COMPASSION and dedication aren’t a requirement as an Australian Air Force Cadet, but it certainly helps.
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And, Year 12 student Laura Hooper has both in buckets.
Laura is organising a fundraiser for Soldier On, an Armidale and Guyra-based charity that helps servicemen and women ease back into normal life.
“It supports everyone who’s affected by their line of work in providing security for the nation,” Laura said.
“It helps to not only integrate them into civvy [civilian] world if they get discharged or anything, but also setting up the basic communications with their families and friends again after deployment.”
Soldier On was founded by John Bale, Cavin Wilson and Danielle Clout after the death of close friend Lieutenant Michael Fussell in 2008 from an IED blast in Afghanistan.
After Mr Fussell’s death, Mr Bale returned to Armidale and set up the charity to raise funds for the family and those involved that had come home to a very different life.
Being close to home only made Laura more interested in supporting the charity, along with her involvement in Australian Air Force Cadets.
“I knew I wanted to do another fundraiser as I headed into Year 12,” Laura said.
“Since I was so connected to defence and that’s what I want to do I started looking up organisations that help defence personnel.”
Laura will host a barbecue at Harvey Norman on Saturday and will shave her head on December 21 at the Armidale Ex-Services Club.
A haircut that will have its perks with Laura’s involvement in cadets.
And, it’s not the first time she’s had the drastic cut – in Year 6 she shaved her head for the World’s Greatest Shave.
“Doing this I’ve gotten messages from a lot of people I haven’t heard from in a while asking to help out,” Laura said.
“It makes you feel good, but it’s all the people you meet along the way, it’s a nice community thing.
“But, because I’ve shaved my head before the apprehension isn’t as big – because I’m a cadet I have to have my hair back in a bun.
“That means I can save like 10 minutes of a morning doing my hair of a morning, to be honest.”
Laura’s goal is to raise $10,000 for Soldier On, to make a donation visit soldieron.org.au, or head to the barbeque at Harvey Norman on Saturday from 9am to 2pm.