There are so many words for them - face fungus, soup strainer, flavour saver.
It is even sometimes said that a man without a moustache is like a cup of tea without sugar. Which is why it surprised the Goanna to learn that the most uncoolest of uncool, Wayne Swan, once sported the currently trendy mo. Media and other Swan devotees were advised of his long hair wearing Ringo look-a-like past after an email was dispatched asking to sponsor his staff doing the Movember pledge.
But looking strangely more stylish than usual and with the rise in popularity of the moustache, Swan should consider the return of the handle bar.
The team "Swanny's soupstrainers", who include Swan staffers Jim Chalmers, Hamish McDonald , Finn McArthy-Adams, Andrew Thomas and Chris Barrett, have already managed to accumulate $2,500 in charitable donations, in no small part due to Swanny's inspirational late 70's furry look.
To offer up this photo couldn't have been an easy thing, although he does look distinctly better than a young Rudd.
But the Treasurer's revelation of a silly past photo does of course come from a serious place and for a serious cause. The Movember movement, apart from encouraging face fungus, was started in 2003 to promote awareness about men's health issues, particularly depression and prostate cancer. Candidates are sponsored to grow hair on their face for the month of November. The idea has since gone global and raised $60 million in donations to date.
Swan himself was diagnosed with prostate cancer and has a family history of the disease. Prior to the 2007 election Swan was trying to keep his diagnosis a secret from the press (for obvious reasons) when his youngest son during a show and tell class mentioned that his father had cancer but that the class couldn't tell anyone - especially not Laurie Oakes.
Swan has even contributed towards a men's health DVD in order to encourage those that might be at risk to go get tested.
But the photo, as well as inspiring donations, does reveal a younger, hipper Swan and begs the question of our Treasurer - what about bringing back the mo Swanny?
Many have commented that this photo does demonstrate a certain amount of attractiveness not yet seen in our Treasurer. And was it his youthfulness? The dapper outfit? No, it is the long hair and the face fungus that does it. And the thing is Wayne could easily be riding its current wave of popularity.
There really is a new found popularity to wearing a mo.
No longer limited to the realm of sleazy porn stars and 70's sport icons, the mo is having a comeback and politicians need to get on board (one sees Mike Kelly, member for Eden-Monaro, leading the trend). There are even World Beard and Moustache Championships where contenders try to go all out with a lot of hairspray and patience to create the most interesting facial hair.
One Elmar Weisser, a keen bridge enthusiast, has created both the Brandenburg Gate and London's Tower Bridge in the environs of his face for the competition. Not that I am suggesting Wayne try for a Syndey Opera House of facial hair - this is advanced stuff.
This popularity is not limited to the competitive arena however - more and more the music world, always a leader in fashion, seems to be having a paradigm shift towards whiskered musicians.
I'm not simply talking about the obvious past musicians such as ZZ top, Ringo Starr and Freddie Mercury or simply some try-hard designer stubble.
But current musicians like alternative rocker Nick Cave, Mr E from the Eels, the Magic Numbers, the up and coming Fleet Foxes who are almost entirely beard clad, and heart throb singer Caleb Followill of the Kings of Leon. Some of the best music at the moment is coming out of facial hair covered bands and I would say that is no coincidence. There is even a novelty band called the Beards whose catalogue include "If you're Dad doesn't have a beard, you've got two Mums", "Beard Revolution" and "No Beard, No Good".
Their entire repertoire consists of songs devoted to the the manly nature of beard growing and keeping.
It seems a pre-requisite at the moment if you're in a band to have at least some facial hair on some of your members. The highest respect is given to those who isolate their hair growth to the upper lip. With all the evidence of a moustache comeback, a positive response to the young Swan's whiskered pic and perhaps with some encouragement from his soup straining staff, Wayne could bring the look back.
Swan could become a cup of tea with sugar in again.
Bella Counihan writes for The Goanna
It is even sometimes said that a man without a moustache is like a cup of tea without sugar. Which is why it surprised the Goanna to learn that the most uncoolest of uncool, Wayne Swan, once sported the currently trendy mo. Media and other Swan devotees were advised of his long hair wearing Ringo look-a-like past after an email was dispatched asking to sponsor his staff doing the Movember pledge.
But looking strangely more stylish than usual and with the rise in popularity of the moustache, Swan should consider the return of the handle bar.
The team "Swanny's soupstrainers", who include Swan staffers Jim Chalmers, Hamish McDonald , Finn McArthy-Adams, Andrew Thomas and Chris Barrett, have already managed to accumulate $2,500 in charitable donations, in no small part due to Swanny's inspirational late 70's furry look.
To offer up this photo couldn't have been an easy thing, although he does look distinctly better than a young Rudd.
But the Treasurer's revelation of a silly past photo does of course come from a serious place and for a serious cause. The Movember movement, apart from encouraging face fungus, was started in 2003 to promote awareness about men's health issues, particularly depression and prostate cancer. Candidates are sponsored to grow hair on their face for the month of November. The idea has since gone global and raised $60 million in donations to date.
Swan himself was diagnosed with prostate cancer and has a family history of the disease. Prior to the 2007 election Swan was trying to keep his diagnosis a secret from the press (for obvious reasons) when his youngest son during a show and tell class mentioned that his father had cancer but that the class couldn't tell anyone - especially not Laurie Oakes.
Swan has even contributed towards a men's health DVD in order to encourage those that might be at risk to go get tested.
But the photo, as well as inspiring donations, does reveal a younger, hipper Swan and begs the question of our Treasurer - what about bringing back the mo Swanny?
Many have commented that this photo does demonstrate a certain amount of attractiveness not yet seen in our Treasurer. And was it his youthfulness? The dapper outfit? No, it is the long hair and the face fungus that does it. And the thing is Wayne could easily be riding its current wave of popularity.
There really is a new found popularity to wearing a mo.
No longer limited to the realm of sleazy porn stars and 70's sport icons, the mo is having a comeback and politicians need to get on board (one sees Mike Kelly, member for Eden-Monaro, leading the trend). There are even World Beard and Moustache Championships where contenders try to go all out with a lot of hairspray and patience to create the most interesting facial hair.
One Elmar Weisser, a keen bridge enthusiast, has created both the Brandenburg Gate and London's Tower Bridge in the environs of his face for the competition. Not that I am suggesting Wayne try for a Syndey Opera House of facial hair - this is advanced stuff.
This popularity is not limited to the competitive arena however - more and more the music world, always a leader in fashion, seems to be having a paradigm shift towards whiskered musicians.
I'm not simply talking about the obvious past musicians such as ZZ top, Ringo Starr and Freddie Mercury or simply some try-hard designer stubble.
But current musicians like alternative rocker Nick Cave, Mr E from the Eels, the Magic Numbers, the up and coming Fleet Foxes who are almost entirely beard clad, and heart throb singer Caleb Followill of the Kings of Leon. Some of the best music at the moment is coming out of facial hair covered bands and I would say that is no coincidence. There is even a novelty band called the Beards whose catalogue include "If you're Dad doesn't have a beard, you've got two Mums", "Beard Revolution" and "No Beard, No Good".
Their entire repertoire consists of songs devoted to the the manly nature of beard growing and keeping.
It seems a pre-requisite at the moment if you're in a band to have at least some facial hair on some of your members. The highest respect is given to those who isolate their hair growth to the upper lip. With all the evidence of a moustache comeback, a positive response to the young Swan's whiskered pic and perhaps with some encouragement from his soup straining staff, Wayne could bring the look back.
Swan could become a cup of tea with sugar in again.
Bella Counihan writes for The Goanna
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