Students strip for charity
Cheeky calendar raises money for university ball and Drought Angels
GETTING 40 soon-to-be vets to bare all on a brutally cold and windy day was the easy part.
The real challenge, according to Vets Uncovered calendar co-organiser Jessica Fleming, was selecting a charity to partner with.
“It was a class discussion,” the 25-year-old said.
“Quite a few students were really passionate about us supporting a rural mental health charity, while others wanted to do something about the floods that we have had up here.
“We settled for the Drought Angels. They are a perfect fit because they cover both.”
Originally from Brisbane, Jessica moved to James Cook University in Townsville for her degree — she has watched previous years create the nude calendar.
The images shot by Leila Grigg Photography are tasteful, with hats, French Bulldogs and Suzuki two-wheel motorbikes used to cover students’ nether regions.
“It’s become a rite of passage,” she said.
“We had 40 students participate.”
The May photo shoot took place on two properties outside of Charters Towers. Conditions were chilly. There were quite a few laughs on the day, including watching as one young male vet student was chased by Charlotte the pig at one site but, overall, Jessica said it wasn’t too taboo to be in the nude.
“We had planned to get naked as a group, do a ‘one, two three’ and we all drop our robes,” she said.
“But we were too disorganised.
“We got to the first shoot and said ‘who is ready?’ and four girls put up their hands.
“I think their confidence helped the rest of us.”
Jessica laughed it off ... but it was a difficult conversation telling her parents she would be a calendar gal.
“Dad made a face, but Mum was all for it, she wants to buy heaps of calendars,” she said.
The Vets Uncovered 2020 calendar raises money for the students’ annual graduation ball and 10 per cent of proceeds will be donated to the Drought Angles.
Keen for a calendar? Visit www.vetsuncovered. com to order a copy.