WA surf pioneer Tony Burgess (age 80) of North Beach passed away 8 June 2021.
The late Tony Burgess formerly from Geraldton moved to the city in 1955 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.
25 April 2020 Tony Burgess at North Beach. Elika Burgess pic.
Tony left WA for South Africa in 1964. His stepbrother Les Gillies and other Oz surfers (including Bob ‘Puppy Dog’ Paton from NSW) travelled by ship to South Africa and joined him in 1965.
In 1966 Tony and his UK surfing mate Ian Harewood left South Africa and travelled by ship to the island of Mauritius. They travelled ‘cattle’ class and slept in the boiler room of ship.
Mauritius is located off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. It is separated from mainland Africa by approx. 2,000 km and is approx. 910 km east of Madagascar.
Map of Mauritius and surrounding islands. Courtesy of courtesy of www.nationsonline.org
Tony & Ian stayed at Tamarin Bay on the west coast of Mauritius. Ian was the first person to surf Tamarin Bay and now lives in Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
This blog focuses on Tony’s surf trip to Mauritius in 1966. The photos have been sourced from his photo albums.
1966 Mountain scenery Mauritius.1966 Guesthouse accommodation Mauritius.1966 Tamarin Bay wave line-up Mauritius.1966 Tamarin Bay waves Mauritius.1966 Tamarin Bay wave Mauritius.1966 Empty wind-blown wave Tamarin Bay Mauritius.1966 Ian Harewood (UK) the first person to surf Tamarin Bay Mauritius.1966 Unidentified surfer Tamarin Bay Mauritius.1966 Unidentified surfer Tamarin Bay Mauritius.1966 Unidentified surfer Tamarin Bay Mauritius.1966 The lad’s beach house in Mauritius.1966 Beach house Mauritius.1966 Beach walk Mauritius.1966 Unidentified with Malibu surfboards, Annick and young bloke in Mauritius.1966 Unidentified with transistor radio and Annick in Mauritius.1966 Surf check Mauritius.1966 Tony surfing in Mauritius.
Tony and Ian returned to South Africa after Mauritius. The story goes, that the daughter of a high-ranking official befriended Tony & Ian in Mauritius and used to raid the family fridge and provide them with food. Her old man was so happy to see the back of Tony & Ian, he paid for them to fly back to South Africa Business Class 😊
Tony subsequently travelled to America & Hawaii before returning to home to WA, where he worked with Les in the North West for some time.
Many thanks to Elika Burgess for sharing her late husband’s vintage surf photos and Les Gillies for assisting with research on this matter.
WA surf pioneer Tony Burgess (age 80) of North Beach passed away 8 June 2021.
The late Tony Burgess formerly from Geraldton moved to the city in 1955 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.
Tony left WA for South Africa in 1964. His stepbrother Les Gillies and other Oz surfers (including Bob ‘Puppy Dog’ Paton from NSW) travelled by ship to South Africa and joined him in 1965.
In 1966 Tony and his UK surfing mate Ian Harewood left South Africa and travelled by ship to the island of Mauritius. They travelled ‘cattle’ class and slept in the boiler room of ship.
Mauritius is located off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. It is separated from mainland Africa by approx. 2,000 km and is approx. 910 km east of Madagascar.
Tony & Ian stayed at Tamarin Bay on the west coast of Mauritius. Ian was the first person to surf Tamarin Bay and now lives in Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
This blog focuses on Tony’s surf trip to Mauritius in 1966. The photos have been sourced from his photo albums.
Tony and Ian returned to South Africa after Mauritius. The story goes, that the daughter of a high-ranking official befriended Tony & Ian in Mauritius and used to raid the family fridge and provide them with food. Her old man was so happy to see the back of Tony & Ian, he paid for them to fly back to South Africa Business Class 😊
Tony subsequently travelled to America & Hawaii before returning to home to WA, where he worked with Les in the North West for some time.
Many thanks to Elika Burgess for sharing her late husband’s vintage surf photos and Les Gillies for assisting with research on this matter.
Related content.
The West is Great by Tony Burgess published 9 Jun 2021
1965 Mauritius surf trip images by the late Tony Burgess published 1 Sept 2021
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