“I’ve got very long hair, and I thought, what a good way to start the process and get it cut short,” she said.
“I know I can grow my hair back.”
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As an associate nurse unit manager at Goulburn Valley Health and an accredited trainer and founder of Tatura Absolute Training, Ms Niglia said she had always been attuned to her body.
She said the diagnosis had been “overwhelming” and she wanted to raise awareness for ovarian cancer in the community.
“Community, people in the fitness industry, and people that come to the gym always say that I’m one of the fittest people,” she said.
“When I say that (I’m diagnosed with ovarian cancer) I think, ‘Far out, this is unreal, I can’t believe I’m saying that'.
“It’s just so surreal.”
Alongside her gym in Tatura, Ms Niglia is involved with many of the tennis clubs in the area, including as a lifelong member of the Dhurringile Tennis Club.
She was awarded Goulburn Valley Female Volunteer of the Year in 2014, among other accolades.
“Whether you’re the fittest person, it can happen to anyone,” Ms Niglia said.
She has strong family support from her husband Roc, daughter Sara, and sons Anthony and Aaron.
“I have a tough battle ahead of me,” she said.
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Ms Niglia's hair was cut by friend and hairdresser Rosa Mandaradoni. The hair will be donated to children's charity Variety.
Ms Niglia’s family and friends were present for the haircut, surrounding her with love and support, with some even taking a turn to snip a lock.
Ms Mandaradoni is a hairdressing trainer at GOTAFE’s hair salon, which is associated with Sustainable Salons, a social enterprise that organises donations of ponytails to be made into wigs.
Variety then distributes the wigs to children receiving cancer treatment or kids with alopecia.
“It takes approximately 20 ponytails to make one wig,” Ms Mandaradoni said.
“It’s a really great cause.”
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