Eva Tseros will shave her head this Friday to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation. Photo: Chris Roe.
Sixteen-year-old Wagga High student Eva Tseros has always had a full head of hair.
“She was born needing a haircut!” laughed mum Suzy.
“Yep, I had an afro,” agreed Eva.
The Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman has no idea what to expect when she sees her scalp for the first time after joining the World’s Greatest Shave this Friday (17 March).
“I’m actually kind of excited because I’ve never seen myself bald!” she said.
For Eva, the decision to go the chop is a personal one.
“I’ve lost a lot of people to cancer in my family and I thought to be a great way to acknowledge them.
“My mum had cancer. She’s fought it, so I want to do this for her. And for my pop.”
Aunty Cheryl Penrith, Eva Tseros, Aunty Mary Atkinson and Shane Pope. Photo: Chris Roe.
The World’s Greatest Shave started back in the 1990s as Shave for a Cure and has raised tens of millions of dollars for the Leukaemia Foundation.
So far, Eva is the only Wagga High student to put their head on the chopping block, and she hopes the school community will get behind her to support a worthy cause.
“I’m gonna save the hair and it will be sent off to be made into a wig,” she said.
Eva has the local Wiradjuri community behind her and is also supported by mentor Shanae Pope from the Butterfly Dreaming program that works with young First Nations women.
“We connect with Country, connect with the Elders and connect with ourselves,” Eva explained.
“We go out on Country a lot. We go up to Pomi (Pomingalarna Reserve) or we go down to Wagga Beach or out to the rocks.”
The First Nations team at Wollundry Dreaming are standing behind Eva. Photo: Chris Roe.
Eva’s favourite subjects at school are Aboriginal studies and ancient history, where she connects with her First Nations and Greek heritage. She is also training to be a teacher’s aide and working with a local Primary School.
“I’m doing a TAFE course; currently, I’m doing certificate 3 in education support,” she said,
“I love connecting with the kids and helping them because kids need help learning.
“I work with some First Nations kids and kids who have special needs.”
Eva herself has autism and says her experience helps her connect with the kids.
“I find it pretty good. I mainly work with year 1 and year 2,” she said before adding with a laugh, “not kindergarten. I don’t need ’em that fresh!”
Looking to the future, Eva is excited about a career in the classroom and says ultimately, in life, she would like to be “respected”.
Her courageous decision to join the World’s Greatest Shave will certainly be supported by her community and fellow students, even if it exposes a few forgotten scars.
“Yeah, I’ve had a few concussions and a few hits to the head, so there’s definitely a few!”
Eva’s big shave is happening this Friday and you can support the cause here.
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