Coming from a farming background, hairdressing may seem a strange path to take, but Dick soon explains how it all came about.

He had sisters who would set their hair in rollers each night, however one struggled with it and would call on Dick to help. With this being the evening ritual, Dick became quite good at doing

hair.

After finishing school aged 14, Dick had several jobs over a few years and when his position at the Sydney Wool Store came to an end, he was encouraged by his family to try hairdressing; and so it began.

“I started my hairdressing apprenticeship in a salon in Hunter Street in Sydney aged 17 years,” Dick said. “I was called up for National Service but was allowed to complete my hairdressing apprenticeship first.”

Dick spent two years in the army - one year in Australia and one year in Vietnam.

“On my return I thought I would go farming with my father at Nimmitabel, but after a short time the locals, led by Rae Stove, coaxed me into opening a hairdressing salon in Nimmitabel,” he said.

The Bombala ladies regularly travelled to Dick’s Nimmitabel salon.

“After a couple of years and a lot of miles a certain lady, Edith Kennett, persuaded me to open a salon in Bombala and said that if I did she would wash the dirty towels for me! Which she did for a long time!” Dick said.

At first he would open a few days in Nimmitabel and a few in Bombala, until he finally closed the Nimmitabel salon and became a permanent Bombala resident.

And he has had a long list of loyal customers since.

“One special client used to travel to the Nimmitabel salon and I had the privilege of doing her hair for her wedding,” Dick said.

“lt is with great pleasure and many hair dos later, that I have been cutting her hair ever since and still do today. Ros Hood, not too many hairdressers can boast of having a client for over 45 years.

“Among the many of my long time clients, Marjorie Fielen tells me she has only had two haircuts by another hairdresser in 39 years. That's loyalty.

“Also a young chap from Delegate, Kerry Jamieson has been a regular for 39 years and I always look forward to his appointments to hear about all the Delegate doings. There isn't much a hairdresser doesn't hear!”

And Dick’s memory goe€s back to some other fascinating clients.

“Mrs Helen Garnock was a regular weekly client and when she hadn't had her hair done for Bill's 21st, l packed my rollers and dryer and went out to her house. After doing her hair out came the bottle of sherry and she insisted I share a glass; we had a great time and I am not sure if she ever did get to the party! A lovely lady.

“Another was Mrs R B Campbell, after her weekly hair do she would ask me to ruffle it up before she left the salon so she didn't look as though she had just been done up. With Mrs RB I shared some fascinating stories and some long phone calls with a wonderful lady.

“There was also my extra special friend, Gwen Joseph,” Dick continued.

“Over the many years Gwen would have been my most frequent client. Not long after I cam€e to Bombala about six local ladies all grew their hair; the others eventually cut theirs off but Gwen kept the long hair for about 40 years.

“Gwen had her long locks stylishly put up every Friday. She would return Monday to have a tidy up, a bit more spray and a few bobby pins, and often Wednesday another squirt of spray and pins. I am sure hubby Lou was also good at putting a few more pins in after many years of practice!

“Then there was Grace Eppleston, I was privileged to cut her hair for her 100th Birthday. I had cut her hair for many years prior to and after that. She had the best memory and often would know more about where I had been and what I had done since her last appointment than what I did! Another amazing lady.

“Of course every customer in business is important and in hairdressing your customers become your friends; you hear all the stories and share all the family happenings over the years.”

Dick and wife, Jenny purchased the current salon in 1985, and over the years trained several apprentices, beginning at the old salon with Gail Miller then Susie Beileiter, Tanya Murphy and Kim Dent.

ln recent years Dick has taken a step back and combined his hairdressing with farm work and more recently with coastal life.

Dick will perform his last haircut this coming Friday, June 19 and looks forward to retiring to the coast full time.

He would like to thank all his customers for their support over the years and wishes the new salon

owner every success as he hangs up the scissors and concludes a long, interesting and enjoyable career.