Tayte cuts to the chase

LOUISA RUST

Oak Flats resident Tayte O’Connor knew she wanted to be a hairdresser from the time she was a child.

Her intuition obviously paid off – the 19-year-old winning a prize at her TAFE hairdressing graduation ceremony last Wednesday night.

The former Oak Flats High School student recently completed a two-year hairdressing course at West Wollongong TAFE, and is currently in her third year of an apprenticeship.

At the graduation ceremony, Ms O’Connor was awarded the University of Wollongong Morton Bay Fig – Paul Elchaar Encouragement Award for showing the most creativity of her graduating class of 60 students.

“I didn’t expect it – I didn’t even know I was nominated,” Ms O’Connor said. “I have a lot (of hairdressers) in the family. I’ve always been around it and I never thought of doing anything else.

“It’s a result of hard work and a good work environment. If you enjoy where you work it makes you want to do better.”

Ms O’Connor has spent the last nine months of her apprenticeship working at Rachel’s Hair For U, in Warilla. Rachel Griesahn, owner of the salon, described her apprentice as “a dream”.

“She’s a very fast learner – I couldn’t find a better apprentice,” she said. “She has actually taught me a few things.”