April 28 - May 4, 2024: Issue 623

 

David Henry Lyall  PSM, ESM,  FAIB


VALE David Henry Lyall PSM  ESMM  FAIB
March 3, 1933 - April 24, 2024

It is our melancholy duty to inform the Pittwater community that Bilgola SLSC founder, Avalon Sailing Club, Marine Rescue NSW and the NSW Rural Fire Service member and local legend David Lyall has passed away.

The community extends its sincere condolences to wife Phyllis (Phil) and sons Scott, Ian and Tim and their partners, children and great grandchild.

A Notice for the Celebration of David's life will be run as soon as it is received. 

David's Profile from 2018 run this Issue at the request of friends and the Pittwater community.

Also included in this page are the many contributions David has made to Pittwater Online News historical insights during the past several years through his membership of the Avalon Beach Historical Society.

Thank you sir - you will be much missed by many here.

Rest in peace.

Vale David Lyall.  

David assisted our club negotiate our lease and approvals with Warringah Council during the building of the major club renovations in 2007-8.  He also chaired the users advisory committee for Brisbane Waters (including Narrabeen Lake) NSW Maritime of which MWKC was a member.

Manly Warringah Kayak Club

David Lyall has been investing in the Pittwater community for decades. He’s an extraordinary individual whose works would fill volumes. Not that he’d ever let you know. His input into Bilgola SLSC, Avalon Sailing Club, Marine Rescue NSW and the NSW Rural Fire Service spans the changes and challenges these organisations went through.

He loves local History, he loves building beautiful things with wood, he loves sailing, his wife and three sons - but not in that order.
He was seconded to Pittwater Council when that was formed and is rightly proud of the achievments, such as the MLAK key, that came out of a two year old local government organisation.
This is a clear case of still waters running deep: thank you sir for allowing us to share a small part of a rather large record.

Where and when were you born?
I was born at North Strathfield on the 3rd of March, 1933. 
I started of in what was called Corey avenue and then we moved from there around to Cumming avenue at Concord, which was right alongside the Concord Golf club, which was very handy for picking up golf balls that came into the front garden.


David with his mum and dad

I went to North Strathfield public school and from there was sent to Shore over at North Sydney. to get there at that stage was a train trip from Strathfield to North Sydney, which was only 20 minutes then and a lot better than changing trams to go to Newington.



My mother was great friends with a lass that she’d worked with whose husband owned a house at Palm Beach and we stared holidaying at Palm Beach in the early 1940’s. That home was a place called ‘Arcadia’ which I’ve done a presentation on for the Avalon Beach Historical Society. Arcadia then became Bear Matthews, the Hideaway Restaurant, and it’s still there as a private home.


This photo shows Ern Verey, who owned the car, my mother and father, two of us boys and Mr. Verey’s wife. Ernest Verey was a tailor in King Street, Sydney and Arcadia was his weekender at Palm Beach. In that era being a tailor in King street was pretty lucrative. 


Arcadia, Palm Beach

At the same time my eldest brother Donald, because of his friends at Shore, became a member of Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club. He was there mainly because he was a very good runner and footballer, actually representing New South Wales in Rugby Union during the 1950’s. Donald was also a very keen sporting shooter and became President of the Sporting Shooters Association and consequently went away with the Olympic team to Mexico.

His powers of running were very important to Palm Beach Surf Club and so they would actually drag him up and down Palm Beach pool each year to ensure he qualified for his swim each season.

Donald did want to serve Australia during WWII but as that was just finishing he wasn’t needed. He did a few odd jobs and then went back to university, theoretically to do accountancy but he actually did first, second and third year football and then he joined the family firm.
The family firm, at that stage, required one of us boys, with no ifs or buts or maybes, to go into that firm. The firm was called Harry Leslie, butcher’s suppliers, and started in 1918. That firm was commenced by my aunt, a Scottish spinster. Because it wasn’t polite for women to be in business in those days, they formed Harry Leslie 50-50 with Aunt Jenny, a Scottish spinster with Harry Leslie, a Jew. 
That firm prospered for many years. And that’s the story of how we came to Palm Beach.

We had a great time down there, it was all still dirt roads, double decker buses all the way to Palm Beach in those days. I recall we would go up to the top of the hill at Palm Beach to be plane-spotters for Japanese aircraft. 
We didn’t see any.

In 1949, due to my friends at Shore, I ended up at Bilgola Beach for the school holidays at Christmas. In December we were on the beach and were approached by a couple of locals; ‘do you want to join a surf club?’. 
So instead of going to Palm Beach I became a foundation and original member at Bilgola. 
Bilgola started in 1949.
I started off as a junior, then Gear Steward, Captain, President and Life Member.








Bilgola SLSC's 1st annual report


David at Bilgola - surf ski riding!


At Coolangatta in 1954

You were President at Bilgola from 1961-62 then again from 1964 to 1971, a fair while. What happened during your presidency?
It was a case of running a surf club and keeping all the various members happy. 

When I first started we ran a lot of functions at Bilgola. We would close off Allan Avenue. We held concerts to raise money. We even sold hot water on the reserve to people coming in for the day for picnics – all to raise money for the club.
The gear at the club was at that stage stored in the garage of the Dr. Oag family, one of the families who had a house on the beach. Their sons Colin and Ian were original members.

After that we had a tent for storage in the laneway that went down between Bilgola House and the beach. Then Avalon surf club gave us a surf boat, which we affectionately called ‘Irene’ and it was decided we needed a clubhouse. An architect was engaged, pro bono. 

In 1952 the lady who owned Bilgola House offered that premises and its site, plus the land all the way back to the Serpentine, for 18 thousand pounds. The committee of then decided ‘why should we spend all the money we’ve made, plus borrow more, when the council is going to give us some land over on the reserve and we can build a clubhouse there.’

So the then Warringah Shire Council of those days very graciously put two pegs in where the clubhouse could be built. The pegs were placed right against where the club’s barbecue currently is, on that lawn, and along the cliff-face. Luckily, two members, unknown, got slightly inebriated one night and went and quietly moved the pegs to something that wasn’t under the cliffs. 

One of the members, Jim Robinson Scott, then borrowed a bulldozer from his firm and bulldozed the site of the present clubhouse.
At that stage there were two tradesmen in the club, Syd Fischer and myself. Fortunately all the other members were so enthusiastic we built the bottom half of that clubhouse ourselves with the help of Midge Gonsalves, the stonemason from Palm Beach. 

For the second part we let a contract, which was the top floor, and then it was duly opened – which you have published the newspaper records of.

In those days a night at Bilgola on New Years Eve was big.  Over a thousand people would turn up.
There were some funny occasions among these. As mentioned, we would close off the reserve and collect money from people coming in. A lot of people would still try and get in without paying, gate-crashing, and would come down the drain that ran beside Bilgola House. We had a couple of, shall we say ‘larger’ type of members, at the end of the drain ready to greet them. You could hear them coming.

I was working at a hotel over at Gladesville then, as an apprentice carpenter, and we were renovating that hotel. We used to get all the beer from there. At one stage, when we were demolishing the public bar, I measured off part of the bar, cut it, had the club truck come, loaded that on, and that became the bar at Bilgola for many many years. 

The club had always held the premise in all of its fundraising works that it would do something for the club and it would do something for the community. We knew we must always have an interest going forward, or ahead, to keep members occupied and engaged in what we stand for.

So we decided to build a swimming pool.
The idea then, as the old swimming pool at Bilgola was right around the rocks and closer to Newport, it was right out on the rockshelf.
We looked into that and decided that the rocks above where we wanted to place it were unstable. We decided we could knock down those rocks and use these to build a wall around the pool without even having to touch the bottom of the pool. 
The council then got involved and instead of taking that easy way out they let a contract for a firm who decided to use the rubble from the expressway approaches to the Harbour Bridge to build it. The club helped finance the pool.
So this was another achievement of club and community working to get something in place that would work going forward.
The other thing we did when we started that club was to put the facilities in that enable the Avalon-Bilgola Swimming Club to commence. This great club still exists and still have their premises within the club building.

Have you seen those photos John Stone took the day they brought down the cliff face to keep the pool safe?
Yes. That was a bit of a fuss over nothing. We sat up on the north headland at Bilgola to watch it, expecting something big and dramatic, a large explosion, and it was a bit of a fizzer.

The next extension for the clubhouse went out the southern side and this was financed by the council, and pushed through by one of the councillors who then spent a little bit of holiday time out at Long Bay.

I designed this. You may know it has a very obtuse angle at one side. This was put in place so that we could then go out to the east and make a full horseshoe structure for the clubhouse. Those plans are still in everybody’s mind and we hope to get around to it one day.

In between times, in 1958, I went away to Canada for a year. The idea was to go to Canada to make enough money to tour the world for four years, just as a backpacker. My best mate at Bilgola, Peter Howe, who I used to paddle a double surf ski with, didn’t want to go. Another chap, David King from Avalon, did though, so off we went.

The two of us went on a vessel called the ‘Lakemba’, which was a cargo vessel. It took us 48 days to get to Vancouver. 


Voyage on the S.S. Lakemba - April 16 to May 23, 1958

When we arrived I very naively thought I’d just get a job in the Building Industry, as I had all the qualifications, only to find on arrival that there was a depression and there were no jobs available.

I went to the Canadian Red Cross and ended up doing a three day course at the University of British Columbia and then got a job for the whole Summer as a Lifeguard Swimming Instructor at Ucluelet Tofino on the West Coast, of Vancouver Island. This is now part of the Pacific Rim National Park. It was one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.

The funny thing was, when I went for a job in building they showed me a list of names. I placed on my on it and asked ‘what happens now?’ – ‘your name goes on the bottom and when the bloke at the top gets a job, up yours goes.’
At the Red Cross they brought out another list of the jobs that were available. Being naive I went down the column to pick out the one that paid the most money. All the Canadian kids were going down the other list looking for indoor heated pools. I ended up in the Pacific. I was surprised when I got home that I could father children.

I ended up teaching about 400 children and 68 adults to swim. I realised soon after I got there that this was, then, a very impoverished area – the only industries they had were logging and fishing. They had put all their money together to employ me, plus they had arranged for the local logging firm, MacMillan & Boedell, to put me up in the logging camp.

So I lived in the logging camp and ate with the loggers, which was quite an experience. There were no roads. To get there my car was put on a freighter from Port Alburnie and taken around to Ucluelet.

I realised just how generous these people were, and so instead of just teaching the children during the day I started teaching the adults as well. I made sure I did a lot more than what I was being paid for. To go back 20 years later and walk into a room or an office and have somebody say ‘Dave Lyall! You taught me to swim!’  - that’s nice.
They were lovely people, lovely children.

Dave King had left a girlfriend behind here. She followed him on the next boat. He said to me, ‘Dave, I can’t go touring anymore. Judy has come over and we’re going to get married’.

We had Letters of Introduction for England to go to Portsea lifeguarding; I had another to go and see the queen’s Horse guards, all sorts of Letters of that kind. 

So I finished the year and thought ‘what am I going to do?’. I decided I’d drive on a sightseeing tour and spent ten weeks driving around Canada and the United States in a two door Tudor car. It was a great ten weeks, beautiful scenery, then sold the car and flew home.

So you were already qualified in which parts of the Building Trade prior to getting to Canada?
I was qualified in my Trade Certificate and I also had my Building Forman Clerk of Works Certificate. I did seven years at Meadowbank Tech, Sydney Tech and Lidcombe Tech.
I was doing four nights a week at these places. I’d left school prior to getting my Leaving Certificate so I did this of a night time while doing all the other work.

Wasn’t 1956 also when you witnessed the new surfboards at the Avalon Carnival?
Yes, that was just prior to going to Canada. In 1956 they had the Olympic Games being hosted by Melbourne and Surf Life Saving ran a concurrent carnival at Torquay in Victoria.

The USA Team brought out Hawaiians who did two carnivals here in Sydney – one at Cronulla and the other at Avalon. This was a normal surf club carnival which then was just the R&R, the running, boats, skis, etc..

What had happened with surfboards is that they kept getting longer as these were used in racing where they went out, went around the buoy and came back in again. The length of a board governs the speed that it will do; the longer the board, the faster it will go.
So surfboards had got up to 19 and 20 feet long.

The Hawaiians had brought their little boards with them. After the carnival they put on a display at the southern end of Avalon Beach.
Doug Jackson, who was a furniture manufacturer, Jackson Furniture, and I were there watching it. We looked at each other; ‘we could build those’.

We went back to his factory that week and built two surfboards. Took them down to Bilgola, rode them. Ross Renwick, also a Bilgola habitué in those days, said they looked and floated like doors.

But, they were so popular that we sold them that afternoon. We went back to the factory, built another couple. We ended up building a few of them. These were made with plywood stringers, rails and plywood top and bottom. They were hollow.

This became so frenetic they we ended up just band-sawing out all the pieces and selling them in kit form. People would buy these kits and make them themselves.

Jack Wilson and Alana Wilson up in Ruskin Rowe and Tony Clunes were some of those who bought them and made their own boards.
Doug and I looked at it and thought, ‘ok, the evolvement of this idea is going into foam, covered with fibreglass’. Neither of us wanted to get involved with fibreglass – so he went to furniture manufacturing and I went back to building.

That year, 1956, was also my final years of Tech. work. We drove down to Melbourne, competed, flew home and did the final exams, flew back to Melbourne, competed again, then came back to Sydney again. It was pretty hectic.

Torquay was quite an amazing place for a carnival. One of the funniest events I recall from that is when the officials from Surf Life Saving set out the corner pegs for the March Past - at low tide. 
Then the tide came in.
Have you ever seen a fully kitted Scottish Pipe Band marching up to the base of their kilts in salt water? It wasn’t a very popular decision that one. That was a big time carnival though.

In between times, Jim Robinson-Scott, the bulldozer gent, bought a yacht and asked who wanted to go sailing. Another chap, George Andrews and myself volunteered to help him.
We started offshore racing with Jim.

What was the name of the yacht?
The first one was called Valima, then Poitrel I, named after the horse that won the Melbourne cup years before that was owned by his family. Then Poitrel II and then we ended up with a boat called ‘Fair Dinkum’.
We won a lot of races – there’s trophies everywhere on that one.
We did everything – the Sydney to Hobart, trips up to Brisbane, to Montague.
My wife Phil will tell you that that was a wonderful time during her career…

Phil: we went to a friend’s 90th birthday party recently and Jim’s daughter Sandy was there, whom I’d met in Melbourne when she was around 3 years of age. I explained how I’d hated her father years ago. David would go sailing on a Friday night, get home late Saturday, sleep Sunday and then go to work. I wasn’t impressed with three young boys to look after.
After the shock had worn off Sandy quite agreed with me.

You sailed in the Sydney to Hobart?
No, I used to go down and bring the boat back. The reason being, the crew that I sailed with were older than me, we had a young family, and if you go to Hobart, you pat the wife and kids on the head on Christmas Day and wouldn’t see them until January.

What happened when you returned home after your Canadian- American jaunt?
Phil had gone away on the Orontes and had met a sister of the chap I was great friends with at Bilgola, Peter Howe. His brother David still lives around at Taylor’s Point and he was a captain down at the club for quite a long time. 

All the houses down at Bilgola then were holiday houses and they used to billet the surf club members. I first stayed with a family called the Ewings but once Peter and I began paddling together I used to stay every weekend at the Howe’s place. There could be up to 15 to 20 people staying there at one time. There was a big verandah all around the outside and we’d all sleep out there.

After coming back from Canada I went down to Bilgola and met Phil who was just coming back from England with Cathy Howe. 
Cathy and Phil, after coming back from England decided they hadn’t seen much of Australia and so piled into an F J Holden with Cathy’s uncle, who was a mechanic and did a ten week tour around Australia. 

When did you two marry?
David; at the end of the surfing season.
Phyllis: 7th of April, 1960.
David; yes, at the end of the surfing season and just before the footy season started. (laughs)
Phyllis: It’s all so romantic!
Interviewer: Goodness gracious David!

Where did you get married?
David; At St David’s at Lindfield and the Reception was at Killara Golf club. 58 years ago.

How did you end up living here?
Phyllis: we were in Elouera road for a year initially.
David: we were very much orientated with Bilgola but we both agreed that a house looking out over Bilgola can be very pleasant on a good day but very miserable on bad days.
When we first married we were skint.
Phyllis: I said to David; do you want me to go to work. He said, if you want to eat, you will have to.
David: we decided to buy some land at Herbert Avenue, in Newport – which was right around near the Royal Motor Yacht Club. We married, rented a place at Elouera road. We were there about a year getting organised and liked Avalon so much we decided to buy here. I was talking to Harvey, the real estate agent, and he suggested this block. I showed it to Phil and she nearly died…
Phil: I couldn’t even walk on it, it was so steep.
David; so what I did was bulldoze all the soil out from the other side of where the cutting is, which is also our land, and put it over this side to build a driveway and then built the house. That was 1961-62.
Phil: Trappers Way cuts through everybody’s property.



The Lyalls' first block in Herbert Avenue, Newport, 1961 - David Lyall photo 


David's Trappers Way build site - circa 1961-1962, David Lyall photo

How much was the block of land then?
David: 3 thousand pounds.

It went up quite dramatically quite quickly then?
David: yes.
Phyllis: my friends who were married in 1951, and didn’t go overseas, they bought land then for 500 pounds. So it did go up quite quickly.

David: Trappers Way is also a story in itself. The subdivision was started by ‘Trapper’ Stapleton who got his nickname from when he enlisted to join the army. He was asked what his occupation was, to which he answered ‘rabbit trapper’ and then carried the nickname of ‘Trapper’.
When this subdivision was created it got the name of ‘Trappers Way. Stapleton park, or reserve, is right up the top here.
There are 52 houses in this subdivision.
Phyllis: we’ve been best friends with the lot of them but we’re one of the four original home builders.

Didn’t he have a home just along here too?
David: yes, just around the corner – Kooka Cabin that was called. He was a very interesting man.

So you were building?
Yes, I started out as David Lyall, Builder and Contractor. The first house I built was right on the corner of Porter Reserve – that first house as you come up the hill into Bilgola.
The firm then grew and I became D L Constructions Pty. Ltd.
The firm became bigger and bigger and I built the first completely precast building in New South Wales at Manly. We put that up in 42 days. It’s still there – looking up the harbour.
At the same time I built The Spit Marina, which is still there on the western side of The Spit at Mosman.
I also got involved with a lot of products at that stage. First off with the bowling alleys, and a lot of this came with association with people at the surf club. For instance Jim Robinson Scott and I were involved with the precast work. That all evolved out of sitting on a boat, quietly sailing somewhere, or pretending to be racing, with the Manager of EBM Concrete, a Structural Engineer, the head of ARC, the reinforcement people, and myself as a Builder. We built that, as well as a couple of other precast buildings.
I then got involved with Ampol and ended up doing the first of the modern-grass tennis courts, the artificial grass versions.



