70s photographs

Andy Jones surfing the South West since ‘73

Andy Jones and his family migrated from West Africa to Western Australia in 1960. After a family working tour of Australia, Andy returned to WA and in 1973 he moved down south and worked on farms in the Yallingup area to support his surfing lifestyle.

Then in 1983 Andy became Drew Brent-White’s partner in the Caves Park Store at Yallingup. The store became popular with surfers and is home to the best sesame burgers & banana smoothies in the South-West. Andy has been associated with the Caves Store/Post Office ever since.

These are Andy’s comments and photos.

In ‘73 I moved to the South West and lived at Mark Favell’s place in Dunsborough. Mark Favell & I got full time work at Bakery from 1975-83. Ron ‘Gremmo’ Ellis, George Simpson John Malloy, Geoff Culmsee, Ralph Redman, Rick Lobe, Peter Mac and others also moved into Dunsborough because of its convenience.

Photo: 1973 Andy living at Mark Favell’s place in Dunsborough. Andy Jones pic.

1973 Dunsborough Mark Favell's place Andy - Andy Jones IMG_811

Our single fin surfboards were made locally by Geoff Culmsee and Tom Hoye.

Photo: 1973 Dunsborough L-R Andy, Mark Favell & Neil Juster. Andy & Neil have Tom Hoye boards and Mark has his Geoff Culmsee board. Neil Juster was the baker at the Dunsborough Bakery. Andy Jones pic.

1973 Yalls Andy, Mark Favell & Neil Juster with G Culmsee & T Hoye surfboards - Andy Jones IMG_800

In those days we got fresh milk from Butterley’s dairy in Wildwood Road Yallingup.

Photos: 1975 Yallingup Butterley’s Dairy. Ross ‘Mahdu’ Anderson tripping on milk on the right.

1975 Yalls Butterleys dairy collage_photocat

In the 70s we were like hunter-gatherers. We used to go snorkelling and catch seafood.

Photos: 1975 SW snorkelling pics Gary Gibbon pics

(Left) Yallingup car park Ross ‘Mahdu’ Anderson & Andy with a fine catch of crayfish & fish. (Right) Meelup rocks L-R Phil Newman, Andy, Sue Ware, Helen Hall & Steve Caroll.

1975 Yalls & Meelup Andy Jones collage_photocat

These were fantastic times for surfing in the SW. Mid-week we shared uncrowded waves with mates. I surfed the whole coast with Geoff Culmsee, Ralph Redman, the Bettenay Bros, Al Bean, John Malloy, Ross ‘Mahdu’ Anderson, Dave Seward, Al Fixter, Ray Nott, Laurie ‘Pup’ Nesbit, Drew Brent-White, Gary Gibbon, Dave Hattrick, Peter Mac, Chris Green & many other good surfers.

We also surfed with US ex-pats Tom Hoye, Pat Bloomer & Vance Burrow and top eastern states surfers Rob Conneeley and Jim & Peter McCabe.

I regard Craig Bettenay, Dave Seward, Ross Anderson and Al Fixter as being the stand out surfers in the South West at the time.

During this time we had so many surfers in Dunsborough we formed a footy team called the Pig Breeders. We trained at Dunsborough Primary School oval and it went on to become the Mulies footy team which is still going in Dunsborough today.

Photo: 1975 Andy surfing Injidup car park. Andy Jones pic.

1975 Injidup Car park Andy surfing - Andy Jones pic DSC00365

David ‘Dapper’ Plaisted made Sunrise Surfboards in a shed near the old limestone coach house on Caves Road at Smiths Valley. The site had been previously used by surfboard maker Tom Hoye (Precision Equip Surfboards). Later it was used by Ken McKenzie (Energy Surfboards) before becoming part of Cape Naturaliste Vineyard owned by Craig Brent-White.

Photo: 1975 Sunrise Surfboards factory L-R Ronny Ratshit, Dappa, Gary Gibbon & unidentified. Andy Jones pic.

