Floreat surfer Terry Jacks started surfboard riding on metro beaches in the late 50s.
In the early 60s he was a member of the City Beach Surfriders Club and chased waves on the East Coast with Dave Beamish and other City Beach surfers. On his return to WA, Terry was regarded as the state’s most talented ‘free surfer’.
In one of his rare contest appearances, he came very close to defeating 1964 World Champion Bernard ‘Midget’ Farrelly in an Invitational Event held at Yallingup in 1968.
In the 70s and 80s Terry lived down south and travelled extensively in India and South East Asia.
Sadly Terry passed away in 1990 (age 46) from blood poisoning which he contracted while surfing in Indonesia.
This is a collection of Terry Jacks recollections and images from friends and associates.
Photo: 1958 Terry with other grommets on the steps of ‘Berts Shop’ City Beach. Brian Cole pic
Left: Garry Stewart and John Harbison
Right: Charlie Roper, unidentified and Terry Jacks standing in doorway.
Keith Campbell – When the 1963 City Beach Surfriders club was started, Terry Jacks was a standout surfer.
In those years his father owned a newsagency and in only having one son, it was destined (in his eyes) that Terry would take it over.
Of course when Terry got his driver’s license the first job was to do the paper deliveries. The vehicle was a blue mini minor with only the driver’s seat and plenty of room for the rolled papers to be picked up next to the driver and thrown under bushes or sprinklers at which Terry was an expert. It was never to be his future and when he attended Technical School found a great partner in Charlie Roper to go surfing – neglecting studies and the newsagency, to mislead as many others as possible.
When City Beach either wasn’t working too well or if the banks were good at Trigg Point, that was the pick.
I was going to Uni and any morning that I had either free of study or having a lecture carbon copied by a fellow student, I would pick up Terry and sometimes Charlie from Berkeley Crescent Wembley for us to have Triggs Point to ourselves. In those days there was no West Coast Highway and we took the winding trip Pearl Parade and Elliott Road to the old Trigg Club Shed.
The City Beach Surfriders was the top club with Terry, Barry King, Zac Kochanowitsch, Dave Beamish and then spook (the very young Peter Bothwell).
Many parties were had around Scarborough with Jim Lick, John Pozzi and a few of the Scarborough crew, and as long as 10 turned up, it was all go for a 10 gallon beer keg.
Terry’s favourite trick was to wait until dark and when the girls were least expecting it would undress, get a roll of toilet paper, unroll about 20m and stick one end into his arse crack, light the other and race through the middle of the proceedings. (his famous dance of the flaming arsehole). This was a progression of his “Blue Flame” antics.
The top surfers decided City Beach was a bit mundane and decided to form a clique in another club and Terry Joined them.
In 1964 Terry decided to head East and took Dave Beamish with him ending up staying at the famous 11 Tasman Street, Dee Why and I think working at Conqueror Cables to pay their way.
I stayed on and lost track of Terry for a while although I believe he headed up to Far North Queensland and inland to Longreach in Central West Queensland. He finally returned home and became a bit of a Nomad.
Others can fill in the details, however he spent a fair amount of time living at Yallingup and also took a trip to India where I think he picked up an infection. Without getting it properly attended to, his trip to Indonesia was disastrous and he left us to soon. I think he was 46.
Photo: Early 60s Terry with WA surf pioneers at Moses Rock in the SW. Brian Cole pic.
L-R Jim ‘Lik’ MacKenzie, Charlie Roper, Kevin Merifield, Keith Campbell, John McKnight, Dave Williams, Terry Jacks and Terry Williams (back to camera).
Mick Lindsay – I have some great early memories of Terry when he worked for his old man, who ran a Mt Hawthorn news agency and was probably the main reason he was the West’s best surfer . He delivered papers for years & sometimes I would go with him and give him a hand on the proviso I could go with him for a surf. As I didn’t have wheels and Jacksy always knew where waves were working, it was worth the effort! He was incredible at the speed he got through the paper round, so he could get to the beach and of course in those days every beach was his local break, though City was always his first choice as it suited his incredible style particularly on the nose.
It’s always amazed me how many waves he would catch in a session and when you think about it, he surfed nearly every day after his paper delivery, so to the envy of most of us, he was getting heaps of waves and was incredibly surf fit. He also amazed me at how he could find the sweet spot to take off and paddled twice as far as most to find the take-off, he never dropped in.
When I last saw Terry he was on his way to Bali to appear in a movie though he needed to have a septic little toe removed, unfortunately he could not have the op done before leaving and as we know that toe turned gangrenous in the tropics and we lost him.
Image: 1963 Terry surfing City Beach. Image courtesy of WA Newspapers.
Geoff Berry – We left the Nedlands Local Hall ‘Stomp’ on Friday night in Terry’s grey Holden Panel Van around midnight. (circa 1962). The Holden wagon only had a front bench seat so Terry drove and I and several others were “stacked in the back”. I am somewhat vague on who was there, but I think it may have been Keith Campbell, Jamie Doig, Brian Boynes and Mark Waddell. As we drove away from the Nedlands Hall, Terry elected not to drive on the road but along the front nature strip which consisted of manicured lawns and evenly placed trees. This resulted in what can only be described as a slalom course which at some speed made a mess of the various front lawns. I began to wonder at that stage if we were going to make it all the way to Yallingup. However, we made it to Yall’s and set up camp in the scrub in front of the Surfside Café.
