We are thrilled to share the news that industry great Sharon Blain has been awarded the prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia. The Order of Australia is the highest recognition for outstanding achievement and service. The Honours and Awards system is 100 per cent nomination based and all recipients have been nominated by their peers.
The Medal of the Order of Australia is awarded for service worthy of particular recognition, and Sharon accepted with the utmost gratitude.Sharon said, “Today, I’m proud to share some amazing news. I have been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for my service to the Hair Industry in the Australia Day Honours List.”
“Words are difficult to find to express my gratitude and pride. Having won hundreds of hairdressing and business awards throughout my career, this award is by far my greatest achievement. I’m ecstatic,” she said.
Sharon has left a remarkable imprint across the industry with accolades dating back to the 80s, as a multi-salon owner for 36 years, with salons such as the Art of Hair Salons in Beecroft and Breakfast Point and Frizzy Lizzy Hair Factory in Griffith. Sharon has represented Australia three times in the World Supreme Styling Competition Championships in New York for the International Hairstylists Society Australia from 1987 to 1989. In 1992, one of Sharon’s proudest moments was when she travelled to Japan to coach and mentor for the Australian Hairdressing World Cup Team and they went on to win the Oceania region of the world in both the senior and junior categories.
Today, Sharon continues to be a coach and mentor to thousands of hairdressers, salons, teams and brands worldwide and is also a founding Member in 2010 of the Australian Hairdressing Council (AHC), which is an industry register that recognises, promotes, and stands for qualified, professional hairdressers.
Sharon has also helped grow young talent as part of Hair Expo’s GenNext Project from 2012 and founded the Vidal Sassoon Scholarship Award in 2013 aimed at young apprenticeships and newly qualified hairdressers. In 2015, Sharon worked to develop the educational content for the Pivot Point International Salonability worldwide training, which continues to focus on the development of commercial long hair styling and has been translated into multiple languages worldwide.
“I love my craft. It has rewarded me for 56 years. Giving back is not only a privilege but I see it as my duty. My life is richer for giving and this award is indeed a wonderful gift to receive,” Sharon said.
She continues to ignite passion in the hearts of our future generations of hairstylists, and founded THE CRAFT in 2018 – an organisation dedicated to re-imagining Australia’s Hair Apprenticeship Training Certificates.
We can’t wait to see what she will achieve next in her ever-evolving and thriving career in the hair industry. Congratulations Sharon on this incredible achievement!
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