1975 Yalls Smiths Valley Sunrise Surfboards Ronny Ratshit, Dappa, Gary Gibbon & unknown - Andy Jones IMG_807

My new single fin surfboard being made in Dappa’s surf factory at Yallingup.

Photo: 1975 Andy’s new Sunrise Surfboard on the glassing stand in Dappa’s surf factory. Andy Jones pic

1975 Yalls Smiths Valley Dappa's Sunrise Surfboards shed - Andy Jones IMG_809

In ’77 I moved into Peter Dyson’s place on Yallingup Hill. I looked after the house and grounds.

Photos: 1977 Pete Dyson’s place Yallingup. Andy’s VW, Sue Ware’s old Mercedes and Gary Gibbons EK Holden are in the background of these Gary Gibbon pics

Top: L-R Gary Gibbon, Andy Jones & Ronnie ‘Ratshit’ Jeffrey.

Bottom: (Left) Andy with hound. (Right) L-R Gary Gibbon, Sue Ware & Ronnie ‘Ratshit’ Jeffrey.

1977 Yalls Andy at Pete Dyson's place 2 collage_photocat

Me and my boy’s toys at Pete Dyson’s place.

Photo: 1977 Yallingup Andy and his Ducati motor bike and VW sedan. Andy Jones pic

1977 Yalls Andy riding Ducati motobike - Andy Jones pic_0001

My mates & I used to live in our boardies or sluggo’s like Gary Gibbon.

Photo: 1977 Yallingup L-R Steve John, Andy Jones, Gary & John Gibbon. Andy Jones pic

1977 Yalls Steve John, Andy Gary & John Gibbon - Andy Jones IMG_802

My old Chrysler Royal broke down and ended up on the scrap heap at the old Yallingup rubbish tip. The former Yalls tip was located on Caves Road approx. a kilometre north of Smiths Beach turn-off.

Photo: 1970s Andy’s old car at Yallingup tip. Andy Jones pic.

1970s Yallingup tip Andy's car - Andy Jones DSC00366

During the 70s surfers were starting to search for waves up north & beyond. Stewart Bettenay headed off to NZ & others went to Indo or headed north to the Pilbara coast.

In ’74 went to Vic with Alby and met up with Laurie ‘Pup’ Nesbitt & Craig Bettenay. We surfed Cactus & Bells.

In the 70s I also surfed Nias, Gnaraloo & Exmouth and went fishing at Port Samson with George Simpson.

Photo: 1978 Point Samson fish catch. L-R Andy Jones, Loz Smith, George Simpson & Adrian from Dunno fish shop. Andy Jones pic.

1978 Point Samson Andy Jones, Loz Smith, George Simpson & Adrian at GS - A Jones pic03

Photo: 1980 Andy surfing uncrowded main break at Yallingup. Gary Gibbon pic.

1980 Yalls main break Andy Jones - Gary Gibbon pic DSC00012

I was a cricket fanatic and had a cricket pitch installed on my Yallingup property.

Photos: 1980s Andy at Yallingup. Gary Gibbon & Andy Jones pics.

(Left) 1980 Andy bowling to John Gibbon on his cricket pitch at Yalls. (Right) Andy doing a Drew Brent-White impersonation outside his Caves Park Store at Yallingup.

1980-82 Andy Jones Cricket & shop Yalls collage

In 2007 multiple world surfing champion Kelly Slater was in the South West for the Drug Aware Pro event at Margaret’s. Kelly visited our Caves Store and we had our photo taken by the paparazzi.

Image: 2007 Kelly & Andy at Caves store Yallingup. Image courtesy of Andy Jones.

2007 Yalls Kelly Slater & Andy Jones at Andys Shop - Andy Jones pic_0005

Andy is now retired and lives at Yallingup with wife Sally and his dogs. He still chases good quality waves.

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