The BlockĄ¯s Jess and Norm put their hearts into a different sort of cause
By Harriet Armstrong|
The 2018 season of NineĄ¯s The Block has seen Jess Eva and Norm Hogan win over viewers everywhere with their down-to-earth charm and Aussie sense of humour.
But the loveable larrikins have a serious side, too.
The Sunshine Coast couple are throwing their support behind the ĄŽPolished ManĄ¯ campaign, which encourages Australians to donate funds for children who are at risk or are affected by violence.
To spread the message of ending violence against young people, the ĄŽBlockheadsĄ¯ will each be painting a nail blue.
As parents to two young children - Freddy, four, and Matilda, one - the pair didnĄ¯t need any convincing to get involved with the cause.
"WeĄ¯ve got young lads of our own and I canĄ¯t imagine how any parent or person could ever want to hurt a child," Norm tells 9Honey.
"TheyĄ¯re so young and they canĄ¯t defend themselves so the idea of them being attacked is horrific,Ąą
''For a child to grow up not feeling love or happiness, thatĄ¯s just not fair, but for them to be victimised, that canĄ¯t keep on. ThatĄ¯s why weĄ¯re painting a nail - to show that we wonĄ¯t be quiet on the issue of violence against children.Ąą
For Jess, a presenter on QueenslandĄ¯s 91.9 SEA FM, it was a heartbreaking personal experience that made her want to support the Polished Man movement.
"I lived in India for a year and during my time there I learned a heartbreaking story of violence from two little boys living in an orphanage,Ąą she says.
"You could see it in their faces, theyĄ¯d been touched by violence. As I got to know them better they told me that their mother had been killed and horrifyingly, by their own father,"
"When you see that hopelessness and sadness, that overwhelming emotion takes over you and you know you need to do something to make the situation better, even in the smallest of ways. And how easy is it to paint a finger and get talking?"
Keen to find out more? Check out polishedman.com to donate or fundraise and discover how you can get your mitts around a one-off limited edition artwork by Bromley and Vegemite.
