Like a lot of other SW surfing pioneers Steve Mailey started his ocean apprenticeship in the SLSC movement. He was a member of the Floreat SLSC and prior to that North Cottesloe SLSC where he bought his first 16’ “toothpick” surfboard at 13yo and surfed the Cable Station where others helped him carry it.
In the late 50s, Steve started driving down south on surf trips with his mates. Some of his friends were: Kevin Merifield, Bob Keenan, Don Bancroft, Howard (the ghost) Kent, Don Roper, Dave Maxwell, Les Gillies, Gary Birch, Terry Williams, Dave Williams, Jim McKenzie, Des Gaines, Brian Cole, Colin Moore, Joe King, Ken Hamer, Alan Hamer, Eric Hamer, John Peterson, Tony Harbison, Laurie Burke, Ralph (Seagull) McNabb, Ray Geary and Ray Nelmes.
Photo: 1961-62 Bunbury Steve Mailey in bear suit (WW2 flying suit) with Don Bancroft’s balsa pig board. Photo courtesy of Steve Mailey. (Note: wearing nose guard on sunglasses).
STEVE’S SW SURF RECOLLECTIONS
Steve recorded these recollections circa 1999 for a book on the history of surfing in WA by photojournalist Nathan Lynch. Nathan’s book the blue frontier (a south-west surfing odyssey) was based on his University thesis and published by UWA.
Bernie Huddle
Bernie Huddle was about 6’4” tall, very slim, well-tanned, distinguished features and loved his surfing. He was the first that I can recall to give up the city life to live & surf at Yallingup in the early 60s. He worked at Caves House Hotel for some time and they gave him one of those old lounge chairs, which he placed amongst the melaleuca trees at Yallingup Beach overlooking the ocean. He would sit for hours watching the surf and waiting until it was just right before he would go out, usually on his own.
On one of his trips to Yallingup he hit a huge tree stump in his car just out of Mandurah and tipped the car on about a 45% angle. It seemed to become something of a tradition for surfers to look for ‘Huddle Stump’ going to and from Yallingup. After many years this ‘piece of history’ was removed with the advent of road work.
Photo: Late 1950s. Yalls beach boys inc Bernie Huddle (3rd from right) & Howard’ The Ghost’ Kent (2nd from right), others unidentified. Photo credit John Budge.
Left overs
On one of our regular visits for entertainment to Bunbury, someone was left behind on route to Yallingup. I can recall having to take-off on foot from Bunbury to Yallingup about 2am after a social evening. Fortunately, in those days, the few drivers on the road would give us lifts. The essence was that so few people had cars in the beginning.
The same happened again, this time in Busselton (which was more common). Bob Keenan & I were left in town and I can recall it was the coldest I have ever been. Fortunately, we found a couple of bikes and rode up and down and around the main street all night to keep warm until we were collected in the morning.
Bathing options
We used to wash in the creek flowing under the bridge at Yallingup, we had a large tin can with holes in the bottom at the end of a pole. One would ladle in the water whilst the other scrubbed up. We would take turns.
Caves House
Evenings were usually spent at Caves House drinking and playing darts with the local farmers. Glen ‘Boonga’ Smith drove his car off the track leading to Caves House and down into the valley. We had a hell of a job getting him out.
Entertainment
Sometimes we would drive direct from Perth to the ‘Churchill Park’ dance in Busselton on Friday nights. And on Saturday night we sometimes went to ‘Yoongarillup Hall’ for a dance. We often encountered problems with the ‘local farmer boys’ due to our funny clothes and wooing the local girls. Beverages were usually consumed from boots of cars.
Access to surf spots
Access to some surfing locations was sometimes via rough tracks and at times lifting out of fence posts. We would stand on the post and wiring whilst the vehicle was driven over. Vehicles often bogged down and it was wise to always have at least 4 persons per car.
We enjoyed a degree of skin diving for food as well as exploring by car and sometimes on our surfboards.
Ex Clubbies
Essentially all early surfers were surf lifesavers from various SLSC Clubs who had taken a pride in discipline prior to getting ‘hooked on surfing‘. A fabulous group of guys that I am sorry to say, may never emerge in surfing again.
Steve Mailey
Circa 1999
STEVE’S SW PHOTO GALLERY
Photos: 1958-60 Yallingup beach
(Left) 1958 Ross Gosden & Don Bancroft – Photo credit John Budge.
(Right) 1960 Yallingup beach run. L-R Tony Burgess, Steve Mailey (in bear suit), Ross Gosden, Colin Moore, Don Bancroft, Gary Birch, Ken Hamer. Photo courtesy of Steve Mailey.
Photos: 1961-62 surfing at Yallingup. Photos courtesy of Steve Mailey.
(Left) Party wave. (Right) Mark ‘Patto’ Paterson headstand.
Photo: 1961 Steve Mailey surfing ‘The Lighthouse’ surf break near Cape Naturaliste. Photo courtesy of Steve Mailey.
