60s

Maureen Farrell WA Women’s Surfing Champion 1968-70

When Maureen Farrell of Subiaco won the State Women’s Surfing Title in 1970 she joined Teena Christon of Miami in winning three consecutive WA Women’s Surfing Titles. They were the first female surfers to achieve this feat in WA!

Maureen placed second in 1966, third in 1967 before winning three State Women’s’ Surfing Titles from 1968-70.

Teena Christon of Miami won three State Women’s Titles from 1965-67 and Scarborough’s Jenny Shackley won the inaugural State Women’s Title in 1964.

Maureen (Yallingup Board Club) finished second to Eleanor Proud (Cottesloe Board Club) in the 1966 State Winter Women’s Championships held at Scarborough. Eleanor won two State Spring Titles in the late 60s.

 

Image: 1966 Finalists WA Winter Championships held at Scarborough. Trevor Burslem pic

L-R Maureen Farrell 2nd Womens, John Pozzi 3rd Mens, Michael Bibby 1st Juniors, John Balgarnie 1st Mens, Peter Dyson 2nd juniors, Terry Jacks 2nd Mens (R.I.P.) and Elanor Proud 1st Womens (R.I.P.)

In the mid 60s Maureen and Jennie Cordingley of Cordingley Surfboards fame were the only female members of the Yallingup Board Riders Club. (Jennie’s husband Colin Cordingley passed away in 2014 age 74).

 

Image: 1967 Jennie Cordingley and Maureen sports media article by Thea Martin. Courtesy of Maureen.

In 1967 Maureen finished 3rd behind Teena Christon & Jenny Shackley in the State Womens Surfing Championships.

 

Image: 1967 State Surf Riding Championships held at Isolated surf break Cottesloe. Image courtesy of the late Carol McDonald.

L-R Kaye Hocking, Maureen Farrell & Carol McDonald (R.I.P.)

 

Image: 1967 State Surf Riding Championships held at Isolated surf break Cottesloe. Image courtesy of the late Carol McDonald..

Maureen leads other contestants from the surf after her heat.

 

Image: 1968 Maureen sport media article by Janice Burton. Courtesy of Maureen.

 

Image: 1968 Maureen media sports article by Ron Clarke Part (continues below). Courtesy of Maureen.

 

Image: 1968 Maureen media sports article by Ron Clarke (continued from above). Courtesy of Maureen.

 

Image: 1970s State Spring Surfing Titles held at Scarborough. Peter Dyson pic

WASRA official Peter Dyson (centre) presenting trophies to Women’s competitors unidentified (left) and Maureen Farrell (right).

 

Image: 1985 WA surfing women article in Stirling Times. Glen Marwick pic.

L-R Linley Patching, Chris Stowe, Sur Moran, Maureen Farrell & Jacqui Brown

Maureen is the sister of Yallingup surfing pioneer the late Jim Farrell 1942-2014.

 

Image: 2014 Maureen with Reif Myers (Rich Myer’s son) at Big Jim’s paddle out at Yallingup Beach. Paige Farrell pic.

 

Image: 2017 Maureen holidaying with her children at Namotu Island Resort Fiji. Paige Farrell pic.

L-R. Mathew Farrell-Cough, Maureen & Paige Farrell.

 

Maureen now lives in Victoria with her children Mathew & Paige. She is an Educational Developer at La Trobe University Vic.

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