Tribute to Surf Historian

Background on Jim King

Veteran surfer Jim King has been surfing WA’s metro and South West waves since 1965. He is retired and lives in Dunsborough with his wife Kath.

In 2011 he documented and prepared a video on the history of the City Beach Surf Riders Club for a 50-year Club reunion. Then in 2013 he worked with author Sue-Lyn Aldrian-Moyle on a book documenting the history of surfing in the South West. The Surfing Down South book was published by Margaret River Press in 2014 and has been successful. Next Sue-Lyn created the Surfing Down South web and Facebook pages and Jim became the editor. Fed by Ric Chan’s lost images from the 70s & 80s, his brother Bruce’s surf photos and vintage surfing stories from readers. Jim has continued in this role for nearly 5 years. Along the way, Jim has assisted other authors with surf/music images for their publications.

In December 2017 he worked with a project team to set up WA’s first Surf Gallery at Aravina Estate Yallingup (a collaboration between Aravina and Surfing WA).

These comments are posted by SW veteran surfer Mike Bibby: –

On Saturday 17^th March about 50 Surfing Down South followers gathered at Caves House to show their appreciation for all the work Jim has done in helping Sue-Lyn Aldrian-Moyle produce the Surfing Down South Book, assisting in no small way in the setting up of the Aravina Surf Museum and more importantly this SDS blog.

Over the past 5 years Jim has tirelessly churned out two SDS blogs each week (I counted nearly 100 in the last 12 months) and in doing so has amassed the most comprehensive collection of stories and photos that now is the history of surfing in Western Australia.

Each blog is meticulously researched, the photos selected from his huge library and every detail checked before it is published.  I know from my dealings with Jim on some stories how tenacious he is, almost to the point of being obsessive.  He worries over every fine detail and will not publish until he is completely satisfied with the result.

His blogs have not only created a comprehensive archive of Western Australian surfing history but has rekindled old friendships, acquaintances, revived fading memories and restored old egos.

A lot of us have been talking for some time about showing in some way our appreciation of his work and in collaboration with his brother Bruce an email was sent out to those contacts we could come up with asking them if they would contribute to a fund to buy something for Jim as a token of our appreciation.  The email did not unfortunately go out to all SDS readers as we couldn’t get Jim’s contact list without alerting him.  We wanted it to be a surprise.

The response was fantastic and as a result we were able to present Jim with a trophy (courtesy of Loz and Tony Wiggers-Smith), a magnificent glass Caribbean platter by Anne Sorenson (sourced by Ashley and Nina Jones from Gunyalgup Galleries) and a voucher for a custom-made board with Yahoo Surfboards.

The presentation was kept completely secret from Jim and his reaction when he and Kath walked into the Nigili Room at Caves House was priceless.   

The following photos tell the story: –

Photo: Loz Smith leading Jim and Kath into the ambush. Anne King pic.

Photos: Mike Bibby congratulating Jim on his contribution to WA surf history and presenting Tribute items from donors. Ashley Jones and Kath King assisting. Photos courtesy of Bruce King, Ian Wiese and Loz Smith.

Photos: Jim with his Tribute goodies from donors. Photos by Loz Smith

Top: (Left) Engraved Woodie trophy from Tony Wiggers-Smith and Loz Smith. (Right) Glass Caribbean platter by Anne Sorensen from Ashley & Nina Jones at Gunyalgup Galleries

Bottom: (Left) Gift voucher for custom surfboard from Yahoo Surfboards. (Right) Custom Tribute card.

Photo: Jim showing his Caribbean platter to the Louie at the back of the room. Anne King pic.

Photo: Team photo in the Nigili Room at Caves House by Loz Smith.

Jim King – I thought I was attending Gary and Sally Greirson’s ‘renewal of Marriage vows’ ceremony at Caves House. It certainly was a BIG surprise when Kath and I were hustled by Loz into a room full of smiling faces for a SDS tribute show instead. (-: 

The surprise presentation arranged by Mike and my brother Bruce was wonderful and it was great to be acknowledged for my SDS surf history material.

The Tribute was unexpected and much appreciated, but it was a bit too much excitement for this retiree (-:

Many thanks to Mike and Bruce for organizing the Tribute and all you donors for your generous donations

Social photos from Loz, Ian, Bruce & Anne follow: –

Party pics #1.

Party pics #2.

Party pics #3.

Party pics #4.

Jim King – Who would have thought that those” we better record our surf history before we fall off the perch” meetings with Kevin Merifield, Brian Cole and Murray Smith in the Caves House beer garden all those years ago, would lead to the Surfing Down South book, web and Facebook pages and recently the WA Surf Gallery at Aravina Estate Yallingup.

Who knows where this will lead, I may end up with my photo on a postage stamp (-:

Image: Draft postage stamps featuring Jim King surfing City Beach in 1968. Courtesy of Greg Woodward.

At this time, I think I will get a custom mal with the Yahoo Surfboards gift voucher. It’s been a while since I had a custom mal. My last custom mal was shaped by Rex Cordingley, glassed by Colin Cordingley and sanded/finished by Dave Ellis at Cordingley Surfboards in Hay Street Subiaco, back in the mid-60s (-:

Thank you for supporting Surfing Down South.

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