May 23, 1967 article from Construction

Why are you attracted to all these innovations?
Because people would ask me to solve the problems. They couldn’t find anyone else to solve the little problems each had along the way and would come to me and ask me to – so I did.

At that stage a client I was building a lot of units for – I did about a thousand units down in Dee Why and Narrabeen and so forth – bought land up in Coolangatta. So I created another firm up in Queensland and had a whole team working there, as well as the team here. I ended up building the first high-rise at Broadbeach. This was eight stories high; nowadays they are 80 stories high.

Then in 1989 we had a really bad downturn in the Building Industry, none of my sons wanted to go into the firm, so I closed the firm down. I found jobs for everybody that worked with me and then joined Local Government.

On Local Government I became a Project Manager and my job was to look after building all the things that council wanted built at the time – St. Ives showground buildings, etc.

In 1991 when residents had finally gained the right to split from Warringah Council, I was seconded out of Warringah two months before Pittwater was formed and my job was to set up and create Pittwater. So I had to set up all the infrastructure for Pittwater and move everybody over from Warringah to Pittwater.

It wasn’t a happy split. There were some bad discrepancies of charges levied at the new council. At one stage, just to try and stop or end this, I was moving people into Vuko place at Warriewood and had them sitting on packing cases rather then keep up the charges being levied to have them sitting in Warringah offices unable to anything.

The main desk for Pittwater Council when we started was trestles with a rug over the top of it.
That was possibly one of the hardest jobs I did and I give credit there to all the line  managers – these blokes worked their guts out to make it work. It was a success, we created a great council, which won the Bluett award. Up until two years ago we were the most financially viable council existing. Now all that money saved and well managed has been taken.

Some of the works I recall during that time was we had to do a complete rebuild of the Narrabeen Caravan Park – we had only x amount of weeks to do this or it was going to get closed. Luckily I had a gentleman named Chris Guy who helped me with this and we got it done to the day.

On top of that, in 1994 I was on a committee called the Access Committee as part of Pittwater Council. Our job was to make things better for people with disabilities. One of the chaps said we had big problems with the disabled toilets; if someone vandalises them or damages them it causes problems. So we invented what was called the MLAK Key – Master Locksmiths Access Key. That key is now universal in the whole of Australia and New Zealand. If you go to a disabled toilet you will see a little blue outline of a Yale key and that symbolises an access key. I still have key number 3 – for my birthday 3-3-33!


The MLAK Launch, September 1994; The Pittwater Access Committee

That, and a few other things I’d done, like the apparatus for lifting disabled people out of wheelchairs into Sailability boats, must have caught the attention of someone because the next thing I know I’m being awarded the Public Service Award.
That was a very prestigious medal then – there were only two given that year.

Phil; when I met David his mother told me he doesn’t have a lazy bone in his body.
I got involved in the 1960’s with the Australian Institute of Building, which is the academic side of the Master Builders. I rose through the ranks of the Institute and became the President of New South Wales and also a Councillor on the National Council for Australia.
Phil and I used to go down to Canberra every three months.
I was actually involved during this time in creating what is now known as The Building Code of Australia. We developed that out of what was called ‘Ordinance 71’.
The Building Code when we developed it was about that thick (indicates two inches). We then put it out to all the states with a request to add their addendums. 
It’s now that bloody thick (ten inches or more).
They decided I must have done some good as they made me a fellow of the Institute. 
So that’s the other letters after my name FAIB – Fellow of the Australian Institute of Builders.

I was still at Pittwater council under Angus Gordon GM and doing all the leases for the various clubs etc. in 1999, which was really a landmark structure that was then copied by others. We came up with a community net benefit lease which has since become practise for all the surf clubs.

This and the MLAK Key are just two instances of innovations that came out of Pittwater council and its ethos that have since become standard practices for many right across the board.

Let’s talk about Marine Rescue – in 2015 you were awarded a Maritime Medal for numerous maritime volunteer roles including being a Volunteer with Marine Rescue. How did that begin?
This again was a progression over many years. I’m a Life Member at Avalon Sailing Club, was President and Commodore there for many years as well as sailing that’s our boat there – the Red Herring.


The Red Herring


The Skipper of the Red Herring

At one stage I was Training Officer down there and took a lot of interest in training people. I still have all those qualifications and can train and examine for keel boat, sailing and yachting.

Because of that involvement on the water I then got involved, with Michael Chapman, in the Boat Owners Association and ended up vice-president and with a Life Membership.  Through Michael and my involvement with the Boat Owners association we heard of the discussions to amalgamate all the rescue groups. Michael and I got involved with the formation of Marine Rescue long before that started. In the background, and not taking a lead, but being very much grass roots organisers. 

With the background of the leases structure we’d done for Pittwater council – 146 leases and licences later….
I redid all the leases and licences. There were also 50 communication towers that need rejigging too.


 (L-R) 2015 NSW Maritime Medal recipients Captain Tim Swales (Community Medal), David Lyall (Community Medal), Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay and Peter Hunter (Safety Medal) on board the James Craig tall ship.

So it was a well  earned, once again medal – the Maritime medal?
That was a surprise to me actually. Phil reckons it’s the only time she has seen me at a loss for words.
That day was one of the funniest I’ve ever had. Neil Patchett from Marine Rescue opened the proceedings and there we all were, standing in the James Craig and he’d welcome everyone. Duncan Gray then turned up and after doing his formal introductions and acknowledgements then quipped, ‘and I’d also like to thank the other traditional owners of Circular Quay – the Obeid family.
We all cracked up – he was a great bloke in that role, a great bloke anyway, even without the politics.
So they gave me the Maritime Medal. One of my sons said ‘geez dad, not another medal!’
So I now have the National Service Medal, the Defence Medal because of CMF, the Emergency Service Medal, the Public Service Medal and the Pittwater Medal.


What was it like being awarded a Pittwater medal? – there’s not a lot of those that have been handed out.
I had an attitude when at council that I was there to help the people, the residents. I remember at one stage we had a meeting with the managers and directors and said; what we should be doing is each one of us take a turn on the Service Desk on the front counter for half a day to get some experience of how to do it better.



Retirement was a good idea then?
Don’t retire – you just get busier! I have all these wonderful old carpentry tools and am still making things. The last job I did was a clock from some beautiful old cedar.

Commencing in Bilgola Surf club and voluntary work still being done at present, there’s almost 70 years of serving the community. Where does that come from?
I don’t know. From an early age I just wanted to help people. If somebody asked for something if I could do something for them I did.
The other day a friend of Phyllis said ‘I’m looking for a new coffee table but I can’t find one suitable’. So Phil got into my workshop and I rebuilt it for her.
Out sailing yesterday one of the blokes has a problem with his vanity unit; so I got the number for a good plumber for him and away he went.

When you were building – what was you favourite project, which are you most happy about?
I think the one that strikes me the most in the waterways was the spit Marine, because that was the first floating marine in New South Wales.
Building wise; I built 48 units over the top of the headland at Curl Curl – I was very proud of those.
When in Council – probably the Avalon Community Centre.
Among those there were some unusual ones too though – I built a rural fire services building over at Mackeral Beach in the middle of the road.

When was that?
Around 1990. There was nowhere else to put it – it would have been in the swamp otherwise.
There’s some funny stories – I remember we went through a stage where people who owned homes at Sand Point at Palm Beach were running out after every storm to put grass seeds in the sand that would end up there as they could then extend their properties as they owned to the high tide mark. Word got around and the people over at Mackeral said; ‘look we know where it came from and we want it back.’
Peter Verrills is the man to talk to about some of those Palm Bach stories – he’s a character.
I remember during the 1994 fires when a lot of people were away from council and I had to do something to look after those offshore, it was getting pretty bad. I rang Peter and said, ‘look mate, I think we’re going to have to evacuate Mackeral – can you get your boats over there?’ to which he replied; ‘I’m already here mate.’
(laughs)
Those 1994 fires – I remember on the Friday I said to my blokes; you better stand by, we may be in for a bad weekend. I ended up down at the Pittwater Quays depot, which was my command centre later that Friday. We were on the whole weekend. By the Sunday everyone’s dead on their feet and were down at Rat Park putting up compounds for all the horses we were bringing out of Terrey Hills. My painter, Ross Hennessey, another real character, he was there when one of the mangers of the horse park marched up and demanded if Ross knew anything about horses; ‘no mate, but I have seen The Man From Snowy River I and II’.

What is this project where you’re halfway down a cliff?
That was at South Head. We had to install that great light for the University of Sydney and climbing down that cliff was part of it.







Your Sons: Scott, Ian and Tim – are they still living locally?
No, one is at Alexandria and works out at the Western Sydney University, one is in the Fisheries Department, Manager of Aquaculture at NSW DPI. He’s been working on that kingfish farm set off Port Stephens. Around 20 thousand of them escaped in rough seas in January this year – and 3000 came back in to be fed! 
The other is in London working as a Line Producer in film.



What are your favourite places in Pittwater and why?
My home, because it has everything that I would wish to have. In boating it would have to be Castle Lagoon, because it’s a fun little place to stay overnight without being disturbed by the wash from other vessels. 

What is your ‘motto for life or a favourite phrase you try to live by?
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Phyllis (Phil) and David Lyall

 

Avalon Beach Historical Society March 2019 Meeting: Focus On Trappers Way

Trappers Way research photos for Roads In Pittwater series (Streets Have Your Name) by A J Guesdon, 2018-2019.

Held on Tuesday night 12 March 2019
At Avalon Beach Bowling Club

Even when you've lived in Avalon Beach for 50 years and you see that the topic for the next ABHS meeting is a talk on Trappers Way, your first thought is: what could I possibly learn about Trappers Way?  

But then, you know that President for Life Geoff Searl OAM's evenings are always informative and interesting for anyone living in Avalon Beach.  

Last night was no exception.

Over 70 people were entertained and informed by Geoff, David Lyall PSM  ESMM  FAIB and Mrs Gail Lonnon, accompanied by John Stone on the projector.


ABHS Members and Visitors at March 2019 Meeting - photo by Roger Sayers

Geoff brought members and visitors up to the minute on the happenings of the ABHS, and on some current living history of Avalon Beach including a walk around Avalon Beach with the new CEO of Northern Beaches Council, Ray Brownlee PSM, hosted by the Avalon Preservation Trust to discuss a number of current issues of interest to residents. This included a brief look in at the Society's office, which is kindly made available by John Stone, and its displays in Bowling Green lane. And the Surf Club has set up a Heritage Committee to categorise Club memorabilia.

David Lyall and Gail Lonnon, both residents of Trappers Way individually and collectively provided background on the street's name and on some of the various and amusing quirks of living on a private road owned by the residents, including at one stage the road being deemed too unsafe for mail deliveries by the post office.  The notice to each of the residents advising them of this cessation of service, was delivered by the mailman!  It took an episode of a TV current affairs program "The Investigators" to have this overturned. The background to the subdivision and road name is in the information below from David's notes.


The Lyalls first block in Herbert Avenue, Newport, 1961 - David Lyall photo 


David's Trappers Way build site - circa 1961-1962, David Lyall photo

You may have know that, but did you that one of the residents, sculptor Robin Blau, provided the striking Australian coat of arms above the entrance to our National Parliament in Canberra?  I didn't.  Pretty cool.

Everyone had a convivial evening with questions and laughs over supper and refreshments at the Av Bowlo.

Next time you see a notice of an upcoming ABHS meeting be sure not to miss it.  New members and visitors are always welcome.

Roger Sayers
ABHS member.

To find out more visit: abhs.org.au

David Lyall's Trappers Way History

J. T. Stapleton, ABHS photo - courtesy ABHS and Stapleton family.


Riviera Estate Item c027560031h - 1957, courtesy State Library of NSW - from Avalon Subdivisions folder. Stapleton {Park was established in 1957.

Avalon Beach Commercial Area

This classic photo shows the commercial area of Avalon Beach in the late 1930s. ‘Avalon Beach Store’ was built by Stan Wickham in 1934 and in the same year, the ‘Avalon Service Station’ and the neighbouring NRMA Patrol Hut were built by A.J. Small. 

J.T. Stapleton’s huge real estate advertising sign and agency has been erected on the northwest corner of Avalon Parade and Old Barrenjoey Road (the old Westpac site). Note the condition of the surface of Avalon Parade, especially as it begins to climb the headland. Obviously kerb and guttering was not a priority in Avalon Beach at that time. - Geoff Searl OAM, ABHS photo

A Few Extras:

NB: Pittwater Roads II: Where the Streets Have Your name - Avalon Beach and Pittwater Roads II: Where the Streets Have Your name - Clareville will run soon

Available now: The Roads And Tracks Of Yesterday: How The Avalon Beach Subdivisions Changed The Green Valley Tracks

Riviera Estate, Avalon Beach by J. T. Stapleton, showing Stapleton Park. Item No.: c027560031h, Avalon Beach Subdivision Sales, courtesy State Library of NSW
Avalon Sanctuary Estate, Park Ave, J. T. Stapleton, Avalon subdivision plans, Item No.: c027560003 courtesy State Library of New South Wales 
Week-Enders That Grow
The week-ender idea is developing rapidly in N.S.W., and the reason is the intrusion of flats into suburban and city life. 
IT is quite conceivable that within the not-too-distant future all city, people will, be flat dwellers. And what then of home-life and a garden to potter about in? 
The week-ender is the answer, and the solution to the problem of happy living in a crowded city. An amazing change has taken place in the building of week-enders. Fast disappearing are the one-room, crudely-constructed shacks, with no conveniences. People are building houses to live in at the week-ends. Houses with electric light and refrigeration, with modern bathrooms and kitchens, and hot and cold water laid on. The general idea in week-enders seems to be to start with a small construction and extend.

Intriguing Examples 
Round about Avalon are ' some intriguing examples that have evolved inlo homes. Generally known as "the daddy of them all is "Trees," once a weekender and now the permanent home of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Handley. "Trees" was named after the beautiful gum trees that grow abundantly on the hill at the back of Avalon. It was built around one strangely-grown angophora gum that inspired the quaint design of the house as it grew bit by bit. At first it was one main room, the walls and roof of split Douglas fir with the bark left on. Wings were added at either side, each with a walk-out on to a flat roof. Passeia-by have often called "Trees" the "House of the Seven Dwarfs" because of the random stonework that Mr. Handley has himself covered the chimney and the foundations with. Every stone is water-washed and carried up in his car from the from the beach.

Another of Avalon's most delightful places Is the log cabin, Kooka Cabin, on the Paradise Beach estate, overlooking Pittwater,  where Lieutenant and Mrs. J. T. Stapleton and their two little daughters, Patricia and Margaret, spend most of their week-ends. The cabin was originally one room divided down the centre, and had a gauze enclosed verandah. The cost of the original cabin was approximately £275. 

A week-ender near "Trees" and in the Tree Colony is "Timbers," and belongs to Mr, and Mrs. A. G. Cable. It is a big house that has been built around one main room. It occupies three blocks of land . . . total cost £450 . . . and the initial cost of the house was £1000, most of that amount going into foundations for the steeply sloped land. The big main room, which makes a baby grand piano look quite a small article of furniture, has galleries at either end. Mrs. Cable has since added two wings with walk-outs from the gallery rooms to each roof. 

Just along the road is the weekend house with a wonderful view of Avalon beach through the timber.

This belongs to Miss Stella James and Miss Camilla Wedgwood. They bought four blocks in front of them to preserve the trees. 

A house recently constructed at Palm Beach of lined and papered fibro with tiled roof, all electric, with modern bathroom and kitchen, three bedrooms, a living-room 15ft. by 16ft., with flagged pathways and stone retaining walls cost £1200 to build, including £325 for the land; £100 was spent on furnishing it simply but adequately. To bring in some return it is let at £4 10s per week for a three months' tenancy. For short bookings in the peak period it, brings in, £12 a  week. For the rest of the year it belongs to the family who owns, it to enjoy their weekends away from the rush of  the city. 


"TREES", the house overlooking a timber-framed panorama Avalon Beach, considered the most original house of the northern beaches . . . it just grew and grew from a week-ender to be the permanent home of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Handley. Mrs. HANDLEY is in the picture. Inset is the actual name-plate of the house, carved in bark.



"KOOKA CABIN", Lieut. and Mrs. J. T. Stapleton's log cabin among the trees at Paradise Beach, with Mrs. STAPLETON having tea on the sun terrace. Motorists on the road above, seeing the cabin for the first time, can never resist stopping their cars to exclaim on its charm as it nestles into the hillside. 



"TIMBERS," the week-end home of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Cable. It started with one big room, but like, most week-enders, just keeps growing and growing. Mrs. CABLE and her sister, novelist DORA BIRTLES, are on the terrace.
F.S.D. OF HAPPY LIVING (1939, November 26). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 1 (WOMEN SECTION SOCIAL). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231502146 

 

Arrival Of The Mal - 1956 Surf Boards 

Avalon Beach Historical Society Meeting Of 22nd Of February, 2014: Speakers – David Lyall And Bob Head

On Tuesday 25th of February the Avalon Beach Historical Society held a special meeting with Talks given by David Lyall and Bob Head providing some great insights into the ‘Arrival of the Mal’ or Malibu surfboards in Pittwater.

The room was filled with local surfing legends and one of the original Malibus', made from surf board kits for Mal’s created by David Lyall and Doug Jackson, found on a Council ‘chuck-out’ by former Mayor and current Councillor Alex McTaggart, and reconditioned back to former glory by Robbie Newman, was on display. Photographs and clippings from the eras described were available to peruse and part of the Talk given by Mr Lyall included footage compiled by Jack McCoy’s library of surf film.

Later this year will be the 100th Anniversary of Duke Kahanamoku’s demonstration of surfing at Freshwater Beach (either Wednesday 23rd of December or Thursday 24th 1914) – the 24th falling on a Wednesday again this year.

This was the spark that started a large and ongoing fire.

In 1956 a demonstration given by visiting Americans after the Avalon Beach SLSC Carnival on Malibus made the 16 foot long, unwieldy and heavy “Toothpicks” used for surfing prior to seeing these ‘short boards’ seem almost instantly defunct. This demonstration created a new  and similar revolution. 

Mr Lyall and Mr Head played no small part of this new development, one gentleman developing ways to manufacture the Malibu boards in Australia, the other applying the board to rescue techniques that not only saved lives but attributed to the further development of one of our most iconic pieces of still utilised surf equipment.

Both gentlemen have kindly allowed us to reproduce their addresses from this week. They also inspired us to find a few snippets that offer further insights into this pivotal stage of surfing and surf life saving.

Information about this great local Historical Society and membership are available on their website at: avalonbeachhistory.com.au

1956 – The Arrival of the ‘Mal’

David Lyall:

Tonight it will be my pleasure to take you back to 1956 when, following a Surf Carnival at Avalon Beach, the team from Hawaii put on a display of short board surfing that promoted the reintroduction and start of the manoeuvrable short boards throughout the surfing scene of Australia and the world.

