For three decades, a well-loved local hairdresser has been snipping, styling, and shaping the looks of Nambour’s residents. This month marks a significant milestone for Rhonda Billett, the owner of Uptown Hair Studio, as she celebrates 30 years of full-time hairdressing in Nambour. 

Rhonda’s journey began in December 1994 at the Stefan Salon in Nambour Plaza shopping centre, where she honed her skills for five years before founding Uptown Hair Studio in July 1999.

“I can’t believe it’s been 30 years already. It feels like just yesterday when I started at Stefan Hair Fashions,” she said. “Stefan was an amazing leader, role model and mentor to me.  I’d meet with him nearly every week in Brisbane Head Office with other apprentices and then as a manager and those early years were crucial in shaping my career and passion for hairdressing.  I was only looking back on my initial welcome to employment letter earlier this week and the award wage before tax was $164 back then, it certainly is something special to look back on.  I’m so glad I was given a position working in Nambour back then, I just love it here.”  

“Working at Stefan Hair Fashions personally gave me the foundation and confidence to push myself and to start my own business. When Stefan made the decision to leave Nambour during the Nambour Plaza renovations in 1999, I made the decision to stay on in Nambour and look after my amazing customers, working in other Coastal stores just did not interest me.”  

Uptown Hair Studio recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, a testament to Rhonda’s dedication and adaptability in the ever-changing business landscape. “When we started Uptown, the business environment was so different. We had no GST, cheque books were common, and hair colour options were limited. We’ve had to adapt to the local economic climate and customer needs continuously,” Rhonda said.

Rhonda’s commitment to Nambour extends beyond her salon. She is an active promoter of the town, working with the “I am Nambour” and “Nambour Tram Co” teams and collaborating with the council to boost business and tourism. “Nambour is more than just a location; it’s a community I deeply care about and strive to support in every way possible, I love giving back to a community that has given so very, very much to me over the last 30 years,” she said.

Rhonda remains passionate about providing opportunities for young stylists and helping them grow in their careers. “There is nothing more rewarding than giving opportunities to emerging hair stylists who are eager to learn,” she said.

“Over the last 30 years, I’ve had some amazing staff go onto do some big things in our industry and I love that. I’ve also had my hands in a lot of heads of hair too and while I have certainly not always gotten things right all the time in business, I have always believed in having a go and helping people look good and feel great about themselves and as a hairdresser. I get to do that every day, it’s fun and it’s a privilege”.