You’ve got to be pretty committed to a cause to sit in a plastic pool filled with ice blocks and have a bucket of freezing water poured over you in the middle of a Tasmanian winter. 

So hats off –or rather scarves and beanies off – to the staff and residents at Uniting AgeWell Rosetta Community Strathglen who took part in the Big Freeze fundraiser at 2pm on Thursday 19 June. 

The fundraiser, scheduled for a few days before the Winter Solstice on 21 June, was to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and to help fund research into the disease which affects the nerves that communicate between the brain and the muscles. 

Senior Care Manager Wendy Chamberlain said about a dozen or so staff members dressed up in fun outfits for their polar bear experience.  Other staff members and residents were also on hand with buckets to further drench the participants who made Elsa in the movie Frozen look quite toasty. 

“It’s all a bit of fun for a good cause,” explained Wendy who wore a blue tutu and matching blue wig.  “Everyone got blankets and hot drinks afterwards.” 

Some residents also signed up to have a bucket of icy water tipped over their heads –without getting into the pool.  Others got hold of water pistols and joyfully squirted staff members! 

“There’s always a lot of laughter – it’s certainly an event that everyone talks about for a long time afterwards!” says Wendy.