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100 Reasons to Celebrate

on Friday, March 27, 2015

In today's society, it is not very unusual for women to travel for study or to start their own business, but when Connie Hayter left her rural upbringing for the bustling streets of Sydney 80 years ago, she was one of a kind.

A much loved resident of Seasons Aged Care Kallangur, Connie was born on February 25, 1915 and recently celebrated her 100th birthday.

She was just 20 when she left the sheep farm where she was raised on the western slopes of the New England Tablelands, to study hairdressing in 1935.

She then returned home to start her own business, running a salon as well as offering a mobile hairdressing service.

“Mum was a real trailblazer,” her son Greg Hayter of Petrie said.

“In 1935, for a single woman to travel to Sydney to study was virtually unheard of.

“Then to set up a business as a single woman was virtually unheard of.”

Greg said his mum travelled to different towns by bus and stayed for up to six weeks offering hair cuts and perms on the veranda of the local pub.

She often worked from 6am until 8pm as word spread that she was there.

She moved to Wavell Heights in the 1950s with her husband Jack Hayter, a prawn trawler.

They raised their three sons in Brisbane and despite Jack passing in 2000, she remained in the family home until 2011, aged 95.

To celebrate turning 100, Mrs Hayter travelled with her family, including her three sons and four grandchildren, back to her home town.

“Mum said she will still be here when she is 110,” Greg said.

“We already have another trip booked for October.”
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