| the local paper, Young, NSW, Australia | circa 16 July 1987 | Leslie James Aspland had an obituary appear in the local paper, Young, NSW, Australia, circa 16 July 1987 as follows:
One of the district's oldest and likeable residents passed away last month.
He was Leslie James Aspland better known as Les, to his many friends.
He was born at Camperdown in Victoria on APRIL 9th, 1890 and passed away in July at 97 years of age.
After working as a painter with his Father and Brother, Les came to Cootamundra around 1910 to act as best man at a wedding in town, and liked Cootamundra, so he stayed and secured a job as a coach painter.
While in Cootamundra he married Phyllis Mutch, and purchased a barbers shop, learned the trade and conducted this business until he purchased a 550 acre farm near Brawlin.
After 3 years on the farm he came to Young in 1921 and opened a barbers' shop on the present site of COLES store in Boorowa Street.
He later moved into the Great Eastern Hotel building, (now the Cherry Blossom Florist) and continued his business until 1954.
He had many friends who used to call into his shop just to say hello and have a yarn.
One of his closest friends was the late Sid Briggs who also conducted a hairdressing business in the town at the same time. They shared many hours together in their later years swapping stories and recalling their early days. Some recollections at the time were;
- Customers paying 6d for a shave, and 9d for a haircut.
- A 2oz. packet of tobacco was 9d.
- A packet of cigarettes was 3d , or 5 packets for one shilling.
Les had a liking for gardening and this hobby became part of his business, as he used to sell many of the plants he grew through his barbers shop. This hobby filled many happy hours when he retired from business.
He had a capacity for making friends, and many of these friendships he maintained by writing, and other means, almost until the day he passed away.
At 96 years of age he must have been one of the oldest to receive a Citizenship Award at the Australia Day Celebrations.
His "CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION" hung proudly in his room at Mount St. Joseph's Home where he was very well liked and respected, by those who came in contact with him.
Les and his wife, who predeceased him, had four children ;
Gwen Brown (Young)
Audrey Mote (Bowral)
Mona Dwyer (Young)
and son Raymond (Mick) of (Young)
A good innings by a fine man. |
OZIGEN - Australian Genealogy
