Fred Axford, who took over as the school’s canteen manager at the start of the year, will be losing his beloved dreadlocks for charity on the evening of March 14 as part of the World’s Greatest Shave.

And he says he won’t be growing them back.

Fred has been sporting dreadlocks for a number of years and has shaved them off on two previous occasions to help raise money for charity.

The last time he shaved them off – approximately nine years ago – he raised just under $5000.

This time he has his sights set on a similar target.

If he can get $50 per dreadlock, he says, he will raise $4500.

Fred will be organising the World’s Greatest Shave event to be held at Tacking Point Tavern on the evening of Thursday, March 14.

Fundraising activities will kick off at approximately 6pm and will continue throughout the night.

Fred is encouraging as many local residents as possible to get involved – either by having their heads shaved or coloured or by simply turning up and showing their support.

All money raised on the night will go to the Leukaemia Foundation.

Fred said the dreadlocks had been a defining feature for many years but he won’t be growing them back. They can be expensive (when done properly) and can be high maintance.

He has been growing his current dreadlocks for the past three years.

Those people wanting to sponsor Fred or take part in the shave themselves can contact Fred on 0402 540 004.

He is also looking for raffle prizes for the night and is hoping local businesses will throw their support behind the fundraiser.

It will coincide with the Tacking Point Tavern’s weekly trivia night so there are expected to be plenty of people around to add to the fundraising kitty.

Fred has been a Port Macquarie resident since 1976 and considers himself “almost a local”.

He has held a number of jobs over the years including a florist and a landscaper but a workplace injury forced him to  find something else to do with his time.

He was working as a volunteer in the canteen last year before the manager’s position became available at the start of this year.

While he said would ideally be working outdoors, he loves working with food and enjoys a good laugh with the kids.

He says cooking is one of his passions.

Fred also coaches a local junior cricket team and has been running the Tacking Point Tavern’s trivia nights for the past 13 years.