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Sensational 'sets' on HMAS Perth during Movember

By LEUT Andrew Silver
HMAS Perth during Movember

A few heads turned when the crew of HMAS Perth (CMDR M.H. Miller) came alongside on Friday 24 November sporting moustachioed upper lips. After spending three weeks at sea, the ship's company had grown an array of moustaches, goatees and beards, in support of 'Movember', a fund-raising initiative and awareness program in support of male specific illnesses, principally prostate cancer and depression. Both males and females donned the hairy upper lip, raising over $2,000 for the worthy cause.

ABCSO Julian Canaider initiated the fund-raising effort, collecting pledges while HMAS Perth participated in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise (ASWEX) and PWO sea assessments. The ship's company was at 'lazy shavers' throughout the period.

"We were definitely flat out over the first three weeks in November, ASWEX meant long hours, but the unshaven looks around the ship always got a laugh," said AB Canaider. "When we shaved in our mo's there were a few strange ones, I don't think anyone had the same look."

While the males grew real moustaches, the women donned fake upper lip hair that would have made Magnum P.I. proud. Overall the fundraising effort was a success, with the Perth crew looking forward to creating a tradition and ditching the razors in November for a very worthwhile cause.