WA surf pioneer Tony Burgess (age 80) of North Beach passed away 8 June 2021.
In 1955 Tony Burgess formerly from Geraldton moved to the city age 14. When he arrived, he could not swim but started surfing with his stepbrother Les Gillies on the reef at North Cottesloe, Cable Station, Dutch Inn & Vera View.
Tony surfed locally with his North Cottesloe SLSC mates Don Bancroft, Cliff Hills, Steve Mailey, Mark Paterson & Les Gillies. The boys used to paddle from North Cottesloe SLSC Club to surf breaks in the Cottesloe region.
Later Tony joined his North Cottesloe SLSC mates chasing waves Down South, before heading over East and then Overseas in the early 60s.
This blog focuses on Tony’s early Down South & East Coast surf trips.
1957 Surfers camping under the melaleucas at Yallingup. John Budge pic L-R includes Tony Burgess, unknown, John ‘Red’ Abbott (hammock), unknown, Bernie Huddle, Alan Hamer & unknowns1958 Yalls Caves House beer garden. Brian Cole pic. L-R Barry King, Artie Taylor, Don Bancroft, Dave Williams, Ian Scott, Tony Burgess, Ken Hamer & unknown1959 Yalls beach surfers. The West Australian pic L-R Tony Burgess, Don Roper, Dave Williams, Don Bancroft, Howard Kent, Rob Birch, John Peterson, Kevin Merifield, unknown, Alan Hamer, Gary Birch, Mark Paterson, Barry King, Laurie Burke & Colin Moore.
Les Gillies: “On Saturday March 3, 1960, John Fraser, Ken Hamer, Keren Guardand I were travelling down south to Yallingup. On route we enjoyed a few beers with a Jazz Band in a Bunbury Hotel until we were kicked out of town. We continued our trip until the car ran off the road and rolled on a bend entering Busselton. It was John Fraser’s Austin A40 Sedan, and he was driving at the time. A road railing pierced straight through the car and came out the boot. I was hit on the arm by the railing; Ken was asleep in the back and the others escaped without a scratch. Ambulance people thought I was dead when they arrived and found me motionless and covered in sump oil. We were so lucky to survive!
Injuries from the traffic accident ended my career as a league footballer with Claremont.Keren Guard went on to play for Claremont in the 1964 WAFL Grand Final. Claremont came from behind to beat East Fremantle by 2 points.“
1960 Car roll over in Busselton. Les Gillies pic1960 Yallingup unidentified surfer. Tony Burgess pic1960 West Coast Board club members leaving Yallingup. The West Australian pic Note: That is Don Bancroft’s Holden panel van leading the cars up the hill. Don had windows inserted in the rear section of his panel van and converted it into a two-door station wagon.
In 1960 Tony set off on one of his many surf trips to the East Coast. On this trip were Tony’s half-brother Les Gillies, Alan Hamer, Bob Keenan & Steve Mailey.
1960 Madura Pub WA. Steve Mailey pic L-R Alan Hamer, Steve Mailey, Bob Keenan, Hotel proprietor, Tony Burgess & Les Gillies.1960 Perth to Sydney trip at border of WA & SA. Tony Burgess pic L-R. Les Gillies, Tony Burgess, Bob Keenan & Alan Hamer (RIP)1960 Replacing flat tyre on Perth to Sydney trip. Tony Burgess pic L-R Bob Keenan, Tony Burgess & Les Gillies1961 Perth to Sydney trip. Fuel top up on the Nullarbor. Steve Mailey pic. Alan Hamer with feet out the window. Les Gillies and Tony Burgess pouring petrol with Bob Keenan watching.1961 Group photo on the Nullarbor. Les Gillies pic L-R Tony Burgess, Bob Keenan, Les Gillies and Steve Mailey.1963 Bob Paton (Puppy Dog) and Les Gillies at North Narrabeen NSW. Les Gillies pic
In 1963 Tony had a story and photos published in Surfabout Australasian Surfer magazine Vol 1 No 6.
Tony’s The West is Great! article part 1 of 3.Tony’s The West is Great! article part 2 of 3.Tony’s The West is Great! article part 3 of 3. Note: In pic 3 Jim McKenzie’s nick name is ‘Lik’ not ‘Sick’ 😊
SOCIAL PICS
1991 Caves House beer garden Yallingup. Les Gillies pic Back row. Glen Smith Laurie Burke, Jim Keenan, Terry Williams, John ‘Dandaragan’ Robertson, Gary Birch, unknown Head & Dave Williams. Front row. Les Gillies, Peter Dyson & Graeme ‘Cocko’ Killen1997 Group photo at Memorial to The Ghost on Yallingup beach. Photographer unknown. Front row: John Peterson, Brian Cole, Colin Moore, Dave Maxwell, Les Gillies crouching with boogie board & Des Gaines. Rear row: Tony Harbison, unknown, Kevin Merifield, Steve Mailey, Jim Keenan, Laurie Burke, Dave Williams & unknown. Note: Tony Burgess was at the event but missed out on this photo shoot.Circa 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 Yallingup pioneer surfer statue ceremony. Old boys. Loz Smith pic. Front row. Brian Milne, Les Gillies, Bruce ‘Moonshine’ Hill, Alan Robins Middle row. Mark Paterson, Jim Keenan, Tony Burgess Back row. Dave Williams, Kevin Merifield, Len Dibben, Jim ‘Lik’ McKenzie, Bill Pratley (inserted), & Laurie Burke.
