Growing up in Osborne Park in the 60’s and 70’s meant I grew up with the Surfing Industry of WA. Since being coached by Teena Christon at Miami bay in Summer of 63 my obsession with surfing was set. So many great times working with all the 60 and 70’s crew. Making the first padded surfboard bags for ‘Pants’ Laurenson to my old caravan from the Speedway at Smiths Caravan park and many more stories to finding Bali after watching a film at the Regal Theatre in Subiaco.
I have surfed with and known a lot of surfers over the years and while surfing was seen as a ‘Loafers Pastime’ in the 60’s I loved every minute of it.
Who would have thought it would become so mainstream, I am happy for all the surfers that have discovered the natural splendor of the Loafers Pastime😊
Being picked on in the late 60’s early 70’s by the Shire Traffic Officers and Police, having to fight the Margaret River Football team to attend their end of season dance, waiting to be served at the Margaret River Pub and only being served once all the Cow Farmers were served first, just because we were Surfies.
Loved it as we were hiding a special bond with nature at the time. In time we worked for a number of the Cow Farmers and they were surprised at how ordinary we were and that we worked hard for the dollars they gave.
Gary
An overview of Gary’s surfing life follows:-
Summer 1963/64 –I was introduced to riding a surfboard at Miami Bay at age 9 through Teena Christion. She was age 14 and State Woman’s champ at the time.
I only knew Teena and Ray Geary, as the local kids mainly turned up on school holidays and rode Coolites. They included Nev Hyman, Kevin Dumbrell, Mark Facius and a few others. Later in the 60’s the group grew to include Mark’s younger brother Ross Facius, Chris Fullston and I saw a bit of Jon Dadd and Errol Considine. I think there was the Silver Bullet Surfboards and Patrick Leahy (Westsuits) was part of the Miami crew as well.
Photo: 1960s Falcon Bay Miami. Image courtesy of Len Dibben.
Summer 1964 – First surfboard was a SLSC 16ft Ski, my sister Robyn and I rode it tandem yelling at swimmers we were coming through, Dad realized that it was way too big and bought a 9’6” Hawke 3 stringer in the summer of 1964/65 and I was living the dream.
1968 – First brand new board, 7’6” Hawke stringer less flex fin that I put a STP sticker on, being an Osborne Park boy who also lived with Speed Cars and Speedway. My father Jack was a Midget Driver at Claremont Speedway in the 1950’s.
Photo: 2000s the old Osborne Park Crew who worked at Hawke Surfboards in the 1960’s.
L-R ‘Muzz’ Smith, ‘Harrow’ Harrison and me the kid who spent his spare time in the shop annoying Peter Hawke.
Pete would give me stickers to piss off so he could go out back and keep an eye on Muzz and Harrow.
1971 – I had another new board from the Hawke Surfboard Factory, a 5’10” S Deck Twin Fin. When I got my license I drove down South and paddled out at Marg’s at 6’. They were the days of no leg ropes, so I did a lot of swimming.
Photo: 1970 Me at Long Point with my Hawke twin fin and a board I made from one of Jon Dadd’s Innovator Pop Outs.
In the 1970’s we (Daryl Baillie of Gero and Kim Johnson of Albany ) did a lot of surfing around Mandurah, Lancelin and Down South, some years we never missed a weekend away chasing waves, mostly Down South.
In 71 I made UGG Boots for Bill at Cordingleys in Jolimont and Gas Works surf shop in Perth. I had a few Cordingley boards in those early days.
Summer of 1973/74 – Daz Baillie and myself travelled East in search of waves after getting a couple of boards made by Tom Blaxell, the shaper was Chris Young (Nat’s Brother) met Reno and Gerry at Cactus and surfed everywhere through SA, Vic, NSW and up to Noosa in Qld before returning to Surf WA’s Rainbow Coast, drove into Black Point during the trip and surfed there for a week before settling in Margaret River, staying with Kim Johnson and the Hippies near Redgate.
Photo: 1974 My old EJ Holden Panel van at Redgate Farm with the hippies.
Surfed with Kanga at Gallows a lot around that time. Tony helped me out at Left Handers taking off deep which prepared me for the future. The three most inspirational surfers I knew at the time was Ian Cairns, Tony Hardy and Greg Laurenson, should mention my old mate Chris Fullston from Mandurah.
Photo: 1975 My old Toyota 4WD pulling a car out of mud hole on Gallows track.
In 1975 I took over my Father’s business in Osborne Park doing Canvas Work. Around that time we had seen Morning of the Earth at the Regal and wanted to head to this place called Bali. Having a business was cool for the cash and time off. So with a few mates we travelled up to Indo with a couple of specially shaped Greg Laurenson guns and from then on spent a month each year in Bali. The kids at Ulu’s who carried the boards kept calling me Peter McCabe, I had no idea what they were on about at first, it seemed that they called everyone Peter McCabe if they got tubed!
