Hockey heroes strip for research

Upper Great Southern Hockey Association teams and life members got their kit off for a special cause last month.

After two people close to the association died of cancer, UGSHA decided to team up and create a calendar to raise money for cancer research.

Project organiser Allison Bairstow said the local hockey community was devastated when member Owen Mulgrew and another member’s mother died in the same week after battling cancer.

She said the idea for the calendar came from listening to Mark Regan, an association life member, reminiscing about Owen.

“He told us that around 20 years ago, Owen competed in the State country championships and they did a naked calendar for a bit of a laugh,” she said.

“So I contacted Owen’s family to get permission to reproduce that photo again in the calendar to raise money for cancer research and they thought it was a great idea.”

Ms Bairstow said 59 people and seven hockey teams participated in the photo shoot for the calendar, which was shot by local photographer Michelle Atwell for free.

“I wanted to include some of our life members, too, so the December page actually features Owen’s father Brian, who’s living with cancer at the moment himself,” Ms Bairstow said.

Owen’s brother Jason, who once played for the Warriors, said he was proud of his father for participating.

“I thought it was a great idea when I found out about the calendar. It’s a really good cause,” he said. The money raised from the calendar was set to be donated to the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, which focused on developing treatments for cancer as well as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Ms Bairstow said she wanted to thank everyone involved, particularly those who participated in the photo shoot.

“They were very brave and it was confronting to some people — the idea of taking your clothes off — but it was done well and everyone did a great job,” she said.