Fresh off the boat into job of a lifetime
AT 27, as Jean Slobbe pulled into the dock in Wellington after a sixweek journey from England on board the Captain Cook, she was told to appear for work at Kirkcaldie & Stains the following day.
As she had worked for Boots chemists in England, immigration officials had arranged for her to take up a position on a makeup counter at the Wellington department store.
‘‘We had six weeks on the sea so there was time to get yourself ready for working. When we arrived as immigrants we never really knew where we were going to be [working].’’
Fifty-five years later, Slobbe is still selling cosmetics and hair products at the Lambton Quay store.
The 82-year-old recalls the department store being ‘‘stately’’ in the late 1950s.
‘‘It was kind of gracious for a department store, like a grand old lady.’’
Soon she was promoted to buyer for the then-large haberdashery department.
‘‘In those days everybody sewed, everyone made their own clothes. It was where the Mac counter is now.’’
During the 1960s, Slobbe took a break as she had two sons and a daughter, but as soon as they were all at primary school she returned to Kirks part-time, where she worked on the Helena Rubinstein, Mary Quant and Max Factor cosmetics counters.
Slobbe is also a keen thespian, having acted in England as well as with the Khandallah Arts Theatre where she has shared the stage, with Phillip Leishman and Peter Hambleton. And she helps out behind the scenes, including working in makeup when the amateur theatre company is performing pantomime.
Most recently she starred in the comedy show Nana’s Naughty Knickers, with the New Players Theatre Company.
Slobbe says she loves having the chance to be somebody else.
‘‘I’ve always lived in a bit of a fantasy world. In the war years growing up with air raids, and being the oldest of 10 children, we’d act out Great Expectations and sing and dance.’’
She says she never expected to remain at Kirks for so long.
‘‘I never even think about it, I just keep coming and I really enjoy it.
‘‘It’s quite good having an older person because lots of older ladies feel threatened by the lovely young girls and don’t want to approach them about wrinkles or hairs on their chin.’’
She has served generations of Wellington shoppers.
‘‘Lots of young mothers come in with their babies and they have grown up and now they come in with their babies. It’s lovely; they’re like my children, really.’’
Slobbe says more and more younger people are now shopping there. ‘‘People used to think it was more stately but we’re getting more young people now.’’