To set the scene of those early days I have the pleasure to introduce, in the absence of Jack McCoy, one of the most respected surfing cinematographers, some footage not only showing early surfing, but carnivals, boat races, rare footage of the Hawaiian team arriving and board riding in Sydney that Jack has put together for this evening.

(Video  was shown here - we have placed links to these in Extras below). Right: David Lyall with one of the surf skis he later built - at Coolangatta.

In 1956 an International and Australian Surf Championship carnival was held at Torquay Beach in Victoria (25th of November and 2nd of December) in conjunction with the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Teams from Great Britain, South Africa, Hawaii, Ceylon, New Zealand and of course many clubs from Australia competed.

As most of the teams arrived and departed from Sydney, Carnivals were arranged at both Maroubra (early November) and at Avalon to be held on Sunday, 18th of November. These were, at the time, the normal Surf Carnivals that had become standard with March Past, R&R, Belt Swim, Swims, Board and Ski races, Boat Races and Beach Events.

At the Avalon Carnival excellent surf was running and after the usual events were completed the Hawaiian team members took their short boards out to the southern end of the beach and had the crowd enthralled for about two hours with their superb wave riding.

Two of the Bilgola Team that had stayed to watch were Doug Jackson (Furniture Manufacture) and myself (Carpenter and Builder) – proudly clutching a hard won ski trophy from that day (David Lyall, along with Peter Howe, were the top ranking ski riders in the area at this time).

A quick look at the shape and dimensions of the visitors boards and it was off to the Jackson Furniture Factory at Newtown after work on the Monday.

After a few experiments, and by working each afternoon after work, two boards were ready for the weekend. These boards were launched at Bilgola and were described by one journalist – Ross Renwick, the founder and mainstay of Billy Blue and a past long-time resident of Avalon as “Looked like and floated like a door.”

The boards were a hollow construction of timber sides, ply frames, plywood top and bottom, timber fin and proved to be a great success. The interest was so great that both boards were sold on the Sunday afternoon at a more than appreciative price.

So back to the factory for Model No 2!!

Soon other boards started appearing from the manufacturers of long boards and skis – Gordon Woods, Bill Wallace, Joe Larkin, all legendary surf board makers, all of the same hollow design.

The design by Jackson and Lyall was modified and each production was tested at the weekends at Bilgola and raised the constant call of “Can I have a lend?” or “How about a go?” from other club members.

It was at this stage the name ‘Okanui’ was given to these particular boards – “out the back” (waiting for the right wave) and I am sure it was Ross Renwick that first used the name.

By now the demand for the boards was so great that Doug and I decided to produce kits – all the timbers and ply cut to size ready for home enthusiasts to prepare, assemble and finish.

This work and the construction of finished boards used up most of the spare time of Doug and myself, with of course the weekends kept free for wave riding. I do recall that two of the kits were successfully assembled by locals – John Wilson, whose wife Alannah may recall the drama of construction, and Tony Clune.

I am also pleased to see that we have one of these kit boards here tonight through the research of Geoff Searl and John and the kind participation of Robbie Newman.

The popularity of the short boards was so great that Surf Clubs showed a marked decline in membership and it wasn’t until the short boards were introduced into SLSA Carnival events that this problem was overcome.

The next evolution was the introduction of balsa wood covered in fibreglass which gave greater scope in shape and design and was accepted by the multitude of builders now trying to satisfy the demanding market. Balsa wood was then superseded by foam with fibreglass covering – a method which has continued until this day.

The final Jackson- Lyall design was put down on paper by me and sold to Build-A Boat plans at Brookvale in 1958.

Doug Jackson and I (David Lyall) were now at the crossroads of whether to continue in the board making business or concentrate on our respective fields. A big factor in the decision was the joys of fibreglass, fumes, dust and associated by-products of surf board manufacture... the decision was made and Doug continued in his family business (Jackson Furniture) and I continued as a local builder. We both continued to build single and double surf skis and competed for Bilgola into the early 1960’s.

I have no idea how many boards or kits were produced and unfortunately neither Doug nor I managed to keep one.

This is a short run down on just one little part of the history of short board surfing and how the “Okanui” came to grace the waves of our peninsula, but I would like to continue with some facts and maybe fiction of board riding from the early 1900’s.

There is a thought that board riding started with the local indigenous people surfing the waves returning from fishing. There is also a story of two brothers ‘borrowing;’ their mother’s ironing board for the joys of catching a few waves.

In December 1914  Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku, at the invitation of Cecil Healy at the 1912 Olympic games, came to Australia and demonstrated board riding at Freshwater; much to the amazement of the locals and even more so in taking “a female’ – Isabel Ltheam, out for a wave.

Earlier claims stem back to the legend Snowy McAlister and Tommy Walk, Snowy claiming Tommy “…was the first man to ride a surf board at Manly Beach..”.

Competition became a big factor in the design of both boards and skis. Surf Club races and Carnivals were basically out through the surf, round the marker buoys and back to the beach, straight paddling all the way. Water dynamics came to the fore and the longer the waterline length, the faster the craft. Consequently Boards and Skis reached massive lengths – 20feet (6 metres) or more with Double skis up to 22 feet (7 metres) and then of course the need to store the craft – so logically you joined and competed with a Surf Club.

The change to short boards and the increase of car ownership saw a complete change to coastal surfing, and, as mentioned, a decline in membership of Surf Clubs. The slides shown here tonight trace some of the events of surf boards on our peninsula and one proves how early surfboard riding started on the peninsula – a photo of Isabel Letham and friend on Bilgola Beach circa 1917. Isabel was the young lady who was taken surfing by Duke Kahanamoku at Freshwater – her father, William Letham helped him make one from a plank of sugar pine purchased from a local hardware store. At Freshwater Beach Kahanamoku gave a 3 hour demonstration of "Hawaiian-style surf shooting" to a crowd of several hundred people.

At the end of the session Kahanamoku invited Letham from the crowd for a tandem surfing demonstration. Letham, 15 at the time, was an accomplished swimmer and bodysurfer, and known as something of a tomboy. On the first few waves they paddled some sources state Isabel yelled for him to stop because “it felt like going off a cliff”. Being a gentleman Kahanamoku did stop, but then ignored her cries, went anyway, and hauled her up. They rode four waves that day and Letham was, as she later said "hooked for life".

Above: David Lyall's ski trophy from 1956 Avalon Beach SLSC Carnival


Avalon Beach SLSC Carnival Sunday, 18th Of November, 1956 - March Past - Whale Beach, NSW, Australia leads visiting American team (courtesy Beryl and Don Imison)

_______________________________________________________

Bob Head:

It seems to me that with all entities a common thread exists- that we more often as not identify with themes like ‘the earliest, biggest, oldest...’

One of these fits into ‘the first’ category and is one I’d like to focus on with my journey of the Malibu tonight. I would like to say as a preface that there are more accredited local surfers, such as Mick Dooley, Steve Reynolds, Midget Farrelly and Mr. McKay then I for this gig.

I would also like to say that I have always been both a Clubbie and a boardrider and it is in this context that the following comments are made.

My name is Bob Head – I moved from Gordon in 1944 to Newport and attended Newport Public School. I was a budding swimmer and used to go to The Spit everyday to train with a chap called Harry Hayes.

Life was ghood in those days, you could smell the freshly cut grass from the Victa mowers, everything was great. I joined the Newport SLSC at 12 years of age, got my 16foot ‘Toothpick’ at 14 years of age. At 15 I moved to the Avalon SLSC of which I am a Life Member.

Having seen the film of Duke Kahanamoku visit and its life changing effect on the Surf Life Saving Community and surfing community last century, you would never believed that that could happen again, however, further innovative progress with surf craft went on at a steady pace until one day in 1956 when, for everyone interested in surfing, the world stopped and was never going to be the same again.

Having been in a couple of surf races at the Avalon Surf Carnival of November 18th, 1956, I was in the boat shed at the club with a couple of friends doing our end of carnival tasks. All of a sudden there was a deathly hush and we couldn’t work out what had happened, fearing at first that the worst had happened and there had been an accident. People were running past us, out of the boatshed, down from the sides of the surf clubhouse – we got drawn in and went out and had a look ourselves.

There we saw something that we had never seen before – there were these chaps surfing across the beach – this way, then that way, back and forth – we’d never seen anything like it before. 

There is a photograph here that shows those of the Avalon Surf Club who were in that carnival with the American surfers. I’m not in that photograph, and the reason I’m nit in that photo is I ran home to Newport to ask my father for some money to build a surfboard. Not being the artists that David Lyall is, I knocked it up in a few days, took it down to Newport where it immediately sank and it’s still there somewhere. Such were my surfboard manufacturing skills at that stage.

The post-Carnival photograph of Avalon Beach SLSC members and visitors. Courtesy ABHS.

I knew about David Lyall starting to make boards, Ross Renwick, Woods, Bennett, Dillon – all the manufacturers up and down the coast, as well as McDonagh Brothers who owned Barrenjoey Properties - Denis McDonagh was a very prolific manufacturer of surfboards in the early days, and in fact is one of the two brothers who started Surf, Dive and Ski. A lot of that history has been lost or people don’t remember it.

From that day in 1956 on life changed, I use to go to swimming training, that stopped. Girls finished, Elvis was gone, there was a new language and the Beach Boys were on the radio, we were now talking about Okanuis, thew Woodies – people didn’t know what we were talking about or understand what we were doing.

Time went on and for some reason the clubbies and the surfers clashed, and I think it may have been more over safety and territorial issues, at any rate, the divide widened, especially with the Council’s introduction of registration of all surfboards which the surf clubs had a role in policing. 

Being affiliated with both camps I decided I better try and do something about it. So along with Mr Sumpter and myself we formed in 1958 what was known as a surfing organisation and started what was then known as the First Malibu Surfing Contest supported by Avalon Beach SLSC – this was certainly the first Malibu surfing contest run in New South Wales, if not within Australia.

Over 200 surfers turned up that day, at which we were quite amazed. The following event was very successful  - we had entertainers such as Col Joye presenting trophies and the contest was deemed to be an incredible success. At that time the other issues, as far as the Boardies and Clubbies were concerned, were put on the backburner. 

As Mr Ripley would say ‘believe it or not’ I was privileged to be a part of this Malibu phenomena happening again. 

In 1962 I went to Newquay in Cornwall along with three friends, Warren Mitchell, John Campbell and Ian Tiley, taking two Malibu’s with us. We got jobs as lifeguards working on remote beaches outside the town. Prior to our arrival some of these remote areas used huge army ducks to perform difficult rescues and these were what we initially used.  These we found were not very practical. They had surf lines like we used here but on the occasions when you had nobody to pull you in if you were the lone lifeguard, they would fasten them to jeeps or vehicles and pull you in that way but they would get tangled when pulled over the landscape in this way.

As we went there with double Malibu’s our rescue equipment of choice was these and we performed many rescues just using the Malibu. In this way everyone became aware of the boards versatility. 

In the previous year 16 people had been lost. In the years we were there nobody was lost. So this was quite a successful new piece of equipment from the life saving point of view.

I would like to point out here that Warren Mitchell, a favourite son of Avalon, is the gentleman who is responsible for the rubber duckie. He said, when we were using the Malibu for rescues – “Bob we have to do something about this because we can only pick up one or two people” – as over there we at times would have to pick up not just one or two people, but half a dozen people, so Warren was always on the lookout for something different.

That is where the seeds were sown for the rubber duckie.

In our first overseas year off season we toured Europe – we went to Africa, Morocco, France – we surfed everywhere. We also experienced a huge demand for our boards and started making them (see article below). In the United Kingdom, in Cornwall in particular, this had a huge economic impact which before had been dependant on Tin mines and China clay. Surfing is now a billion dollar industry there. 

Bob Head with one of his Malibu boards

When I first went to England I had to go by ship. Nowadays planes enable lifeguards to follow the seasons and many ex-Newquay people have ended up in Avalon. One of my early UK Malibu converts Mike Jones, has a son, Stanley, who is now Club Captain of Avalon Beach SLSC.

To me one of the greatest achievements of the development of the Malibu is that it lead to the development of one of the greatest pieces of rescue equipment for surf life saving, that of Warren Mitchell OAM’s rubber duckie which has saved many many lives against all odds.

David Lyall, Geoff Searl and Bob Head on Tuesday evening. Picture by A J Guesdon.

Extras pertaining to these Talks:

"SURFIES" of CORNWALL From KERRY McGLYNN, in London

Photos: BOB HEAD, from Newport, N.S.W., works on a surfboard. He set up the factory and shop at Newquay with three English partners and sells Malibu boards in England and on the Continent for well under half the price of the boards imported from America. AT RIGHT: Bob Newton, one of the Australians at Newquay, checks Malibu boards for hire on the beach. Bob, from Balgowlah, N.S.W., has spent the summer as a lifeguard. The southern end of the beach was roped off with a warning: "For surfboards only." About a thousand yards out a little knot of board enthusiasts waited, their legs dangling lazily over the sides of multi-colored Malibus. They looked every inch the surfer: tanned, glistening young bodies, rainbow-colored Bermuda shorts, longhair bleached by the sun and probably just a dash of sink-cleaner. An everyday sight on Australian beaches. But these slaves of the surf were not within hotdogging distance of Manly or Bronte or Cronulla.

THEY were at Newquay, on the coast of Cornwall, a quaint little English holiday town that was once a muted outpost of the deckchair and sun hat brigade, who looked on the surf as something to sit by, not swim in. Their tranquil existence has been disturbed by an enterprising band of young Sydney surfboard riders who have turned Newquay into a surfing centre of Europe. The  Australian surfing craze is rolling like a Bondi breaker across the pleasure resorts of Europe and North Africa. ….

Right: the 'Crester" - image courtesy Avalon Beach Historical Society.

Aga Khan: His instructors will be Sydney boardriders Rodney Sumpter, 18, of Avalon, and 23-year-old Dennis White, of Collaroy. This surf-mad pair left Australia in January for America, where they tried out their boards on the beaches of Newport, Rhode Island, after a stint in Hawaii. With money running short, they crossed the Atlantic to the island of Jersey, home of a big contingent of Australian surfies. There they took part in the British national and international championships in July. Rodney Sumpter, a lean, lively English migrant who learned all about surfing in Sydney, took off both the national and international titles. Dennis, Sydney-born and bred, was not far behind, and finished fourth on points in the international contest. I spoke to Rodney at Newquay, where he and his blond-headed partner were preparing to leave for France to take part in the French championships. They were waiting for their Australian mate 24year-old Bob Head, of Newport, N.S.W., to finish two new boards for them.

Head, who has lived at Newquay for three years, is the one who has really cashed in on the European surfing boom. He arrived on the Corn-wall coast three years ago with a Malibu board and landed a job as a lifeguard. At that stage, Malibu boards were as scarce in England as boomerangs. Nobody at Newquav had ever seen one before. 

"A lot of people didn't even know that you had to take them into the water," Head told

me. "They thought they were something to plonk on the sand and sit on.

"The curiosity was tremendous at first, and it wasn't long before people started asking me to get them boards."

Within two years the small stream of orders trickling in has developed into a tidal

wave. Two years ago Head made ten boards in 12 months. In the past month he has been turning out 20 a week. With three English partners he has set up a factory and a surfing shop in Newquay, and has made Cornwall as proud of its surf-boards as Liverpool is of the Beatles.

"The whole thing is spreading like wildfire," Bob Head said. "We have six people in the factory making surfboards, skateboards, and other beach gear. We have another six in the shop selling them, along with beachwear and all kinds of surfing books and trinkets. On the Continent they've really gone for the boards in a big way. We have an agent who takes them all the time to flog in Europe. We met him about four months ago when we had a stand at the Boat Show in London. He looked our stuff over and took 50 boards on the spot."

Head, who was a sales representative in Sydney, had never made a surfboard before he came to England, and his first, effort was "a bit rough."

He has one Australian working for him; this is Mick Jackman, a 25-year-old ex Sydney photo-engraver. The rest of the factory help are English.

"Mick and I both used to hang around the board shops in Sydney, so we both had a pretty good idea," said Head. "But mostly it's been trial and error. Making surf-boards is a trade of secrets- every bloke has his own techniques and nobody is prepared to give his tricks away, so we have had to find out for ourselves. We have suffered from a shortage of proper materials, particularly good foam, so our boards are not as good as the ones sold around Sydney."

But to compensate, Head's company, European Surfing Co. Ltd., is selling its product at around £30stg. each(an American board costs about £70stg. in Europe).

How quickly are the British and Continental "gremmies" catching on?

"I've been away four months of the past six in Britain and the Continent giving lessons, exhibitions, and demonstrations of all kinds," Head said. "There has been tremendous enthusiasm for board riding everywhere that I've been, and the youngsters seem to pick up the knack fairly well. They are probably a bit slower than Australians, but that's only natural, because they haven't had nearly as much opportunity as the kids back home."

Head rates the Newquay surf the best in Europe "on its day."

"The difference," he said, "is that in Sydney you can surf for maybe two-thirds of the year. Here you are lucky to surf for even a third of the year."

Head is the "elder states-man" - certainly the longest-established member-of the 15-strong Australian surfing community who live in Newquay. Five of these Sydney surf fanatics, Bob ("Nuts") Newton, 26, of Balgowlah, Gary ("Lumpy") Cox, 23, of Harbord, Warren ("Sui") Sullivan, 27, of Warriewood, Noel ( "Yokum" ) Harridine, 28, a former captain of Warriewood Surf Club, and Mick ("The Phantom")Irwin, 25, of Harbord, work as £14-a-week lifeguards on the beaches around Newquay. At nights they serve in a local pub pulling beer. Bob Newton estimates that he makes about £21st g.a week ("enough for a few beers and the birds"). Six of them live in a caravan park and spend all their spare time in the surf. Mick Jackman, known around Newquay as "Shades," earns extra money playing piano in a four piece band at a hotel.

"I'm about to marry an English girl, so I need the money," he said. "I suppose I was earning about £2000 a year in Sydney as a photo-engraver. Now I'm ripping off about £33 a week with two jobs."

Both he and Head are the permanent members of the Australian community, and plan to stay in Newquay for another five years. Head has married an English girl and has a baby son. "The Phantom" is also married. ("These English birds, mate, they are really great," explains Mick Jackman.) The other Australians in Newquay work in pubs or on the beaches or both. They are the idols of dozens of Cornish school-boys, who have given up the Rolling Stones for the rolling surf. Said Dennis Holmes, "I've seen a few English 'gremmies' who look as though they will be real good on the boards."

Rodney Sumpter agreed. "One kid I have seen is going to be a world champion." Sumpter and Holmes are off soon on their sponsored tour which will take them to Sardinia, the Canary Islands, Africa, and Singapore. 

"The Aga Khan has offered to put us up in his place at Sardinia for a while if we will give him lessons and demonstrations,” said Sumpter. "I reckon it's going to be pretty outrageous."

