Cheryle Johnson doing what she loves. 83078 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By VANESSA CHIRCOP
CHERYLE Johnson has been cutting hair in Altona for 50 years.
Opening Cheryle’s Shoppe when she was just 16 years old, Cheryle’s hair salon is now one of the oldest businesses on Pier St, with Cheryle becoming just as iconic as her shop.
“I was just a bambino (when the shop opened),” she joked.
“That’s called cruelty to children now.”
Cheryle said she never thought 50 years later she would still be open and cutting the hair of some of the very first clients served.
“I just love it and couldn’t let it go,” she said.
Borrowing some money from her parents, Cheryle said she credited their supportiveness for giving her a head start in her career.
“I knew I would be able to get the money back to them – they were very supportive.”
Despite now being a sprite 65, Cheryle said she had no plans to retire.
“What would I do if I retired?”
“It’s been an amazing journey.
“A lot of wonderful people come into your life and I still have a few clients I’ve been looking after since I was 16.”
Cheryle can even boast cutting and styling the hair of Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
“She wasn’t Prime Minister at the time, but we did look after her for a little while.”
The Altona resident said running the shop didn’t feel like work because she was so passionate about it.
“I always say to girls, a job like this is a passion, you’ve got to love it to do it.”