Following a day of uncrowded quality surf, we returned to our camp site and attempted to light a camp fire with some rather green wood. One of the crew decided that to stoke the fire with a splash of petrol would do the trick. The jerry can of petrol was used and sure enough the green wood went up in flames and so did the guy who did the splashing of petrol. This was potentially a serious situation where the holder of the jerry can was about to go up in smoke. Terry a quick thinker responded like lighting and flung this guy to the ground and rolled him over to extinguish the flames and separate him from the jerry can. This was a very brave act and the quick reflex and skill full action epitomised Terry’s skill as a surfer.
Will not forget you Terry.
Photo: 1963 City Beach boys surfing Brighton boxing day . Photo courtesy of WA Newspapers
L to R Barry King, Mike Brown, Kerry Apostoles, Charlie Roper (behind wave) and Terry Jacks paddling over wave.
Photo: 1963 Terry crouching on the nose at Brighton. Mick Lindsay pic
In 1964 Terry headed to the East Coast in his panel van seeking better waves. He took talented surfer Dave Beamish with him. The boys met up with other City Beach surfers who were there to surf, socialise and watch the first Australian and World Surfing Championships held at Manly NSW.
Photo: 1964 Terry with his Mick Dooley triple stringer surfboard at Byron Bay NSW. Ernie Potter pic.
Note: In ’64 Mick Dooley (Manly NSW) won the annual Bells Beach contest, placed 3rd in the Australian Senior Mens Championships and 5th in the World Surfing Championships held at Manly NSW.
Ernie Potter – Terry and I were pretty close mates back in the day.
This photo is from around September/October 1964 at Byron Bay.
Earlier in 1964, Terry, myself and quite a few of the City Beach crew were at Yallingup for the inaugural State Titles won by Zac Kochanowitsch (Open) and Barry King (Junior).
A couple of months after this photo was taken, we packed up and headed back to Perth.
Photo: 1964 Terry, Ernie Potter and Peter Docherty with Terry’s Holden panel van at Byron Bay NSW. Ernie Potter pic.
Peter ‘Doc’ Docherty – The above photo was taken at Byron Bay late in 1964 as there are only two boards on Terry’s van. I had run out of money and put my board (10ft Reynolds Yater) on the train back to WA prior to hitching back to Sydney.
Ernie’s shot below shows me wandering off with a backpack on hitch hiking back to Sydney. “God help me, I was only nineteen.”
That was quite a tumultuous year. I had come East late ’63 or early ’64 with my family. Viv Kitson from City Beach and I shared a flat in Mosman NSW and worked in my Uncles waffle and pie factory. Towards the end of the year Terry Jacks, Ernie Potter and I (and Jimmy ‘Lick’ McKenzie, I think) lived in an old motel right on the beach at North Narrabeen. Pretty hard to take!
As I sit here, I can still see the rain slamming into the windscreen of Jacksy’s van as we drove up to Crescent Head back then. Happy days!
I’ve took up the guitar again a few months ago. Had to start all over again from scratch. Decided to learn music theory. It’s a bit strange being a 73 year old Great Grandfather in a class of kiddies and teens. “Unless ye become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven”. Not surfing any more unfortunately. Not to say that I won’t again, but it would have to be in very secure circumstances.
Photo: 1964 Terry and Keith Paul (QLD) watching Peter Docherty preparing to hitchhike back to Sydney from Brunswick in northern NSW. Terry’s van with surfboards on roof rack is on the left. Ernie Potter pic.
Note: Keith Paul went on to become the ’68 Australian Open Surfing Champion.
Michael Brown – Terry and I spent a lot of time surfing together along with all the other guys mentioned at City Beach.
In my last year at school 1961 I wagged most of the last term and use to hang out at King Cole surfboards Roydhouse St Subiaco, across the road from my school.
Terry and I would meet there hang for a while then head off surfing in the little blue Mini.
One day whilst at King Cole surfboards the headmaster from my school appeared in the doorway, Terry and I jumped in the Mini and took off to city beach.
We paddled out and where enjoying a surf when the school headmaster arrived at the beach and walked out along the groyne calling for me to come in.
No way, so Terry and I paddled up to Floreat beach. Needless to say, that was the end of my schooling, I left.
Terry was a great surfer and ahead of his time with what he could do on a board in those early 1960’s days.
Photo: 1966 Terry removing the bridal garter from Michael Brown’s wife Laraine (nee Day) at their wedding Sept 1966. Michael Brown pic.
In the background are Zac Kochanowitsch, Ernie Potter, John ‘Cocko‘ Killen, John Harbison with Lenny Kochanowitsch and Michael Brown behind Laraine.
Peter ‘Spook’ Bothwell – Terry in his prime was a fantastic surfer and an inspiration along with Dave Beamish and Keith Campbell to young City Beach surfers such as Jamie Doig and me.
In the early to mid-60s we would head up to Scarborough in Spring, Terry would roll up in his Holden panel van with modified tail gate (home panel beating) which provided a concave to slip the famous Mick Dooley triple stringer in and out of the van at will. Terry’s board was similar to that ridden by Midget and Mick Dooley at the ‘64 World Surfing Titles held at Manly NSW. After the surf, he would explain to us how to put the board on a rail by leaning out drop knee style, then waiting for the heavy board to swing round before quickly dancing forward in trim to race across the wall.
Four years later, when I was State Open Champion (age 19), Terry picked me up at the Sydney airport for the ’68 Australian Surf Titles’ held in NSW. He introduced me to Keith Paul (Qld) with whom we had a conversation about the up and coming contest of which he said “he was going to win” …. and he did!
