General News
16 December, 2025
From long locks to big smiles: Penrose’s chop raises thousands for charity
Cameron Penrose has raised more than $5000 by donating his golden locks to create wigs for cancer-stricken children.
Mr Penrose and his majestic mane got the chop last Friday night at Horsham's Exchange Hotel, with a big crowd gathering for the event.
At the time of writing, Mr Penrose had raised $3298 for Kids with Cancer - Wings 4 Kids, with his hair also donated to be made into wigs, and a further $1235 for the Royal Flying Doctors, the charity of his dad's preference.
Cash donations, Mr Penrose said, were still being received and had not yet been added to this figure.
Mr Penrose had been growing his hair for a couple of years, but decided it was time to chop it off when his dad was diagnosed with cancer recently.
On Friday night, his transformation was akin to Beauty and the Beast, in which he not only cut his long locks but also shaved his facial hair (and his chest hair).
He described the event as "surreal" and admitted a lot was going on - including a lot of emotions.
"I was just glad that everyone turned up," Mr Penrose said.
"A lot of people hadn't seen me with hair that long and were surprised by how much I had, and then to go to what I have now, basically nothing, everything is different.
"A gust of wind hits me, and I'm like: 'Ohh! That's cold!”
While many people hadn't seen Mr Penrose with his locks so long, his girlfriend, Shenae, hadn’t seen him without that hairstyle.
"It's a big difference, but luckily my partner likes the look," admitted Mr Penrose.
"She was a bit nervous about the chin and seeing my face with no beard, but she likes it.
"I only met her 12 months ago, so I had the beard, and I had the hair."
The donations, Mr Penrose said, have been above what he expected or hoped, and he admitted he has been overwhelmed by the support.
"It's absolutely incredible," he said.
"We've even got more donations coming in.
"We had seven yesterday and one this morning.
"It's insane, and I am lost for words.
"I'm floating, I'm on Cloud Nine."
In fact, with his new look, Mr Penrose said he has been able to float right past people.
"People have walked past me in the street, both in Harrow and in Horsham, and just didn't recognise me," he said.
"No one can pick me at the moment!"
Now, Mr Penrose is not only looking forward to facing the hotter months with a much cooler hairstyle, but also to being able to change things up.
"I think I've got room to change the look now," he laughed.
"I can try a couple of different looks and see what sticks."
Mr Penrose is still accepting donations, which can be made to Kids with Cancer at https://fundraise.kidswithcancer.org.au/s/9277/9340/s or to The Royal Flying Doctors at https://doyourthing.rfdsvic.com.au/caneron-penrose.
