Marcela Lastra
“to stand out from the crowd you have to make certain sacrifices”
Marcela Lastra
Country of origin: Chile.
Occupation: Owner and Creative Director at Longko Salon. State of Residency: SA. Favourite place in Australia: Adelaide. Upon arrival: Surprised by the green open spaces. Photo by Tony Lewis In Daily.
By Cristina Abela
Marcela is the Owner and Creative Director at Longko Salon in Adelaide. She is also a community hairdressing advocate and for her services to the community she is the recipient of the 2019 Rotary Club Vocational Award, the 2019 Zonta International Woman of Excellence Award and the City of Salisbury Citizen of the Year 2019 Award. Some of her contributions include: Employing several people through her business (including people with a refugee background); working as a community hairdressing advocate by providing free haircuts for women in domestic violence shelters and homeless men’s shelters hospitals; volunteering at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where she attends to some of the most vulnerable people in the ICU and spinal wards and teaching a hair-cutting program in the slums of Manila.
TELL US YOUR STORY
In 1986 life in post war Chile was not good. My parents wanted to give us (me and my 3 siblings) the opportunity to have a better life. We first arrived to Hobart, Tasmania as we had an uncle who had migrated there in the 70’s. A job transfer saw my uncle move to Adelaide a year after we arrived, so we packed up once again and moved to Adelaide. Even though I was only five years old at the time, I remember life as a migrant family was a tough start. We had no English, no furniture, and no contacts in Adelaide. We lived in a hotel on Hindley street for the first few weeks and then moved to a predominately migrant suburb called Campbelltown. This made going through primary and high school life far easier as we were surrounded by families who had lived through the same experiences as we were living.
I attended University, studying a Social Science degree, and had a part-time job as a shampoo girl in a salon from the age of 14. The passion for creativity saw me leave my degree and start my hairdressing apprenticeship. This caused a lot of disappointment to my parents as they had hoped that I would achieve a University degree. I promised my mother that I would make her proud and achieve above and beyond as a hairdresser. Upon completion of my apprenticeship I was fortunate to meet my husband, William, who also migrated from Chile with his family in 1985. We married and had two boys. Now Carlito is 10, and Santiago 8.
Marcela and her team preparing a bride. Photo by Ky Luu
We tried to create a work life balance by opening our own business. This started in my home, a garage with one mirror and one stool. With the help of both grandmothers I was fortunate enough to work and have my kids at home so I could provide the upbringing they would have had back home. As, the business grew, we needed to move out of the home and rented a commercial building. Along with the new responsibilities came a new apprentice for the salon: a fellow Latina, Daniela who’s family had migrated from Bolivia. Her introduction into the salon was seamless, as we shared cultural beliefs; this made life easier. New clients kept coming in and this required more space. So, in 2016, we moved from the tiny salon I thought I would never move. We took the plunge and purchased a commercial property that would see us develop into what we now know as Longko Salon. The salon has an amazing community feel, I employ 6 people, one of whom is a Syrian Refugee. It has allowed me to develop my personal style as a stylist and business owner.
After winning a competition for Hair Aid, I was offered the position of South Australian Ambassador which I held for 4 years. My role included travelling to the slums in Manila to teach people a livelihood skill, and cutting hair for various communities in need throughout Adelaide. I have now chosen to continue to do this as an independent community hairdressing advocate in the community. I work as volunteer hairdresser at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where I attend to some of the most vulnerable people in the ICU and spinal wards. The joy I receive from this position is unmeasurable. It’s a humbling experience that often finds me working with other migrants, which gives me an opportunity to give back to my community and share my migration story with them. This year I was awarded the City Of Salisbury Citizen of the Year award for my contribution to the community. I had told my mum that I would make her proud as a hairdresser. For the sacrifice she made to bring us all here I accepted my award in her honour.
CHALLENGES
Not understanding or being understood - There have been many challenges my family had to endure coming to Australia. However, arriving in Australia without the language was perhaps the most difficult. There were times teachers just simply did not understand what I was asking. Even though I was a young child starting school, I still remember the frustration I felt at not being able to explain myself. For example, for shared food day at school my food wasn’t shared because the teachers did not understand what it was.
