Take a trip down memory lane with WA surf industry pioneer Len Dibben (age 81).
These are Len’s childhood memoirs of growing up in the burbs.
My dad was in the first world war as a signal boy in the English Royal Navy at the Dardanelles when he came here in 1923 as a 23 year old. He worked for the W.A. Shipping Service as a Steward on boats doing the Northern ports as well as Singapore at times. He met my Mum in 1935 -36 and I was born in 1937. He was getting paid £7.00 Aust per a week. Back then a penny could buy 10 lollies, a bus ride from Beaconsfield to Freo, a Tram fare from South Fremantle to say East Fremantle & Palmyra was 3 pennies and an ice-cream cost 3 pennies.
At the Pictures if you could afford it, you got The News, then a B grade movie. After the interval you got two cartoons say Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck or Goofy & Mighty Mouse. The pictures on Friday nights at the Beaconsfield were In-door in winter or deck chairs outdoors in summer. There was always a serial that ran for about 15 nights. I can still remember those outings and outside the Picture theatre was always a SP Betting bloke to bet on then Trots or Races.
Over my time things have changed, some good, other’s not so good.
Cheers for the Memoirs.
Len Dibben
Image: 1954 South Fremantle combined U18 footy team – Len Dibben pic
Len standing middle row 3rd from left.
Image: 1956 FIinders Naval Head Quarters Len Dibben (age 17) National Service Group LN6. Len Dibben pic
Len standing middle row far right.
Image: 1962 Cottesloe surf mates at Rottnest on Australia Day weekend. Len Dibben pic.
L-R Brian Webster, Len Dibben (crouching on surfboard), Graeme Booth, Rick Skelton, Jeff Dalziel (R.I.P.), Ron Allen, Bob Birch, Harold Gregory, sitting in front with unidentified girl and Dave Aylett.
Image: 1962 Dibben & Cole Surfboards factory 2 Stirling Hwy, North Freo. Dave Ellis pic.
L-R Leon Cole, Dave Ellis, Julian Mazzetti & Len Dibben.
Image: 1966 Len Dibben surf factory North Freo pre new shop on right hand side. Len Dibben pic
Image: 1968 Len Dibben Surfboards with new Surf Shop North Freo. Len Dibben pic
Image: 1967 Len with hand crafted single fin surfboards at North Freo. Len Dibben pic.
Take a trip down memory lane with WA surf industry pioneer Len Dibben (age 81).
These are Len’s childhood memoirs of growing up in the burbs.
My dad was in the first world war as a signal boy in the English Royal Navy at the Dardanelles when he came here in 1923 as a 23 year old. He worked for the W.A. Shipping Service as a Steward on boats doing the Northern ports as well as Singapore at times. He met my Mum in 1935 -36 and I was born in 1937. He was getting paid £7.00 Aust per a week. Back then a penny could buy 10 lollies, a bus ride from Beaconsfield to Freo, a Tram fare from South Fremantle to say East Fremantle & Palmyra was 3 pennies and an ice-cream cost 3 pennies.
At the Pictures if you could afford it, you got The News, then a B grade movie. After the interval you got two cartoons say Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck or Goofy & Mighty Mouse. The pictures on Friday nights at the Beaconsfield were In-door in winter or deck chairs outdoors in summer. There was always a serial that ran for about 15 nights. I can still remember those outings and outside the Picture theatre was always a SP Betting bloke to bet on then Trots or Races.
Over my time things have changed, some good, other’s not so good.
Cheers for the Memoirs.
Len Dibben
Image: 1954 South Fremantle combined U18 footy team – Len Dibben pic
Len standing middle row 3rd from left.
Image: 1956 FIinders Naval Head Quarters Len Dibben (age 17) National Service Group LN6. Len Dibben pic
Len standing middle row far right.
Image: 1962 Cottesloe surf mates at Rottnest on Australia Day weekend. Len Dibben pic.
L-R Brian Webster, Len Dibben (crouching on surfboard), Graeme Booth, Rick Skelton, Jeff Dalziel (R.I.P.), Ron Allen, Bob Birch, Harold Gregory, sitting in front with unidentified girl and Dave Aylett.
Image: 1962 Dibben & Cole Surfboards factory 2 Stirling Hwy, North Freo. Dave Ellis pic.
L-R Leon Cole, Dave Ellis, Julian Mazzetti & Len Dibben.
Image: 1966 Len Dibben surf factory North Freo pre new shop on right hand side. Len Dibben pic
Image: 1968 Len Dibben Surfboards with new Surf Shop North Freo. Len Dibben pic
Image: 1967 Len with hand crafted single fin surfboards at North Freo. Len Dibben pic.
Image: 1968 Paddle Thru Perth presentation Crawley Bay. Len Dibben pic
L-R Kim ‘Dish’ Standish (3rd), Don McDonald and presenter Len Dibben.
Image: 1973 Len Dibben in the shaping bay North Freo. Ric Chan pic (image water damaged).
For more information on Len click on Len Dibben the early days published June 2018
Len is now retired and lives with his wife Wendy in Booragoon.
Thanks Len for your memoirs.
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