One entrepreneurial skinny dipper sold his bottom cheeks for advertising, however most entrants in the Winter Solstice Nude Charity Swim just take the plunge sans billboards.

At today’s media call with Lifeline Canberra, the lake’s water temperature was an eye-watering nine degrees – but that didn’t stop the photo shoot or the crude jokes about bare bottoms and bits. It’s a frivolous event for a serious issue.

Let’s do the cheeky bit first (pun intended). There will be candles lining the beach as the sun rises at 7.12am on Thursday 22 June. It would be romantic if not for the hundreds of splashing, nude Canberrans there (sorry, no spectators).

 A bagpiper will play as the mist floats over the icy waters (it was minus-three degrees one year) and for one day only, the Nudity Act will be exempt for anyone brave enough to get their kit off in mid-winter for a good cause.

Speaking of brave, 70-year-old Geoff Arney of Gowrie has been participating in the Winter Solstice Nude Charity Swim since it began seven years ago (he missed last year due to Covid).

“I’m normally shy so this is a bit out of character,” Geoff laughs and he pre-empts my next question with, “yes, it’s my feet that are the coldest part.”

“The outlook from here is very good, you’ve got the sun rising, Black Mountain Tower in the background, all good stuff – and lots of full moons.”

Okay, now for the serious bit. During the past 12 months, Lifeline Canberra has taken more than 40,000 calls from people seeking support.

Lifeline Canberra CEO, Carrie Leeson, says they receive funding to answer 7,340 of those calls, “so events like this one and our Bookfair and gala, helps us to bridge the gap between what we want to do and what we actually do”.

On the first day of Covid lockdown, calls to Lifeline rose 40 per cent. Today, Lifeline still receives 3,500 calls a day nationally. It hasn’t declined.

Get your gear off, Canberra. Register or donate here: wintersolsticeswim.com – 100 per cent goes to Lifeline Canberra.