Because we spent so much time Down South accommodation was a problem. So I bought an old Food Caravan from the Speedway and converted it to live in and dragged it Down South to Smith’s Beach Caravan Park. Old Ron (Slim) who owned it, thought we were opposition as the van still had the painted sign on it “The Spaghetti Van”.
I spent a week at Jake’s before heading to Bali and my fav wave at Ulu’s just to tune up each year before my 4 weeks break in Indo.
In 1973 I went to Gnaraloo Station with my Father fishing and to stay with the then Manager Bill Schrimager (my Father’s first apprentice). I went again in 1974 and ran into Dave Plaistead (Dappa) working up there, strange I thought, but I soon found out why he was there. Funny how the word got out!
In the mid 70’s I rode boards made by Tom Hoye, Ken Mackenzie and Nev Hyman.
The Windsurf fad came in 1980’s and I spent time being flogged all over the Ocean as Fast as the thing took me, after suffering with sore knees and ankles I went back to just waxing up a board and surfing, getting into longboarding in the late 90’s and became the Secretary of the Mullaloo Longboarders Club in 2000. Back to my roots so to speak!
I represented SWA as State and National Longboarding Judge.
SWA Longboard Rep for 3 years
State Longboard Team Manager 2 years
SWA Competition Director (Longboards 2005 – 2012).
Photo: 2012 Pic of myself as SWA Competition Director.
2006 Comp Director National Longboard Titles at Yallingup
Coached Scotty Trew into Longboarding over the years and set him up with Firewire Sponsorship
2015 State O/60 Longboard Champion. “Proud of this effort in 2015”.
Photo: 2015 Gary State 0/60s Longboard champion
My son Michael became the State Junior Longboard Champion two years running in the early 2000’s and I got into Judging and surfing heats myself. Michael now rides Foils. He was the first Stand Up Foil board rider at Yallingup and recently shortboard Foils at Huzzas.
Photo: 2012 Me Surfing Pasta Point in Maldives. “So much is a good life as a surfer”.
While surfing in West Java in May 2018 I hit the reef and damaged three Ligaments joined to my hip which the specialist said it will take 18 months before I am back to being right.
This has taken a toll on my surfing and I am doing Yoga and Pilates twice a week to get things going again. Talking to Mick “The Fish” Marlin and he is finding it harder as we get into the Golden Years of our surfing career’s.
I’m now ready to head off in my caravan surfing Tassie and the East Coast for a number of months to catch up with old friends and surf the hopefully uncrowded waves.
Growing up in Osborne Park in the 60’s and 70’s meant I grew up with the Surfing Industry of WA. Since being coached by Teena Christon at Miami bay in Summer of 63 my obsession with surfing was set. So many great times working with all the 60 and 70’s crew. Making the first padded surfboard bags for ‘Pants’ Laurenson to my old caravan from the Speedway at Smiths Caravan park and many more stories to finding Bali after watching a film at the Regal Theatre in Subiaco.
I have surfed with and known a lot of surfers over the years and while surfing was seen as a ‘Loafers Pastime’ in the 60’s I loved every minute of it.
Who would have thought it would become so mainstream, I am happy for all the surfers that have discovered the natural splendor of the Loafers Pastime😊
Being picked on in the late 60’s early 70’s by the Shire Traffic Officers and Police, having to fight the Margaret River Football team to attend their end of season dance, waiting to be served at the Margaret River Pub and only being served once all the Cow Farmers were served first, just because we were Surfies.
Loved it as we were hiding a special bond with nature at the time. In time we worked for a number of the Cow Farmers and they were surprised at how ordinary we were and that we worked hard for the dollars they gave.
Gary
An overview of Gary’s surfing life follows:-
Summer 1963/64 –I was introduced to riding a surfboard at Miami Bay at age 9 through Teena Christion. She was age 14 and State Woman’s champ at the time.
I only knew Teena and Ray Geary, as the local kids mainly turned up on school holidays and rode Coolites. They included Nev Hyman, Kevin Dumbrell, Mark Facius and a few others. Later in the 60’s the group grew to include Mark’s younger brother Ross Facius, Chris Fullston and I saw a bit of Jon Dadd and Errol Considine. I think there was the Silver Bullet Surfboards and Patrick Leahy (Westsuits) was part of the Miami crew as well.
Photo: 1960s Falcon Bay Miami. Image courtesy of Len Dibben.
Summer 1964 – First surfboard was a SLSC 16ft Ski, my sister Robyn and I rode it tandem yelling at swimmers we were coming through, Dad realized that it was way too big and bought a 9’6” Hawke 3 stringer in the summer of 1964/65 and I was living the dream.
1968 – First brand new board, 7’6” Hawke stringer less flex fin that I put a STP sticker on, being an Osborne Park boy who also lived with Speed Cars and Speedway. My father Jack was a Midget Driver at Claremont Speedway in the 1950’s.
Photo: 2000s the old Osborne Park Crew who worked at Hawke Surfboards in the 1960’s.
