Dreading shearing | Video

The shearing machine roared to life, and with steady hands, the fleece fell to the floor.

The job was done in no time, and with cheers, it was down the chute.

But this was no sheep. It was Campbell Cole, and he had just lost his dreadlocks.

Twenty-one-year-old Campbell, who lives in Estella, a suburb in Wagga Wagga, had been growing his dreads for at least three years, but decided to shear them off for a cause very close to his heart.

It was 2010 when Campbell, who was at school at the time, lost his father Chris Cole to leukaemia.

Campbell said his dad was diagnosed for the first time in about 2003, and had a bone marrow transplant. But around Easter in 2010, tragedy struck again.

“Mum was giving Dad a massage, and he bruised really easily,” he said.

He said his dad went to the doctor and received the devastating news the leukaemia had returned.

He passed away on May 17.

“It was out of the blue,” Campbell said.

It was not long after this that Campbell started growing his hair.

“I had always wanted them, but I guess it was a bit of a rebellion thing,” he said.

He was also keen to grow his hair to cover up a bald spot on his head, due to an operation after catching a ringworm from a kangaroo as a child. 

“They made me stand out a bit,” he said.

He said he created his dreadlocks by simply rubbing his hair with a towel in a circular motion.

“I didn’t really take care of them. I just washed them with normal shampoo, but no conditioner,” he said.

“My hair got long and awkward for a while.”

About eight months ago, Campbell shaved off the dreadlocks along the sides of his head, and then was considering getting rid of them completely.

And he had the perfect opportunity.

Campbell has been completing a two-week shearing course at the TAFE NSW Riverina Institute.

Campbell is currently completing his Certificate 4 in Agriculture, which will finish up in November. He is planning to jump on a header for harvest before hopefully heading to Charles Sturt University in Wagga.

“I’m looking to do agronomy like Dad,” he said.

Campbell also plans to eventually own his own cattle property.

He had completed the shearing course once before while in Year 10 at school, and thought he would give it another go.

“I just thought I would get my skills back,” he said.

“I’ve learned a lot, and it wouldn’t be a bad lifestyle, but my back’s not too good.

“But it is a good skill to have.”

Campbell said he was a little worried about losing his do.

“I’ve just had dreadlocks for so long. They were part of my reputation. They were a little bit out there, and a little bit different,” he said.

And that was when someone suggested he shear them off, and raise funds in memory of his dad at the same time.

Campbell contacted the Leukaemia Foundation, and after getting the go-ahead, he put a post up on Facebook.

After receiving lots of support, it was time to face the shears.

Shearer and friend Nicki Guttler was chosen for the job, who was also completing the course.

“I wasn’t going to let anyone else do it,” Campbell said.

And after dragging him out of the catching pen, and with fresh combs and cutters, Nicki made very short work of his haircut.

“I was a little bit worried,” Campbell said.

And in true shearing fashion, Campbell headed down the chute.

But he is very happy with his new hair-do.

“As long as the girls like it,” he said.

The new short-haired Campbell may not be around for long, as he is already planning to grow dreadlocks again.

Campbell said he had already received some donations for the Leukaemia Foundation, including online donations, donations from those at the TAFE and businesses.

But he would love some more.

Those wishing to donate can simply go to the World’s Greatest Shave website.