We went to Snow McAllister’s place in Manly where I stayed a couple of nights. Snow was the patron of the ‘68 titles. Terry then put me up for a week or so with Jamie Doig and Dooley Hassett at their Queenscliff unit.
During that time he organised for me to surf in a Manly Pacific Board Riders intra club competition, as a warm up for the Australians. He also took us to North Narrabeen each day to practice. When the Titles started, he was always there to provided support!
His theory was, and he was himself an example, that although we were amateur’s and it was a Pro/Am event, we shouldn’t be put off our game.
Terry didn’t have to do any of this!
At the first round of Open competition held at Warriewood, I nearly made the final coming in eighth. Ian Cairns and I were as far as we know, the first Open and Junior champions from the West to progress past the heats. The next year we did better in the Aust Titles held at Margaret River and so the history goes.
Terry’s character engendered the spirit of mentoring which was a strong theme in WA surfing from the 60s onwards.
In the late 60s-early 70s Terry, Barry Day and I rode West Coast Surfboards designed by Bob Gardner.
Photo: Late 1960s Terry partying with mates. Peter Dyson pic
Rear: Richard Burridge & Terry Jacks.
Front: Peter Dyson & Dick Leonard
Brian Cleaver – I’m going back to 1962 when the first ‘Novice Board Riding’ competition was held at a break south end of Scarborough. The board I was riding was a ‘shortened Malibu’ as the nose had been broken off, re shaped and re-glassed. (Approx one foot shorter than the then current Long Board). The comp and surfing in general were sponsored by radio station 6PR.
Having accumulated high points and winning my semi-finals heat; and figuring these points would be added to and assist in the finals score. I held back during the final heat to pick the odd best waves of the day. The outcome was, I had not ‘taken off’ on the minimum prescribed number of waves, this resulting in me taking out second position.
Each of the three winners were approached by their respective local board clubs.
First place winner was ‘Willy Windmill’ from Cottesloe. (Named due to the way he swung his arms about).
I was fronted by Terry Jacks and invited to join the City Beach Board Club. This was the start of my association with CBSR Club which lasted for the next five years.
I cannot remember who took out third position, but I think it was a Scarborough surfer, possibly Zac.
I had no option in July 1967 but to resign my position as Vice President at the board club due to having won lotto,…. Two years National Service and a ‘Tour of Duty’ in Vietnam.
On my return to Australia and discharge in 1969 in Melbourne, I took a trip to Geelong. I was keen to get back on a board and return to surfing. However, during the two years I was in the Army there was a dramatic change in boards, from the long ‘Malibu’ to short boards. Whilst at a beach out from Geelong, I borrowed a short board. Unfortunately I could hardly even paddle this thing. When I sat on the board it sank. I tried for about 30 minutes and gave it away as a bad joke. Consequently, I have not returned to the ocean waves.
So that’s my story and connection to Terry Jacks.
Image: 1968 Terry surfing in Invitational Event at Yallingup WA. Image courtesy of WA Newspapers.
Ross Utting – I remember Terry as not only a great surfer, but someone who encouraged the youngsters.
During the non-summer school holidays we got some great surf at times at City Beach and whenever it got good Terry Jacks was always there. He was an incredibly powerful surfer and was our idol. I recall one day of freakish conditions at a solid 6’ and breaking way out past the groyne. Terry just tore it to shreds. He was virtually taking off on the south side of the groyne and passing well in front of it. We had never seen anything like it. It was just Terry and us kids, he was a legendary surfer, one of the best in Australia at the time & looking back, probably world class.
One of my great memories from a lifetime of surfing came years later. Must have been about 1970. I was sitting on the steps back at Yallingup contemplating a morning surfing perfect 8-10ft Margaret, when Terry came & sat next to me & said “You surfed well this morning, handled the size no trouble at all”. Wow! Howz that coming from your idol as a grommet.
Photo: 1976 Terry power turn Cottesloe main break. Ric Chan pic.
Photo: 1976 Terry in the slot Cottesloe main break. Ric Chan pic.
Jim King– Terry Jacks, Ian ‘Moochie’ Strongman and Kevin Agar introduced me to Rocky Point circa ’65. While we had the gate key from the property owner D’Espeissis, Moochie still picked the lock on the gate, just to show he could do it! We used to park our cars on the beach in front of the waves back then.
I remember a party at Terry’s parents place in Floreat in the ‘60s. Everyone was drinking and swimming in the pool. I had a few drinks, dived off the diving board and smashed my head on the bottom of the pool, there was blood everywhere and I was lucky to get away alive with a head ache.
I have happy memories of turning up at Yallingup car park in the early days to find Terry waiting in his VW bug to go surfing with me (or any other surfer who may turn up).
Terry had a wicked sense of humour. One time we were surfing at Yallingup and he said, “I’m pissed off with surfing and won’t go back in the water until next year”. I thought he must be going through a dark patch, then I realised it was 31st Dec and tomorrow would be next year 😊
Photo: 1970 Terry nose riding at Trigg. Photographer unknown (image courtesy of Peter Matulich)
Photo: 1970 Terry bottom turn at Trigg. Photographer unknown (image courtesy of Peter Matulich)
Craig Brent-White – Thank you for considering me to comment on my dear friend, he’s been gone for a long time now and many of us still miss him.
