Smiths Beach surfer Bill Mitchell (an inaugural member of the South Side Board Club) provided this overview of the Club’s history.
South Side Board Club – History.
Bill Mitchell recalls: “The South Side Board Club (SSBC) was formed in 1964 in Jacko’s old man’s back yard in Kensington where he started making boards in 63. We were a bunch of mug surfers (one or two exceptions) but were the best board club footballers in the business. In those days it seemed like a day trip to get to Cott or Scabs from South Perth & home again. Half of us could hardly swim.
We gravitated to Jacko Surfboards from various junior footy clubs in the Perth Football Club Junior District. Once armed with the new Jacko boards (order a red one & end up with a purple cos Jacko wasn’t keen on buying new paint if he had some half used tins) most of the boys gave up the pigskin for the waves. A few combined both & went on to play league for Perth. Jacko, myself & Chubby Stiles. Chubb went on to win a Simpson Medal at the MCG in the mud in 1970 against the Vics. Jacko played 27 games as a gun full forward. The boys would sit on the bank behind the goals at Lathlain & rag him unmercifully. His coach Ern Henfry suggested he give it away & “go surfing”. Jacko just loved that suggestion. Surfing became his whole life and now he is a WA Surfing Hall of Famer.
The Club fizzled out in early 70s like many others in WA. Jacko & other Club members pulled the Shack down in the 70s at the owner’s request. Now only the slab remains.”
Photo: 1964 SSBC boys laying the foundations for the Club shack at Prevelly camping ground, Margaret River. Photo credit Bill Mitchell.
Photo: 1964 SSBC club members at Rocky Point. L-R Bill Mitchell, Jock Lawrie, Russell Green, Bill McDonald & Peter Oliver. The Renault R8 Gordini sedan belonged to Peter Oliver and that is Jacko’s 9’6” triple stringer single fin surf board on the roof. Photo credit Bill Mitchell
Photo: 1964 Avalon Point Mandurah. SSBC Club members L-R John Tagney, Jock Lawrie. Allan “Chubby’ Stiles & Lance Patterson. Those are Jacko boards on Jock’s Holden ute. Photo credit Lance Patterson.
Images: 1967 SSBC Prevelly Shack social images courtesy of Weekend News.
Photo: 1968 Jacko Surf Team at Cottesloe. L-R Jacko, Ian Cairns & Arty Sherburn. Jacko was the lynchpin of SSBC. Photo credit Rod Taylor.
For photos of SSBC 50 Year Reunion refer South Side Board Club – Reunion blog.
Smiths Beach surfer Bill Mitchell (an inaugural member of the South Side Board Club) provided this overview of the Club’s history.
South Side Board Club – History.
Bill Mitchell recalls: “The South Side Board Club (SSBC) was formed in 1964 in Jacko’s old man’s back yard in Kensington where he started making boards in 63. We were a bunch of mug surfers (one or two exceptions) but were the best board club footballers in the business. In those days it seemed like a day trip to get to Cott or Scabs from South Perth & home again. Half of us could hardly swim.
We gravitated to Jacko Surfboards from various junior footy clubs in the Perth Football Club Junior District. Once armed with the new Jacko boards (order a red one & end up with a purple cos Jacko wasn’t keen on buying new paint if he had some half used tins) most of the boys gave up the pigskin for the waves. A few combined both & went on to play league for Perth. Jacko, myself & Chubby Stiles. Chubb went on to win a Simpson Medal at the MCG in the mud in 1970 against the Vics. Jacko played 27 games as a gun full forward. The boys would sit on the bank behind the goals at Lathlain & rag him unmercifully. His coach Ern Henfry suggested he give it away & “go surfing”. Jacko just loved that suggestion. Surfing became his whole life and now he is a WA Surfing Hall of Famer.
The Club fizzled out in early 70s like many others in WA. Jacko & other Club members pulled the Shack down in the 70s at the owner’s request. Now only the slab remains.”
Photo: 1964 SSBC boys laying the foundations for the Club shack at Prevelly camping ground, Margaret River. Photo credit Bill Mitchell.
Photo: 1964 SSBC club members at Rocky Point. L-R Bill Mitchell, Jock Lawrie, Russell Green, Bill McDonald & Peter Oliver. The Renault R8 Gordini sedan belonged to Peter Oliver and that is Jacko’s 9’6” triple stringer single fin surf board on the roof. Photo credit Bill Mitchell
Photo: 1964 Avalon Point Mandurah. SSBC Club members L-R John Tagney, Jock Lawrie. Allan “Chubby’ Stiles & Lance Patterson. Those are Jacko boards on Jock’s Holden ute. Photo credit Lance Patterson.
Images: 1967 SSBC Prevelly Shack social images courtesy of Weekend News.
Photo: 1968 Jacko Surf Team at Cottesloe. L-R Jacko, Ian Cairns & Arty Sherburn. Jacko was the lynchpin of SSBC. Photo credit Rod Taylor.
For photos of SSBC 50 Year Reunion refer South Side Board Club – Reunion blog.
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