Bronwyn Luzza asks: What do roller skates, hot pants, and hair clippers have in common?
Q: What do roller skates, hot pants, and hair clippers have in common?
A: Miss-Be-Shavin’ – A very special ‘World’s Greatest Shave’ event from Tasmania’s roller derby leagues.
This 24th of March Hobart is in for a treat, as Tasmania’s four derby leagues come together for the first time ever in a North vs. South showdown for this good cause.
Among them will be 21 year old Lauren Ward a.k.a “Splatterberry”, of Hobart’s South Island Sirens. An electrical engineering student of small stature, Lauren isn’t necessarily who springs to mind when you imagine a typical derby player. However, as one quickly learns, there is no ‘typical’ derby player. They come from a varied demographic in terms of age and occupations and, as with any person, they all have stories to tell.
Matt and Lauren
Lauren’s story includes her partner, Matt’s, battle with Leukaemia when he was diagnosed in 2009.
The Leukaemia Foundation was extremely supportive during, and after, Matt’s treatment, including providing accommodation for his parents who visited him in Canberra at the time.
“It wasn’t just a place to stay,” explains Lauren “It was food and other living arrangements that you stop thinking about once you hear that news.”
“When his mum found out she’d jumped on the first plane with basically her handbag and nothing else. They helped take care of her because she was in no state to take care of herself,’’ she says.
Now the pair would like to give back. And despite raising plenty of funds in the past through events such as quiz nights and garage sales, they decided it was time for something on a bigger scale. And so the Sirens called on their other derby sisters to lend them a hand and, in some cases, their hair.
The result is a unique fundraiser with all profits going to The Leukaemia Foundation.
In addition to the family friendly derby madness, some brave derby girls, and local artist Kim Foale, will be shaving their locks. For Lauren this is the second time she will do so to show her support to Matt.
It’s the first time all four leagues will meet together to compete, and is also the debut match, or ‘bout’, for the newest team: The Devil State Derby League, explains Lauren.
Roller derby is full contact, all female sport, growing in popularity worldwide. Previously considered a niche sport, it reached Tassie in 2009 and has grown to include two Northern and two Southern leagues.
Lauren explains that there are quite a few myths to dispel when it comes to the sport.
The first being that there are actually rules, a lot of them in fact, and it is a game of tactics as much as it is speed or agility.
“A lot of people don’t realise that there’s a lot of thought to the game. It’s not just go out, bash as many people as you can and come back,” she says.
Played in two minute ‘jams’ the ‘jammer’ of each team must navigate her opponent’s human obstacles as she makes her way around the track in order to score points. Her four other teammates, the Pivot and Blockers help her do this, resulting in a lot of commotion and antics that Lauren describes as ‘addictive’ for both players and spectators.
“New spectators will get sucked in easily,” she says, “and we’re hoping to get a lot of new fans at the event.”
The second myth is that all derby players are university students or your ‘Rockabilly’/ alternative types. The reality is you’re just as likely to see your friend’s mum, or your accountant zooming around the track.
“There is a huge variety in our team,” says Lauren, “We have a lot of parents, one lady is in her 50s; I’m actually one of the youngest we have.”
Lauren believes that for many, roller derby is a ‘release’ from everyday life because each player adopts a derby ‘persona’ or alter ego while playing the game.
“It’s a lot of fun because we’ve got business people, council employees and even someone from the tax office on our team…people in quite serious, respectable jobs and then we’ve got sparkly hot pants and our derby names. It’s like a relief from normality for some people,” says Lauren.
While these fun elements will always remain a part of roller derby, Lauren says the sport is moving towards being taken more seriously, and events like Miss-Be-Shavin’ will help introduce it to a broader audience and potential ‘fresh meat’ – or new players. She encourages anyone over 18, interested in joining to check their nearest league’s facebook page.
Those unable to attend the event can still show their support by sponsoring the girl’s shave efforts at http://myleukaemiafoundation.org.au/tasmanianrollerderby
Miss-Be-Shavin’ will be held at the Derwent Entertainment Centre on Saturday the 24th of March.
Tickets are on sale now at: http://missbeshavin.eventix.com.au
For more information contact: [email protected]
• Andrew Wilkie: I’m shaving my head for a cause!
All Leukaemia Foundation services are free and I want to help keep it that way.
Please donate to my shave at http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/AWilkieMP as every little bit helps support those in our community affected by Leukaemia either personally or through a friend or family member.
Everyone is welcome to attend ‘the shaving’ at a public event on Fri 16 March between 11.00am and 2.00pm at 188 Collins Street, Hobart. Get involved with the World’s Greatest Shave and help make a difference!
Kind regards
Andrew