Terry was never on the grid, he was on his own journey, money had little value, surfing was his true love and he was unique in the talents he possessed. We surfed a lot together in his grey Holden FB panel van. Seeing him drop into an 8ft right hand tube on a huge day at Scarborough with Hume Heatley and Jamie Doig, is indelibly etched in my mind. On his 10 ft 3 inch Mick Dooley three stringer, such poise nobody had but Terry. He was the Phil Edwards of Australian surfing when it came to style. His back issues stemmed from a car accident he had with his dad when he was 13 years old, it got worse as he got older and used to have him bedridden for days at times. He never attended to it, just managed it.
Those years he spent in India, living at the base of the Himalayas in a 18th century two story house, built by an adventurous Scotsman. That’s where he learned the art of making curry and what a cook he was, taking a week to prepare a feast, unforgettable!
He loved being with friends, he was in the moment that time you spent with him, life was simple not complicated. He didn’t work, that just got in the road, a highly intelligent guy, very spiritual and centered.
Giving Midget Farrelly the trophy when Terry absolutely out surfed him in the invitational at Yallingup was the moment to honor his ability, too late, the cup was already engraved with Midget’s name on it before the event.
He came back from Nias with malaria, he left Yallingup, because he wasn’t well and he shivered all the way to Perth in the back of the car and was bed ridden for days, such a shame to lose one of the real treasures of WA surfing. His second visit to Nias was his last, I bet he tore it to shreds.
Addendum: We see things differently today, back then parents gave Jacksy a wide berth because he saw surfing as his life really, not work. My parents loved him. Today if you have the money to feed yourself then nobody takes notice if you surf all the time, not so in those days when surfing was new and careers were a thing you must have, his was surfing. He was well connected with top surfers on the East Coast, he was very respected for his ability. Very misunderstood and a good human being not to be misrepresented by fringe surfers who never knew him.
Photo: 1976 Terry with friends on Scarborough Beach. Ric Chan pic.
L-R Terry, Hume Heatley & Ross ‘Mahdu’ Anderson.
Photo: 1976 Terry surfing solo at Scarborough. Ric Chan pic.
Photo: 1976 Terry in the curl Scarborough. Ric Chan pic.
Photo: 1976 Terry smacking the white water Scarborough. Ric Chan pic.
Jeffrey ‘RE’ Marshall – While Jacksy lived down here on the South Coast, just out of Augusta on Jewel Caves road, I surfed with him a fair bit at Boranup and up the coast. He had a white VW beetle.
He learnt how to cook curries while he was in India, so once a week he would invite 4 couples out to his place for Curry Nights. For a fee! I spent a day with him helping him cook. He showed me how to prepare curries from scratch, using an old wood stove. A day I enjoyed and remember fondly! The people were Augusta locals , Abalone divers and other business crew. (The fee was his charge for the food not my day helping, just thought I’d clear that up!)
There was a bad taste party for an Abalone diver’s 21st birthday, Terry came wrapped from head to toe in white bandages, carrying a flagon of red wine with a plastic hose sealed in the lid, the other end in his mouth, when he wanted a drink he would lift the flagon upside down above his head.
He was a character alright. Didn’t mind dropping in on me in the surf either 😊
Image: 1980s Terry holding little Lucy Bothwell at Pete Bothwell’s cottage Yallingup. Peter Bothwell pic.
Andy Jones – Terry was one of the originals in WA and part of the short board revolution with Nat Young. Early on he incurred a serious back injury (broke coccyx bone) while working on a newspaper round for his dad. But he was still a great surfer and was invited to appear in the WA segment of Bruce Brown’s Endless Summer movie, but poor surf put an end to that! There is good footage of Terry surfing with young Ian Cairns and George Simpson on the ‘70s WA surf video Southern Swells.
Geoff Culmsee and Terry was among the first guys to move down south and live the surfing lifestyle….they just wanted to surf! Terry spent time surfing in the Boranup/Karridale region and used to stay at Yallingup with Laurie ‘Pup’ Nesbit and the late Christine Brennon. Terry also travelled to India and Indo and went to lots of interesting places.
Terry used to make ‘Beach Curries’ on the beach for the Yallingup crew. He made the curry in an iron pot at home and would heat up on the beach.
Well-loved and a good surfer. Sadly he died early from complications with blood poisoning.
Photo: 1986 Terry at Yallingup Beach. Christine Brennon pic
Mark ‘Hillsy’ Hills – Terry Jack’s was a classic surfer and person. I was introduced to Terry in the SW by Peter ‘Rinso’ Wise.
Terry was the same age as my dad Cliff, but they went different ways. My dad became a responsible dad and Terry followed the free surfing lifestyle.
I loved Terry’s VW and he made great curries. Terry had style and was a great surfer.
Photo: 1987 Peter Dyson, Gene Hall (from Margaret River ex California) and Terry Jacks at Yallingup Malibu Classic at Yallingup. Loz Smith pic.
Image: 1990 Media News of Terry’s passing. Courtesy of Wayne Murphy’s In the Pipeline’ column in the Stirling Times, Perth.
Photo: 1990 scattering of Terry’s ashes ceremony at Yallingup Beach. Andy Jones pic.
SW surfing legend Bob Monkman wrote this tribute to Terry Jacks for the 1991 Yallingup Malibu Classic program.
In 1991 the Terry Jacks Perpetual Trophy was awarded for the best wave at the Yal Mal Team Challenge event. In 1996 the event name changed from the Terry Jacks Memorial Team Challenge to the Memorial Team Challenge in memory of Terry Jacks and Lindsay Thompson.
Image: 1991 Terry Jacks in Remembrance article published in Yallingup Malibu Classic program.
Terry fully embraced the surfing lifestyle. RIP Terry.
Floreat surfer Terry Jacks started surfboard riding on metro beaches in the late 50s.