"Outrageous" is the surfers' word for "wonderful." ILLUSTRATED.  "SURFIES" OF CORNWALL. (1965, October 20). The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982), p. 22. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57961104

Britannia rides the waves. The centre of the surfing world is Australia according to Australians. Hawaii might be almost non-existent. It is like an ice-water dousing to discover Britain is now on the surfing map as described in this British Travel Association article. Surfers at Newquay, Cornwall's largest resort and Britain's leading surfing centre. It could be Bondi but it's not. British surf teams march past on the sands at Newquay, Cornwall. ALONG the great sandy beaches of south-west England, where the whitecapped breakers come rolling "in majestically from the open Atlantic, the enthusiasts are preparing for another summer of one of the most exhilarating of all sports - riding the waves on surf-boards. It is a sport which can be enjoyed in ideal conditions in Britain, especially on the coasts of Cornwall and Devonshire, where the chief centres include Newquay, Bude, Perranporth, St Ives and  Woolncombe, Pembrokeshire and the island of Jersey. Surfing has developed from the early achievements of a few daring swimmers challenging the giant wave crests of the Pacific to a sport engaged in by serious sportsmen in every part of the world where the right conditions present themselves.

Pieces of driftwood and planks of timber formed the primitive makeshift surfboards of the early pioneers, but today the sports stores carry scientifically-designed boards beautifully constructed of Balsa wood, polyuretliane and fibreglass. A modern Malibu board, 8ft long and weighing some 20lb, with its shark-like outline and dorsal fin or "skeg", can cost over £32stg. It is a gaily decorated accoutrement, as finely balanced and streamlined as any hydrofoil.

Big-wave riding originated in the Hawaiian Islands and spread its lure to the United States, to Australia and to those sections of the European coastline which are eternally pounded by the Atlantic rollers. In all these places you will find the "surfies", an almost nomadic body of men who stem from many regions and climes and like the Polynesians of old-seem to spend their lives in a realm of sea spray, sand and sun tan. There is a strong Australian influence on the surfing beaches of Britain.

Even their language is salty. They speak in esoteric terms of .beach and wave profiles; their special vocabulary comprises such expressions as "kick-outs", "cut backs", "hot doggers", "dumpers", "wipe-outs", and "soup-outs". To describe different manoeuvres they will use terms like "on the nose", "walking", and "hanging five or ten", the last being a reference to toes. They are dedicated, athletic men who spend long hours in the sea in the summer months and never really satiate their love of this kind of speed.

They are the perfectionists, to whom those who would emulate them must turn to learn something of their skill - for, make no mistake, real surf-riding is essentially a sport for the skilled. There is one aspect of surfing that may claim to be unique, for this is basically the one sport which embraces within itself highly developed life-saving techniques.

Beachguards - The popularity of riding the big waves has brought into being a number of expertly-trained teams of strong swimmers and beach guards who provide a voluntary protective force wherever the surf runs high around the Atlantic coast resorts. There are now about 30clubs affiliated to the Surf-Saving Association of Great Britain founded in 1955. The surfing contests, carnivals and displays organised at various resorts each summer under the auspices of the association attract large crowds and provide a thrilling spectacle for the holidaymakers on the beaches. Pride of place in the annual calendar goes to the National Surf Championships, which were inaugurated in 1958 at Porthtowan and have been held since then at St. Agnes. Perranporth, Bude, St. Ives and(last year) Newquay.

This year the big event moves out of Cornwall for the first time – to Woolacombe, a small and attractive North Devon resort noted for one of the finest sandy beaches in the country. The championships are spread over two days, and the programme' always opens with the colourful march-past of the 10-man club teams carrying their distinctive pennants. Then follow the various contests (including belt races, ski races, surf races, rescue and resuscitation competitions and the National Board-Riding Championship's), in which purely sporting appeal is intermingled with practical application to life-saving.

The Surf Life-Saving Association has now organised a scheme whereby owners of surf boards, surfskis, canoes, kyaks  and small dingies maybe registered as "responsible persons observing the water and beach safety codes and conforming with the wishes of surf life-savers, beachguards and harbour authorities." In addition, two new awards have been devised for non-Association members: a Resuscitation Certificate and a Certificate of Surf Competence. Of course, you need not be an expert to taste some of the simpler joys of surfing. Down on the Atlantic beaches you will see plenty of holiday makers riding the surf for the final few yards of its journey to the shore and being happily deposited on the sand when the wave recedes. That may not be what the experts call surf-riding- but it's good fun all the same. Britannia rides the waves. (1965, July 1). The Canberra Times(ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 20. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105758580

SURF CLUB FOR BRITISH BEACH - LONDON, Tues (A.A.P.). -Surf life-saving clubs are to be formed at two Cornish beaches where lives have been lost this season. This is the outcome of demonstrations in Australian surf life-saving techniques at Bude, Cornwall, last weekend. The Australians have lent a surf  reel, brought to Britain in the Royal liner Gothic, to the councils controlling the two beaches where the clubs are to be formed. The Bude - Stratton Council has presented an illuminated address and silver inkstand to Australian life-saving expert. Photo: Mr. Allan Kennedy, who gave the Bude life-savers their first instruction. ILLUSTRATED SURF CLUB FOR BRITISH BEACH. (1954, September 1). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved February 27, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27243127

SUNTANNED, bearded Ross Renwick, of Roseville, N.S.W., who contributed the article opposite on the current hot-doggin' craze, can be found most summer weekends with his balsa board at Bilgola Beach, one of Sydney's northern beaches. Twenty-three-year-old Ross has been riding surfboards himself for seven years; he is looking forward to competing sin the first hot-dog meet of this summer's surf carnival. ILLUSTRATED. The Weekly Round. (1958, December 3). The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48077083

SURF BOARDS PROHIBITED. At the last Meeting of the Waverley Council an application was received from Mr. F. Foran for permission to use  a surf board at Bondi. It was decided to Inform the applicant that the practice of surf shooting by means of a surf board was one that should not be encouraged, as It caused Inconvenience  and annoyance to the public. The Inspectors were ordered to see that The practice was discontinued. SURF BOARDS PROHIBITED. (1916, April 19). Evening News(Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), p. 6. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115838277

Why are surfboards registered? EVEN though the 5/- registration fee is such a small amount, I still think it fair that we should know for what reason we register our boards. The "boys from the club" had come round the beach to collect fees, and a conversation along these lines followed:

Us: Why do we have to register boards?

Them: You have to register cars for the use of the road, so you register boards for the use of the beach.

Us: But there is a lot of upkeep as far as the use of roads is concerned. What upkeep, apart from cleaning up, is there on the beaches?

Them: You have to have a beach patrol.

Us: Lifesavers patrol the body-surfing area, not the board area. Boardriders if in trouble rely on other riders. Why not make body-surfers pay a registration fee?

Them: If you hit a bodysurfer and your board isn't registered and a lot of damage is caused you can be sued for everything. Whereas, if your board is registered, you have a fair chance of getting off more lightly.

Us: How ridiculous! Whether or not your board is registered isn't going to make any difference in how much they sue you for. Any-way, it's your job to keep body-surfers out of the board area. We manage to keep out of the body area.

We weren't kicking up a fuss about paying the 5/-,we just want to know why. We never did find out. - "Bilgola Bunny," Beecroft, N.S.W. Letters. (1965, December 29). The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982), p. 48. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51190827

Service in the Sun (1957) - On a beautiful day at Bondi, two members of the American surf lifesaving team and one from the Hawaiian team take to the water to show off the latest surfing techniques. They are in Australia for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, where surf lifesaving is a demonstration sport. Hawaiian team manager and surfing legend Dick Kahanamoku watches from the beach, with the board he made during his first visit to Australia in late 1914. The Hawaiian and American surfers display technique far beyond anything then known in Australia. See film at: http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/service-in-the-sun/clip1/#

Right: Sport - Surfing - The flags of six different countries flew on Collaroy Beach, near Sydney, during an international surf carnival held during December 1956 - A Scottish pipe band plays during the march past of teams from United States, New Zealand, South Africa, Hawaii, Ceylon, Australia and many New South Wales surf life saving clubs PRINCIPAL CREDIT: photographer J Fitzpatrick, courtesy National Archives of Australia, Image No.:  A1200, L22507

Freshwater Surf (1956) - Annual State Surf Championship in progress at Freshwater Bay. LV. Life savers parading on beach. GV. Two crews rowing their boats out to the sea. LV. Single boat making its way out through enormous breakers. GV. Two boats being rode out to sea through a breaker. LV. Crew of boat jumping overboard as they are swamped by enormous waves. LTV. Single boat being swept to a shore with the crew hanging on grimly. GV. Two boats being smothered by big waves showing men in the water. LV. One boat being completely capsized and disappearing in the foam.  See film at: http://www.britishpathe.com/video/freshwater-surf/query/swamps

1956 Melbourne Olympics and Surf Carnivals

IF you are within striking distance of Torquay, Victoria's Jewel of surfing beaches, on either of the two Olympic Sundays, you will see an Australian sport at its best. Just 58 miles from Melbourne, 3,000 bronzed athletes of the surf will put on grand displays. Life-savers from all Australian States and many overseas clubs will stage a grand March PastOn November 25 the International Surf Carnival will be held, and on the following Sunday the National Surf Championships. Life-savers will demonstrate rescue methods. Then there is the surfboat race, in which 60 boats will plough out to calmer waters behind the line of breakers to come rocketing in on rolling walls of water. Three hundred surfers will compete In surf ski races.

Overseas competitors - Taking part on both Sundays will be 70 teams from Australia and 70 overseas competitors from Ceylon, South Africa, New Zealand, and Hawaii. Admission to the carnivals at Torquay on both Sundays is 5/ for adults and 3/ for children. Grandstand seats at £2/2/may be reserved by contacting the secretary of the association, Mr. J. Williams, atXB5210 or MU2129. Admission, grandstand reserved seat and rail-bus tickets are now on sale at the Victorian Government Tourist Bureau, 272 Collins st., MF0202.

Here is how to get to Torquay: Special trains leave Flinders st. station at 8.45 a.m. and 8.50 a.m., and arrive at Geelong; at 9.45 a.m. Other trains leave Flinders st. station at 9.20 a.m. and9.25 a.m., arrive at Geelong at 10.50 a.m. All trains connect with buses at Geelong for Torquay.  AND THE SPILLS. (1956, November 16). The Argus(Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 29. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71765983

HAWAIIAN SURFERS - SYDNEY, November, 11. -Twelve American and 10 Hawaiian llfesavers will arrive In Sydney on Tuesday, the advance guard of an international surf invasion. HAWAIIAN SURFERS. (1956, November 15). The Central Queensland Herald (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1930 - 1956), p. 16. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79270839

SIR ARTHURS £4 ½  M. BREAK - "Australian lifesavers last year saved 4,083 lives which, based on the average income tax payment of £85/11/3, means a saving to the Commonwealth of £412,927/11/3," Judge Curlewis, Australian Life Savers' Association president, said yesterday. He was speaking at a Town Hall function arranged by Sir Frank Selleck, Lord Mayor, to entertain representatives of surf life saving associations from all parts of the world.

Judge Curlewis added: "It has taken me 35 years of hard battle to make the public realise we are doing a worthwhile job. A job which is done voluntarily, because no member receives any payment for saving lives."

Representatives of South African, Ceylon, Hawaiian, New Zealand, Australian, and American life saving teams cheered loudly when Duke Kahanamoku, former Olympic swimming champion, called at the Town Hall to pay a formal visit to the Lord Mayor.

"He is the greatest surfman ever," they said, and the Lord Mayor agreed. SIR ARTHUR'S £½M. BREAK. (1956, November 28). The Argus(Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71768399

THEY CAME FROM EVERYWHERE FOR OUR GREATEST DAY. Their 8000 mile trip just failed. Duke of Hawaii smiles his way in. Beaming their delight, Hawaii's top personality, Duke P. Kahanamóku, and his wife (above)step smartly to their seats at the Games opening yesterday. A former Olympic Gold Medallist in the swimming ranks, Duke was a great friend-and opponent- of the late Sir Frank Beaurepaire, who did so much towards winning Melbourne the XVI Olympiad. ILLUSTRATED. THEY CAME FROM EVERYWHERE FOR OUR GREATEST DAY. (1956, November 23). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71767378

Surf Full Of Melons. Hundreds of big jam melons that had been carried out to sea by the Hawkesbury River flood, were washed up in the surf at Avalon Beach yestcrday. Most of them were in sound condition despite their long journey – possibly 50 miles. They were quickly snapped up by scores of local residents and visitors. Mr. Ronald Hogg, who lives nearby, said that people went to the beach on foot and in cars and trucks, which they loaded with melons. Others staggered away with chaff bags full. Apparently the melons had been swept by floodwaters from farms along the upper parts of the Hawkesbury. Surf Full Of Melons. (1949, June 20). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18119781

THIS IS AUSTRALIA. First of a series. A SURF CARNIVAL is our choice for the first picture in this new series of scenes shouting aspects of Australian life. This summer marks the beginning of the surf lifesavers'' 50th year of voluntary service to the public. Since 1907 they have saved 96.000 people. In the 198 clubs of the Surf Life-Saving Association of Australia there are now 8699 members, who pay an annual fee of 10/- for the privilege of saving life. Clubs which have adopted Australian methods are flourishing in Great Britain, South Africa, New Zealand, Ceylon, and Hawaii. Staff photographer Clive Thompson took this picture at the end of a march past at Collaroy,  N.S.W. THIS IS AUSTRALIA. (1956, January 11). The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982), p. 11. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51939244

Going Further Back To 1914 And Beyond - Duke Kahanamoku And Isabel Letham

FIRST SURF BATHING. TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. Sir-Referring to your letters on early surfing in Australia my father Albert G Hanson of Concord always claimed that he was the pioneer of surf-bathing In Australia when George Thornton (one-time Major of Sydney) he,  myself a brother and young sister surfed off the ocean beach in Manly in 1876. We wore webbing bathing trunks. The following year we went to England returning in 1885 when we again lived in Manly and immediately started surf-bathing. Others followed suit when protests were made to the council about people bathing in a state of semi-nudity The police informed my father that they had been instructed to prosecute anyone bathing between six in the morning and six at night. As we always bathed between five and six this did not affect us but aroused public indignation and as a result of meetings the council later approved of surfbathing in a knee -to-knee costume.

Yours faithfully, E. O. HANSON. Avalon Beach, Sept. 14. FIRST SURF BATHING. (1939, September 18). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17641238

A SYDNEY SEA-GULL - Athletic Girl Who Rides the Waves at 15 Miles an Hour. When the Niagara leaves for Americas he will take an enterprising young Australian sportswoman with her. This is Miss Isabel Letham, of Freshwater, who forsakes her own country for moving picture work in America. Miss Letham will break in on a new side. She is finely athletic, can play most games, and rides well. But it will be for her work in the water that she will appeal to the Americans. Here she can put up some attractive 'stunts.' She is an expert surf shooter, and a fine performer on the surf-board, with which she has interopted so many visitors to Freshwater in the season. She manipulates the big board in true Hawaiian style, and among her feats is the bringing in of a couple of passengers upon it from the outside breakers.

'She is afraid of nothing,' said a friend of Miss Letham's the other day.

'Yes, I am, I am afraid of sharks,-' she contradicted.

Yet this does not prevent her from tearing round the harbor on an aquaplane which is being towed behind a motor boat at 15 miles an hour. In her picture shown on this page Miss Letham on a board which is about 3ft long by18in. wide. Below her is the shark infested harbor, and it is only her nerve and her wonderful balance that keep her out of it. Miss Letham fell once or twice while learning the art of aquaplaning, her most disturbing experience being when she slipped off as she was passing Sydney Heads. Aquaplaning has not caught on with the girl swimmers of Sydney to any great extent. It is too dangerous, and the sharks arc so great a menace. Miss Letham, however, pronounces it the finest sport in the world, notwithstanding the fascination the sun has tor her. The Freshwater mermaid is eagerly anticipating the joys of Honolulu. No, she does not hunger for the sights and scenes of Hawaiian beauty. She says: 'Just as soon as the gangway is down when we arrive, I am off in a taxi for the breakers.' A SYDNEY SEA-GULL. (1918, August 18). Sunday Times(Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), p. 13. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123137676

"DUKE'' KAHANAMOKU - The Hawaiian swimmer, the Olympic 100 Metre Champion, whose speed in the water is nothing short of marvellous. "DUKE" KAHANAMOKU. (1912, November 23). Globe (Sydney, NSW : 1911 - 1914), p. 4 Edition: WEEKLY. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98404629

SWIMMING. DUKE KAHANAMOKU COMING. Duke Kahanamoku, the wonderful Hawaiian swimmer and champion amateur sprint of the world, will visit Australia during the next swimming season. Kahauamoku is the greatest sprint swimmer the world has known. His record for 100 yards being 55 l-5s. which was recently accomplished, but has not yet been passed. His figures for the 100 metres — 1min 1 ,4-5s— are phenomenal. Besides these records he is a marvel in the surf and his exhibitions here are looked forward to with keen interest by surf-lovers. SWIMMING. (1913, June 27). The Sydney Stock and Station Journal (NSW : 1896 - 1924), p. 15. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article124119511

DUKE KAHANAMOKU ARRIVES. Sydney, Monday. Duke Kahanamoku, the Hawaiian sprint swimmer, arrived in Sydney by the Sonoma to-day, accompanied by other Island swimming cracks. Telegrams. DUKE KAHANAMOKU ARRIVES. (1914, December 15). Leader (Orange, NSW : 1912 - 1922), p. 2. Retrieved  from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article117886499

SWIMMING. SURF DISPLAY BY KAHANAMOKU. The New South Wales Swimming Association has  arranged for a display by Duke Paoa Kahanamoku at Freshwater on Wednesday morning, at 11 o'clock. The famous swimmer will give an exhibition of breaker-shooting and board shooting. SWIMMING. (1914, December 22 - Tuesday). The Sydney Morning Herald(NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 12. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15554263

