Pittwater Online News

July 1 - 31, 2025: Issue 644

Celebrating Jack McCoy: More than a Paddle out

On Saturday July 5th, a glorious winter day, a celebration of much-loved local Jack McCoy was tempered by grief for those left behind; his ohana – family - in wife Kelly, their daughter Indi, son Cooper, and grandchildren.

Jack was an immensely talented person, with a wonderful sense of humour, and a true surfer of the world. We were lucky to have him share his vision, to channel so many stories of the passion for riding waves through his work. With Kelly producing alongside him, the McCoy ohana team enriched our world, and aims to continue to do so.

Layne Beachley, Surfing Australia Patron, as MC, welcomed everyone and stated prior to the paddle out:

‘’We’re here to honour the legacy of Jack McCoy. From weekend warriors to world champions and industry icons, we’re all here because in some small or large way Jack touched our hearts.
Whether it was through his legendary films, his big warm heart-to-heart hugs, or that unmistakeable aloha spirit, Jack wove himself into the very fabric of Australian surf culture.
Through his documentary surf films he captured the soul of surfing; his pioneering film photography, his love of storytelling, his love of ohana and his unwavering belief in others helped inspire all of us to ‘go catch a bomb’.
His body of work contains some of my personal favourites, Blue Horizon, Occy: The Occumentary and Green Iguana. Working on Jack in his film Liquid was certainly one of my career highlights. He cheered us on, he challenged us, always, to go deeper, and as anyone who ever had the opportunity to work with Jack, he always got the shot. He’d stay in the water for hours – he never gave up.
We all knew who Jack was and is – and we’re forever grateful for the way he captured and told our stories and our surfing platform. While today is about celebrating Jack’s life and legacy, he also wanted to take this as an opportunity to raise funds for causes that were very close to his heart; Surfrider Foundation Australia, Surfers for Climate, and the newly established Jack McCoy Aloha Foundation, supporting filmmakers, environmental causes, and preserving Jack’s incredible archive for future generations.
I’d now like to welcome Patrick, Jack’s brother-in-law and lifelong friend, to share a few words.’’

Pat said:

‘’Thank you everybody. First I’d like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land we gather on, past, present and emerging.
On behalf of the family of Jack McCoy we welcome one and all.
Jack – wow – what an act to follow; impossible. There will never be another Jack McCoy, that is for certain.
But the legacy of Jack will live on forever through his beautiful children and grandchildren.
I first met Jack in the early ‘70’s in Bali and he became a great friend and that went on when he came to Western Australia.
Jack was determined that anyone could get out in the ocean and surf. He would famously say, as his catch-cry; ‘’doesn’t what you’re surfing if you move’’ – a longboard, a bodyboard, a McDonald’s tray – it didn’t matter – if you got in the water and moved you were a surfer.
Jack would always stay with Kim and I in our Avalon house in Western Australia when he was showing his old movies; the reel to reel jobs. We’d be in a little local hall packed with people, local little kids pressing their noses against the windows, everyone listening to Jack or enjoying the surfing - it was a fantastic time.
Over the duration of that time Jack had never met the younger sister of Kim and Tracy; Kelly. The girls were totally besotted with Jack, a Tom Selleck lookalike, and conspired to link the two together. It took a few years, but finally at Margaret River the plan was hatched and they met. Jack was then doing a tour on a classic catamaran, living in San Diego, and sailing through the South Pacific. At the time I was working in Oceanside in California and got a call from Jack; ‘come down and have a look at the boat’. I went down and there was Kel’ – which absolutely blew my mind. From then on, what a relationship; Indiana, Cooper and now grandchildren, all absolutely beautiful and fantastic. We had a lot of fun times with Jack watching our children and grandchildren grow.
One of things Jack liked to do was go to Hawaii for Dukes Day, which is August 24th – his birthday – and actually my birthday too; cards, money and presents all accepted.
Jack used to say to us that one of the best things about being in Waikiki was being out in the water and seeing the sun sink behind Diamond Head and at the same time the ukulele bands would start on the beachfront - the music would just waft over the water.
The first evening we did that – we paddled out, the surf was amazing. Jack used to have a couple of words he’d use all the time; 'aloha' being one of them – and at Waikiki it was very crowded, everyone loved surfing, and there would occasionally be a moron who did the wrong thing and forgot their surf etiquette. So there we were, I’m paddling back out after catching a wave, and I saw this great wave coming in and all of a sudden Jack drops in on this massive local Hawaiian guy. They end up near me, and it’s not good, the guy is going to kill Jack, Jack is aloha-ing, it’s not working, so I paddle over and this guy looks at me; ‘what the hell are you doing’, as does Jack, and then I know we’re both going to die.
Fortunately, one of the other locals, Martin Foster, came along and defused the whole thing. We all get back to the beach and Jack wants to give something back to the bloke using Jack Currency, which is a signed copy of one of his movies on VHS. In the end Jack’s giving him a couple of copies of his movies, all signed, and everyone is sharing peace, happiness is restored, and that aloha spirit did come through.
Today we honour Jack – we honour his life, his talent – we honour his legacy.
In closing I’d like to share this. Jack followed the creed of the Duke (Duke Paoa Kahanamoku) – and this would be printed on the back of his business card via the Duke – which is:
‘In Hawai’i we greet friends, loved ones and strangers with ‘Aloha’, which means ‘with love’. Aloha is the key word to the universal spirit of real hospitality, which makes Hawai’i renowned as the world’s centre of understanding and fellowship. Try meeting or leaving people with Aloha, with love. You’ll be surprised by their reaction. I believe it and it is my creed.
Aloha to you.’
And so do I - and so I ask you all to join us in turning to whomever stands next to you and give them an Aloha – with love – and with the Duke and Jack.
As we all know Jack’s other great words were about giving someone a ‘heart-to-heart hug’ – so can I ask you to all turn to whomever stands next to you, and give them a hug, with your heart, and so it meets their heart, and give them an Aloha.’’