In the early 60s he was a member of the City Beach Surfriders Club and chased waves on the East Coast with Dave Beamish and other City Beach surfers. On his return to WA, Terry was regarded as the state’s most talented ‘free surfer’.
In one of his rare contest appearances, he came very close to defeating 1964 World Champion Bernard ‘Midget’ Farrelly in an Invitational Event held at Yallingup in 1968.
In the 70s and 80s Terry lived down south and travelled extensively in India and South East Asia.
Sadly Terry passed away in 1990 (age 46) from blood poisoning which he contracted while surfing in Indonesia.
This is a collection of Terry Jacks recollections and images from friends and associates.
Photo: 1958 Terry with other grommets on the steps of ‘Berts Shop’ City Beach. Brian Cole pic
Left: Garry Stewart and John Harbison
Right: Charlie Roper, unidentified and Terry Jacks standing in doorway.
Keith Campbell – When the 1963 City Beach Surfriders club was started, Terry Jacks was a standout surfer.
In those years his father owned a newsagency and in only having one son, it was destined (in his eyes) that Terry would take it over.
Of course when Terry got his driver’s license the first job was to do the paper deliveries. The vehicle was a blue mini minor with only the driver’s seat and plenty of room for the rolled papers to be picked up next to the driver and thrown under bushes or sprinklers at which Terry was an expert. It was never to be his future and when he attended Technical School found a great partner in Charlie Roper to go surfing – neglecting studies and the newsagency, to mislead as many others as possible.
When City Beach either wasn’t working too well or if the banks were good at Trigg Point, that was the pick.
I was going to Uni and any morning that I had either free of study or having a lecture carbon copied by a fellow student, I would pick up Terry and sometimes Charlie from Berkeley Crescent Wembley for us to have Triggs Point to ourselves. In those days there was no West Coast Highway and we took the winding trip Pearl Parade and Elliott Road to the old Trigg Club Shed.
The City Beach Surfriders was the top club with Terry, Barry King, Zac Kochanowitsch, Dave Beamish and then spook (the very young Peter Bothwell).
Many parties were had around Scarborough with Jim Lick, John Pozzi and a few of the Scarborough crew, and as long as 10 turned up, it was all go for a 10 gallon beer keg.
Terry’s favourite trick was to wait until dark and when the girls were least expecting it would undress, get a roll of toilet paper, unroll about 20m and stick one end into his arse crack, light the other and race through the middle of the proceedings. (his famous dance of the flaming arsehole). This was a progression of his “Blue Flame” antics.
The top surfers decided City Beach was a bit mundane and decided to form a clique in another club and Terry Joined them.
In 1964 Terry decided to head East and took Dave Beamish with him ending up staying at the famous 11 Tasman Street, Dee Why and I think working at Conqueror Cables to pay their way.
I stayed on and lost track of Terry for a while although I believe he headed up to Far North Queensland and inland to Longreach in Central West Queensland. He finally returned home and became a bit of a Nomad.
Others can fill in the details, however he spent a fair amount of time living at Yallingup and also took a trip to India where I think he picked up an infection. Without getting it properly attended to, his trip to Indonesia was disastrous and he left us to soon. I think he was 46.
Photo: Early 60s Terry with WA surf pioneers at Moses Rock in the SW. Brian Cole pic.
L-R Jim ‘Lik’ MacKenzie, Charlie Roper, Kevin Merifield, Keith Campbell, John McKnight, Dave Williams, Terry Jacks and Terry Williams (back to camera).
Mick Lindsay – I have some great early memories of Terry when he worked for his old man, who ran a Mt Hawthorn news agency and was probably the main reason he was the West’s best surfer . He delivered papers for years & sometimes I would go with him and give him a hand on the proviso I could go with him for a surf. As I didn’t have wheels and Jacksy always knew where waves were working, it was worth the effort! He was incredible at the speed he got through the paper round, so he could get to the beach and of course in those days every beach was his local break, though City was always his first choice as it suited his incredible style particularly on the nose.
It’s always amazed me how many waves he would catch in a session and when you think about it, he surfed nearly every day after his paper delivery, so to the envy of most of us, he was getting heaps of waves and was incredibly surf fit. He also amazed me at how he could find the sweet spot to take off and paddled twice as far as most to find the take-off, he never dropped in.
When I last saw Terry he was on his way to Bali to appear in a movie though he needed to have a septic little toe removed, unfortunately he could not have the op done before leaving and as we know that toe turned gangrenous in the tropics and we lost him.
Image: 1963 Terry surfing City Beach. Image courtesy of WA Newspapers.
Geoff Berry – We left the Nedlands Local Hall ‘Stomp’ on Friday night in Terry’s grey Holden Panel Van around midnight. (circa 1962). The Holden wagon only had a front bench seat so Terry drove and I and several others were “stacked in the back”. I am somewhat vague on who was there, but I think it may have been Keith Campbell, Jamie Doig, Brian Boynes and Mark Waddell. As we drove away from the Nedlands Hall, Terry elected not to drive on the road but along the front nature strip which consisted of manicured lawns and evenly placed trees. This resulted in what can only be described as a slalom course which at some speed made a mess of the various front lawns. I began to wonder at that stage if we were going to make it all the way to Yallingup. However, we made it to Yall’s and set up camp in the scrub in front of the Surfside Café.
