A former slaughterhouse worker recalls the moment when he realized his carcass-slaughter days were over and decided to follow his true calling as a beauty therapist.
With a long beard and tattoos, father-of-five David Hobman, 43, from Albury on the NSW/Victoria border, now hopes to inspire other men to enter the beauty field and sign up for some much-needed pampering.
After leaving school at the age of 14, the Kiwi ex-pat spent 25 years working in various jobs. These included manual labour, roof tiles, working on construction sites and slaughtering animals in slaughterhouses.
Most recently, Mr. Hobman was a stay-at-home dad until his youngest child started school, leading to serious musings about his future.
David Hobman returned to the classroom in his 40s to retrain as a beauty therapist
“I stood on the doorstep and looked at the world and decided that what I used to do no longer appealed to me,” Mr Hobman told Daily Mail Australia.
‘So I talked to my wife Sarah, who told me that I should spend a year studying whatever would make me happy. ‘
He decided to enroll in a degree in beauty therapy at the local TAFE.
“The thought of massage really appealed to me,” said Mr. Hobman.
“After years of doing odd jobs, my body had suffered a lot over the years.”
“I started it with no idea about facials, body scrubs, mud wraps, and other treatments. Now I love them.’
“By the time I finished, I knew my passion was beauty therapy.”
Smoother skin and hands are not the only benefits.
“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in the workplace,” said Mr. Hobman.
“The door to my previous jobs has completely closed.”
The father-of-five enrolled to study a degree in beauty therapy at Albury TAFE, where he was welcomed by his classmates (pictured together)
He was not deterred from enrolling in a course where all of his classmates were between the ages of 17 and 25.
“I hadn’t been in a class for almost three decades, so it was wonderful to be accepted by everyone, including the teachers,” he said.
“If I hadn’t done it through TAFE, I don’t know if I would have crossed the line.”
Two months ago he scored a job at Endota Spa Albury where he was a huge hit, despite many clients doing a double take when they first met him.
“After many places took a step back when I walked through the door, Endota stepped forward and welcomed me with open arms,” he said.
“I’ve never had a bad experience with a customer.”
He is also the envy of his mates.
“Nobody gave me a hard time, they’re all tired of digging holes all day in the heat and rain,” he said.
David Hobman is a big hit with colleagues and clients in his new workplace
The mid-life career change inspired Mr. Hobman to become an advocate for male indulgence.
“More men should take care of themselves, especially the craftsmen and workers,” he said.
“I feel like a lot of men lack the experience.”
‘If there’s anyone who needs beauty treatments, it’s the guys. They have one body for the rest of their lives.’
He also hopes to encourage men to enter the beauty field and says there are similarities to using tools.
“As a beautician you have to work carefully, just as you would with handicrafts,” he said.
“Men who work with knives and hammers every day have skills they need.”
David Hobman (left) hopes to inspire other men to take care of themselves and indulge