Few men who grew up in Berwick would not have been to Les Jones for a haircut. His barbershop in High Street is as much a part of Berwick as its famous oak trees.
Les moved to Berwick from Heyfield after he and his fiancee Kay Williamson, of Denison, bought the High Street business.
They took over the shop on 2 January 1968, married in the March, and moved to the area to make a new home.
This was a new era for the two young people who had grown up in the East Gippsland region to become leaders in sport and their communities.
Les recalls that the first person to walk into his new shop did not want a hair cut, but invited him to play basketball.
“This was the start of many friendships for us,” he said.
The Joneses are still sporting people and strong members of the Pakenham Golf Club.
Les was born at Maffra, educated at Heyfield State School and the Sale Technical School.
He began his apprenticeship at age 16 with Heyfield barber Norm Charles.
“I had the choice of becoming a barber or going into the bank,” he says.
When he was 17 Norm’s soninlaw in Geelong became ill and Les was asked to spend three months running his shop.
Already people who counted were showing confidence in this young guy and it was Norm who told him about the business in Berwick.
While on their way to Melbourne to buy an engagement ring they looked at the Berwick shop and at 21 Les took a big gamble that paid off.
They bought a home, Kay went to work as a receptionist for Dr Noel Stephenson and their daughter, Kelly, came along in January 1971.
Dean followed in 1973 to set up a nice family life for the couple.
“Our children each have a boy and a girl and I can say that having grandchildren is the best thing in our lives,” Les said.
But sport and community also remained a big part in their lives, except that golf took over from basketball.
Les was a member of the Montuna Golf Club for 30 years, captain for three years, president for two, and a club champion.
He was a Rotarian for several years, but decided to resign because of business pressures when he extended the shop.
“We extended the shop in 1975 and Kay came to work with me.
“We worked together for years.”
He jokingly said that when computers came Kay went.
“We enjoyed working together and after 38 years, I would get married again tomorrow, provided it was to the same girl.”
During 1984 they made another big change in their lives by selling their Narre Warren property to buy three acres at Pakenham.
They joined the Pakenham Golf Club and Les became a life member of that club.
“From my aspect I can say that I am lucky to have a wife who also loves her golf,” he says. “Kay is very involved in the club has twice been lady captain.”
Les says he is lucky to have had great employees over the years and has often said that the best move he made in the business was to employ female barbers.
They dressed up the shop last month to help celebrate his 60th birthday.
He said that it was unusual for a barber to take on female hairdressers when he employed his first girl, but now has three female staff members.
Business aside, it doesn’t take much to get Les started on golf.
“It’s a big part of our lives, and we love to get up to the Murray and to our holiday house at Lakes Entrance for a game of golf.
“Our son is also a good golfer and plays off eight.
“He was on four before he got married.”
Les and Dean have won the West Gippsland B grade championship in a fatherson team.
He sees Berwick as still the old Berwick despite the development.
“To us it is still good old Berwick,” he says.
He is the longestserving businessman in Berwick and looks forward to his 40th anniversary in business.
His longest holiday is 10 days. “I was ill at one stage, but my staff got us through that.
“I would have been in real trouble without them, but my health is back to 100 per cent,” he said.
