mmg.com.au

Official MOchester signs at the entrances of Rochester were put in place by the Rochester Mo bros and Mo sisters on Wednesday last week.

The purpose of the change in town name is to reflect the importance of MOvember, which encourages men (sand women) to open up about men’s health and raise awareness about prostate cancer and depression.

Men in MOchester, ElMO, MOrong and BendiMO will take part in the moustache growing competition to see who can raise the most money for men’s health this month.

Of the two local towns, Rochester has taken the lead with 19 MOvember members compared to four in Elmore.

Rochester Elmore District Health Service chief executive officer Matt Sharp said the idea spawned from a men’s health night organised by the hospital.

Mr Sharp said he would be attending two major hospital events during the month sporting his ‘mo’.

‘‘Normally I would not have facial hair but these type of events are a good opportunity to spread the word on men’s health,’’ he said.

He said male staff members at REDHS were in the minority, with nine men out of 190 staff members, so he was hoping his colleagues would get on board.

He said taking part in MOvember was all about keeping the focus on men’s health and promoting it.

‘‘We (Rochester and Elmore) want to win the (MOvember) competition,’’ he said.

REDHS employee Brett Shotton said it was his first year taking part and was doing it in solidarity of the ‘mo bro’ hospital staff.

Bendigo and district Prostate Cancer Support Group chair John Pallot said he had grown a mo every year for the past seven years to raise awareness on the issue of men’s health.

To register go to http://au.movember.com/?home and find MOchester or ElMO.