Profile For Ron Syle

Moving to Queensland, from Victoria in 1963, at the ripe old age of eight, Starting a new school every 6 - 8 months, I had the unique, opportunity of meeting a large spectrum of people that I would not have normally met. This travel bug came to an end in Cairns, around 1966, at this stage of my life I had realized that I had an ability with Art, but still had no idea as to what I might do with my new found ability. After living in Cairns for a couple of years, moving from School to school, my father had gone to Weipa, in the far Nth, of Cape York, Queensland, so eventually, we were destined to be on the move once again, as my father had landed a job with Comalco which would make him eligible for a Co. House, in Weipa. And move we did, after finding out that there was, only a primary school, and the secondary high school was just finished, so I ended up at the Townsville Grammar School as a boarder, it was at boarding school that I started showing a real interest in the arts and had started drawing pictures on myself and a few mates, with felt pens of course, as I don't think the school principal would have been to impressed.
After a few visits into the main street of Townsville, I had seen a couple of people with Tattoos on their arms, and thought to myself wow, and I could see myself getting a couple of those, but that was not going to happen for quite sometime to come. As after I had finished Boarding School, I would return to Weipa.
Back in Weipa, I got a casual job with a French Company, called Dumez, I worked on a couple Major Constructions, like the Bridge across the Mission River, leading to the Mine that would become Andoom Mine, and the Heavy equipment Wharf at, it was on these Construction sites, that I came across a lot more people, who were covered in Tattoos, and wanted one myself, but it was still a way off at this stage of my Life. As I was accepted into the Royal Australian Navy, in the April of 1971, so the travel was about to start again, and was on my way down the East Coast of Australia to Melbourne and then across to Fremantle in Western Australia, at H.M.A.S. Leeuwin, it was here that I would come across a lot more people with Tattoos, but it was still a long way off me getting a Tattoo, as I only stayed there for about six months, and returned to Cairns, And never went back to Weipa, until later on in life.
Living in Cairns, I came across a Tattooist by the name of Ross Rogers, working out of Building in Macleod street in Cairns, and so I eventually had my first real tattoo, bit nervous at first, but once started there was no turning back so every time that I had a few dollars I would head straight around to Ross, and get another one. Leaving Cairns again I headed back to Brisbane, and living in the Kingston area I came across Ralenes Tattoo Studio in Station Rd. Woodridge, and got another Tattoo to my collection, by this time I had realized that this was to be my career choice in life, But it was still going to take quite sometime, as trying to find out any information about Tattooing in those days, was Damn near impossible, it was like the secret service. But I wasn't going to be put off, as I would find out somehow, where I would be able to get some information on the Industry.
By this time of my life I was driving trucks up and down the east coast of Australia, I came across a Tattooist by the name of Moe Webley, who was situated in South Brisbane, and so I had collected yet another tattoo, by Moe Webley. When ever, I had a spare moment, I would try to visit Moes Studio, Driving around Brisbane I had discovered yet more studios in the Valley area, this of course was the High Energy Tattoo Studio, Pete Davidson was upstairs next to the Shamrock hotel and Norm Collette was on the opposite corner. That was three studios, all in the one major intersection of St.Pauls Tce. And Brunswick Street, and also found Bill Phillips Studio in Vulture Street, But it was still impossible to find out anything about Tattooing.
I had started running up down the southern States, through N.S.W. and Victoria. One trip I had to hang around Liverpool, waiting to unload, and came across a Tattoo Studio which was owned and operated by Dutchy, so I got in early and had two Tattoos done on the same morning, after returning to Brisbane, with another Two Tattoos. I had discovered that Moe Webley, had moved to a shop in Stones Corner, so I called in and had the outline on my back done, so needless to say I was getting a rather large collection of Tattoos on various parts of my body.
Traveling back up North again I discovered yet another Tattooist by the name of Ray, who also had a couple of Carnival Rides, he was situated on the southern side of Rockhampton next to the Railway Line, I had a bit of time to kill so I had another Tattoo added to my collection, But still I could not get any information in regards to the Tattoo Industry, but I would not be deterred. A bit later on I found the name and address of a Tattoo Supply Co. in the USA. So I immediately sent of for a catalogue, and eventually I had my hands on a couple of machines and equipment, at least I could Tattoo myself by this stage, but my career was still a long way off. I was still driving trucks up and down the coast, Returning to Brisbane I found that Moe Webley, had moved yet again, this time it was at the roundabout at Stones Corner, where I would get quite a few more Tattoos, it was at Moes shop at the roundabout where I met Blue Ryan who was working at Moes Studio, and so I had a few more Tatts from Blue Ryan, but still I had no idea as to how I was going to get into Tattooing, with only myself and a few mates to practice on, but Tattooing was what I wanted so I would wait a bit longer .
I had enough of working for Companies by this stage, so I returned to Cairns, and started up my own Transport Co and within a couple of years I had a few Trucks and Sub Contractors working for me, plus a couple of large warehouses full of furniture. I took some bikes to Townsville one weekend for a bike show, which was being held there, and caught up with Les Bowen Snr. To get a Tattoo of the Master himself, but that was not meant to be as Duane Cash was there, and so with a nod from Les Bowen Snr. I was sitting in the Chair in a tent, being tattooed by Duane Cash, yet another tattoo to my collection, but still had not been tattooed by the Master himself, but all good things come to those who wait. And so hopefully the day will not be to far into the future.
Returning to Cairns with the Bikes after the show had finished, I found myself traveling back to Brisbane, with yet another load of freight, it was at this time that I had decided to sell the Trucking Co. and put all of my energies into what I really wanted to do, which was my career in Tattooing.
It only took about eight months to sell the Business, and so after the sale had been finalized, I started to look around and figure how I was going to start my career, I started To Tattoo a few of my mates, from an establishment in Cairns, by this time Ross Rogers was completely out of the Tattooing profession, so I was on my own. I later moved into a studio at the bottom end of Little Spence Street, in Bungalow in Cairns, So I stayed put there for quite a while, by this time I was starting to make a bit of a name for myself.
Later on I heard that a Tattooist by the Name of Andre, was thinking of leaving the Ipswich, after a couple of conversations, with Andre, I had decided to move yet again, after moving to the Ipswich area, and meeting up with Andre, he had no set date on when he was going to leave town, so I hung back for a short while did some work for a mate who was a brick layer, fun stuff that was it took a month for my hands to heel, in the end Andre had no set date to which he was leaving, so I opened up my studio , in the main street of Ipswich and remained there for about four years, and the moved next door but up stairs where I have been for the last decade . The rest is history.
If you are in the Ipswich area and looking for a Tattoo or Body Piercing, feel free to call in, I have thousands of designs on display, you can bring your own or I would be more than happy to customize anything that you may have or design one for you, We also carry a large range of Body Piercing Jewelry, and clothing.
The studio is situated at 174a Brisbane Street, Ipswich upstairs above Queensland First Aid Supplies. Ph. <07> 3812 0412. Fax <07> 3281 1123 Email : ronstat@ronstattooemporium.net Email : tatwizard@ronstattooemporium.net