Following a day of uncrowded quality surf, we returned to our camp site and attempted to light a camp fire with some rather green wood. One of the crew decided that to stoke the fire with a splash of petrol would do the trick. The jerry can of petrol was used and sure enough the green wood went up in flames and so did the guy who did the splashing of petrol. This was potentially a serious situation where the holder of the jerry can was about to go up in smoke. Terry a quick thinker responded like lighting and flung this guy to the ground and rolled him over to extinguish the flames and separate him from the jerry can. This was a very brave act and the quick reflex and skill full action epitomised Terry’s skill as a surfer.
Will not forget you Terry.
Photo: 1963 City Beach boys surfing Brighton boxing day . Photo courtesy of WA Newspapers
L to R Barry King, Mike Brown, Kerry Apostoles, Charlie Roper (behind wave) and Terry Jacks paddling over wave.
Photo: 1963 Terry crouching on the nose at Brighton. Mick Lindsay pic
In 1964 Terry headed to the East Coast in his panel van seeking better waves. He took talented surfer Dave Beamish with him. The boys met up with other City Beach surfers who were there to surf, socialise and watch the first Australian and World Surfing Championships held at Manly NSW.
Photo: 1964 Terry with his Mick Dooley triple stringer surfboard at Byron Bay NSW. Ernie Potter pic.
Note: In ’64 Mick Dooley (Manly NSW) won the annual Bells Beach contest, placed 3rd in the Australian Senior Mens Championships and 5th in the World Surfing Championships held at Manly NSW.
Ernie Potter – Terry and I were pretty close mates back in the day.
This photo is from around September/October 1964 at Byron Bay.
Earlier in 1964, Terry, myself and quite a few of the City Beach crew were at Yallingup for the inaugural State Titles won by Zac Kochanowitsch (Open) and Barry King (Junior).
A couple of months after this photo was taken, we packed up and headed back to Perth.
Click on this link to view 1964 East Coast surf trip by Ernie Potter published 10 April 2017.
Photo: 1964 Terry, Ernie Potter and Peter Docherty with Terry’s Holden panel van at Byron Bay NSW. Ernie Potter pic.
Peter ‘Doc’ Docherty – The above photo was taken at Byron Bay late in 1964 as there are only two boards on Terry’s van. I had run out of money and put my board (10ft Reynolds Yater) on the train back to WA prior to hitching back to Sydney.
Ernie’s shot below shows me wandering off with a backpack on hitch hiking back to Sydney. “God help me, I was only nineteen.”
That was quite a tumultuous year. I had come East late ’63 or early ’64 with my family. Viv Kitson from City Beach and I shared a flat in Mosman NSW and worked in my Uncles waffle and pie factory. Towards the end of the year Terry Jacks, Ernie Potter and I (and Jimmy ‘Lick’ McKenzie, I think) lived in an old motel right on the beach at North Narrabeen. Pretty hard to take!
As I sit here, I can still see the rain slamming into the windscreen of Jacksy’s van as we drove up to Crescent Head back then. Happy days!
I’ve took up the guitar again a few months ago. Had to start all over again from scratch. Decided to learn music theory. It’s a bit strange being a 73 year old Great Grandfather in a class of kiddies and teens. “Unless ye become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven”. Not surfing any more unfortunately. Not to say that I won’t again, but it would have to be in very secure circumstances.
Photo: 1964 Terry and Keith Paul (QLD) watching Peter Docherty preparing to hitchhike back to Sydney from Brunswick in northern NSW. Terry’s van with surfboards on roof rack is on the left. Ernie Potter pic.
Note: Keith Paul went on to become the ’68 Australian Open Surfing Champion.
Michael Brown – Terry and I spent a lot of time surfing together along with all the other guys mentioned at City Beach.
In my last year at school 1961 I wagged most of the last term and use to hang out at King Cole surfboards Roydhouse St Subiaco, across the road from my school.
Terry and I would meet there hang for a while then head off surfing in the little blue Mini.
One day whilst at King Cole surfboards the headmaster from my school appeared in the doorway, Terry and I jumped in the Mini and took off to city beach.
We paddled out and where enjoying a surf when the school headmaster arrived at the beach and walked out along the groyne calling for me to come in.
No way, so Terry and I paddled up to Floreat beach. Needless to say, that was the end of my schooling, I left.
Terry was a great surfer and ahead of his time with what he could do on a board in those early 1960’s days.
Photo: 1966 Terry removing the bridal garter from Michael Brown’s wife Laraine (nee Day) at their wedding Sept 1966. Michael Brown pic.
In the background are Zac Kochanowitsch, Ernie Potter, John ‘Cocko‘ Killen, John Harbison with Lenny Kochanowitsch and Michael Brown behind Laraine.
Peter ‘Spook’ Bothwell – Terry in his prime was a fantastic surfer and an inspiration along with Dave Beamish and Keith Campbell to young City Beach surfers such as Jamie Doig and me.
In the early to mid-60s we would head up to Scarborough in Spring, Terry would roll up in his Holden panel van with modified tail gate (home panel beating) which provided a concave to slip the famous Mick Dooley triple stringer in and out of the van at will. Terry’s board was similar to that ridden by Midget and Mick Dooley at the ‘64 World Surfing Titles held at Manly NSW. After the surf, he would explain to us how to put the board on a rail by leaning out drop knee style, then waiting for the heavy board to swing round before quickly dancing forward in trim to race across the wall.
Four years later, when I was State Open Champion (age 19), Terry picked me up at the Sydney airport for the ’68 Australian Surf Titles’ held in NSW. He introduced me to Keith Paul (Qld) with whom we had a conversation about the up and coming contest of which he said “he was going to win” …. and he did!