Photos: Gallows surf break. Photos courtesy of Steve Mailey.
(Left) 1958 Red Abbott & others surfing Gallows. (Right) 1961 Gallows track. Steve’s surfboard in foreground.
Photos: 1961 South Point Cowaramup. Photos courtesy of Steve Mailey.
Top: (Left) Barry Brakewell & Steve Mailey wave sharing. (Right) Steve Mailey.
Bottom: unidentified.
EAST COAST SURF TRIP.
In 1961 he went on a surfari to NSW with Bob Keenan, Les Gillies, Tony Burgess & Alan Hamer.
The first overnight stop was at Ceduna, where we all slept under the truck service ramps after some heavy drinking at the tavern. Passing through Mt Gambier we stayed overnight in Adelaide then on to Victoria’s Great Ocean Road to Melbourne and then finally Sydney where we stayed with the old Yallingup crew.
We returned to WA on the state ship ‘SS Southern Cross’.
Photos: 1961 East Coast surf trip. Photos courtesy Steve Mailey.
Top Left: Great Australian Bight. L-R Bob Keenan, Les Gillies, Tony Burgess & Alan Hamer.
Top Right: Mt Gambier. L-R Alan Hamer, Bob Keenan & Tony Burgess.
Bottom Left: Mildura Pub on Eyre Hwy WA near Eucla. L-R Alan Hamer, Steve Mailey, Bob Keenan, Proprietor, Tony Burgess & Les Gillies.
Bottom Right: Alan Hamer & friends on SS Southern Cross.
PADDLE OUT FOR “THE GHOST” KENT.
In 1997 a paddle out was held at Yallingup Beach to celebrate the life of SW surfing pioneer Howard ‘The Ghost’ Kent.
Photos: 1997 Yalls Howard ‘The Ghost’ Kent paddle out. Photos courtesy of Steve Mailey.
(Left) SW surfing pioneers team photo. (Right) Steve Mailey, Kevin Merifield & Ken Gymm.
STEVE TODAY
Steve lives and works in the city.
Photo: 1999 Steve on Trigg Beach with Len Dibben surfboard. Photo courtesy Steve Mailey.
In 2013 Steve wrote a book titled Boys of the Lake. It contains stories of a young life growing up in Shenton Park WA in the mid-twentieth century.
Images: Cover and insert from Boys of the Lake book. Images courtesy of Steve mailey
Like a lot of other SW surfing pioneers Steve Mailey started his ocean apprenticeship in the SLSC movement. He was a member of the Floreat SLSC and prior to that North Cottesloe SLSC where he bought his first 16’ “toothpick” surfboard at 13yo and surfed the Cable Station where others helped him carry it.
In the late 50s, Steve started driving down south on surf trips with his mates. Some of his friends were: Kevin Merifield, Bob Keenan, Don Bancroft, Howard (the ghost) Kent, Don Roper, Dave Maxwell, Les Gillies, Gary Birch, Terry Williams, Dave Williams, Jim McKenzie, Des Gaines, Brian Cole, Colin Moore, Joe King, Ken Hamer, Alan Hamer, Eric Hamer, John Peterson, Tony Harbison, Laurie Burke, Ralph (Seagull) McNabb, Ray Geary and Ray Nelmes.
Photo: 1961-62 Bunbury Steve Mailey in bear suit (WW2 flying suit) with Don Bancroft’s balsa pig board. Photo courtesy of Steve Mailey. (Note: wearing nose guard on sunglasses).
STEVE’S SW SURF RECOLLECTIONS
Steve recorded these recollections circa 1999 for a book on the history of surfing in WA by photojournalist Nathan Lynch. Nathan’s book the blue frontier (a south-west surfing odyssey) was based on his University thesis and published by UWA.
Bernie Huddle
Bernie Huddle was about 6’4” tall, very slim, well-tanned, distinguished features and loved his surfing. He was the first that I can recall to give up the city life to live & surf at Yallingup in the early 60s. He worked at Caves House Hotel for some time and they gave him one of those old lounge chairs, which he placed amongst the melaleuca trees at Yallingup Beach overlooking the ocean. He would sit for hours watching the surf and waiting until it was just right before he would go out, usually on his own.
On one of his trips to Yallingup he hit a huge tree stump in his car just out of Mandurah and tipped the car on about a 45% angle. It seemed to become something of a tradition for surfers to look for ‘Huddle Stump’ going to and from Yallingup. After many years this ‘piece of history’ was removed with the advent of road work.
Photo: Late 1950s. Yalls beach boys inc Bernie Huddle (3rd from right) & Howard’ The Ghost’ Kent (2nd from right), others unidentified. Photo credit John Budge.
