Memorable for the wrong reasons: One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. Photo: AAP/Mick Tsikas
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MICK TSIKAS
While scanning the internet on Tuesday afternoon I stumbled across a unique day set aside to celebrate the world’s red-haired humans.
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If you were blessed, or cursed (depending on who you talk to), with strawberry coloured locks I am hoping you took advantage of the Kiss a Ginger Day, which was celebrated on January 12.
I’m not sure whether my attention was drawn to the event because I have a red-haired boy in my household or because of Prince Harry’s recent domination of online headlines with the record breaking sales of his recently released biography.
It got me thinking about some of the red-haired individuals that have stuck in my mind over the years — the footballers, the politicians, movie stars, singers and historic figures.
I started to do a bit of research and found that there were some pretty famous “ginger ninjas’’ through history who probably were not given due credit for the eye-catching tone of their hair.
Red hair has even been at the centre of the largest genetic study of hair colour in the history of the world.
Scientists dicovered there are eight genes linked to red hair, which makes the genetic mutation hereditary.
Redheads generally embrace their inheritance, but not all historical records accurately reflect their ancestors.
For example, Cleopatra was considered a redhead (rarely shown in this light through Hollywood’s representation of the Egyptian royal), Italian explorer Christopher Columbus had an auburn tinge to his hair and even Genghis Khan was documented as having red hair and green eyes.
I would not have had any of them on my original list of the world’s best known “red nuts’’.
Then there is Henry VIII, who was a flame haired monarch who had six wives and a famous temper. The USA’s founding father George Washington was also a redhead — even though he powdered his hair white and is depicted in this light in many historical portrayals.
Henry VIII’s daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, (before Pirnce Harry at least) was quite possibly the world’s most famous redhead. Her mother Anne Boleyn was the King’s second wife, beheaded after treason charges were laid against her.
In the spotlight: Redheaded Prince Harry has just released his autobiography, Spare. Photo: AAP/David Crosling
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AAP
Wartime British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, before he became follicurlarly challenged, was known as “copper knob’’ in school because of his hair colour.
Like so many of her blonde colleagues Marilyn Monroe was not a “true blonde’’. You guessed it, another redhead.
Vincent Van Gogh and Russian revolutionist Vladimir Lenin also stood out in a crowd with their fiery scalp covering.
My own redhead has traits that attach him to the distinctive characteristics of “his kind”, although he is certainly not as fiery as some of the “rangas” I’ve encountered over the years.
Steve Hooker stands out to me as the quintessential redhead, he even had the long flowing curls as he turned upside down on the end of a pole vault while winning gold at the 2008 games.
Hooker, pale white with freckles, thrust “his people’’ into the limelight with Olympic Games gold.
I find it hard to go past Brad Hardie and Neville Bruns when it comes to AFL, probably because Brunsy was an affectionate term often sent the way of redheads whose name I couldn’t remember.
When you consider Keith Greig (a three-time Brownlow medallis), Dermott Brereton, 400-gamer Dustin Fletcher, triple premiership captain Michael Voss and Cameron Ling then the proud tradition of red-haired footballers is further enhanced.
Ed Sheeran — the busker-cum pop star — does his kind particularly proud, while it really is hard to go past Nicole Kidman when putting together a list of the Top 10 redheads of the world.
On the political stage there is one standout who probably isn’t all that welcome among her carrot-top colleages, at least on occasions.
But she stands tall within the red-haired brethren, you guessed it, Pauline Hanson.
Brunsy: Neville Bruns, originally from Leitchville, was one of the VFL's most famous red heads — the former Geelong player involved in a famous incident with the legendary Leigh Matthews.
Gillian Anderson, through her Dana Scully X-Files character of the ’90s, would have been at the top of many lists for a period of time.
Then, of course, there is Chuck Norris — the brunt of a series of jokes centred not on his hair colour, but just how tough he was.
Best wishes for Kiss a Ginger day to the red haired humans of the world. Feel free to contribute to our facebook page with your own list of famous Rochester redheads, whether they be of sporting, community or political fame, or even those not mentioned from the national or international stage.
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