We went to Snow McAllister’s place in Manly where I stayed a couple of nights. Snow was the patron of the ‘68 titles. Terry then put me up for a week or so with Jamie Doig and Dooley Hassett at their Queenscliff unit.
During that time he organised for me to surf in a Manly Pacific Board Riders intra club competition, as a warm up for the Australians. He also took us to North Narrabeen each day to practice. When the Titles started, he was always there to provided support!
His theory was, and he was himself an example, that although we were amateur’s and it was a Pro/Am event, we shouldn’t be put off our game.
Terry didn’t have to do any of this!
At the first round of Open competition held at Warriewood, I nearly made the final coming in eighth. Ian Cairns and I were as far as we know, the first Open and Junior champions from the West to progress past the heats. The next year we did better in the Aust Titles held at Margaret River and so the history goes.
Terry’s character engendered the spirit of mentoring which was a strong theme in WA surfing from the 60s onwards.
In the late 60s-early 70s Terry, Barry Day and I rode West Coast Surfboards designed by Bob Gardner.
Photo: Late 1960s Terry partying with mates. Peter Dyson pic
Rear: Richard Burridge & Terry Jacks.
Front: Peter Dyson & Dick Leonard
Brian Cleaver – I’m going back to 1962 when the first ‘Novice Board Riding’ competition was held at a break south end of Scarborough. The board I was riding was a ‘shortened Malibu’ as the nose had been broken off, re shaped and re-glassed. (Approx one foot shorter than the then current Long Board). The comp and surfing in general were sponsored by radio station 6PR.
Having accumulated high points and winning my semi-finals heat; and figuring these points would be added to and assist in the finals score. I held back during the final heat to pick the odd best waves of the day. The outcome was, I had not ‘taken off’ on the minimum prescribed number of waves, this resulting in me taking out second position.
Each of the three winners were approached by their respective local board clubs.
First place winner was ‘Willy Windmill’ from Cottesloe. (Named due to the way he swung his arms about).
I was fronted by Terry Jacks and invited to join the City Beach Board Club. This was the start of my association with CBSR Club which lasted for the next five years.
I cannot remember who took out third position, but I think it was a Scarborough surfer, possibly Zac.
I had no option in July 1967 but to resign my position as Vice President at the board club due to having won lotto,…. Two years National Service and a ‘Tour of Duty’ in Vietnam.
On my return to Australia and discharge in 1969 in Melbourne, I took a trip to Geelong. I was keen to get back on a board and return to surfing. However, during the two years I was in the Army there was a dramatic change in boards, from the long ‘Malibu’ to short boards. Whilst at a beach out from Geelong, I borrowed a short board. Unfortunately I could hardly even paddle this thing. When I sat on the board it sank. I tried for about 30 minutes and gave it away as a bad joke. Consequently, I have not returned to the ocean waves.
So that’s my story and connection to Terry Jacks.
Image: 1968 Terry surfing in Invitational Event at Yallingup WA. Image courtesy of WA Newspapers.
Ross Utting – I remember Terry as not only a great surfer, but someone who encouraged the youngsters.
During the non-summer school holidays we got some great surf at times at City Beach and whenever it got good Terry Jacks was always there. He was an incredibly powerful surfer and was our idol. I recall one day of freakish conditions at a solid 6’ and breaking way out past the groyne. Terry just tore it to shreds. He was virtually taking off on the south side of the groyne and passing well in front of it. We had never seen anything like it. It was just Terry and us kids, he was a legendary surfer, one of the best in Australia at the time & looking back, probably world class.
One of my great memories from a lifetime of surfing came years later. Must have been about 1970. I was sitting on the steps back at Yallingup contemplating a morning surfing perfect 8-10ft Margaret, when Terry came & sat next to me & said “You surfed well this morning, handled the size no trouble at all”. Wow! Howz that coming from your idol as a grommet.
Photo: 1976 Terry power turn Cottesloe main break. Ric Chan pic.
Photo: 1976 Terry in the slot Cottesloe main break. Ric Chan pic.
Jim King – Terry Jacks, Ian ‘Moochie’ Strongman and Kevin Agar introduced me to Rocky Point circa ’65. While we had the gate key from the property owner D’Espeissis, Moochie still picked the lock on the gate, just to show he could do it! We used to park our cars on the beach in front of the waves back then.
I remember a party at Terry’s parents place in Floreat in the ‘60s. Everyone was drinking and swimming in the pool. I had a few drinks, dived off the diving board and smashed my head on the bottom of the pool, there was blood everywhere and I was lucky to get away alive with a head ache.
I have happy memories of turning up at Yallingup car park in the early days to find Terry waiting in his VW bug to go surfing with me (or any other surfer who may turn up).
Terry had a wicked sense of humour. One time we were surfing at Yallingup and he said, “I’m pissed off with surfing and won’t go back in the water until next year”. I thought he must be going through a dark patch, then I realised it was 31st Dec and tomorrow would be next year 😊
Photo: 1970 Terry nose riding at Trigg. Photographer unknown (image courtesy of Peter Matulich)
Photo: 1970 Terry bottom turn at Trigg. Photographer unknown (image courtesy of Peter Matulich)
Craig Brent-White – Thank you for considering me to comment on my dear friend, he’s been gone for a long time now and many of us still miss him.
