b"20 FEBRUARY 24, 2023 The Great Eastern MailJames leaves permanent$1.3 Million mark in Orbost for East AMES Brown has beenand a tattoo. To me, classic old schoolGippsland J immortalising memories in thetattoo studios are special places, full skins of tattoo-lovers for 36 years.of history and many a story! Rail TrailHis business, Splash of Color Tattoo,James most memorable tattoo is is now a thriving business, located inthe work he did on Lucky Diamond Nicholson Street in Orbost. Rich (who eventually became theE AST Gippsland Rail Trail will James did his first tattoo onworlds most tattooed man). Minebe further upgraded with himself, at the age of 11. It was thewas the tattoo that started him off onfunding from the final round initials of his first girlfriend, and hehis tattoo journey, he says.of the black summer bushfires Local put it where his watchband sits, so hisIt never fails to amaze me howEconomic Recovery Program.parents couldn't see it. My addictionfar people will travel to come toLocal MP Darren Chester said began early. I would spend all mythe studio. I have customers from$1.3 million of funding would pocket money on stick-on tattoosall around the worldthe CEO ofcomplement upgrades works already and thought I was so cool wearingHertz Car Rentals in Switzerland, forcompleted and underway on the trail.them. example, has been coming to me forThe East Gippsland Rail Trail I always wanted to be two thingsher tattoos for over 20 years! Manyhas been transformed over the last in life: acustomerscouple of years with an improved soldiercometrail surface and culvert works, major andup fromdrainage upgrades, erosion control, tattooist.Melbournebridge upgrades and the installation So, afterand stay aof new drink stations, Mr Chester six yearsfew days tosaid.full-timeenjoy ourThe trail from Bairnsdale to servicewonderfulOrbost attracts visitors to our region in thesurrounds,and these improvements will Australianas doattract even more cyclists, runners Army,customersand walkers and boost the visitor tattooingfrom alleconomy.was thearound theWell done the volunteer first thingdistrict committee and its supporters I ranTraralgon,over the years for advocating for towardsOmeo,this important project and the upon getting out of the DefenceCanberra and everywhere intransformation that has taken place.Force. between! Our weekends are bookedThe Local Economic Recovery James tattoo apprenticeshipquite far in advance. Program is a joint Federal-State started in 1987 in a Thornbury studioWorking alongside James is hisgovernment initiative announced alongside the famous Inky Rickthird-year tattoo apprentice, Sineadafter the Black Summer bushfires.Ambrose. He then spent time withMacDonell. And recently, James John Entwistle in Richmond, whereexpanded his premises to include he refined his skill and got moreThe Outback Barber Shop, which business savvy. In December 1989,is an offering hes quick to clarifywere traditionally co-locatedplace where blokes can come along he opened Splash of Color Tattoo inas being out the back in a separatebecause theyre two businesses thatin their dirty work clothes after a hard Ascot Vale, and hes been tattooingbuilding behind the tattoo shop,complement each other. As such,days work, and get a great hair cut in professionally ever since. Art hasrather than being in the outback ofJames and his wife Sally actuallyair-conditioned comfort! Of course, always been something that I reallyAustralia! purpose-built the barber shop,ladies who want a basic hair cut are enjoyed and I feel so blessed to haveThe town really needed a barberlong before they hired Chloe. Itmore than welcome too! been able to make it my lifetimesshop, James says. A 180km-roundwas a 'build it and they shall comeThe Outback Barber is open work.trip to Bairnsdale for a hair cut in ascenario! he explains. Mondays and Fridays plus one After 11 years in Ascot Vale, Jamesbarber shop was a very expensiveOriginally a dilapidated old brickSaturday per month. Prices start moved to a studio in Rye, where heday out, and with fuel being theworkshop that hadn't been occupiedfrom $20 and pensioner rates are spent the following 15 years beforeprice it iswell, it makes that tripfor decades, the Outback Barberavailable.semi-retiring to Metung. There, heimpossible and unaffordable forproved to be a hell of a task bringingSplash of Color Tattoo is open opened up the worlds first Tattoosome people. it back to life and having it fit forWednesdays to Saturdays from B&B. It was a wonderful lakesideOrbost-born and bred Chloepurpose, says James. Like any build,10am to 5pm, with after hours and property and a great business, but inKenny is on the tools in the Barberyou hope it will fall within budget; butprivate bookings are also available Metung I felt I was a round peg in aShop, as shes a qualified hairdresseras often happens with old buildings,on Sundays, for an additional charge. very square hole and so only lastedand mens barber with more than 20once you scratch the surface you canTypically, a tattoo can cost anywhere a couple of years. I also very muchyears experience. soon find out that your budget needsfrom $100 to thousands depending missed having a street shop whereIn the early days of the industry,an overhaul! But we got there in theon the size and level of detailLocal MP Darren Chester said $1.3 million of funding would complement upgrade people can simply drop in for a chatbarber shops and tattoo studiosend, and now we now have a localrequired.works along the East Gippsland Rail Trail.service directory | local experts at your fingertipsFor all your garage door needs in East GippslandWE COME TO YOU!www.dynamicwindows.com.au(03) 5152 8500NEW HOMES AND RENOVATIONSNHEAD OFFICE SERVICING AND INSTALLATIONS82 FORGE CREEK ROADFREE QUOTES & EXPERT ADVICE SHOWROOM BAIRNSDALE OPEN TUESDAY Bairnsdale & District Garage Doors & THURSDAY \x03\x0f\x0e\x0c\x06\x06\x0b\x11 7 Collins Street, Bairnsdale | 5153 2239\x03\x0f\x0e\x0c\x06\x06\x0b\x11\x05\x10\x0b\x08\x07\x02\x11\x04\x06\x07\x08\x01\x11 9.30AM - 4PM\x01\x13\x15\x05\x02\x0f\x06\x1d\x01\x15\x03\x0b\x17\x06\x03\x19\x0f\x1d\x1b\x0b\x11\x04\x13\x1b\x16\x1d\x01\x12\x1d\x04\x13\x13\x15\x16\x1d\x13\x15\x1d\x1c\x1a\x1d\x15\x08\x07\x18\x0f\x1d\x13\x15\x1d\x03\x13\x10\x03\x0c\x0f\x1d\x14\x15\x13\x0e\x03\x17\x1d All enquiries, phone David 0412 516 433 | Monday to Friday"