In the past 37 years, Allawah barber Russell Ettrick hasn’t just been cutting hair.
He’s been running a drop-in centre, a counselling service, and a rest stop.
Russell, who is about to turn 71, is hanging up his scissors on March 27 and many of his loyal customers of the past four decades will have to find somewhere else to go for a haircut and a chat.
It will be the end of a long tradition in the Allawah shopping centre.
Russell took over the barber shop in 1981 from another barber, Reg Lonard, who had been there for 52 years.
New Zealand-born Russell was working in the barber shop in the old Imperial Arcade in the city when a friend told him that Reg was selling his business at Allawah.
Russell bought the business and inherited a loyal clientele.
He still cuts the hair of two of Reg’s customers from all those years ago, one who is now in his 90s and travels from Condell Park to get his haircut by Russell, and another who is in his 80s.
Russell has built up a loyal following.
Another customer, Albert Wynter, 86, travels down from Armidale once a month to visit family and drop in see Russell for a haircut.
Bob Berman has been coming to Russell’s barber shop for 18 years.
“I come for a 30-second haircut and a half-hour chat,” he said.
Russell’s wife, Judy, says the shop has always been a place where customers can linger.
“It’s really a drop-in centre,” she said.
Russell lets some customers come in and make their own coffee.
“We’re got a kettle here and they come in and make a coffee or a cup of tea,” Russell said. “And there’s always a biscuit here.”
An elderly woman who lives around the corner regularly drops in for a sit-down and rest on the way home from the shops.
“The people in Allawah have changed,” Russell said. I’ve seen people who have been here most of their working lives and as they retire and sell their unit and big a house down the coast for half the price.
“I say do to their haircuts from cradle to the grave.
“I have clients who are now fathers whose hair I cut when they were kids. But the kids now are growing up and moving away.
“Today, there are less kids and a more mature clientele.”
Hairstyles have also changed.
“When I started cutting hair it was short-back-and-sides. Then long hair was in fashion and now it’s short-back-and-sides again. It’s come the full circle.”
Russell said what he will miss most about cutting hair is the interaction with people.
“But I’ve got plenty to go to. We bought a farm at Gloucester and I have cows and calves and plenty of fences to fix and an orchard and bees to look after.”
Judy said it has been Russell’s lifelong dream to become a full-time farmer.
His three children, Kirsty, Michelle and Michael have their own careers and so won’t be carrying on the business.
Russell said that in his time working as a barber he has also become a confidant for his customers
“I’ve heard plenty of stories I can’t repeat,” he said.
Judy said that as well as being a good listener, her husband is a good talker.
“He could talk to a lampost,” she said. “It’s the perfect job for him.”
He has learned a lot about human nature in his job.
“One lesson I’ve learnt is that I don’t think I’ve had anybody gyp me for a dollar. People have come in for a haircut and found they have left their wallet at home. But they have always come back and paid the money. I trust people.”
