Oliver Maus, a 12-year-old student at Puckapunyal Primary School, was often mistaken for a girl because of his long and luscious hair.
But on Saturday, January 13, it was D-day to let go of his crowning glory.
Karen Maus, Oliver’s mother, shared his journey because Oliver was growing his hair for a cause.
Oliver donated his locks to make wigs for children diagnosed with cancer.
“That (donating) was kind of a whole idea ever since I started growing it out,” Oliver said.
“It took a few years, but we always planned to have it cut off.
“We just delayed a bit more to grow it out a bit more.”
Oliver started growing out his hair in 2021.
“Hairdressers were all shut (due to COVID-19), we couldn’t go anywhere ... he didn’t want me to cut it, so he started to grow it out,” Ms Maus said.
“When he decided that he was just going to grow it out rather than let me cut it, I suggested to him that we could donate it for wigs, and he loved that idea.”
Oliver said at first, he was confused about getting mistaken for a girl at school, but he had learned to understand the reaction.
“When I went into the bathroom at school, the little kids, they were like, ‘um, this is the boys’ toilet’, and I’m like ‘yeah’,” Oliver said.
Ms Maus said there were serious discussions about Oliver growing his hair and looking after it, but ultimately, Oliver was eager to go through with it.
“I had to be reminded to brush it a lot and to condition and shampoo it,” he said.
“I kept having to use a lot of shampoo and conditioner, which is why we ran through it so quick.
“It was really hard to wash it out, too, so it was just annoying, but also, I knew I had to keep going.”
Oliver managed to grow 33cm of hair that could be donated, easily exceeding the minimum of 20cm.
On top of the haircut, Oliver and his mum put a call out on social media for fundraising with Kids With Cancer and Wigs4Kids.
They received a $1000 donation overnight, and now, having raised $1942, Oliver is close to his goal of $2750.
Ms Maus said seeing that response on social media was overwhelming.
“We probably thought about $250 ... we would get overnight, and that was it,” she said.
She said Oliver’s initiative and drive for this cause didn’t shock her, but she was impressed nonetheless.
“I’m very proud of him for being such a fine person,” she said.
“Kindness doesn’t cost anything, and I think that’s just so beautiful.”
Oliver’s hair is now 13cm long, and he plans to grow it again to donate more to the cause.