Roots and Culture - Living within the two cultures has always posed a challenge: Not Latin enough to be Latin and not Australian enough to be Australian. I identify myself as Latina as I was culturally raised at home as Hispanic and I speak fluent Spanish. However, having migrated at such a young age, people make the assumption that I have lost my ethnicity and my language because I have lived here most of my life and speak fluent English.
Growing up rules - Growing up in a household with strict catholic practices and then living on the outside world in a very liberal and free Australia was challenging. As a child I often experienced frustration for not being allowed to attend school camps, sleep overs with friends and or birthday parties at friends’ houses. This “rules” were especially more applicable to my sister and I being young females.
CONTRASTS
Marcela with her two sons. Photo by Daily Adelaide.
Parenting styles - Being raised with a Latino culture is very different to the Australian culture. In contrast to Australian families where parents become your equal and your friends, we were always taught that the parents in the household are the holy grail. The family values we were bought up with were of an extremely high level of respect for our parents. Even after turning 18, when friends were freely making decisions about their progress through life we were still expected to consult every decision with our parents whom would ultimately make the final decisions.
Raising a family - Although I came here at a very young age, we were raised in a household that saw us upholding the values of our hometown; which are very different to Australian values. In fact family from Chile has pointed out at us we are still living in the 1980’s family style; that we haven’t progressed in the forward way of thinking that is now adopted in Chile. This makes me laugh as I’m aware of this. However, the yearning that we have to uphold our culture, despite the years we have lived here, sees us holding onto our identity as Chileans. It makes me proud when people identify that I’m Chilean. Because I am. I was born there and raised that way.
Resilience - The value that has helped us to best settle here in Australia has been that of a “luchadora” (fighter) or how my husband likes to describe “hustler”. That instinct of survival and perseverance. Some Australians have never had experienced the need to survive. I grow up with hearing my parents telling us: “we didn’t come all this way, loose everything, start again, and leave our family behind, for you all to not make the most from the sacrifice we’ve made”. I must of heard that line a million times growing up; and has most definitely inspired me to achieve all things that I have. To make the sacrifice worth it.
PIECE OF ADVICE
Be prepared to work hard - Australia is the land of opportunity if you are prepared to work for it. I sometimes wonder if I should be considered successful, but in saying this, I know that I have achieved so much as a migrant. There is a misconception that things are easier here; however, you need to be prepared to look for the opportunities and to start from the bottom to work your way up. To achieve success one must be willing to say “yes” to everything! I have been in many situations where I’ve been asked to do things and in no way am qualified but have always said yes. It may take some time, but if you are persistent and resourceful you will succeed.
Challenge stereotypes - I work many long hours and am prepared to travel for work. Being a mother and a wife whom is married to a Latino has seen me questioning myself if I should be doing these things. Should I prioritize my job? Should I stay home and be the proper Latino wife? This kind of attitude will you get frustrated. Our cultural stereotypes of what is a “mother” and how a “women should be”, have to take a back seat. Will you be judged? Absolutely! Will you feel isolated and lonely? Undoubtedly! But, to stand out from the crowd you have to make certain sacrifices. Those closest and truly supportive of you will be proud and understand your decisions.
Keep going! – That is my advice for someone struggling in their migration journey. From all my travel abroad, especially to the slums of Manila, I have seen what real adversity is all about. You are already here! Which way do you go now? Back home to the safe zone? You left your home in search of something new, so keep going. Nothing in life comes easy. As my parents always told me: “haz que el sacrificio valga la pena (Make the sacrifice worth it)”.
The energetic Lonko salon team. Photo by Media Inc. Adelaide.
In the next few years …
Marcela sees herself continuing to raise her beautiful boys, running her salon and inspiring others to become talented hairdressers. She loves her work as a community hairdressing advocate so she will continue doing as many free haircuts to the community as possible. She is also going to enter into a mentor lecturer position to inspire other young hairdressers. She will spread the word to other young migrants and also inspire women especially, to believe in themselves, to invest in their success and to be courageous in their fight for success.