Twice a year a group of women from across the country meet in a Oatley cafe and share memories from more than 40 years ago.
The women all met as teens while working at the Thorburn hair salons at Hurstville and Rockdale.
Now aged in their 60s, 70s and even 90s they still make the time to meet at the Edmunds and Greed cafe.
Denise Dunn now lives in North Sydney but still makes the trip across the bridge to catch up with old friends.
‘’Initially we met for dinner but as the years went by we needed more time to catch up with everyone so we moved to lunch,’’ she said.
‘’Now we meet at 11am for coffee which extends into lunch then afternoon tea.
‘’We have supported one another through good and bad times and there have been tears of joy and sadness. Now it is laughter you hear when we get together.’’
Mrs Dunn said the group of around 10 women initially met as trainee hairdressers at the St George salons; many starting at just 15.
‘’We were up to mischief so it was a lot of fun,’’ she said.
‘’We worked hard but the boss took us out for boat rides and to dinner.
‘’When it closed we decided to continue it.’’
There is one particularly story that still makes her laugh.
‘’Our shop was near a feed shop that had closed and when they opened the doors there were so many mice and rats,’’ she said.
‘’One Monday morning we came in to a funny smell and realised there was a rat in the air vent.
‘’We picked the skinniest girl who had to crawl in and get it out.’’
She said when they catch up it’s like no time has past.
‘’When we catch up there’s a lot of fun,’’ she said.
‘’It’s pretty amazing to think we’re all still together.’’
