A one-metre-high number “50” glows underneath a shower of balloons at Bentleys Hair of Canberra in Jamison, heralding its 50^th birthday – but it wasn’t the decorations and cake that marked the occasion, it was the guest list (one client’s been coming here for 47 years).

Handing out tea and cake was Elizabeth Gehrt, who’s known June since 1977, just three years after June opened her salon. One gets the feeling that clients are much more than customers and Bentleys owner June Irving even brought out her fine china for the occasion.

“There’s always a buzz going on in the salon and it buoys me up and gets me ready for the weekend,” said Elizabeth, who comes in for a shampoo and set every Friday. “Just coming in the salon makes you feel better and ready to face the week.”

Bentleys regulars seem to measure their loyalty in decades, such as Clint Wright, who’s been a customer for 20 years.

“June’s very generous and if I get a number two haircut, she’ll often give it to me for nothing,” Clint said. “She sometimes gets her trainees to do my hair and it’s good for them and good for me, it works out well.

“June always keeps in touch with people to check on their wellbeing. She looks after people who can’t afford to come, maybe people who are home-ridden, she’ll take care of them.”

Another customer enjoying the party was Robyn Bryant, who came to Bentleys two years ago during a difficult time and was greeted with a warm hug on her first visit. 

“I think I’m rusted on now,“ Robyn said. “June greeted me with the greatest big hug, she’s lovely, sensitive and professional – by gee this place is run like a tight ship.”

Later in the day, music played, and staff danced around after indulging in cake that dripped with pink icing, edible flowers and Macarons.   

Owner June – who’s just a country kid from Cooma with a passion for fashion – wrapped up her 50^th year at Bentleys by indulging in some fancy vol-au-vents.  

Hairdressing was always on the cards for June, who has been passionate about hair from age 10.

“I got my opportunity in hairdressing, securing a position in what was called ‘the Mop Shop’ in Jamison Centre,” June said. “I was ambitious and from the start worked there with the intention of buying the salon.”

“I saved and saved and worked with a lovely accountant – I still do his daughter’s hair all these years later. I would meet regularly with my accountant and ask if I could buy it yet, and his answer was almost always, ‘No, not yet.’ Then one day, he told me to go for it, and that’s what I did. I managed to buy it when I was just newly qualified.”

Back in 1974, Bentleys had humble beginnings with only three staff. Today, Bentleys of Canberra has eight salons and 45 staff, which June is in partnership with as a half-share owner.

“My salon owner-partners have, over the years, mostly been my own trained apprentices and I finance quite a few of them to open their own businesses,” June said. “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done, not only from a financial point of view, but from a satisfaction and adding-value point of view. It’s great to be able to help change lives. I love supporting my former staff and helping them to succeed.”

Somehow, June still finds time to offer first-year apprentice courses – and go to the gym three days a week. As she says, “A healthy mind and healthy body are the secrets to happiness”.

“Owning salons involves long hours and hard work,” she said. “At the end of the day, the way I see it, work/life balance doesn’t matter as much if you love what you do every day.

“I have to confess that it’s good to have another passion, and I do – fast cars. I have a big V8 Holden Calais – a way of letting my hair down. There’s a bit of ‘Thelma and Louise’ in me.”

The 50^th birthday celebration is one way to gauge success, but June also measures triumph by the number of people re-booking appointments.

“It’s about people walking through our front door and leaving happy,” she said. “That makes my day.”

Bentleys Hair of Canberra is located at 3/9 Jamison Centre, Macquarie. For appointments, please call 6251 2681.

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