When Merewether High's Class of 2022 set a school fundraising record of $119,000 in last year's World's Greatest Shave, the gauntlet was thrown down for the year 11 students.
This year's leaders initially aimed for a modest $80,000, but when that was achieved, prefect Sam Bottom became confident that the record might be within reach.
"It's an amazing feeling that the whole school community has gotten behind this," he said as a mate buzzed down the centre of his orange-bleached mullet.
"It's even better that we've raised over $100,000 for this amazing cause."
The World's Greatest Shave turns 25 in 2023, raising funds to support people experiencing blood cancers, and to help fund research into a cure.
The organisation's Adrian Leggett said Merewether High was one of the country's biggest student-led fundraising groups, raising more than $350,000 over ten years.
"Last year Merewether was the number one school in Australia,' he said.
"This year started slow, but they've built confidence and they're shooting for it ... from what I've heard, it's looking likely they could get that record."
A cause close to home
Seeing her classmates shave their hair and rally together was "heartwarming" for Year 12 student Isabel Doherty.
"I was diagnosed with a type of leukaemia called acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, or ALL for short," she told the school before the clippers came out.
"I'm a very lucky person to be here today and to share my story."
Isabel was diagnosed in kindergarten, undergoing intense chemotherapy and treatment, eventually beating the cancer.
"I just think its exceptional that we have this tradition and that I'm actually able to talk about it," she said.
"I'm really happy to be alive and to experience everything that I've experienced.
"I just think that everyone shaving their hair, cutting their hair, for a great cause ... I think it's awesome and I'm so proud of this group."
Deputy Principal Esme Corney said she was proud of Isabel for sharing her story, and the school for continuing the shave tradition.
"It's about understanding the personal side of people who have had leukaemia," she said.
"They have such a strong social conscience and this shows the collective power of a voice, and the change they can make."
Goodbye mullets
You may have noticed that mullets are, once again, having a moment in Australia.
Amongst the 93 students and staff who registered to shave at Merewether, a solid handful were sporting the style.
"I'm so excited to have short hair again, this mullet has been the death of me," captain Sam Bloomfield, the former owner of an "over-bleached and impossible to manage" mullet, said.
"It was probably about 30 centimetres, it was down past my shoulders," student Daniel Langholz said, regarding his locks.
"It's like a rite of passage for year 12 at Merewether to get up here, raise some money, shave ya dome, and just become an egg.
"It's such a good cause, and it feels so good."
Isabel's message to those recovering from or going through leukaemia or other cancers was to "hang in there".
"Life is so short, and the thing is that there are horrible things that can happen to you," she said.
"Being able to talk about it, move on, and experience new things, it's all part of the journey."