The paddle out was led by Tom Carroll on Duke’s board, kindly lent for the occasion by Freshwater SLSC, where the Duke gave a surfing demonstration in December 1914, with the McCoy family surrounded by a host of local legends across at least four generations along with those who had travelled from further afield to honour Jack in the water, and be with his family.

Indi and Tom with Duke's board

Manly to Barrenjoey surfing legends Pam Burridge, Tom Carroll and Layne Beachley

NASA members - younger set respect

On shore was PBSLSC's Jack Ralston’s surfboard, styled on the Duke’s board and used extensively by him from at least 1919 on, and other founding Palmy members as they plotted to introduce the surfboard as rescue equipment for surf lifesaving. Jack R’s surfing page is re-run this Issue as an extra Jack McC celebration – especially so since Occy kindly let a photo of him with it be taken while a little of that board's history was shared.

Mark Occhilupo with Jack R's board.

Last words, as always, go to the McCoy family:

‘’If you could bottle the love and aloha last Saturday then we could solve all the world’s problems. It’s moments like these we realise how special it is to be a part of the surfing tribe.

There’s so many people who made the paddle out ceremony so special and we want to acknowledge not only their support on the day, but their life long connection with our family. Apologies for anyone we have forgotten to mention.

Firstly to Gordon Merchant, Occy, Nick Carroll and Laura Enever for hosting the live broadcast, Layne Beachley, Tom Carroll, Uncle Pat, Ziggy Alberts and Scotty Romaine for leading the beach and water ceremonies.

The head office staff and volunteers from Surfers For Climate and Surfrider Australia Foundation who continue to fight for our coastline.

Simon Hayward, Andy Owens and the NASA crew for all of your support with logistics and set up on the day.

Surfing Australia’s Chris Smith and the broadcast team for capturing the magic.

Surfing NSW for providing the AV set up.

Critta, the Lifeguards, Jon Ericson and the Palm Beach Surf Club for keeping us safe in the water.

Simon Phin and the Freshwater SLSC for loaning us Duke’s Board which TC led the water ceremony on.

George Henderson, Mitch Rawlins, Billabong, Epokhe, T & C for organising the Aloha T shirts.

Lastly, to everyone who joined us both in person or via the live broadcast. We wanted to ensure the whole surfing tribe could be a part of the day and Jack would be so humbled by the turn out ❤️

The outpouring of love and aloha from across the globe has brought immense comfort during this deeply painful time, we’ll now take some space to privately mourn the immeasurable loss of Mr. Aloha.

Before we do, it is with great pride and excitement that we invite you to SAVE THE DATE for something truly special.

We are honoured to officially announce the inaugural Jack McCoy Australian Surf Film Fest.

It’s a project Jack has been working on as his legacy piece to the surfing community over the past year, driven by one clear vision: To create the most prestigious surf film festival in the world by showcasing THE GREATEST SURF FILMS OF ALL TIME!

This event will pay homage to the founding fathers of surf film making, right through to the most iconic and modern classics.

As he always said, “To move forward, we must look back.”

This festival is more than an event. It’s a gathering of the global surf community — film makers, surfers, creatives, brands, industry legends, and groms alike — to talk story, share the stoke, and reignite the spirit of surf culture and aloha.

Visit JackMcCoy.com to register for pre-sale tickets and enter the draw to win an exclusive A1 Jack McCoy archival print from the vault.

We can’t wait to see the whole surfing tribe come together in September.

LEGACY LIVES ON!

Love, the McCoy ohana.''