Today saw the departure from Magnetic Island of Peter Morrison Conway. Peter is a well-known and much-respected Islander who, when Magnetic Times began publishing a paper on Magnetic Island in1997, was one of our first subjects for our very popular Community Close-up articles. In recognition of Pete's departure we have repeated, with minor editing, the original story we ran in our printed publication six years ago.

Community Close-Up: Peter Morrison Conway

In this Community Close-Up we meet Peter Morrison-Conway. Pete is a well known figure around the Rock as he rides his step-through scooter from house to house plying his trade as a mobile hairdresser. His cheery demeanour, skill and experience enable him to putter easily through all the social strata, making a huge range of friends and acquaintances, and being one of those special individuals who really help glue the community together.

It is no secret that Pete is gay. He makes no bones about his sexuality and tells us with considerable amusement that of the four children in his family, three were gay. "As a kid I would always be wanting to play with my sister's dolls as she would be making off my toy trucks."

Born in 1959, Pete comes from the NSW central coast town of Gosford. Pete's first real passion was singing. This continued when his family moved to a village near Mudgee NSW.

Singing at school led Pete to playing Joseph in the school's production of "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" which ended up touring the Western Districts to seel-out performances.

School was unexciting for Pete who, restless by nature, returned to Gosford where he was to discover the next great passion of his life: hairdressing. He couldn't wait to finish school so he didn't. Moving to Melbourne he gained an apprenticeship with Edward Beale, then one of Australia's most prestigious hairdressers. Peter learnt quickly and was soon 'noticed' by another salon who offered better pay if he would finish his apprenticeship with them.

Peter's life in the 1980s was characterised by restless shifting. Leaving Melbourne in 1977 he finished his apprenticeship in Mudgee but needed both country and coast in his life. By the age of 21 he had opened his own shop "The Beauty Box" in Gosford. It was an instant hit and soon there was another, then another.

He was now also winning State and National Hairdressing titles which led him to the World Championships in Las Vegas. The night before the titles he was in a bar when shooting broke out. "Everybody leapt to the floor but, as an Australian, I was transfixed, it was just like a movie" said Pete. Very quickly the room was overrun by a SWAT team but the doorman's head had been blown off by some mafia pals. What really stunned Pete, however, was that, "In a few minutes everybody was carrying on as if nothing had ever happened." The next day's competition was, by comparison, something of an anticlimax.

The 1980s saw the worldwide tragedy of HIV/AIDS emerge and Pete found himself in another sort of firing line. His friends were getting sick and many were dying. "It was like being in your old age and all your mates popping off around you"

The Grim Reaper advertisements appeared on TV scaring his HIV friends horribly, but as Peter recalls, "People just had to get the message fast!"

Hairdressing and conversation go together like scissors and comb and, as Peter was to discover, his talent for the latter could be put to great use, consoling AIDS sufferers.

Selling up on the coast and returning to Mudgee, Pete realised that many country people would never approach their doctor for an HIV test. As a "positive" would have to be reported to other authorities the word would be out, ruining careers and social circles for sufferers over night. Peter began with others to lobby for mobile HIV testing facilities where likely sufferers could retain their privacy. This had to be preferable to allowing HIV to be spread unknowingly. Fortunately the Federal Government was quick to respond and, as is widely recognised, Australia led the world in minimising the spread of HIV.

Peter's life for many years was ruled by two loves: the beach and the bush. He was to move back and forward from the central coast to Mudgee, opening and closing salons as he went. Singing still played a role and his fine second tenor voice was in demand with the nationally based Royal School of Church Music.

In 1991 Peter was invited by his close friend Lesa (Jon) to her 30th birthday party. Getting their involved a little travel however - to Magnetic Island in fact. Not one to miss a good party, Peter obliged. It was a life-changing decision. The party, a Black 'n' Red Ball at the Horseshoe Bay Sports and Rec Club was a knockout. The locals he met were "Just wonderful!" and Pete decided that Magnetic Island wasn't just beautiful and friendly but also where the country, beach and city combined. It was the place he had always been looking for.

Moving up in October 1991, Peter found Islanders from all walks of life surprisingly ready to accept him. Initially planning to just retire for a time Peter's yearning for activity led him first into part-time work at Mexican Munchies (now Man Friday Ed.) where he describes himself as a "waitron".

The call of the clippers could, however, not be resisted. Feeling at home wherever he was on the Island, Peter decided, in 1994, to make his client's homes his salon and so became Magnetic Island's mobile hairdresser.

Reflecting on Island life, Pete feels committed to "Keeping the community one where people still care for each other." He recognises that there are differences of opinion on the Island but feels that, "It's a pity that some people are put down for their views but just don't get acknowledged for the contributions they also make. I'm looking forward to the time when we can better appreciate the many things we hold in common instead of dwelling on our differences."


Epilogue: Since that interview Peter's working career has developed away from hairdressing and being a "waitron". Most significantly Peter moved into a career in the funeral industry where his enormous people skills and sensitivity to people in distress has no doubt been a huge asset to his employers. Peter has also held a part-time position with the Magnetic Island Clinic as a receptionist.

Before his departure however, Magnetic Times caught up to Peter to find out what made him decide to leave Magnetic permanently.

Clearly Magnetic Island's rapid development has been the cause. "The Island has changed. It's not what I came to anymore. I want to go before the high rise start and I don't want to see that. We've been sheltered but that's all changing," says Peter.

When reminded of his comments about the Island having the best of country, beach and city he said, "The people moving to the Island are not country people. The people here were country people with country values. There are more city people now and that's OK but not what I want."

"I don't need to accept the change here. It's a personal decision."

Peter is moving to South Tacoma near Wyong on the NSW central coast and is looking forward to his new home, "On two acres next to the Wyong river."