Terry was never on the grid, he was on his own journey, money had little value, surfing was his true love and he was unique in the talents he possessed. We surfed a lot together in his grey Holden FB panel van. Seeing him drop into an 8ft right hand tube on a huge day at Scarborough with Hume Heatley and Jamie Doig, is indelibly etched in my mind. On his 10 ft 3 inch Mick Dooley three stringer, such poise nobody had but Terry. He was the Phil Edwards of Australian surfing when it came to style. His back issues stemmed from a car accident he had with his dad when he was 13 years old, it got worse as he got older and used to have him bedridden for days at times. He never attended to it, just managed it.
Those years he spent in India, living at the base of the Himalayas in a 18th century two story house, built by an adventurous Scotsman. That’s where he learned the art of making curry and what a cook he was, taking a week to prepare a feast, unforgettable!
He loved being with friends, he was in the moment that time you spent with him, life was simple not complicated. He didn’t work, that just got in the road, a highly intelligent guy, very spiritual and centered.
Giving Midget Farrelly the trophy when Terry absolutely out surfed him in the invitational at Yallingup was the moment to honor his ability, too late, the cup was already engraved with Midget’s name on it before the event.
He came back from Nias with malaria, he left Yallingup, because he wasn’t well and he shivered all the way to Perth in the back of the car and was bed ridden for days, such a shame to lose one of the real treasures of WA surfing. His second visit to Nias was his last, I bet he tore it to shreds.
Addendum: We see things differently today, back then parents gave Jacksy a wide berth because he saw surfing as his life really, not work. My parents loved him. Today if you have the money to feed yourself then nobody takes notice if you surf all the time, not so in those days when surfing was new and careers were a thing you must have, his was surfing. He was well connected with top surfers on the East Coast, he was very respected for his ability. Very misunderstood and a good human being not to be misrepresented by fringe surfers who never knew him.
Photo: 1976 Terry with friends on Scarborough Beach. Ric Chan pic.
L-R Terry, Hume Heatley & Ross ‘Mahdu’ Anderson.
Photo: 1976 Terry surfing solo at Scarborough. Ric Chan pic.
Photo: 1976 Terry in the curl Scarborough. Ric Chan pic.
Photo: 1976 Terry smacking the white water Scarborough. Ric Chan pic.
Jeffrey ‘RE’ Marshall – While Jacksy lived down here on the South Coast, just out of Augusta on Jewel Caves road, I surfed with him a fair bit at Boranup and up the coast. He had a white VW beetle.
He learnt how to cook curries while he was in India, so once a week he would invite 4 couples out to his place for Curry Nights. For a fee! I spent a day with him helping him cook. He showed me how to prepare curries from scratch, using an old wood stove. A day I enjoyed and remember fondly! The people were Augusta locals , Abalone divers and other business crew. (The fee was his charge for the food not my day helping, just thought I’d clear that up!)
There was a bad taste party for an Abalone diver’s 21st birthday, Terry came wrapped from head to toe in white bandages, carrying a flagon of red wine with a plastic hose sealed in the lid, the other end in his mouth, when he wanted a drink he would lift the flagon upside down above his head.
He was a character alright. Didn’t mind dropping in on me in the surf either 😊
Image: 1980s Terry holding little Lucy Bothwell at Pete Bothwell’s cottage Yallingup. Peter Bothwell pic.
Andy Jones – Terry was one of the originals in WA and part of the short board revolution with Nat Young. Early on he incurred a serious back injury (broke coccyx bone) while working on a newspaper round for his dad. But he was still a great surfer and was invited to appear in the WA segment of Bruce Brown’s Endless Summer movie, but poor surf put an end to that! There is good footage of Terry surfing with young Ian Cairns and George Simpson on the ‘70s WA surf video Southern Swells.
Geoff Culmsee and Terry was among the first guys to move down south and live the surfing lifestyle….they just wanted to surf! Terry spent time surfing in the Boranup/Karridale region and used to stay at Yallingup with Laurie ‘Pup’ Nesbit and the late Christine Brennon. Terry also travelled to India and Indo and went to lots of interesting places.
Terry used to make ‘Beach Curries’ on the beach for the Yallingup crew. He made the curry in an iron pot at home and would heat up on the beach.
Well-loved and a good surfer. Sadly he died early from complications with blood poisoning.
Photo: 1986 Terry at Yallingup Beach. Christine Brennon pic
Mark ‘Hillsy’ Hills – Terry Jack’s was a classic surfer and person. I was introduced to Terry in the SW by Peter ‘Rinso’ Wise.
Terry was the same age as my dad Cliff, but they went different ways. My dad became a responsible dad and Terry followed the free surfing lifestyle.
I loved Terry’s VW and he made great curries. Terry had style and was a great surfer.
Photo: 1987 Peter Dyson, Gene Hall (from Margaret River ex California) and Terry Jacks at Yallingup Malibu Classic at Yallingup. Loz Smith pic.
Image: 1990 Media News of Terry’s passing. Courtesy of Wayne Murphy’s In the Pipeline’ column in the Stirling Times, Perth.
Photo: 1990 scattering of Terry’s ashes ceremony at Yallingup Beach. Andy Jones pic.
SW surfing legend Bob Monkman wrote this tribute to Terry Jacks for the 1991 Yallingup Malibu Classic program.
In 1991 the Terry Jacks Perpetual Trophy was awarded for the best wave at the Yal Mal Team Challenge event. In 1996 the event name changed from the Terry Jacks Memorial Team Challenge to the Memorial Team Challenge in memory of Terry Jacks and Lindsay Thompson.
Image: 1991 Terry Jacks in Remembrance article published in Yallingup Malibu Classic program.
Terry fully embraced the surfing lifestyle. RIP Terry.
Many thanks to the contributors.
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