Left overs
On one of our regular visits for entertainment to Bunbury, someone was left behind on route to Yallingup. I can recall having to take-off on foot from Bunbury to Yallingup about 2am after a social evening. Fortunately, in those days, the few drivers on the road would give us lifts. The essence was that so few people had cars in the beginning.
The same happened again, this time in Busselton (which was more common). Bob Keenan & I were left in town and I can recall it was the coldest I have ever been. Fortunately, we found a couple of bikes and rode up and down and around the main street all night to keep warm until we were collected in the morning.
Bathing options
We used to wash in the creek flowing under the bridge at Yallingup, we had a large tin can with holes in the bottom at the end of a pole. One would ladle in the water whilst the other scrubbed up. We would take turns.
Caves House
Evenings were usually spent at Caves House drinking and playing darts with the local farmers. Glen ‘Boonga’ Smith drove his car off the track leading to Caves House and down into the valley. We had a hell of a job getting him out.
Entertainment
Sometimes we would drive direct from Perth to the ‘Churchill Park’ dance in Busselton on Friday nights. And on Saturday night we sometimes went to ‘Yoongarillup Hall’ for a dance. We often encountered problems with the ‘local farmer boys’ due to our funny clothes and wooing the local girls. Beverages were usually consumed from boots of cars.
Access to surf spots
Access to some surfing locations was sometimes via rough tracks and at times lifting out of fence posts. We would stand on the post and wiring whilst the vehicle was driven over. Vehicles often bogged down and it was wise to always have at least 4 persons per car.
We enjoyed a degree of skin diving for food as well as exploring by car and sometimes on our surfboards.
Ex Clubbies
Essentially all early surfers were surf lifesavers from various SLSC Clubs who had taken a pride in discipline prior to getting ‘hooked on surfing‘. A fabulous group of guys that I am sorry to say, may never emerge in surfing again.
Steve Mailey
Circa 1999
STEVE’S SW PHOTO GALLERY
Photos: 1958-60 Yallingup beach
(Left) 1958 Ross Gosden & Don Bancroft – Photo credit John Budge.
(Right) 1960 Yallingup beach run. L-R Tony Burgess, Steve Mailey (in bear suit), Ross Gosden, Colin Moore, Don Bancroft, Gary Birch, Ken Hamer. Photo courtesy of Steve Mailey.
Photos: 1961-62 surfing at Yallingup. Photos courtesy of Steve Mailey.
(Left) Party wave. (Right) Mark ‘Patto’ Paterson headstand.
Photo: 1961 Steve Mailey surfing ‘The Lighthouse’ surf break near Cape Naturaliste. Photo courtesy of Steve Mailey.
Photos: Gallows surf break. Photos courtesy of Steve Mailey.
(Left) 1958 Red Abbott & others surfing Gallows. (Right) 1961 Gallows track. Steve’s surfboard in foreground.
Photos: 1961 South Point Cowaramup. Photos courtesy of Steve Mailey.
Top: (Left) Barry Brakewell & Steve Mailey wave sharing. (Right) Steve Mailey.
Bottom: unidentified.
EAST COAST SURF TRIP.
In 1961 he went on a surfari to NSW with Bob Keenan, Les Gillies, Tony Burgess & Alan Hamer.
The first overnight stop was at Ceduna, where we all slept under the truck service ramps after some heavy drinking at the tavern. Passing through Mt Gambier we stayed overnight in Adelaide then on to Victoria’s Great Ocean Road to Melbourne and then finally Sydney where we stayed with the old Yallingup crew.
We returned to WA on the state ship ‘SS Southern Cross’.
Photos: 1961 East Coast surf trip. Photos courtesy Steve Mailey.
Top Left: Great Australian Bight. L-R Bob Keenan, Les Gillies, Tony Burgess & Alan Hamer.
Top Right: Mt Gambier. L-R Alan Hamer, Bob Keenan & Tony Burgess.
Bottom Left: Mildura Pub on Eyre Hwy WA near Eucla. L-R Alan Hamer, Steve Mailey, Bob Keenan, Proprietor, Tony Burgess & Les Gillies.
Bottom Right: Alan Hamer & friends on SS Southern Cross.
PADDLE OUT FOR “THE GHOST” KENT.
In 1997 a paddle out was held at Yallingup Beach to celebrate the life of SW surfing pioneer Howard ‘The Ghost’ Kent.
Photos: 1997 Yalls Howard ‘The Ghost’ Kent paddle out. Photos courtesy of Steve Mailey.
(Left) SW surfing pioneers team photo. (Right) Steve Mailey, Kevin Merifield & Ken Gymm.
STEVE TODAY
Steve lives and works in the city.
Photo: 1999 Steve on Trigg Beach with Len Dibben surfboard. Photo courtesy Steve Mailey.
In 2013 Steve wrote a book titled Boys of the Lake. It contains stories of a young life growing up in Shenton Park WA in the mid-twentieth century.
Images: Cover and insert from Boys of the Lake book. Images courtesy of Steve mailey
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