Movember

Do you know how Movember came about?

In 2003, two mates from Melbourne, Australia (Travis Garone and Luke Slattery) were having a quiet beer at the Gypsy Bar in Fitzroy when their conversation turned to recurring fashion trends. The moustache, a fixture in past decades, was nowhere to be seen in recent trends. They joked about bringing it back.

The two friends spoke to their mates about growing a Mo. Inspired by a friend’s mother who was fundraising for breast cancer, they decided to make the campaign about men’s health and prostate cancer. They designed the rules of Movember (which are still in place today) and agreed to charge ten dollars to grow a Mo. Trav designed the first Movember logo, and they sent around an email titled ‘Are you man enough to be my man?’ They found 30 guys willing to take up the challenge.

Those first 30 Mo Bros grew their moustaches with such enthusiasm that in 2004 a decision was made to formalise the concept and get all participants growing for a cause. Adam Garone stepped up to help take Movember to the next level, registered a company and created a website.

In 2006 Movember became an official Australian charity with the byline “changing the face of men’s health”. In 2016 the event The Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride was started and for the last seven years they have joined forces.

There are now official campaigns in 21 countries and together they have raised more than AUD $730 million to fund over 1,000 men’s health programs. The focus has broadened to four key men’s health issues: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity.

There has been a growth of millions of moustaches, significant breakthroughs in scientific research, and a fundamental shift in the conversation around men’s health.

With the support of millions of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas from all over the world, Movember is working towards its vision: to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health.

We at MHHS were looking through our archives and we found many moustachioed men throughout the early and mid 1900s.

Frederick Jacoby pictured above

George Burkinshaw bowling the first bowl at the Glen Forrest Bowling and Croquet Club in 1932

The official opening of the Mundaring Agricultural Show in 1909. Lord John Forrest is seen to the left of Lady Forrest. As you can see, there are not too many clean shaven men in this picture.