WA surfing & surf industry pioneer Brian ‘Coley’ Cole (age 81) passed away Friday 28 May 2021.
Brian started surfboard riding at City Beach in the mid-50s with mates from the City of Perth SLSC Club. In 1957 he made his first surfboard, a 10ft hollow plywood Malibu in his parent’s backyard in Wembley. Brian and his mates surfed metro beaches and pioneered surf trips to Mandurah, Rotto and Down South in the 50s.
1957 Brian Cole (age 18) surfing City Beach on his first homemade 10ft hollow plywood Malibu. This image was published in The West Australian Wednesday November 6, 1957
In 2015 White Horses surf magazine, Issue twelve published ‘Life of Brian – Four years of Freedom and Adventure’. It documented Brian’s surf adventures from 1959 to 1963. See article below.
2015 Life of Brian part 1 of 2. Courtesy of White Horses Surf Mag.2015 Life of Brian part 2 of 2. Courtesy of White Horses Surf Mag.
In the 70s Brian & wife Rhonda moved Down South with their sons Scott & Brett. Brian worked as a fireman and continued surfing.
In later years Brian and Rhonda enjoyed caravanning and were regulars up north and at the annual Crescent Heads (NSW) longboard event.
Brian surfed to his mid-70s at Yallingup then his health deteriorated, and he & Rhonda relocated to the city.
2015 Brian Cole (age 75) surfing the Cove at Yallingup on his homemade triple stringer surfboard. Bruce King pic
In 2006 Surfing WA awarded him the Len Dibben Award for his ‘Outstanding service to the development of surfing over an extended period’.
Brian’s surfing exploits and photos have been published in surf history books and magazines. And his vintage photos and surfboard are on display at the WA Surf Gallery Yallingup.
Condolences to his wife Rhonda and sons Scott & Brett.
A family funeral will be held for Brian and his ashes scattered at Yallingup in a paddle out in springtime.
RIP Brian
This is a collection of Brian Cole social images.
2006Surfing WA Len Dibben Award presentation to Surfboard Manufacturers. Image courtesy of Brian Cole L-R Brian Cole, Leon Cole, Len Dibben, Len Hawke, Tom Blaxell, Peter Hawke, John Jakovich & Murray SmithCirca 2010 Bernie Huddle wake at MAAC. Tony Burgess pic Front Row. Tony Burgess, John Peterson, Brian Cole, James Keenan & Tony Harbison Middle row. Graeme Killen, Gary Burch & Bill Pratley Rear Row. Laurie Burke, John ‘Dandaragan’ Robertson & Les Gillies2011 City Beach Surfriders club 50 Year reunion. Bruce King pic L-R Brian Cole, Keith Campbell, Zac Kochanowitsch & John Harbison RIP.2012 John ‘Dandaragan’ Robertson RIP and Brian Cole at Australia Day celebrations held at Jim Keenen’s place in Sorrento. Jim Keenan pic
2013 Yallingup Beach lookout. Bruce King pic L-R Wayne Lynch, Vance Burrow & Brian Cole.2014 Yal Mal surfing event. Loz Smith pic L-R Dave Ellis, Brian Cole, Jim King & Sophie Mathewson (Marg River Tourism).2016 Mates and hounds relaxing in bus stop at Yallingup beach. Jim King pic L-R Brian Cole with Sinbad (RIP), Louie ‘Longboard’ Corkill with Kikko, Kim ‘Dish’ Standish with Bryn (RIP).2016 Brian Cole and Horny Campbell with ‘Sparkle’s the Dachshund on Yallingup beach. Jim King pic2016 Caves House Yallingup. Bruce King pic L-R Kevin Merifield, Brian Cole and Jim Mackenzie.
WA surfing & surf industry pioneer Brian ‘Coley’ Cole (age 81) passed away Friday 28 May 2021.
Brian started surfboard riding at City Beach in the mid-50s with mates from the City of Perth SLSC Club. In 1957 he made his first surfboard, a 10ft hollow plywood Malibu in his parent’s backyard in Wembley. Brian and his mates surfed metro beaches and pioneered surf trips to Mandurah, Rotto and Down South in the 50s.
This image was published in The West Australian Wednesday November 6, 1957
In 2015 White Horses surf magazine, Issue twelve published ‘Life of Brian – Four years of Freedom and Adventure’. It documented Brian’s surf adventures from 1959 to 1963. See article below.
In the 70s Brian & wife Rhonda moved Down South with their sons Scott & Brett. Brian worked as a fireman and continued surfing.
In later years Brian and Rhonda enjoyed caravanning and were regulars up north and at the annual Crescent Heads (NSW) longboard event.
Brian surfed to his mid-70s at Yallingup then his health deteriorated, and he & Rhonda relocated to the city.
In 2006 Surfing WA awarded him the Len Dibben Award for his ‘Outstanding service to the development of surfing over an extended period’.
Brian’s surfing exploits and photos have been published in surf history books and magazines. And his vintage photos and surfboard are on display at the WA Surf Gallery Yallingup.
Condolences to his wife Rhonda and sons Scott & Brett.
A family funeral will be held for Brian and his ashes scattered at Yallingup in a paddle out in springtime.
RIP Brian
This is a collection of Brian Cole social images.
L-R Brian Cole, Leon Cole, Len Dibben, Len Hawke, Tom Blaxell, Peter Hawke, John Jakovich & Murray Smith
Front Row. Tony Burgess, John Peterson, Brian Cole, James Keenan & Tony Harbison
Middle row. Graeme Killen, Gary Burch & Bill Pratley
Rear Row. Laurie Burke, John ‘Dandaragan’ Robertson & Les Gillies
L-R Brian Cole, Keith Campbell, Zac Kochanowitsch & John Harbison RIP.
L-R Wayne Lynch, Vance Burrow & Brian Cole.
L-R Dave Ellis, Brian Cole, Jim King & Sophie Mathewson (Marg River Tourism).
L-R Brian Cole with Sinbad (RIP), Louie ‘Longboard’ Corkill with Kikko, Kim ‘Dish’ Standish with Bryn (RIP).
L-R Kevin Merifield, Brian Cole and Jim Mackenzie.
Related content
Brian Cole’s Malibu surfboards since 1957 published 20 May 2020
Brian Cole’s East Coast Surf Trip 1959-1961 published 6 July 2016
1963 Brian Cole’s Overseas Surf Trip published 18 Nov 2015
——————————-
Share this:
Like this: