WA surfer Darryl McGowan toured WA, SA, NSW and Queensland surf spots back in the 1960s & 70s.
In the mid-60s Darryl went on regular SW surf trips with Steve ‘Simmo’ Simpson, Mick ‘Midge’ Semple Ron Waddell (City Beach Boys), Dig Deghelli (Scarborough) and a bunch of mates from Balga and Inglewood.
Mandurah &Metro images. Photos Trevor Burslem. Left: 1967 Midge Semple being mischievous at Mandurah. Right: 1968 Simmo hanging ten at City Beach.
DarrylMcGowan: “I would leave work on a Friday night and pick up Simmo & Midge from their homes at City Beach and head off via the infamous Old Coast Road dodging Police harassment and those notorious corrugations. One year we drove down south 35 weekends mostly sleeping on the beach with the jumping ants or sleeping in the car. In the morning it was usually a long walk to the break or push the old FX Holden through sand tracks as we never had 4WD’s.”
Back in the 60s & 70s Floreat surfer Ross Utting surfed a lot with Simmo, Midge & the Waddell’s. He recalls the following anecdotes.
Darryl’s FX Holden
RossUtting: “Simmo worked with Darryl for a big Transport Company in Subi. They were mechanics. Simmo used to call him Macca.When Macca had finished with the FX Holden Panel Van he sold it to Ron Waddell’s brother Gerard.The FX did many more SW trips with Gerard at the wheel. Being a mechanic, Macca was able to keep the FX going, but when Gerard bought it, a fair bit of help from the likes of Big Eyes (see separate SDS blog) was needed to get to & from the SW. It was a nightmare. Apart from breakdowns, we dropped a king pin on the old Windmills track & a front wheel rolled down the hill. We had to be towed out by a friendly farmer’s tractor. The bloody thing also had a valve radio, which drained the battery if it was operated without the motor running. More help was required when young David Waddell forgot about this triviality.”
Ron Waddell at Margaret’s
Ross Utting: “All the Waddell’s liked big waves particularly Ron & as a result they loved Mainbreak Margaret. One time in the late 60’s/early 70’s Ron, Gerard & I arrived early at Mainbreak to find a perfect empty line-up, but we knew that the mob would be just behind us. In those days there were no wooden steps, just a crumbling cliff face with a few solid rocks here & there. Ron was calling the shots & sent us down the cliff first. When Gerard & I got to the bottom & looked up, Ron had done this massive crap & was spreading it over the most critical rock step. “That should slow ‘em down a bit “he laughed. After we had a few waves Ron pointed to the beach & we saw a traffic jam half way down the cliff. Ron thought it was a great joke.”
1960s Bunker Bay. Darryl with new Cordingley triple stringer surfboard. Photo Darryl McGowan.1960s Marg River. Darryl waxing new board at Surfers Point before there was a car park. Photo Darryl McGowan.1960s Cape Naturaliste lighthouse tour. Photo Darryl McGowan. L-R. Ron Waddell, Dig Deghelli & unidentified. 1960s Baked Bean lunch at Bunkers. Photo Darryl McGowan. L-R Dig Deghelli, 2 unidentified & Ron Waddell.1960sSurf check at Margaret’s car park. Photo Darryl McGowan. L-R Darryl, Ron Waddell on roof, unknown & Dig Deghelli.1960s Paddle out at Bunker Bay L-R Ron Waddell others unidentified.Photo Darryl McGowan.1960s Ron Waddell at Bunker Bay. Photo DarrylMcGowan.1960s Bush bashing in Holden sedan looking for new surf spots. L-R Darryl & unknowns.Photo Darryl McGowan 1968 Ron Waddell surfing the Farm in Bunker Bay. Photo Greg Woodward. (This image appeared in Greg Woodward’s WA surf article published in Surf International Magazine 1969).1970s Darryl’s FX Holden & his sisters waiting at home after a SW surf trip. Photo Darryl McGowan.
Darryl McGowan now lives in Coolum Beach, Queensland with his wife Prue (nee Jackson) a Cowaramup girl who attended school at Margaret River.
WA surfer Darryl McGowan toured WA, SA, NSW and Queensland surf spots back in the 1960s & 70s.
In the mid-60s Darryl went on regular SW surf trips with Steve ‘Simmo’ Simpson, Mick ‘Midge’ Semple Ron Waddell (City Beach Boys), Dig Deghelli (Scarborough) and a bunch of mates from Balga and Inglewood.
Left: 1967 Midge Semple being mischievous at Mandurah.
Right: 1968 Simmo hanging ten at City Beach.
Darryl McGowan: “I would leave work on a Friday night and pick up Simmo & Midge from their homes at City Beach and head off via the infamous Old Coast Road dodging Police harassment and those notorious corrugations. One year we drove down south 35 weekends mostly sleeping on the beach with the jumping ants or sleeping in the car. In the morning it was usually a long walk to the break or push the old FX Holden through sand tracks as we never had 4WD’s.”
Back in the 60s & 70s Floreat surfer Ross Utting surfed a lot with Simmo, Midge & the Waddell’s. He recalls the following anecdotes.
Darryl’s FX Holden
Ross Utting: “Simmo worked with Darryl for a big Transport Company in Subi. They were mechanics. Simmo used to call him Macca. When Macca had finished with the FX Holden Panel Van he sold it to Ron Waddell’s brother Gerard. The FX did many more SW trips with Gerard at the wheel. Being a mechanic, Macca was able to keep the FX going, but when Gerard bought it, a fair bit of help from the likes of Big Eyes (see separate SDS blog) was needed to get to & from the SW. It was a nightmare. Apart from breakdowns, we dropped a king pin on the old Windmills track & a front wheel rolled down the hill. We had to be towed out by a friendly farmer’s tractor. The bloody thing also had a valve radio, which drained the battery if it was operated without the motor running. More help was required when young David Waddell forgot about this triviality.”
Ron Waddell at Margaret’s
Ross Utting: “All the Waddell’s liked big waves particularly Ron & as a result they loved Mainbreak Margaret.
One time in the late 60’s/early 70’s Ron, Gerard & I arrived early at Mainbreak to find a perfect empty line-up, but we knew that the mob would be just behind us.
In those days there were no wooden steps, just a crumbling cliff face with a few solid rocks here & there.
Ron was calling the shots & sent us down the cliff first. When Gerard & I got to the bottom & looked up, Ron had done this massive crap & was spreading it over the most critical rock step.
“That should slow ‘em down a bit “he laughed.
After we had a few waves Ron pointed to the beach & we saw a traffic jam half way down the cliff. Ron thought it was a great joke.”
L-R. Ron Waddell, Dig Deghelli & unidentified.
L-R Dig Deghelli, 2 unidentified & Ron Waddell.
L-R Darryl, Ron Waddell on roof, unknown & Dig Deghelli.
(This image appeared in Greg Woodward’s WA surf article published in Surf International Magazine 1969).
Darryl McGowan now lives in Coolum Beach, Queensland with his wife Prue (nee Jackson) a Cowaramup girl who attended school at Margaret River.
Coming soon
Darryl McGowan’s 1967 East Coast surf trip.
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