Recently Gary Gibbon from Margaret River sent me this note and some photos. It’s interesting WA surf history material, so I will publish Gary’s material as is.
Hi Jim,
You may be interested in some of these images from
up at Bears in April 1976, coming up shortly to 44 years ago. Time does fly.
The situation as I remember it, was that old mate Steve Carroll and I, who often used to share jobs and accommodation around then, were both working for Yallingup builder John Baldock at that time. We turned up for work one midweek day and it was clear from John’s place (The Baldocks at that time lived in the most southerly positioned house along Wardanup Crescent, which obviously had a great view.), that it was going to be a good surfing day, so work was put on hold. We loaded up John’s 4WD Suzuki, that was his Bearsmobile back then and headed up the track. Somewhere along the way, we ended up grabbing my camera gear.
When we got up there, it wasn’t crowded, which wasn’t unusual, midweek back in 76. Mark Moody was surfing Mamas and old mate Ralph Redman was out at Babies. Mark may have got a lift with Ralph. Both were surfing well, and I decided to shoot some photos, before heading out myself.
Ralph lives at Quindalup, when he’s not up at Kalbarri and still surfs well.
Mark Moody, back in those days I think used to do a bit of work with Pipelines leg ropes and used to teach swimming in Busselton over the summer holidays (possibly at the high school pool or may be the foreshore). If I’m wrong, I’m sure he’ll correct me. I see he follows the SDS site closely. Like my brother John, I understand he’s an expat living in Bali. Hope it’s going well for him up there.
Did more than one or two odd jobs for John Baldock over the course. Good guy and nice family. He came from the east coast of Victoria in the early 70’s and operated a pretty successful building business from his place at Yallingup. I haven’t seen him in a very long time, since they moved out to an acreage on Wildwood Road and I think I went to their housewarming there.
Steve Carroll and I were good friends and had plenty of good times with one another. I first met him through Mark and Julie Favell and we just clicked. Many of the crew may also know his brother Geoff (Corky) Carroll, who in those days was living more down the Margaret River end of the coast. I’m pretty sure Cork was a bricklayer and worked and surfed with Barry Hughes quite a bit. Steve moved to Eaton quite a long time ago. The last time I saw him was at Perth International Airport some years back. He and his lovely wife were heading to Bali, whilst Andy Jones and I were heading to the Maldives.
Regards,
Gary
These are Gary’s 1976 Bears photos.
1976 Late summer offshores at Cape Naturaliste 1976 John Baldock at Mama Bears 1976 John Baldock at Mama Bears 1976 Mark Moody at Mama Bears 1976 Mark Moody at Mama Bears 1976 Mark Moody paddling out at Mama Bears 1976 Mark Moody at Mama Bears 1976 Mark Moody at Mama Bears 1976 Mark Moody backhand tube at Mama Bears 1976 Mark Moody at Mama Bears 1976 Mark Moody at Mama Bears 1976 Ralph Redman in the slot at Baby Bears 1976 Ralph Redman at Baby Bears 1976 Ralph Redman redirecting at Baby Bears 1976 Steve Carroll at Baby Bears 1976 Steve Carroll at Baby Bears
Recently Gary Gibbon from Margaret River sent me this note and some photos. It’s interesting WA surf history material, so I will publish Gary’s material as is.
Hi Jim,
You may be interested in some of these images from up at Bears in April 1976, coming up shortly to 44 years ago. Time does fly.
The situation as I remember it, was that old mate Steve Carroll and I, who often used to share jobs and accommodation around then, were both working for Yallingup builder John Baldock at that time. We turned up for work one midweek day and it was clear from John’s place (The Baldocks at that time lived in the most southerly positioned house along Wardanup Crescent, which obviously had a great view.), that it was going to be a good surfing day, so work was put on hold. We loaded up John’s 4WD Suzuki, that was his Bearsmobile back then and headed up the track. Somewhere along the way, we ended up grabbing my camera gear.
When we got up there, it wasn’t crowded, which wasn’t unusual, midweek back in 76. Mark Moody was surfing Mamas and old mate Ralph Redman was out at Babies. Mark may have got a lift with Ralph. Both were surfing well, and I decided to shoot some photos, before heading out myself.
Ralph lives at Quindalup, when he’s not up at Kalbarri and still surfs well.
Mark Moody, back in those days I think used to do a bit of work with Pipelines leg ropes and used to teach swimming in Busselton over the summer holidays (possibly at the high school pool or may be the foreshore). If I’m wrong, I’m sure he’ll correct me. I see he follows the SDS site closely. Like my brother John, I understand he’s an expat living in Bali. Hope it’s going well for him up there.
Did more than one or two odd jobs for John Baldock over the course. Good guy and nice family. He came from the east coast of Victoria in the early 70’s and operated a pretty successful building business from his place at Yallingup. I haven’t seen him in a very long time, since they moved out to an acreage on Wildwood Road and I think I went to their housewarming there.
Steve Carroll and I were good friends and had plenty of good times with one another. I first met him through Mark and Julie Favell and we just clicked. Many of the crew may also know his brother Geoff (Corky) Carroll, who in those days was living more down the Margaret River end of the coast. I’m pretty sure Cork was a bricklayer and worked and surfed with Barry Hughes quite a bit. Steve moved to Eaton quite a long time ago. The last time I saw him was at Perth International Airport some years back. He and his lovely wife were heading to Bali, whilst Andy Jones and I were heading to the Maldives.
Regards,
Gary
These are Gary’s 1976 Bears photos.
Thanks for sharing your story and photos Gary.
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