Byrock then onto the Queensland town of Cunnamulla. Trekkers are now on their way to Isisford and will finish up at Fraser Island this Saturday, 7 June.
"The support that we had on the night was phenomenal. We had a grandma shave her head for $1,200 and another well-known businessman put up $1000 dollars not to have his moustache shaved, his brother then paid another $1000 to make sure that it was shaved off! Hats off to the locals and supporters of the Royal Flying Doctor Service - especially those that had their head cut in crazy styles by Just Cuts™ hairdressers," says Denis McFadden, founder and CEO of Just Cuts™.
"My grandson and I had all of our hair shaved off by Grant Denyer, but I don't regret it one bit. The Royal Flying Doctor service is such an important Australian charity, if shaving my head means saving someone's life, then I'm happy!" says Pam McDonald.
Stylists from Just Cuts™ salons all around Australia donated their time on Saturday night, flying from Melbourne and Sydney, they enjoyed every minute of Cut-A-Rama. Paula Hewitt from Just Cuts™ Taylors Lakes said "We were flown into Sydney, stayed at the Holiday Inn and then Grant Denyer picked us up in a limousine and took us to the airport where we had a private plane take us to Mudgee - none of which we knew about before we volunteered for at Cut-A-Rama."
"I've had to use the Royal Flying Doctor service twice in my life, so it was the least I could do. Meeting Grant Denyer was also a definite highlight," says Anita Smith owner of Just Cuts™ Geelong, Waurn Ponds & Watergardens. Cathy Kinlay of Just Cuts Plumpton says "Cut-A-Rama was definitely the highlight of my working career to date."
Staff at The Waratah Hotel certainly had their work cut out for them, "It was an absolutely crazy night, I don't think The Waratah has ever seen such a busy night. The Royal Flying Doctor Service is a charity which is especially important to Aussies, particularly those based in country towns such as Mudgee. Everyone was in a really generous mood, so that helped to raise a lot of money as well," says Catherine Martin, a bartender at The Waratah Hotel.
Next year will see the 20th anniversary of the Royal Flying Doctor Outback Car Trek.