General News
30 May, 2024
Twelve performers will pull back their layers for a good cause on June 15, when Full Monty returns
After helping to fund a mammography unit for the local hospital, Maryborough’s Full Monty event is set to return for the third time next month and beyond the glamour, showbiz and good-natured stripping, is a cause close to the hearts of many in...
After helping to fund a mammography unit for the local hospital, Maryborough’s Full Monty event is set to return for the third time next month and beyond the glamour, showbiz and good-natured stripping, is a cause close to the hearts of many in the community.
As with previous iterations, six local men and six women will take part in the event, baring it all on June 15 to raise funds for the Maryborough District Health Service’s oncology unit.
Around $42,000 was raised through last year’s event and organiser of the night, Nick Weaver, is hopeful to raise even more this time around.
“This year we hope to crack $50,000 and if we manage to do that, it would be great,” he said.
“The Full Monty started after we got together a few years ago and talked about wanting to do something different and it snowballed from there, it’s really grown into its own since.
“The best part is it’s all for cancer research — proceeds from all the ticket sales and live auctions will go straight to the hospital’s oncology unit which is awesome.”
Funds raised last year supported the opening of Maryborough’s first locally operated mammography unit, which opened in March, and is expected to service some 1000 women each year.
“It was fantastic to know that what we’re doing is worth it. It’s a great feeling to see what we’ve accomplished — we’ve done it together, we're an awesome team,” Mr Weaver said.
“We've all been touched by cancer in some way. We have been affected by it or we've had family go through it or we've had friends that have gone through it in the past.
“If the community comes out to support us again, we can contribute so much more to the hospital.”
While the locals taking part in the event range in age, background and careers, cancer is the common theme.
The group’s oldest member, choreographer and returning to perform for a second time, at just 65 years of age Chris Evans knows better than most the impact cancer can have.
“I had breast cancer 18 years ago and I had to go through three months of chemotherapy and then six weeks of radiation therapy every day — and I went through that on my own,” she said.
“If you have to travel away, you have to do it on your own. You might have the family support at home, but you don’t have it there when you’re having the treatment.
“I think if we support the oncology department here, not just with the machines to test, but machines for treatment and facilities for treatment, people going through those treatments can have family members with them because your family goes through it just as much as you do.
“Back then I had two teenage boys at home that I had to support, so I needed to go to work. But I think I was fortunate enough that we said we were going to treat it with humour. We were going to treat it by laughing, and that's what we did.”
It’s a mantra Ms Evans continues to maintain and is adamant that while performing in the Full Monty is a frightening experience at first, it is also therapeutic.
“It helps you deal with what you’ve gone through. I think we’ve become like a little family, the Monty family,” she said.
Also taking part in next month’s event is Stuart Levett who as a local, said supporting services in Maryborough is an important cause.
“My father had testicular cancer and I've also found that my father's side of the family also has a rare genetic cancer so I’ve lost a lot of loved ones and family to cancer throughout the years. And it's pretty scary to know that there is a genetic link to cancer in the family,” he said.
“In a small community like we are, and I know a lot of people, especially older people or less disadvantaged people, don’t always have the means to travel. People can’t always just go to Melbourne and get treatment or get imaging stuff done to get a diagnosis.
“So, to be able to have that here in our local community where everyone in the community has access to that is great.
“I hope the community rallies behind our cause and jumps in to help in any way that they can, because the funds are staying within our own community, it's not going to a large organisation.”
The Full Monty will take place on Saturday, June 15 at the Maryborough Highland Society from 6 pm.
Tickets are available online at www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-full-monty-tickets-888152186097 or The Full Monty Facebook page.
The night will also include a silent auction and is for those aged 18 and over.