Thank you Elika for sharing Tony’s vintage surf photos. Thanks also to Les Gillies and Steve Mailey for your contributions.
Condolences to Tony’s wife Elika and family.
A funeral will be held for Tony Wednesday 16 June at Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park on Whitfords Avenue, Padbury. It will be in the morning, time to be announced.
Coming soon Tony Burgess surf trip to South Africa 1964-65.
WA surf pioneer Tony Burgess (age 80) of North Beach passed away 8 June 2021.
In 1955 Tony Burgess formerly from Geraldton moved to the city age 14. When he arrived, he could not swim but started surfing with his stepbrother Les Gillies on the reef at North Cottesloe, Cable Station, Dutch Inn & Vera View.
Tony surfed locally with his North Cottesloe SLSC mates Don Bancroft, Cliff Hills, Steve Mailey, Mark Paterson & Les Gillies. The boys used to paddle from North Cottesloe SLSC Club to surf breaks in the Cottesloe region.
Later Tony joined his North Cottesloe SLSC mates chasing waves Down South, before heading over East and then Overseas in the early 60s.
This blog focuses on Tony’s early Down South & East Coast surf trips.
L-R includes Tony Burgess, unknown, John ‘Red’ Abbott (hammock), unknown, Bernie Huddle, Alan Hamer & unknowns
L-R Barry King, Artie Taylor, Don Bancroft, Dave Williams, Ian Scott, Tony Burgess, Ken Hamer & unknown
L-R Tony Burgess, Don Roper, Dave Williams, Don Bancroft, Howard Kent, Rob Birch, John Peterson, Kevin Merifield, unknown, Alan Hamer, Gary Birch, Mark Paterson, Barry King, Laurie Burke & Colin Moore.
Les Gillies: “On Saturday March 3, 1960, John Fraser, Ken Hamer, Keren Guard and I were travelling down south to Yallingup. On route we enjoyed a few beers with a Jazz Band in a Bunbury Hotel until we were kicked out of town. We continued our trip until the car ran off the road and rolled on a bend entering Busselton. It was John Fraser’s Austin A40 Sedan, and he was driving at the time. A road railing pierced straight through the car and came out the boot. I was hit on the arm by the railing; Ken was asleep in the back and the others escaped without a scratch. Ambulance people thought I was dead when they arrived and found me motionless and covered in sump oil. We were so lucky to survive!
Injuries from the traffic accident ended my career as a league footballer with Claremont. Keren Guard went on to play for Claremont in the 1964 WAFL Grand Final. Claremont came from behind to beat East Fremantle by 2 points.“
Note: That is Don Bancroft’s Holden panel van leading the cars up the hill. Don had windows inserted in the rear section of his panel van and converted it into a two-door station wagon.
In 1960 Tony set off on one of his many surf trips to the East Coast. On this trip were Tony’s half-brother Les Gillies, Alan Hamer, Bob Keenan & Steve Mailey.
L-R Alan Hamer, Steve Mailey, Bob Keenan, Hotel proprietor, Tony Burgess & Les Gillies.
L-R. Les Gillies, Tony Burgess, Bob Keenan & Alan Hamer (RIP)
L-R Bob Keenan, Tony Burgess & Les Gillies
Alan Hamer with feet out the window. Les Gillies and Tony Burgess pouring petrol with Bob Keenan watching.
L-R Tony Burgess, Bob Keenan, Les Gillies and Steve Mailey.
In 1963 Tony had a story and photos published in Surfabout Australasian Surfer magazine Vol 1 No 6.
Note: In pic 3 Jim McKenzie’s nick name is ‘Lik’ not ‘Sick’ 😊
SOCIAL PICS
Back row. Glen Smith Laurie Burke, Jim Keenan, Terry Williams, John ‘Dandaragan’ Robertson, Gary Birch, unknown Head & Dave Williams.
Front row. Les Gillies, Peter Dyson & Graeme ‘Cocko’ Killen
Front row: John Peterson, Brian Cole, Colin Moore, Dave Maxwell, Les Gillies crouching with boogie board & Des Gaines.
Rear row: Tony Harbison, unknown, Kevin Merifield, Steve Mailey, Jim Keenan, Laurie Burke, Dave Williams & unknown.
Note: Tony Burgess was at the event but missed out on this photo shoot.
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
Front row. Brian Milne, Les Gillies, Bruce ‘Moonshine’ Hill, Alan Robins
Middle row. Mark Paterson, Jim Keenan, Tony Burgess
Back row. Dave Williams, Kevin Merifield, Len Dibben, Jim ‘Lik’ McKenzie, Bill Pratley (inserted), & Laurie Burke.
Thank you Elika for sharing Tony’s vintage surf photos. Thanks also to Les Gillies and Steve Mailey for your contributions.
Condolences to Tony’s wife Elika and family.
A funeral will be held for Tony Wednesday 16 June at Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park on Whitfords Avenue, Padbury. It will be in the morning, time to be announced.
Coming soon Tony Burgess surf trip to South Africa 1964-65.
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