THE HUMAN MOTOR BOAT. DUKE KAHANAMOUKU'S WAY OFSHOOTING THE BREAKERSWONDERFUL WATER FEATS . HAWAIIAN IN HIS ELEMENT  - There is one man only in Australia at the present time who can get aboard a breaker. He is Duke Kahanamouku, the human motor boat from Honolulu, one of the world's champion swimmers, who is in our midst now for the forthcoming swimming carnivals.  Up till recently we had known him only by repute; we had seen him in picture in one of his famous attitudes — standing on his surf board, being borne shorewards on the crest of a wave, a smile on his dusky countenance, and there were a lot of us who imagined the poster to be grossly exaggerated; too theatrical, in fact. But we are wrong. The man on the poster is the Duke all right, but the picture errs on the side of modesty. It should have shown him balancing himself on his head on the board. This was one of the attitudes he struck at a private display of his wonderful surfing prowess given before a small gathering at Freshwater last Thursday morning. Nothing more remarkable in the way of a natatorial exhibition has ever been seen locally.  Standing on the beach and looking seaward, all one could see was a towselled head, 300 or 400 yards away. It belonged to the Duke. As he rose on the next wave one could see his  long dusky body stretched flat on his surf board, which was heaving and tossing like a cork on the face of the ocean. A moment or two later there was a wild whoop of joy from the Hawaiian native, who could be seen scrambling on to his knees. He got there at last, paddled frantically for a few yards, and then stood up. For the fraction of a second he poised, and then, giving the board beneath him a dextrous twist with his foot, shot over the surface of the water at a tremendous rate  of speed. So lightning-like was the movement that all one could see was a dark figure— it might have been a post for all that the spectators knew — flying through space. A distance of 100 yards — a very small shoot for the Duke — took but a few seconds to traverse. What a picture he presented as he stood upright, the breakers curling beneath him, a smile on his face. Then he moved his feet again, and turning the board completely round, dived backwards into the boiling surf. A moment later his dark body glistening in the sun-light come to view again beside his precious board. And then the process was repeated all over again. The manner and rapidity with which Kahanamouku goes to sea on his board is truly marvellous. The board is 8ft. 6in. long, 2ft. wide, and three inches through at its thickest part. It reminds one of a coffin lid, the only difference being that it tapers at either end, more so at the front, however, in order to mount the breakers. A little more wood is left in the lower half of the board for purposes of stability. Its shellac surface is as slippery as a dancing floor, and altogether it weighs about70lb. It is not the Duke's private board, though, for it was made locally from sugar pine. Kahanamouku's own board is made of redwood, and is about 10lb. lighter, but he is immensely pleased with the local production, and says that after he has rubbed sand into its surface liberally that it will be equal to his own. Despite its great weight and awkward shape, the Duke shoulders his board jauntily until he reaches the shore. He gives it a hefty push, and throws himself flat on it. As soon as he gets into a foot of water he begins to work his arms, breast stroke — a method of propulsion that sends him out to sea about three times as quickly as a man swimming at his fastest rate of speed. Last Thursday some of the best local swimmers tried to keep pace with him, but he left them hopelessly behind. To balance himself on the board he simply places the left leg forward. The right is ten inches behind in a diagonal position. In such a posture he has complete control of the craft,  and can, by using his feet, twist it in any direction he wishes. He can even wheel it round in the water like a flash. The best time to indulge in the sport, says Kahanamouku, is when there is a swell on the  surface of the ocean, and when there is an almost complete absence of surf. It is then that the dusky native is seen in his most picturesque attitude — balancing himself on his head on the board, and allowing the waves to bear him shorewards.  Under the same conditions the Duke performs another remarkable water feat. He takes a boy out to sea with him, and mounting his board allows the youngster to climb on to his back. In this fashion Kahanamouku and his passenger are brought in. Of course, it would be a rare occasion when he would be able to perform this feat round the Australian coast. Though there are dozens of natives at Honolulu who can ride a surf-board with almost the same dexterity as the Duke, not one of them can maintain his balance on the board and carry a passenger as well. Once one has become expert in this form of sport in the water he forsakes body surfing forever; why, it can readily be understood. It is faster in every respect, is not nearly so tire-some, and as for exhilaration, well there is the same difference as between cycling and motoring.  Of course, there is a good deal of danger in the sport, especially if there be other swimmers in the vicinity. Provided, however, that various portions of the beaches round Sydney are set apart for the express purpose of surf-board riding, there is no reason why it should not become popular locally. After witnessing Kahanamouku's remarkable display last Thursday, one of the local swimming enthusiasts remarked, "I'm giving up surfing; I'm going to duck into the bush right now to search for apiece of bark;" and he wasn't the only one in the vicinity filled with the same ambitions.

KAHANAMOUKU CARRYING THE IMMENSE BOARD ON WHICH HE CARRIES OUT HIS WONDERFUL WATER FEATS. It measures 8ft 6in by 2ft, is 3in through at its thickest part, and weighs over 70lb.

THE EXHILARATING PASTIME OF SURF BOARDING. Duke Kahanamouku, world's champion swimmer, standing on his surf board shooting the breakers at Freshwater.  — "Sunday Times" Photo.  THE HUMAN MOTOR BOAT. (1914, December 27). Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), p. 14. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article126760932

GIANT SURF BOARDS AT SCARBOROUGH: Two big surfboards of the type used at Sydney beaches were seen at Scarborough recently. The boards are eight feet long and weigh over 50lb. Lieut. R. R. McKissock, the Defence Department's physical training specialist, is on the left and Mr. E. Armstrong, the racing motorist, is on the rightGIANT SURF BOARDS AT SCARBOROUGH:. (1930, May 1).Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), p. 23. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38510459

On The Beach At Torquay  OUTSIZE SURF BOARDS for Miss Valerie Jewell, Miss Elaine Hill, and Mrs Nobby Clark, holidaying at Torquay. On The Beach At Torquay. (1946, December 30). The Argus(Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 6. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22391466

 L to R: Kevin Dennis, Ken Mackey and Mick Dooley - surfing legends.

 L- R: Steve Reynolds, John Stone and Robbi Luscombe-Newman.

July 17 - 23, 2016: Issue 272

 

Community Seeks To Acknowledge Historic Ground-Breaking Contributions

Left to right: Geoff Searl, Kevin Dennis, Roger Sayers, David Lyall, Robbi Luscombe-Newman, Bob Head, Alex McTaggart 

The timber board Robbi is holding is from the original design that David Lyall talked about in the past article, The Arrival of the Mal – 1956 Surfboards
Alex McTaggart  found it on a clean up in the early 70s in Gladstone street, Newport and knew it needed to be ‘kept’!
Roger has his Mick Dooley Mal in this picture.
AVALON.
Pearling waves that cream milk-white,
Sun-drenched sands and skies of blue
Linger in my memory
Avalon, my heart's with you!

DOROTHEA DOWLING.

AVALON. (1935, May 4). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), , p. 11. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17151649

On November 18th this year the 60th Anniversary of the day locals witnessed visiting Americans ride across the waves on Malibu surfboards will arise over the southern end of the Avalon Beach horizon.

Similarly, and also in November, the first trial of an inflatable rescue boat (IRB) for surf rescues took place at Avalon Beach on the second day of that month in 1969.  The idea to use IRBs for surf rescue purposes was that of Warren Mitchell OAM of Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club.  

The first IRB surf rescue occurred in the following month when Warren and John Fuller rescued eight children caught in a rip in the centre of Avalon Beach.

Given the great air of uncertainty that had surrounded the concept, I was just a little happy to find the bloody thing worked! We worked against great odds. It was a team effort by Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club.’ - Warren Mitchell OAM.


 
The first surf rescue IRB trial: Avalon Beach, 2 November 1969. Driver: Warren Mitchell, OAM, Life Member, Avalon Beach SLSC. Crew: Don Mitchell, Life Member, Avalon Beach SLSC - See Issue 231: The Quiet Revolution - Or Making Waves? by Rogers Sayers

"Numerous improvements to the original IRB were developed by Warren.  IRBs proved themselves to be faster, more efficient and safer for rescues than the traditional belt line and reel, or oared surfboats.

Warren’s pioneering work here at Avalon Beach revolutionised surf life saving methods and paved the way for other innovations for surf lifesavers to save lives. Over 200,000 people rescued by SLSA IRBs around Australia and many more around the world can thank Warren for persevering with his original idea. " Roger said this week.

A few years ago Kevin Dennis began discussing with locals an idea to place a plaque at Avalon Beach to honour the contribution of the Malibu surfboard exhibition so visitors could be informed of what had occurred where they stand, much along the lines of plaques found in numerous places around Australia where something historically significant has happened.

Roger Sayers, a Life Member of Avalon Beach SLSC, put forward a proposal that a second plaque honouring Warren Mitchell’s contribution to Surf Life Saving would also enhance and further the knowledge of visitor and resident alike.

Those who witnessed the visiting surfers can attest to that also being a day or revolution.

They paddled their boards out in front of the rocks at South Avalon and we all laughed thinking they’d get smashed on the rocks.  Everyone was amazed when they turned their boards and rode across the face of the wave in front of the rocks.  Surfboard riding from then on was totally different.’   - the late Max Watt, Life Member Avalon Beach SLSC.

Bilgola SLSC David Lyall, who was also there that day, and designed and built the first Malibus here, explained this week,

Prior to that the surfboard, used as a piece of rescue equipment, went out and would come back in, in one straight line. These men could ride across the waves – the manoeuvrability, water length of the board and speed of that board changed everything.

This happened after the Avalon Beach SLSC carnival the visitors had participated in that day – normally we’d all head off to the Newport Hotel for a few post-carnival beers but this day everyone stayed and watched – everyone was amazed.”

How long were the 'toothpick' versions of surfboards? - at least this long and longer: SALE, 15ft. SURF BOARD. as new, best, offer. Pascoe . "Smart St.,'. Fairfield. Advertising (1957, December 18). The Biz (Fairfield, NSW : 1928 - 1972), p. 21. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189935603

The post-Carnival photograph of Avalon Beach SLSC members and their American visitors. Courtesy ABHS.

Mr. Lyall immediately began designing then building this new kind of surf board with fellow Bilgola SLSC member Doug Jackson.

"A quick look at the shape and dimensions of the visitors boards and it was off to the Jackson Furniture Factory at Newtown after work on the Monday.

After a few experiments, and by working each afternoon after work, two boards were ready for the weekend. These boards were launched at Bilgola and were described by one journalist – Ross Renwick, the founder and mainstay of Billy Blue and a past long-time resident of Avalon as “Looked like and floated like a door.”

The boards were a hollow construction of timber sides, ply frames, plywood top and bottom, timber fin and proved to be a great success. The interest was so great that both boards were sold on the Sunday afternoon at a more than appreciative price.

So back to the factory for Model No 2!!

Soon other boards started appearing from the manufacturers of long boards and skis – Gordon Woods, Bill Wallace, Joe Larkin, all legendary surf board makers, all of the same hollow design.

The design by Jackson and Lyall was modified and each production was tested at the weekends at Bilgola and raised the constant call of “Can I have a lend?” or “How about a go?” from other club members.

It was at this stage the name ‘Okanui’ was given to these particular boards – “out the back” (waiting for the right wave) and I am sure it was Ross Renwick that first used the name.

By now the demand for the boards was so great that Doug and I decided to produce kits – all the timbers and ply cut to size ready for home enthusiasts to prepare, assemble and finish.

This work and the construction of finished boards used up most of the spare time of Doug and myself, with of course the weekends kept free for wave riding. I do recall that two of the kits were successfully assembled by locals – John Wilson, whose wife Alannah may recall the drama of construction, and Tony Clune.

I am also pleased to see that we have one of these kit boards here through the research of Geoff Searl, John Stone and the kind participation of Robbi Luscombe-Newman." See Issue 152: The Arrival of the Mal – 1956 Surfboards by David Lyall and Bob Head



The drawings for David's 'Okanui' - courtesy David Lyall

Fittingly the first Australian Malibu Surfboard Riding Championship was also held at Avalon Beach on 27-28 May 1961, organised by Bob Head, President Avalon Boardriding Club and Life Member Avalon Beach SLSC.

Alex McTaggart, too young to witness the display, outlined some of what this innovation brought to the Northern Beaches, apart from the obvious evolutions we see of recent decades such as World Champion surfers, a clothing industry based in surf culture, a lifestyle and way of being that connects people with Nature and good health. 

I was at a NASA event in 1998 when John Haymes, club president, showed up with Greg Knoll one of the Californians who told the story of his 1956 visit.

From there I researched what I could. In all of the club and branch annual reports it was clear that the visit had little effect on the SLS movement but of course a monumental cultural shift on beach culture.

Interestingly in the Dee Why annual report of 1962 the president remarked that clubs needed to do more to attract “surfers”.

In November 2006, for the 50th anniversary, Kevin Dennis and I held a function at the Avalon surf club where we presented the information collected and invited participants to tell their stories before it was lost.

We wrote to all clubs who attended the Olympics or Sydney carnivals inviting them."

Alex also explained another key point that should go in the permanent records that can be attributed to the Mal revolution and Avalon Beach:

There is a house in Harley road called the Sphinx once owned by the Sumpters, an English family with sons David [MEX ] and Rodney [Goofer]. Mr Sumpter was the secretary of Avalon surf club and in about 1962, tired of the disharmony between surfers and the club, he called for a meeting at the Sphinx followed by a meeting at the surf club where the Australian surfing movement was formed, later called the ‘Australian Surfing Association’. 

Mr Sumpter went back to England and John Haymes purchased the house.”

Certainly something worth acknowledging, celebrating and making others aware of, isn’t it…??

This aim to inform the general public and honour the contributions is supported by NASA, the Avalon Beach Historical Society and Avalon Beach SLSC as well as other local proponents of the iconic Mal as a great way to enjoy your waves.

Roger Sayers began discussions with Council and received positive feedback for the idea prior to recent changes. 

Roger would like to hear from residents what they think of the proposal of plaques being installed at the place where these events happened, whether for or against. Please email him at:  rogersayers1@gmail.com

More soon!

A Few Extras

SURF LIFE-SAVING - Australian association
President of the Surf Life-saving Association of Australia (Judge Adrian Curlewis), has announced that a team of American life-savers will come to Australia next month. The team will represent the Surf Lifesaving Association of U.S.A. which was formed only last month.
The Americans will compete in international surf carnivals at Torquay, Melbourne, and at Collaroy and Maroubra in Sydney in December. They will compete against teams from Australia, Hawaii, New Zealand, South Africa and Ceylon. Judge Curlewis said the formation of an American Surf Association now made it possible for Australian surf teams to visit America in the future. Judge Curlewis said the formation of the American Surf Lifesaving Association and the coming visit of the American team were the direct results of the support the managing director of Ampol Petroleum Ltd. (Mr. W G. Walkley), had given to surf lifesaving. "Without a gift of £2000 from Mr. Walkley, the S.L.S.A. would not be able to stage the coming international carnivals," Judge Curlewis said. "Before Mr. Walkley made his magnanimous contribution, the S.L.S.A. sought help from every council in Australia, but could raise only £1000. In addition, Mr. Walkley sent Mr. Arthur Fatkyn, Queensland S.L.S.A. official, to Honolulu to prepare an Hawaiian team for the international carnivals, "Last month, Mr. Parkyn went to California, and his visit led to the formation of an American Surf Lifesaving Association among sportsmen who surf on Californian beaches. This is something the Surf Lifesaving Association of Australia has been striving for for many years. As a gesture to Mr. Walkley's efforts to foster international surf lifesaving, the American Association appointed him their patron."
Judge Curlewis said that after surf lifesaving became established in Australia, the movement spread first to New Zealand and then to South Africa and Ceylon. "The Hawaiian Surf Lifesaving Association was formed in 1953 after the visit of an Australian surf team to Honolulu," he said. "Last year the Surf Lifesaving Association of Great Britain was formed with clubs in Cornwall and Blackpool.
"Now as a result of the formation of the American Association, we look forward eagerly to the day when an Australian team can visit California. "This has been the goal of many Australian surf enthusiasts for many years.
Judge Curlewis said entries for toe international carnival had closed when word reached him this week of the formation of the American Association.
"Naturally we are delighted to extend an invitation to the Americans," he said. "We expect a team of 10 or 12 to come to Australia.
"The voluntary officers now have a lot of work ahead of them arranging transport, accommodation, equipment and training of the Americans."

SURF LIFE SAVING (1956, October 24).The Biz (Fairfield, NSW : 1928 - 1972), p. 27. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189250302

OVERSEAS LIFESAVERS
Teams of 12 American and 10 Hawaiian lifesavers have arrived in Sydney to compete in international surf carnivals in Melbourne and Sydney in the next month. They will be the first lifesavers from America or Hawaii to compete in surf carnivals In Australia.
The Americana and Hawaiians will appear at international surf carnivals at Torquay, Victoria on November 25 and December 3, and at Maroubra and Collaroy, in Sydney, on December 8 and 9. They will compete against teams from South Africa, Ceylon. New Zealand and Australia and Die belt champion of England. Their first appearances in Australia were at carnivals at Cronulla and Avalon.

The visit of the American and Hawaiian teams was made possible by the sponsorship of the managing director of Ampol Petroleum Ltd. (Mr. W. G. Walkley).
With the exception of their captain, 45-year-old Herb Barthels, their ages range from 18 to 24. They are a team of young giants. The baby of the team is 18-year-old Roger Jensen, of Malibu beach, who is 6ft. 5 ins. tall and weighs 190 lbs. Their appearance in the march past at the international carnivals should cause a sensation, because they will wear the most striking three colour parade costumes ever seen on an Australian beach. The trunks of the costumes will be a vivid red, the midriff white and the torso and shoulder straps a rich blue. On the upper front of the costume there will be the letters 'U.S.A.' in red and white and two white stars. On the back of the costumes, against the blue background, -will be five white stars.

Magnificent march past costumes have also been made in New South Wales for the Hawaiian team. Because the Americans are professional lifeguards, at the international carnivals they will compete only in events where life saving equipment is used.
 OVERSEAS LIFESAVERS (1956, November 21). The Biz (Fairfield, NSW : 1928 - 1972), p. 17. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189246779

Life-Savers In Red, White, Blue
SYDNEY, November 16. American life-savers will appear at the Cronulla surf carnival tomorrow in the most striking march-past costumes ever seen on an Australian beach.
They will wear costumes of red, white and blue with seven white stars and the letters "USA." superimposed on the blue upper section of the costume.
The Americans and the Hawaiians, who will also take part In the carnival tomorrow, will go to Melbourne next week for International carnivals on November 25 and December 2
. Life-Savers In Red, White, Blue (1956, November 22). The Central Queensland Herald (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1930 - 1956), , p. 29. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79271077

World surf stars thrill crowd
By JUDY JOY DAVIES

Tall, bronzed life-savers in their brightly colored uniforms, slowly and majestically marched across the sands of Torquay yesterday and 170,000 people cheered one of the most spectacular scenes of our Olympic Games Carnival. Thirty-five teams representing the U.S.A, Hawaii, Ceylon, South Africa, New Zealand, Great Britain, and local and interstate surf life saving clubs-competed in the international surf carnival.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the events continued non-stop. As the crowds increased, they packed the beach, then the headland - soon cars took over the golf course. And then the tide turned, and coming inshore, started nibbling the golden beach away. The colorful march past was put forward an hour to 1 p.m. - and even then there was hardly enough beach left for the 35 bronzed and youthful teams to march on.
Wearing colorful costumes of blue tops with white stars, a white centre band, and scarlet trunks, the U.S. team brought cheers from the huge crowd.
But the more experienced New Zealanders won the international march past, with Ceylon second, and South Africa third.
White-haired Duke Kahanamouku, sheriff of Hawaii and former dual Olympic swimming champion, sat among the carnival crowd with Australian "Boy" Charlton, another former Olympian.
"It's great," the Duke said, "the sight of surf always thrills mc."
But for once the Torquay surf was rather tame, no boats were upended and the small waves were hard to catch.
The Americans caused a surprise when they appeared with their version of surf boards. Very narrow, and made of light fibre glass, they proved a lot faster than the normal Australian board.

Astounded
And our reel-and-line method of surf rescue astounded them!
The American idea is to carry a coil of nylon line into the surf and play it out as they swim to the patient. They wear no belt attached to a reel, as we do here.
Judge Adrian Curlewiss, Australian Surf Life Saving Association president, said the international Olympic carnival had brought about an exchange of ideas - the Americans were going to try our reel-and-line method, and we would experiment with their torpedo line.
Judge Curlewis added that an international advisory surf committee would now be formed.
Hawaii won the International beach relay from South Africa and the U.S. A.
Tom Zahn, of Hawaii, won the board race from Mike Bright, of U.S.A, and G. Williams, of Western Australia.
New South Wales won the interstate rescue and resuscitation from Queensland and Western Australia. Jim Fountain, of Victoria, won the senior interstate belt race from R. Hounslow, of Western Australia, and R. Reid, of South Australia.
The Americans claim the Australian reel and line is cumbersome, and that the "torpedo" would halve rescue time. The nylon line is in a rubber buoy fastened under the patient's arms. 
World surf stars thrill crowd (1956, November 26). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7176801

Any second now there is going to be a big splash as Stewart Stabling topples from his surf board into the water at Lorne. But Stewart won't mind, even if the water is a little cold - because the falls are all part of the sport of surf riding. 

It's grand to be young... and fit.... and healthy..... and in luck, too (1957, January 9). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71775305 

FAMILY RESCUED WITH SURF BOARD
HONOLULU, Friday (A. A. P.Reuter): Small boats and surf-boards were used yesterday in the speedy rescue of a Tasmanian family after their yacht, Solquest, struck a reef off the Honolulu residential area in early morning darkness.
Mr. and Mrs. Lynn . Staples, and their two children were Los Angeles bound from Hobart when the yacht went aground. Its fate is doubtful. FAMILY RESCUED WITH SURF BOARD (1957, November 9). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), , p. 16. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91242210 
If you think the legends pictured atop this page are laughing at something, you'd be right - this happened two seconds before the top frame:

Behind Geoff, Kevin, Roger, David, Robbi, Bob and Alex is where it all happened - November 18, 1956 and November 2nd, 1969.
Historical insights courtesy Roger Sayers, Geoff Searl, David Lyall, Alex McTaggart, Kevin Dennis, Max Watt, Bob Head and Robbi Luscombe-Newman 
Report and 2016 Pictures, A J Guesdon.

November 3 - 9, 2019: Issue 427

 

Plaque Unveiled To Mark Phenomenal Surfing Revolution Commencement 

L to R: all Avalon boys; Bob Head Life Member ABSLSC, past President original Avalon Boardriders Club, introduced Malibu boardriding to Britain 1960s along with Warren Mitchell and the other ABSLSC members who went there as lifeguards, former board manufacturer....was present at the 1956 Avalon Beach carnival, Dave Watson NASA representative and Beach Without Sand proprietor, and his other hand on shoulder of... Mick Dooley winner 1964 Bells Beach Surfing Championship, 2nd Australian Surfing Championship 1964, 5th place First World Surfing Championship Manly 1964, former board manufacturer, Roger Sayers ABSLSC Life Member, local boardrider, current State Champion SLSNSW Boardriding over 70s division, Alex McTaggart local boardrider (Clr), David Lyall, Bilgola SLSC Life Member, former board maufacturer, was present at the 1956 carnival, Rob Bain NASA representative, current World Surfing Masters Champion, ABSLSC member- One beach...one community.  - photo by Annette Sayers.

The boys with the history marking plaque installed - photo by Michael Mannington, Community Photography, Nov. 2nd, 2019.

On Saturday November 2nd, 2019 a plaque was unveiled at Avalon Beach to mark one of the first significant public displays in Australia of the malibu style surfboard, which took place here on November 18th 1956. This started a change in the nature of board riding, beach culture, created a way of life, promoted the development of surf related industries, and has provided many hundreds of thousands of Australians with natural pleasure.


Alongside this tribute is another that marks the place where the first IRB trial took place to mark the 50th year of that step forward that has resulted in the saving of over 100 thousand people by surf life savers.

These significant historic developments involved your local surf club, Avalon Beach SLSC, and the Avalon Beach community and caused profound changes in surf lifesaving, surfing and beach culture in Australia.

The two plaques are long sought community projects, and are a result of and at the initiative of the surf club, Avalon Preservation Trust, Avalon Beach Historical Society, and in the case of the malibu plaque also with the support of the North Avalon Surfriders Association and individual local boardriders.

Birthplace of Australian Malibu Surfing 1956

Several notable events in the history of Australian surfing have taken place here at Avalon Beach. 

Australia’s first significant public demonstration of malibu surfing took place on 18 November 1956, when Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club (ABSLSC) hosted an international surf carnival. After the carnival, the American competitors paddled out on their new style “short” surfboards at South Avalon. 

“We all laughed, thinking they’d get smashed on the rocks. Everyone was amazed when they turned their boards and rode across the face of the wave in front of the rocks. Surfboard riding from then on was totally different.” - Max Watt, Life Member, ABSLSC.

The Avalon Beach international surf carnival  was one of a number of competitions organised by the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia as it was then known (now Surf Life Saving Australia, SLSA), to provide the Americans with some practice in the lead up to a carnival to be held at Torquay Victoria, coinciding with the Melbourne Olympics.  The day before the Avalon Beach carnival a smaller one was held at Cronulla, but SLSA’s Historian, Professor Ed Jaggard concluded in “Americans, Malibus, Torpedo Buoys, and Australian Beach Culture” Journal of Sport and History 2014,  that the Avalon Beach carnival was the biggie and had the most significant impact, as the short “Malibu” boards as the Australians called them, were seen by so many local boardriders who immediately appreciated their manoeuvrability. We don’t mind if Cronulla shares the history.

Until then boardriders had ridden the unforgiving 16 foot toothpick style boards. Bob Head Life Member of ABSLSC was present on the day as was David Lyall of Bilgola SLSC. Both say they were mesmerised as the Americans turned their boards this way and that, manouevres which weren’t possible on toothpick boards.  David reproduced the style of the boards in the only materials available at the time and constructed in the same manner as the toothpick boards. Other younger local kids sitting in the sand dunes watching the proceedings immediately changed their ideas on the kind of surfboard they wanted their parents to buy them. The local surfboard industry couldn’t keep up with demand.

The era of the toothpick hollow boards was over and that of the more manoeuvrable malibu, the forerunner of today’s surfboards, began. Events on that day and later developments revolutionised the sport of surfing, surfboard making and beach culture in Australia.

One of the original US Team members, legendary big wave surfer Greg Noll revisited Avalon in 1998 and was happily reacquainted with the surf club. 


L to R: Greg Noll and Roger Sayers - photo by Tim Hixson, 1998

A few years on, the first Australian Malibu Surfboard Riding Championship was held here on 27 and 28 May 1961, organised by Bob Head, President of Avalon Board Riding Club and member (later Life Member) of Avalon Beach SLSC. The first meeting of the Australian Surf-Riders Association, the forerunner of Surfing Australia, was held at Avalon Beach SLSC in 1963. 

Around that time some members of Avalon Beach SLSC, Warren Mitchell, Bob Head, John Campbell, John Fuller and Ian Tiley decided to travel to Old Blighty to work as Lifeguards in Cornwall. On those beaches they worked alone, so did not have the manpower at their disposal as in Australia to man rescue belts and reels, so they often used their Australian made Malibu surfboards they’d taken with them to do rescues of swimmers who had gone out too far and couldn’t get back.

When not rescuing people, Bob Head started making surfboards in England and a small troupe consisting of Bob, Warren, Ian, and John travelled around giving surfing exhibitions. No one had seen a Malibu board there before.

The Avalon Beach SLSC boys are acknowledged in the book “A History of British Surfing” (R Holmes, 1994) as the beach boys who introduced Malibu or modern surfing to Britain. Its impacts on locals who were interested in surfing were the same as in Australia.

While on lifeguard duty at his beach in Cornwall Warren was told by concerned parents that their child was missing at the beach. A large search was organised and unfortunately the child was found drowned next day, having fallen from a cliff. While it was no fault of Warren’s and he had done his best to find the child, the tragic event nevertheless weighed heavily on him. He began to think about ways in which life savers might be able to patrol beaches and rescue people in faster more efficient ways than those in current use, that were safer for the patient and the rescuer. He discussed his ideas with Bob Head and developed them further on his return to Australia, which resulted in the first successful trial of the IRB for surf rescues. 

Enjoy your surfing . . . enjoy your history.

Roger Sayers
Life Member of Avalon Beach SLSC, and Surfer


The unveiling of the plaque by Bob Head and NASA's   - photo by Michael Mannington


Local Appreciation - photo by Michael Mannington

Photos by AJG, November 2nd, 2019

 

Early Pittwater Surfers: Avalon Beach I  - 1956: The Carnival That Introduced The Malibu Surfboard And Being Able To Surf Across A Wave Face

The post-Carnival photograph of Avalon Beach SLSC members and visitors. Courtesy ABHS.
In Autumn 2014 Pittwater Online News ran a report on the Arrival Of The Mal - 1956 Surf Boards, the Avalon Beach Historical Society Meeting where Speakers David Lyall and Bob Head, Mr. Lyall a member of Bilgola SLSC in 1956 while Bob was a member at Avalon Beach SLSC, shared their accounts of witnessing American surfers being able to ride a surfboard across a wave, something not done here before. David then began making such boards, while Bob organised running the first Malibu contest in Australia on a 'short board' - 'short' in comparison to the 16 foot long toothpicks that could only go in a straight line and became history, overnight.

In 2017 the indefatigable Roger Sayers, who fortunately retired in time to take up full time historical research, sent in the following:

"The first significant public demonstration in Australia of modern malibu surfing took place here at Avalon Beach on Sunday 18 November 1956. Its far reaching effects revolutionised the sport of surfing and Australian beach culture. 

After competing in a surf carnival organised by Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club, American lifeguards here to take part in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics surf carnival, went surfing on their surfboards and carved their way across the waves off South Avalon."

They paddled their boards out in front of the rocks at South Avalon and we all laughed thinking they’d get smashed on the rocks.  Everyone was amazed when they turned their boards and rode across the face of the wave in front of the rocks.  Surfboard riding from then on was totally different.(the late Max Watt Life Member Avalon Beach SLSC)


Max and Norma Watt - behind is Southern end of Avalon Beach SLSC in early 1950's - photo courtesy Norma.

Bob, David, Roger and Max aren't the only people who have spoken about this surfing display. Former Warriewood SLSC Member Norman Godden contacted Pittwater Online from New Zealand, where he now lives, after reading the ABHS article with;

"I was one of the Warriewood SLSC members attending the Avalon Beach SLSC carnival of November 1956. We saw the making of surfing history that day with the Americans. After the competition was over late in the afternoon, the Americans took out their boards and their bodyboards. The waves were quite big and they simply zipped across them, leaving all of us with gaping mouths. A long board guy, Windshuttle, tried to show that the long, hollow board was just as good. It wasn’t.  He caught the wave in the old traditional style and came off.

The show that the Americans put on that afternoon was amazing. One of them was Tommy Zhan from Santa Monica, California who later starred in a couple of films.


Tom Zahn who was the Hawaiian Board Champion - photo taken at 1956 at the carnival, courtesy Don Henderson, Freshwater SLSC via Surf Research

Sydney took to the new boards, with Northern Beaches' Gordon Woods making them from moulded ply (beautiful craftmanship) and a bit later, Roger Keiran making them from foam blanks. My brother and I bought one of the first Wood’s boards.
I now live in NZ but still think of that memorable day at Avalon." Norman Godden

The era of the ‘toothpick’ hollow boards ended on that day and that of the modern malibu, the forerunner of today’s surfboards had begun.  From that day on surfing changed to become whatever it is on the day you are reading this.

Fittingly the first Australian Malibu Surfboard Riding Championship was also held at Avalon Beach on 27-28 May 1961, organised by Bob Head President Avalon Boardriding Club and Life Member Avalon Beach SLSC. Roger Sayers

A copy of the Avalon News held by the Avalon Beach Historical Society reported the competition was originally planned for one day but had to be altered to two days due the degree of support it received from surfers. “The only exclusion is that no ‘long-boards’ will be permitted.

Following the competition a report was published in the Manly-Warringah News:

The decision to hold the event so late in the year was bold but the response from all over Australia showed that it was a sound one. Applications were received from over 200 people, including 14 girls.

“The championships were judged on skill and the task of the judges was not an easy one. The highlight of many thrills and spills was the performance put up by three youngsters in the sub-junior event.

“In the words of the judges, these lads were able to teach many of the older board riders a thing or two. They were Bob Young of Collaroy, Rodney Sumpter of Avalon Beach and Robert Brown of Cronulla. Popular singer and TV artist Col Joye presented the valuable silver cups

Bob Young is better known as Nat Young, who won the second world surfing championship in 1966, while Rod Sumpter and Bobby Brown are also well-known in the development of excellence in Australian surfing. Beth Jackman won the women’s event, making her the first women to win a surfboard riding contest at Avalon Beach.


Greg Noll R Sayers Avalon Beach Surf Club 1998 - Greg Noll, standing on the beach at Pipeline - this image was shot by John Severson (founder ofSurfer Magazine) on the original Big Wednesday of 1964. Yes, he went out. 

Roger, along with other community advocates, was seeking to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the day locals witnessed visiting Americans ride across the waves on Malibu surfboards by having a plaque acknowledging the feat installed at Avalon Beach for the benefit of those who visit and those who are the next generation and wish to know more about where they're standing and where they came from. Visit Issue 272; Community Seeks To Acknowledge Historic Groundbreaking Contributions

Greg Noll did revisit Australia in time for the November 18th 2016 celebrations held at Cronulla, where the visitors had been the day before, on Saturday November 17th, 1956. 

Their visit was timed to coincide with the 1956 Melbourne Olympics with then President of SLSA, Adrian Curlewis ensuring the spread of the Australian Surf Life Saving methods was before all eyes. Adrian was a boardrider himself from way back - this is him at Palm Beach, where he was a founding member of the Palm Beach SLSC and great mates with John Ralston, another early local surfer, and Alrema Becke, daughter of that once famous Australian writer Louis Becke who witnessed surfing in the Ellice Islands (now Tuluva) in 1880.

Adrian Curlewis, circa 1930 doing a headstand at Palm Beach - photo courtesy Philippa Poole (nee Curlewis), daughter of the 'Father of Surf Life Saving'.

Left to right. Miss Sue Russell, John (Jack) Ralston PBSLSC with Alrema Samuels on right circa 1934-36 with 9 foot surfboard. Image No.: hood_02985. This board is still in the walls of Palm Beach SLSC Members club.

A little about that surf carnival at Torquay while the Melbourne Olympics Games were happening:

We'll make a new Games' splash 
By KEN MOSES
It's a lucky thing for Olympic Games organisers they are not holding events on Sundays.
Because on the two Sundays during the Games they would strike the toughest opposition, as far as a gate attraction is concerned, down Torquay way.
The opposition - 3,000 bronzed bodies, competing at Torquay in the international and Australian surf life-saving carnivals.
There is little doubt the Torquay carnivals will be one of the finest displays of the Games outside recognised Games events.
There will be 70 teams from all over Australia, and 70 overseas competitors from Ceylon, South Africa, New Zealand, and Hawaii.
And the surf carnival they put on for the Queen at Bondi, Sydney, will be a "pup" compared with this one.
There will be 60 teams alone in the march past, which is as colorful as the Trooping of the Color at Buckingham Palace, on a background of surf and sand.
Boat race
There are 60 entries in the open surf boat race, 40 in the junior event, and 300 competitors in the open surf race.
Then, just to pack in the thrills, there arc 170 entries in the surf ski event and 200 in the surf board title.
These are two carnivals that should be "musts" for everyone in striking distance of the 58 miles to Torquay on November 25 and December 2. We'll make a new Games' splash (1956, September 14). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 22. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84386433 

SURF LIFE SAVING
Australian association
President of the Surf Life-saving Association of Australia (Judge Adrian Curlewis), has announced that a team of American life-savers will come to Australia next month. The team will represent the Surf Lifesaving Association of U.S.A. which was formed only last month.
The Americans will compete in international surf carnivals at Torquay, Melbourne, and at Collaroy and Maroubra in Sydney in December. They will compete against teams from Australia, Hawaii, New Zealand, South Africa and Ceylon. Judge Curlewis said the formation of an American Surf Association now made it possible for Australian surf teams to visit America in the future. Judge Curlewis said the formation of the American Surf Lifesaving Association and the coming visit of the American team were the direct results of the support the managing director of Ampol Petroleum Ltd. (Mr. W. G. Walkley), had given to surf lifesaving. 

"Without a gift of £2000 from Mr. Walkley, the S.L.S.A. would not be able to stage the coming international carnivals," .Judge Curlewis said. "Before Mr. Walkley made his magnificent gift, the S.L. S.A. would sought help from every council in Australia, but could raise only £1000. 

In addition, Mr. Walkley sent Mr. Arthur Fatkyn, Queensland S.LSA. official, to Honolulu to prepare an Hawaiian team for the international carnivals, "Last month, Mr. Parkyn went to California, and his visit led to the formation of an American Surf Lifesaving Association among sportsmen who surf on Californian beaches. 

This is something the Surf Lifesaving Association of Australia has been striving for for many years. As a gesture to Mr. Walkley's efforts to foster international surf lifesaving, the American Association appointed him their patron." 

Judge Curlewis said that after surf lifesaving became established in Australia, the movement spread first to New Zealand and then to South Africa and Ceylon. 

"The Hawaiian Surf Lifesaving Association was formed in 1953 after the visit of an Australian surf team to Honolulu," he said. "Last year the Surf Lifesaving Association of Great Britain was formed with six clubs in Cornwall and Blackpool. "Now as a result of the formation of the American Association, we look forward eagerly to the day when an Australian team can visit California. "This has been the goal of many Australian surf enthusiasts for many years.

Judge Curlewis said entries for the international carnival had closed when word reached him this week of the formation of the American Association. 

"Naturally we are delighted to extend an invitation to the Americans," he said. "We expect a team of 10 or 12 to come to Australia. 