L-R ‘Muzz’ Smith, ‘Harrow’ Harrison and me the kid who spent his spare time in the shop annoying Peter Hawke.
Pete would give me stickers to piss off so he could go out back and keep an eye on Muzz and Harrow.
1971 – I had another new board from the Hawke Surfboard Factory, a 5’10” S Deck Twin Fin. When I got my license I drove down South and paddled out at Marg’s at 6’. They were the days of no leg ropes, so I did a lot of swimming.
Photo: 1970 Me at Long Point with my Hawke twin fin and a board I made from one of Jon Dadd’s Innovator Pop Outs.
In the 1970’s we (Daryl Baillie of Gero and Kim Johnson of Albany ) did a lot of surfing around Mandurah, Lancelin and Down South, some years we never missed a weekend away chasing waves, mostly Down South.
In 71 I made UGG Boots for Bill at Cordingleys in Jolimont and Gas Works surf shop in Perth. I had a few Cordingley boards in those early days.
Summer of 1973/74 – Daz Baillie and myself travelled East in search of waves after getting a couple of boards made by Tom Blaxell, the shaper was Chris Young (Nat’s Brother) met Reno and Gerry at Cactus and surfed everywhere through SA, Vic, NSW and up to Noosa in Qld before returning to Surf WA’s Rainbow Coast, drove into Black Point during the trip and surfed there for a week before settling in Margaret River, staying with Kim Johnson and the Hippies near Redgate.
Photo: 1974 My old EJ Holden Panel van at Redgate Farm with the hippies.
Surfed with Kanga at Gallows a lot around that time. Tony helped me out at Left Handers taking off deep which prepared me for the future. The three most inspirational surfers I knew at the time was Ian Cairns, Tony Hardy and Greg Laurenson, should mention my old mate Chris Fullston from Mandurah.
Photo: 1975 My old Toyota 4WD pulling a car out of mud hole on Gallows track.
In 1975 I took over my Father’s business in Osborne Park doing Canvas Work. Around that time we had seen Morning of the Earth at the Regal and wanted to head to this place called Bali. Having a business was cool for the cash and time off. So with a few mates we travelled up to Indo with a couple of specially shaped Greg Laurenson guns and from then on spent a month each year in Bali. The kids at Ulu’s who carried the boards kept calling me Peter McCabe, I had no idea what they were on about at first, it seemed that they called everyone Peter McCabe if they got tubed!
Because we spent so much time Down South accommodation was a problem. So I bought an old Food Caravan from the Speedway and converted it to live in and dragged it Down South to Smith’s Beach Caravan Park. Old Ron (Slim) who owned it, thought we were opposition as the van still had the painted sign on it “The Spaghetti Van”.
I spent a week at Jake’s before heading to Bali and my fav wave at Ulu’s just to tune up each year before my 4 weeks break in Indo.
In 1973 I went to Gnaraloo Station with my Father fishing and to stay with the then Manager Bill Schrimager (my Father’s first apprentice). I went again in 1974 and ran into Dave Plaistead (Dappa) working up there, strange I thought, but I soon found out why he was there. Funny how the word got out!
In the mid 70’s I rode boards made by Tom Hoye, Ken Mackenzie and Nev Hyman.
The Windsurf fad came in 1980’s and I spent time being flogged all over the Ocean as Fast as the thing took me, after suffering with sore knees and ankles I went back to just waxing up a board and surfing, getting into longboarding in the late 90’s and became the Secretary of the Mullaloo Longboarders Club in 2000. Back to my roots so to speak!
I represented SWA as State and National Longboarding Judge.
SWA Longboard Rep for 3 years
State Longboard Team Manager 2 years
SWA Competition Director (Longboards 2005 – 2012).
Photo: 2012 Pic of myself as SWA Competition Director.
2006 Comp Director National Longboard Titles at Yallingup
Coached Scotty Trew into Longboarding over the years and set him up with Firewire Sponsorship
2015 State O/60 Longboard Champion. “Proud of this effort in 2015”.
Photo: 2015 Gary State 0/60s Longboard champion
My son Michael became the State Junior Longboard Champion two years running in the early 2000’s and I got into Judging and surfing heats myself. Michael now rides Foils. He was the first Stand Up Foil board rider at Yallingup and recently shortboard Foils at Huzzas.
Photo: 2012 Me Surfing Pasta Point in Maldives. “So much is a good life as a surfer”.
While surfing in West Java in May 2018 I hit the reef and damaged three Ligaments joined to my hip which the specialist said it will take 18 months before I am back to being right.
This has taken a toll on my surfing and I am doing Yoga and Pilates twice a week to get things going again. Talking to Mick “The Fish” Marlin and he is finding it harder as we get into the Golden Years of our surfing career’s.
I’m now ready to head off in my caravan surfing Tassie and the East Coast for a number of months to catch up with old friends and surf the hopefully uncrowded waves.
Thanks Gary for sharing your surfing memoirs.
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