‘The Dazzling Young Riders’ Photo Exhibition – Greg Woodward images #1 Scarborough Beach

Greg Woodward was a WA surf photographer and writer from 1966 to 1974.

He photographed in Perth, Mandurah and Cape Naturaliste and contributed photos and articles to the then brand new OZ surf magazine called ‘Surf International’.

In May this year, Greg held an exhibition of his beach life photos. The exhibition titled ‘The Dazzling Young Riders’ was held at Nyisztor Studios, 391 Canning Highway Melville/Palmyra from 6-21 May 2017.

There were approximately 80 images in the exhibition, about a third of which were guys surfing. The rest were beaches, waves, bikinis, sunbathers and a few portraits.

Greg has kindly allowed Surfing Down South to display some of his 60-70s photos.

This is the first instalment of images from Greg’s exhibition.

Click on this link to view Greg Woodward surf photographer published 26 April 2017.

Part 1. 2017 ‘The Dazzling Young Riders’ Exhibition images. Images courtesy of Greg Woodward.

Image #1 Invite to ‘The Dazzling Young Riders’ Exhibition.

Image #2 Greg’s Exhibition installation at Nyisztor Studios Melville.

Image #3 Greg’s Exhibition installation at Nyisztor Studios Melville.

Image #4 Greg’s Exhibition installation at Nyisztor Studios Melville.

Image #5 Photographer Greg Woodward studying the Exhibition catalogue in front of a close-up Greg Laurenson photo.

Part 2. 1966-74 Scarborough Beach images by Greg Woodward.

Greg “Igor” Woody’s comments on Scarborough Beach over the years – “Scarborough Beach (SB) has always been a magical place for Perth beach people. It’s a good spot for the wishing well that used to grace the Promenade. When you got there things could happen differently and better than they did in the burbs.

SB wasn’t always as accessible as it is now, I remember my Grandma telling me how the track in used to be covered by wooden railway sleepers to stop punters getting bogged.

In the 1940s, Mum, bless her, and her two sisters Nita and Joy and boyfriends were regular sunbathers at SB in their new beach outfits fresh from the Women’s Weekly magazine. No not the guys!

Then in the 1950s it was the infamous “Snake Pit” where the Bodgies and Widgies practised the then revolutionary JIVE dance to the sounds of Bill Hayley and the Comets. Shock, horror – Libido of the people let loose!!

What next – well then pan across to the Scarborough pub and many happy hours sinking the odd Swan lager by many SB locals, both Surfer and Surf Lifesaver and then a short stroll across the car park to the Scarborough Surf Life Saving Club to varnish a boat or two for the next big swell and inevitable rescue of the innocents.

Then in the sixties when I discovered SB, there was still a great wave because of the sandbars. The wave broke and peeled and then re-formed into a second wave that was great for the learners. With a light offshore easterly it was just heaven. Sparkling, hollowly rolling and transparently green.

Then after hours in the briny, back to the Promenade for a fabulous burger made by Tony and featuring a serious meat pattie with crunchy Polish pickles–held together by 2 slices of three quarter inch thick toasted white bread and wrapped hastily in some sort of translucent paper that only burger makers know about and can wrap.

Before Dad [Bob] gave me the Austin A-40, I used to catch 2 x buses to get to SB and pick up my 10 foot 2 inch Len Dibben space ship from under the house of a friendly local friend of grandma’s.

It was a magical thing – coming over the hill, board under arm to a sparkling new world or a bummer sea breeze ocean. From the top car park you could see all the way down to Trigg Point. Miles of white sand beach and sea mist with the Ocean God swirling into the white clouds high above the horizon.

Won’t dwell too much on the Servo World that’s sprung up along the beach like mushrooms.

Gone is the beautiful surf

Gone is the wishing well

Gone is the Beach

Gone the pub

Gone the burgers – along with my youth. Say La Vee”.