"The voluntary officers of the US.A. now have a lot of work ahead of them arranging transport, accommodation, equipment and training of the Americans." SURF LIFE SAVING (1956, October 24). The Biz (Fairfield, NSW : 1928 - 1972), p. 27. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189250302 

HAWAIIAN SURFERS  
SYDNEY, November, 11. -
Twelve American and 10 Hawaiian lifesavers will arrive In Sydney on Tuesday, the advance guard of an international surf invasion. HAWAIIAN SURFERS. (1956, November 15). The Central Queensland Herald (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1930 - 1956), p. 16. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79270839

Reg Wood, on the beach that day, adds his account to Bob Head's and David Lyall's:

1956 Surf Carnival At Avalon Beach Recollections Of Reg Wood - Held On Sunday, 18th Of November.

Surf Carnivals in our time, were a gathering of wide eyed youngsters , full of life, ready to try themselves against whatever "Huey," the mystical god of the sea, could throw at them.

The Clubs from Warriewood to North Palm Beach were banded, by the Association together in a group. It was the practice that during the season each of these Clubs would have a Surf carnival, restricted to Mona Vale, Newport, Bilgola, Avalon, Whale Beach, Palm Beach and North Palm Beach. 

They were good days. The events started at midday, and you could compete in any and every event, It was at carnivals like this that one could learn the technique of pretending to move your craft back when the judge thought you had edged in front of the line.

The beauty of these carnivals was that regardless how good you were you could still compete, you knew someone had to come last, so what the hell. Every Club, when it was their turn had to put on an afternoon tea and this ranged from Palm Beach putting on a Keg to North Palm Beach, who had a caravan Park of supporters who put on a terrific spread of cakes and sandwiches.

Naturally North Palm Beach was our favourite carnival. Not only did they put on a terrific afternoon tea but we had a chance of meeting the girls from the caravan park who generally helped at the afternoon tea. Incidentally, we had a terrific Ladies committee, consisting of wives and girlfriends of the members and we generally put on a goad spread ourselves.

We started to win a few restricted carnivals. The boat crew was training well in the old boat on Sydney harbor, the ski and board boys were coming up with wins and places in the carnivals, our swimmers knew they would have to contend with a strong contender from Whale Beach, "Hal" Bailey I think his name was, a bloody strong swimmer. "Craney" was swimming extra laps in Garden Island Dry Dock to beat him and Douglas Wells, "Guts," the King of the Kids was strengthening his right arm for the pillow fight and our beach event lads were doing all right in flags but finding it hard to beat 'Horsey" Harrison from Newport in the sprint. The R & R was a mixture of Ski, Boat and Beach competitors so the R & R Squad comprised of whoever wasn't competing when the R & R was on.

Flush with confidence, when we heard that the Yanks and Hawaiian's were coming out, we applied to run this Carnival, content to put all our effort in running the carnival and forgo the chance of competing because we had been winning a few carnivals the association took a chance and bugger me, we got it.

What a job, over and over we went over who would do what, what was needed, where we would unload the water craft, where to park the trailers, which members would look after this section. Then the incidentals, "Craney" (Doug Crane) came good with Flags from all nations that he borrowed from Garden island. "Chera" had a talk with his Dad, a big nob policeman, re road control, another lad had contacts with the ambulance, gee, and a lot of favours were called in. The yacht Cub came good with a cruiser to help with water and I believe the Water Police dropped by for a while.  It is marvellous how when you chop a difficult job into bits, it becomes manageable.

I remember we had several meals in the Nan King Chinese restaurant in the Haymarket, where we went over our preparations, item by item, even in the case of emergency, how we were going to get a patient through the anticipated Crowd to the ambulance.

Sunday December 18th, 1956
What a day it was. Bloody beautiful, sun shining, good surf. Hawaiians, Americans and Aussie competitor.,, and what a crowd of spectators, our advertising had paid off. Girls that we had been trying to get to come to our beach turned up, but we were to bloody busy to say more than "Hello” and back to our allotted job. What a bummer.

It was at this Surf Carnival that we were first introduced to the short plastic surf board. I think it was an American who first tried out his board in the surf.
All eyes were on him as he entered the surf, waiting for him to be knocked off his board, but he negotiated the surf not too bad and the crowd waited for him to catch a wave.
“No bloody good in our surf” was the general consensus, then up came a wave…
“Go for it” went up the cry and he did, but Huey wasn’t happy and the poor Yank was on a dumper. Down he went and up he came with his board in two bits.
"Told you they were no bloody good" were the bulk of comments around us from the crowd and as usual, there is always one, "How the hell would you know”; Geez trouble I thought, but the pair were content with glaring at each other.

Looking at two different shape surf boards there is good points in both, we have the long racing surf board, fast and in the hands of an expert, able to handle big seas.
But I digress.

Back to the Carnival. As you can imagine in a race the small boards were slower than the long boards but they handled the surf better, when paddling out. The big plus for the small board was the manner in which the short board could travel across the face of the wave, something the long board has trouble with.

The general consensus was “No bloody good here Mate, they can’t handle the big seas”. How wrong were we?

A carnival would not be a carnival without a few hiccups. The flags for the public were in the middle of the beach and only a small corridor between the competitors and the public. One of the Boat captains had a god complex and bugger me, caught a wave and took his boat that close to the swimming area that his oars, that were in the drag position, had they been rowing would have been inside the flags. I forgot myself and abused the hell out of him, saying he only had to veer slightly and he would have collected the swimmers, 
"Not with me sweeping”, he said.
Just when things might develop, the carnival referee came down and told the sweep it was dangerous thing he had done and if he did not walk the boat up to the boat area he would not let them compete. You meet all sorts in a Surf Club.

Well, that's about it everything went well, the clean up, putting the gear away was a drag, everyone was tired and some of the boys had broken off to start  the Barbecue, but we were content. 
The barbecue was a thank you for the boys for working, not competing in the carnival. To ensure we had good meat, Harry Usher, himself a butcher, had brought meat up from Sydney in duffle bags and the best cuts, naturally, were put aside for the surf Club boys that were still putting gear away.

One member only competed in the carnival, you will never guess who it was, and he went in the ski race and won it.

It was strange, the next morning, to see getting on the bus for Wynyard, a surfer with the long shorts that was a trademark of the American surfers with a short board under his arm. He must have enjoyed himself.

A photo was taken of competitors, officials and Club members. Yours truly is laying down in the front with Max watt and on the right hand side, kneeling down in front of two American surfers you will note Norman May in a white t-shirt, remembered for his cry of “Gold, Gold, Gold” at the Olympics."

The Sydney Morning Herald reported:

US Surfers Show New Technique. (Avalon) 
Nearly 20,000 went to Avalon for the surf life saving carnival in which lifesavers from United States, Hawaii and New Zealand  competed against Sydney clubs. 
The American surfers, standing sideways on small 10ft. boards and moving at high speed, received a warm reception from the crowd. 
One of the American surfers, Ted Levine (Tad Devine) had the opportunity to demonstrate his country's rescue technique in a genuine emergency. 
Instead of the Australian belt and reel, he used a "torpedo buoy'. Thousands Throng Beaches: Many Saved. Sydney Morning Herald. Monday 19 November, 1956. Page 3. 

Surfers To Sell Boards 
The visiting Hawaiian surfers will sell their seven lightweight surfboards, which created a sensation at Avalon last Sunday, after their farewell appearance at Collaroy on December 9. 
The boards, which are made from balsa reinforced with two two long strips of redwood and coated with a thick layer of fibre-glass, weigh 26lb. 
The lightest racing boards in Sydney, made from 1/2 inch plywood weigh from 33 to 23 lb. 
The Hawaiian boards, which have been used at Waikiki Beach for seven or eight years, can be made in less than a week. 
Shorter, Wider 
They are eight feet long, compared with the average Australian length of 16 feet, but are about five inches wider than the local board's 20-21 inches. 
Three hundred people saw the Hawaiians give an exhibition of board riding after a special carnival at Avalon in a big surf last Sunday. 
Unlike Australian boardriders, the Hawaiians stood on the middle of their balsa boards, even when heavy white water from the broken waves swept around their feet. 
Harry Shaffer, captain of the Hawaiian squad, said last night of the boards : "There is no question of selling out to the highest bidder. 
"We plan to give our boards to the fellows we consider to be the real enthusiasts at only a token cost." Surfers To Sell Boards. (Wednesday 21 November, 1956. Page 15) Sydney Morning Herald 


Avalon Beach SLSC Carnival Sunday, 18th Of November, 1956 - March Past - Whale Beach, NSW, Australia leads visiting American team (courtesy Beryl and Don Imison) - who also witnessed the display
OVERSEAS LIFESAVERS
Teams of 12 American and 10 Hawaiian lifesavers have arrived in Sydney to compete in International surf carnivals in Melbourne and Sydney in the next month. They will be the first lifesavers from America or Hawaii to compete in surf carnivals in Australia.

The Americana and Hawaiians will appear at international surf carnivals at Torquay Victoria on November 25 and December 3, and at Maroubra and Collaroy, in Sydney, on December 8 and 9. They will compete against teams from south Africa, Ceylon. New Zealand and Australia and the belt champion of England. 

Their first appearances in Australia were at carnivals at Cronulla and Avalon. The visit of the American and Hawaiian teams was made possible by the sponsorship of the managing director of Ampol Petroleum Ltd. (Mr. W. G. Walkley). With the exception of their captain, 45-year-old Herb Barthels, their ages range from 18 to 24. They are a team of young giants. The baby of the team is 18-year-old Roger Jensen, of Malibu beach, who is 6ft. 5 ins. tall and weighs 190 lbs. Their appearance in the march past at the international carnivals should cause a sensation, because they will wear the most striking three, colour parade costumes ever seen on an Australian beach. The trunks of the costumes will be a vivid red, the midriff white and the torso and shoulder straps a rich blue. On the upper front of  the costumes will be the letters 'U.S.A' in red and white and two white stars. On the back of the costumes, against the blue background, will be five white stars. 

Magnificent march past costumes have also been made to New South Wales for the Hawaiian team. Because the Americans are professional lifeguards, at the international carnivals they will compete only in events where life saving equipment is used. OVERSEAS LIFESAVERS (1956, November 21). The Biz (Fairfield, NSW : 1928 - 1972), p. 17. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189246779 

Let's get some more surfers involved Sir Curlewis!:

THEY CAME FROM EVERYWHERE FOR OUR GREATEST DAY. 

Their 8000 mile trip just failed. Duke of Hawaii smiles his way in. Beaming their delight, Hawaii's top personality, Duke P. Kahanamóku, and his wife (above)step smartly to their seats at the Games opening yesterday. A former Olympic Gold Medallist in the swimming ranks, Duke was a great friend-and opponent- of the late Sir Frank Beaurepaire, who did so much towards winning Melbourne the XVI Olympiad. ILLUSTRATED. THEY CAME FROM EVERYWHERE FOR OUR GREATEST DAY. (1956, November 23). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71767378

World surf stars thrill crowd
By JUDY JOY DAVIES
Tall, bronzed life-savers in their brightly colored uniforms, slowly and majestically marched across the sands of Torquay yesterday and 1 70,000 people cheered one of the most spectacular scenes of our Olympic Games Carnival.
Thirty-five teams representing the U.S., Hawaii, Ceylon, South Africa, New Zealand, Great Britain, and local and interstate surf life saving clubs-competed in the international surf carnival.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the events continued non-stop. As the crowds increased, they packed the beach, then the headland - soon cars took over the golf course.
And then the tide turned, and coming inshore, started nibbling the golden beach away.
The colorful march past was put forward an hour to 1 p.m. - and even then there was hardly enough beach left for the 35 bronzed and youthful teams to march on.
Wearing colorful costumes of blue tops with white stars, a white centre band, and scarlet trunks, the U.S. team brought cheers from the huge crowd.
But the more experienced New Zealanders won the international march past, with Ceylon second, and South Africa third.
White-haired Duke Kahanamouku, sheriff of Hawaii and former dual Olympic swimming champion, sat among the carnival crowd with Australian "Boy" Charlton, another former Olympian.
"It's great," the Duke said, "the sight of surf always thrills me."
But for once the Torquay surf was rather tame, no boats were upended and the small waves were hard to catch.
The Americans caused a surprise when they appeared with their version of surf boards.
Very narrow, and made of light fibre glass, they proved a lot faster than the normal Australian board.
Astounded 
And our reel-and-line method of surf rescue astounded them!
The American idea is to carry a coil of nylon line into the surf and play it out as they swim to the patient. They wear no belt attached to a reel, as we do here.
Judge Adrian Curlewis, Australian Surf Life- Saving Association president, said the international Olympic carnival had brought about an exchange of ideas - the Americans were going to try our reel-and-line method, and we would experiment with their torpedo line. 
Judge Curlewis added that an international advisory surf committee would now be formed. 
Hawaii won the International beach relay from South Africa and the U.S.  Tom Zahn, of Hawaii, won the board race from Mike Bright, of U.S., and G. Williams, of Western Australia.
New South Wales won the interstate rescue and resuscitation from Queensland and Western Australia. Jim Fountain, of Victoria, won the senior interstate belt race from R. Hounslow, of Western Australia, and R. Reid, of South Australia. The Americans claim the Australian reel and line is cumbersome, and that the "torpedo" would halve rescue time. The nylon line is in a rubber buoy fastened under the patient's arms. 
World surf stars thrill crowd (1956, November 26). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71768013 


Tall, bronzed lifesavers march up the beach during the colorful International March Past at Torquay yesterday. 
Olympic sun gods parade (1956, November 26). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71767989 

Incidentally:

Australia Wins International Surf Carnival
SYDNEY, Sunday.
Brilliant performances by Sydney surf star, Barry Lumsdaine, to-day featured Australia's win in the international surf test at Collaroy.
Australian won four of the 10 events to-day to total 44 ½ points.
Lumsdaine narrowly won the surf race and 20 minutes later brilliantly won the medley surf race.
He proved himself Australia's most versatile surfer.
Australia had led New Zealand by only a halfpoint after the first series at Maroubra yesterday.
New Zealand won only the teams surf race to-day to finish second with 35 points.
South Africa gained 26 ½ points and the United States and Hawaii each 24.
Australia's other wins were in the R. and R. and the surf board race.
The Australian team drilled and swam splendidly to defeat New Zealand in the R. and R. and showed great improvement on their effort yesterday.Australia Wins International Surf Carnival (1956, December 10). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 9. Retrieved fromhttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91229525 

An earlier carnival at Collaroy during 1956 from the magazine that would give many insights into surfing during the coming decades also lends a slight poignancy to a scene and idea that was seeking to highlight the great work of surf lifesaving in conjunction with the Melbourne Olympics and brought with it a giant wave of a surfing change that would also run parallel with greater change:

THIS IS AUSTRALIA
First of a series
A SURF CARNIVAL is our choice for the first picture in this new series of scenes shouting aspects of Australian life. 
This summer marks the beginning of the surf lifesavers 50th year of voluntary service to the public. Since 1907 they have saved 96.000 people. In the 198 clubs of the Surf Life-Saving Association of Australia there are now 8699 members, who pay an annual fee of 10/- for the privilege of saving life. Clubs which have adopted Australian methods are flourishing in Great Britain, South Africa, New Zealand, Ceylon, and Hawaii. Staff photographer Clive Thompson took this picture at the end of a march past at Collaroy, N.S.W. 


THIS IS AUSTRALIA (1956, January 11). The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982), p. 11. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51939244
July 2016: Left to right: Geoff Searl, Kevin Dennis, Roger Sayers, David Lyall, Robbi Luscombe-Newman, Bob Head, Alex McTaggart 

The timber board Robbi is holding is from the original design that David Lyall talked about in a past article, The Arrival of the Mal – 1956 SurfboardsAlex McTaggart  found it on a clean up in the early 70s in Gladstone street, Newport and knew it needed to be ‘kept’! Roger has his Mick Dooley Mal in this picture.
Hot doggers' of the surf
By leaving behind balsa-wood surfboards after a 1956-57 visit to Sydney, a Hawaiian surf team helped to add a new expression - hot doggin' - to Australian beaches.

IN LINE on South Bondi Beach are members of the South Bondi Board Club. From left are Scott Dillon, "Bluey" Mayes, Andy Cochran, Rod Cartlidge, Barry Ross, and Des Price. Some wear long pants, and have foam rubber built into the knees, to protect their legs, especially when paddling their surfboards out to catch a wave.

HOT doggin' is manoeuvring a surfboard at high speed,
The Hawaiian boards were 20lb. lighter and 6ft. shorter than the type then used in Australia.
On a big wave they could reach speeds of more than 50 miles an hour - 20 miles an hour faster than Australian boards.
Thrilling to the pace of the balsa surfboards, Sydney swimmers went on to try other materials, using new lighter synthetics for greater speed and easier handling.
Hot doggin' now provides thrills for 500 surfers in Sydney alone.
To cater for them, the Surf Life Saving Association is to add a surfboard-riding contest to carnival progammes.
In surfboard riders' jargon the event will be a hot dog meet. It will differ from surf board races. Contestants will be judged on ability in riding the waves, not on paddling power.
Three experts will judge each event for style, daring and "walking the plank' walking as far as 8ft. to the front of the board for speed, or to the back for fast turning.
Instead of riding the waves straight to the beach, contestants will move in all directions, do reverse turns, trying to out hot dog each other.
Because of the popularity of hot dog meets on Hawaiian and Californian beaches, action films of expert board-riders are big business in the United States.
Two Californian surfboard manufacturers recently spent nearly £3000 on photographic equipment and paid all expenses for three of California's best surfers to go to Hawaii for a three-month film-making trip.
Brilliant surfer Bud Browne, of Honolulu, financed a trip around the world with two ex-citing 50-minute films taken on
Hawaiian beaches.
On this trip Browne realised an ambition - to surf in the choppy, cold water of the Bay of Biscay.
Hollywood is to make a film with a surfboard theme, based on an American best-seller, "Gidget," written by Californian journalist Frederick Kohler.
Introduced to a number of surfboard riders by his daughter, Mr. Kohler liked their philosophy and jargon. He called his book "Gidget," meaning girl midget, the surfers' nickname for his daughter.
BELOW: Barry Ross shows the expert balance needed for good hot doggin'. Barry and other members of the South Bondi Board Club keep their surfboards in a shed on the beach. Color pictures are by staff photographer Ernie Nutt.

THRILLS OF HOT DOGGIN' in a big surf at Makaha Beach, in the Hawaiian Islands. Hot dog meets have been held on Hawaiian and Californian beaches for years. They attract tens of thousands of spectators, who have their favorite board-riders in the same way Australians follow the performances of jockeys or cricketers. 
Hot doggers' of the surf (1958, December 3). The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982), p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48077087 

IN LINE on South Bondi Beach are members of the South Bondi Board Club. From left are Scott Dillon, "Bluey" Mayes, Andy Cochran, Rod Cartlidge, Barry Ross, and Des Price. Some wear long pants, and have foam rubber built into the knees, to protect their legs, especially when paddling their surfboards out to catch a wave.

References And  Extras

1. TROVE - National Library of Australia
2. Geoff Cater (2009) Surf Research website: Australian Newspaper Extracts : 1956 Olympic Surf Life Saving Carnivals, Torquay and Sydney. At:http://www.surfresearch.com.au/1956_Olympic%20Carnival_SMH.html

Holiday Makers' Guide.
A SIMPLE SURF BOARD.

