Country Barbers

We’ve heard about gun shearers and ringers of renown

in many city suburbs and the old bush country town,

Now, I would like to set the scene to something rather rare

and tell you about the Confoy twins, who thrived on cutting hair.

Not too far from Wagga, twenty three odd miles,

Jack and Harry Confoy began their cutting styles.

They learnt from trimming Diggers each time they’d need a lop

and took their skills to Coolamon to start a Barber Shop.

I recall the nineteen fifties when I was just a lad,

the townships finest barbers and the haircuts that I had.

Determined by the current trends, what cut I’d like to trial,

flat on top and square at back, I’d have it Confoy style.

There are many local townsfolk, I’m sure agree with me,

the Crockers and the Munroes and John and George Tokley.

The Muttons and the Iverachs, Ken Sheather and his boy,

have all received a haircut by H and J Confoy.

The old time railway fettlers, McDougal, Lyons and crew

gathered at the barber shop every month or two.

Tom Burke and old Bill Hugler and many, many more,

have often sat and waited inside the Barbers door.

Now it’s nineteen ninety, the Barber shops still there

and Jack and Harry Confoy, still are cutting hair.

They may be old and feeble but still can laugh and smile

cause lots of hair ‘round Coolamon was cut in Confoy style.

Copyright © M C Lyons

Sadly Harry passed away, August 2000.( Lest We Forget )