We are passing on for the benefit of other intending holiday makers information about making a surf board, asked for by J. S. Hoskins, Ballarat. The simplest kind of surf board is a flat piece of timber, about 5 feet 6 inches long, 2 feet wide and an inch in thickness. One end of the board is rounded off to a blunt point, as shown in the sketch. This type of board is best made in one piece, as any screwed or glued joints are liable to scratch the surfer, or may come apart with the rough treatment the board gets. Any light wood is suitable for the board. 
Holiday Makers' Guide. (1936, November 20). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 5 (SUPPLEMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE). Retrieved fromhttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205945121 

HAWAIIAN SURF TEAM CHOSEN
TEAM to represent Australia in the Pacific surf carnival at Honolulu in July was chosen last night by the \ Surf Life Saving Association. 
It Is:—
RESCUE AND RESUSCITATION 
H. Doerner (Bondi)
A. Fitzgerald (Wollongong). 
L. McKay (North Cronulla). 
H; Scott (Newcastle). 
G. Emery (Queensland). 
W. Furey (North Steyne). 
BOAT CREW. 
F. Davis (Manly), sweep. 
J. B. Harkness (Mona Vale). 
R. A. Dickson (Mona Vale). 
W. A. Mackney (Mona Vale). 
F. Braund (Palm Beach). 
The team will leave Sydney on June 23. . Captain - Instructor Is Mr. J. Cameron. He was manager of the Australian surf team for New Zealand In 1937. For 12 years he was chief Instructor at North Narrabeen and for 10 years captain of the YM.C.A. Swimming Club.Wal Wal Mackney, who has already represented Australia at rowing and Rugby Union, Is a popular selection. Australia's outstanding surf swimmer, Rothe Bassingthwaite, was one of the surprise omissions. . Fitzgerald Is the Australian champion. Bill Furey was one of the most consistent performers In surf races last season, filling a minor place at practically every start. ' Surprise was expressed lost night at the selection of Dickson for the surf boat crew. . .... It was stated that had had no experience In surf-boat races. Frank Davis Is a Manly first grade Rugby Union footballer. For a time it seemed that the tour would not eventuate, because the amateur status of some swimmers may have been Infringed in competitions with professionals. The Amateur swimming Union, however, approved of the tour. It agreed that baths swimming would Do conducted as In Australia. There Is a possibility that champion swimmer Robin Biddulph and his trainer, Harry Hay, will accompany the team. _ . . It was hoped to match Biddulph with the American star, Frank Flannsan. Matches may be arranged with Kiyoshi Nakama, who hails from Hawaii. Surf-board contests will be held as well as surf and baths events. A surf boat and life-saving equipment have already been sent to Honolulu. HAWAIIAN SURF TEAM CHOSEN (1939, May 16). Daily News (Sydney, NSW : 1938 - 1940), p. 8. Retrieved fromhttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article236283281 


Palm Beach Prepares For Almost Adam-less Eden
A bumper season Is expected this year at Palm Beach, even though numbers on the exclusive stretch of sand in front of the Pacific Club will J be depleted by many sun-tanned "handsomes ' who have joined up for service.
THE affiliated clubs of the Surf Life Saving Association have contributed 1300 members to the Navy, the Army and the Air Force and the Palm Beach list has supplied its quota. The popular president of the Palm Beach S.L.S. Club, Captain Adrian Curlewis, whose name has been associated with the Beach for many years, is now with the A.I.F. It sounds like an almost Adam-less Eden, but Palm Beach Eves are not prone to moping. They are putting on their glad rags just the same, and setting up their house (logs as protectors. Life will not be as pleasantly indolent as in previous summers. The Red Cross branch is very active and all residents and regulars are members. At the branch's meeting on Wednesday members decided to hold a stall in Martin-place on December 6, selling all types of beach wear. Mine. Piat and Mitti Lee Brown, whose mother, Mrs. Scotty Allan, has that lovely pink rough cast house, The Cabin, on Pacific-road, will be mannequins.
Whale Beach and Avalon Red Cross branches are collaborating. 
MRS. ALAN COPE-LAND and Mrs. K. F. Coles had a big idea of turning the Coles' lovely new home overlooking the beach into a home for evacuated British children and forming a committee to look after them; but the scheme has not yet been accepted. 
Mrs. Alan Copeland has turned a serious mind, too, to vegetable growing, and on the scorched soil of the beach slopes has a fine crop of spinach, peas, beans, rock melons, and strawberries coming on. " 
She is an attractive figure at work in the garden in her little-girl cotton frocks which have set quite a fashion at the Beach. The Beach rules out housecoats this year and ...
Bookings are Tilling so rapidly this year, it looks as though the Beach is being sought as a haven. The Warwick Fairfaxes have taken Boanbong, the Mackay house on the front, for the summer. Mrs. Stanley Edwards has taken Palm Corner and will go down next month for the Christmas season. The Edgerton Tacombs have taken Far End, which used lo tic The Cornci- House. Mrs. John Laidley Dowling is taking a house-party down. Captain and Mrs. Claude Healy are sharing with Mr. and Mrs. Tom Vincent.
'there'll he a housewarming among the Christmas celebrations if the Lionel Dares' new house right on the beach is finished in time. It is to be attractively simple and practical, like all the houses at the Beach, and completion is promised for December 20. The Jim Normoyles hope to build, too . . . and for the past few weeks Mrs. Normoyle has used up all her petrol coupons looking for suitable blocks of land. 
Winter Palm Beachers, MRS. IAN DODDS and WIMPIE, have Mrs. Laurie Ingram's house. 
MRS. MAXWELL HINDER has taken with ease to the simple life in her new home at the Beach.
Smart Beacher, and regular all the year round surfer, MRS. EDGERTON JACOMB in a new season's outfit of marine striped silk shorts and slack blouse.
MRS. FRED CHENHALL, whose husband, has left for overseas with the A.I.F., is Beaching with her sister, Mrs. Hinder.


MRS. JIM NORMOYLE'S Palm Beach wardrobe includes this suit of Bahama print that has just arrived for her from New York, the color . . . similar to Indian Red . . was designed for the Duchess of Windsor's brunette color-
Youthful glamor in a hooded frock, PAT FITZGERALD, who has already started her season at the Beach.
MRS. MARION MORFEE who is staying down at Whale Beach with Mrs. Bubble Cohen. 


MRS. ALAN COPELAND on the terrace of "Strayleaves," Palm Beach, now her permanent home . . . with her canine,' GEORGIE. She has gone in for pert little girl frocks for beach wear this year.

Left: It's the life all right . . . MRS. BUBBIE COHEN, who has taken Mrs. Douglas Doyle's house at Whale Beach for the summer.


MADAME HENRI PIAT, of Careel Bay;" her home is one of the snuggest- 'of the Beachites'. 
Palm Beach Prepares For Almost Adam-less Eden (1940, October 27). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 21. Retrieved fromhttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231187108 

SURF BOARD PAGEANT
Maroubra Surf Life-Saving Club has decided to conduct a "surf-board pageant" to introduce the new style of beach entertainment agreed to by the Surf Life-Saving Association.
It will be the first event of its kind in Australia, and follows the style of American beach entertainment.
The club's publicity officer, Mr. Roy Arkins, said last night that the "pageant" would he held on a Sunday afternoon, probably early in December.
Main idea of the function is to introduce surf-board racing to Australians. SURF BOARD PAGEANT (1945, September 21). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17953893 


THESE BEACH BEAUTIES, at Avalon, are models Patti Morgan, Joan Bell and Beryl Lawes. Their swimsuits came from a factory which made RAAF parachutes during the war. 
No title (1946, March 10). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 11 (SUNDAY COLOR MAGAZINE). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228799414 

The Beautiful Coastline North of Manly
The view is looking south from the Serpentine-road at Avalon, and shows the succession of bold headlands towards Manly. Newport Beach is in the right-centre.
The Beautiful Coastline North of Manly (1932, October 5). Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), p. 44. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166227034 
Early Pittwater Surfers: Avalon Beach I  - 1956: The Carnival That Introduced The Malibu Surfboard And Being Able To Surf Across A Wave Face - from and by Reg WoodRoger SayersGeoff SearlBob HeadDavid LyallKevin Dennis, Norman GoddenMick Dooley and A J Guesdon - 1956 to 2019.
December 6 - 12, 2015: Issue 243

 

The Stewart Towers On Barrenjoey Headland

Full House at December 2015 Avalon Beach Historical Society's General Meeting. 

Geoff Searl's Stewart Towers Investigation Uncovers New Information About Barrenjoey And Locates Original Light Keeper's Tower Foundations

A few months ago Geoff Searl,  the President of Avalon Beach Historical Society, spoke about a then current project as we tramped through the bush on West Head looking for wildlflowers. He had been researching the Stewart Towers, the first lights atop Barrenjoey Headland for a while and, after securing a small grant to help cover some costs, was putting together a film shot by John Illingsworth on what they found. Part of this would be finding some sketches if possible and building a model of the Inner Tower (the one that faced Lion Island and the Hawkesbury River mouth), work which 2015 Maritime Medal recipient David Lyall then undertook.

On Tuesday December 1st, at the General Meeting for the Avalon Beach Historical Society, the efforts of Geoff, John and David were premiered to a full house and very appreciative audience in the Avalon Beach Bowling Club. Geoff's 5000 word document, cataloguing his research was made accessible, Mr. Lyall had his model on display and Mr. Illingsworth's film was shown. Geoff's paper, The Stewart Towers on Barrenjoey Headland, will be kept at the Maritime Museum, a copy has been given to the Chase Alive Team, six members of this great local conservation for West Head and Barrenjoey Lighthouse attending the December Meeting, and two copies will be also available in the Avalon Beach Historical Society's Office in ABHS office, part of the society's stalwart John Stone Photography rooms in Bowling Green Lane, Avalon.

John Stone - who has been making and curating images of Avalon and surrounds for decades - on the ball again on Tuesday

Despite scouring every resource available, any sketches or photographs of the Stewart Towers, and there must have been some, somewhere, could not be located - Geoff Searl asks that if anyone reading this does find some, or know of some, to contact him so they may be added to the record that has been created.

Two bottles, from the Broken Bay Customs Station, have been given to the ABHS and Geoff is also seeking information regarding these - if anyone could put some dates and usage on them.

One of the bottles in question - how old is this and what was it used for?

About the Stewart Towers, as Introduced by Geoff on Tuesday evening:

Through the constant lobbying of Robert Stewart the member for East Sydney who had lost his father, William Stewart a master mariner, to the sea in 1820, two wooden structures were erected on the headland. Named the Stewart Towers after this gentleman they were approximately 4 metres and 6 metres in height, made of wood, and painted white. 

NOTICE TO MARINERS - From Francis Hixon Superintendent of Pilots, Lights, and Harbours. Sydney, 9th July, 1868:

Stewart€™s Lights, Broken Bay

On and after Monday, the 20th July, two temporary fixed lights will be exhibited on Barrenjuey, the inner south headland of Broken Bay. The lights will be situated E.S.E and W.N.W from each other, at a distance of 180 feet apart, the higher one being 347, and the lower one 315, feet above high-water mark, and they will be visible at a distance to seaward of about 8 miles.

The model was built as per descriptions found through TROVE:

LIGHTS ON BARRENJUEY, BROKEN BAY.

Two lights were exhibited on Barrenjuey, which forms the south head of the entrance into Broken Bay, for the first time, last night. It will, perhaps, be in the recollection of the readers that the sites of these new lights were fixed on the 8th of last mouth, when a party of gentlemen, consisting of the Governor, the Superintendent of Pilots, Captain Hixson, the Colonial Architect, Mr. Barrett, the Engineer-in-Chief for Harbours and Rivers, Mr. Moriaity, Mr. Coles, of the Colonial Architect's Department, Mr. Stewart, M.L.A., Mr. Trunks, M.L.A., and several other gentlemen, went down to Broken Bay in the Government schooner Thetis. The site of both the lights having been fixed, the work of erecting the temporary towers was commenced almost immediately, under the superintendence of Mr. Hudson, of the Colonial Architect'™s department and they were finished about a week ago.

The towers are temporary structures, the inner one being twenty feet above the rock, and the outer one ten feet.. Each tower is constructed of four hardwood posts, firmly fixed in the rock, which has been excavated to receive them, and they are protected from the weather by sheets of corrugated iron. The lanterns are fixed up on the wooden structure, and about four feet below the lights running round each tower, is a platform from which the trimmer can light and clean the lamps. A sleeping berth for the light-keeper has been fitted up in the larger tower, which is placed at a distance of 1180 feet in a W.N.W". direction from the outer tower. The outer light is 315 feet and the inner one 347 feet above high water mark.


Australia East Coast - New South Wales Broken Bay [cartographic material] 1869 Edition - Surveyed by Capt. F.W. Sidney, Nav. Lieut. J.T. Gowlland & C.George Nav. Mid. R.N. 1868.  Series note: British Admiralty nautical charts ; 2166 , Courtesy State Library of Victoria

Each tower is furnished with three lanterns lighted with kerosene, to form a fixed bright light, and will be visible at a distance of about twelve miles to seaward. From a notification to mariners in the Government Gazette, we learn that both lights will be eclipsed between the bearings of South mid S.S. E ½ E., to prevent them from being seen over the land which recedes from the Outer South Head, and also to ensure a vessel to pass a safe distance off the South Head, when running with the lights in sight for the purpose of obtaining anchorage in Broken Bay. 

Right: Barranjoey Head, Broken Bay [picture]Creator Graham, H. J. (Harold John), 1858-1929. Description, pen and ink drawing [1884?] Image number nla.pic-an6438965, courtesy National Library of Australia.

The lower, or outer light, will be lost sight of in rounding Barreujuey, but the upper light will be a good guide for coasters bound to Pitt Water, or for large vessels anxious to obtain shelter in Flint and Steel Bay. 

On Tuesday last the Thetis went down to Broken Bay, taking as passengers Captain .Myhill, Harbour Master of Port Jackson, Mr. Coles, and Mr. Robinson, the manufacturer of the lanterns, when both lights were exhibited for a short time, and their position and bearings examined from various points seaward by Captain Myhill, prior to the return of the steamer to Sydney. 

It was intended to have a picnic to mark the occasion of the lighting up of these two lights-which, by the way, are to be called " Stewart's Lights," after Mr. Stewart, one of the members of the Assembly for East Sydney, who has been the principal mover in the matter, and had the weather continued fine the Thetis would have gone down to the bay yesterday morning with a number of gentlemen. 

As the weather proved so stormy, the trip by sea had to be postponed, and Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Mulhall, who has been appointed light-keeper, went overland to light up last night. 

A notification for the intention to exhibit these lights has been in the papers for a fortnight, but it should undoubtedly have been given much earlier-Sydney Herald,  July 21st. 

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. (1868, July 29). The Mercury(Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8853675

David Lyall, Geoff Searl and John Illingsworth with the Model of the Inner Stewart Tower at Barrenjoey

The Tower model in full

The Original Trolley Track at Barrenjoey

The other new information regarding the History of Barrenjoey Geoff presented on Tuesday evening was about the original trolley track which carried materials up the headland during the construction of the sandstone Barrenjoey lighthouse tower and adjacent cottages. This involved 'field work' and part of John's wonderful film shows where Geoff followed his research and images found through research, to uncover the stonework and remnants of the track itself, which wended a fair way from where it was originally thought to be in records prior to this year.

Jervis Sparks, or Jervis 'Barrenjoey' Sparks* as we call him here, kindly provided two pieces of the original trolley track itself to add to the great collection the Avalon Beach Historical Society is Keeping and these were also on display at the December General Meeting of the ABHS.

From TROVE once more, a description of this trolley track, from the Laying of the Foundation Stone for Barrenjoey on Thursday April 14th, 1880:

Fortunately for the ladies, Mr. Banks, the contractor, had a " tram-car," or rather trolly, in waiting, upon which they were to be taken to the top. It may be said here that this tramway, the rails of which are of hardwood, is a remarkable evidence of the ingenuity Mr. Banks has exhibited in overcoming the many difficulties in-separable from an undertaking of such magnitude as that of the erection of the Barrenjoey lighthouse. For sometime after the erection of the lighthouse was decided upon it was contended that it would not be possible to have a road constructed by which the necessary materials could be conveyed from the base of the rock: to the site of the lighthouse, and that they would have to be hauled up over the face of the rock ; but Mr. Banks has completely upset this contention. The tramway is 1000 yards long, and is used for the conveyance of everything, except the stone, which is obtained on the top of the rock itself. It has been found invaluable for the purposes for which it was designed and constructed. It is drawn by two horses, which, it may be imagined, when it is stated that some of the gradients are 1 ni 12, have their work to do. The car or trolly is fitted with a brake, which is so powerful that the car can be stopped almost in its own length when going down the steepest incline.

However, this is a digression. The ladies were taken up safely, though not without some misgivings on their part " that the thing would go back." It is questionable if there is along the whole-coast-line a finer view than that which is presented to the eye of the beholder from the top of this Barrenjoey. Away to the north is the north head of Broken Bay; taking this as the beginning of a semi-circle, round towards the left Brisbane-water, the mouth of the Hawkesbury, and Pitt Water are seen in succession, with Mount Elliott (in the form of a lion couchant) guarding the entrance to the second named.

Shortly after the whole of the party reached the top due preparations were made for the ceremony. The crane and other places were decorated with bunting, while the flagstaff was "staggering" almost with flags, amongst them being the figures denoting the motto " Advance Australia," so that ships in the offing-of which there were several would be enabled to read it. After all the preparations had been completed, and the bottle containing the papers, coins, &c, had been placed in the receptacle prepared for it. LAYING the FOUNDATION-STONE of a NEW, LIGHTHOUSE at BARRENJOEY. (1880, April 17). The Sydney Morning Herald(NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13458288 

Barrenjoey July 1881 - from Australian National Archives

Flagstaffs were also part of this new material ... perhaps best enjoyed in the wonderful film that runs below.

Avalon Beach Historical Society has resources in John Stone's Office in Bowling Green Lane, Avalon Beach - and is open for those interested on Saturday mornings from 10 until 1 p.m. - Geoff Searl, President, encourages students to get in contact and welcomes anyone interested in local history to come along and learn more about this wonderful collection  - the ABHS also holds regular meetings in the Avalon Bowling Club with great speakers and does great exhibitions every few years. Membership is just $10.00 per year.

____________________



THE STEWART TOWERS

By Pittwater Pathways

John Illingsworth - Geoff Searl (President Avalon Beach Historical Society)

Published on December 2nd, 2015

The first navigation lights for Broken Bay, NSW were the twin Stewart Towers on Barrenjoey headland. A history of the lights and of Barrenjoey itself up to the existing lighthouse of 1881. This film was assisted by a grant from Maritime Museums of Australia.

Erratum: the fire was 28 Sept 2013 (not 2014)