WA surf pioneer John ‘Budgie’ Budge started surfing in the mid-50s, initially at metro beaches before chasing waves in the Mandurah and South West regions. He was also a keen photographer and captured images of early surfing in WA. Many of his surf images have been archived by the WA State Library.
Budgie is an active nonagenarian (in his 90 years). The retiree lives at Trigg, cycles & swims regularly and enjoys life.
Budgie’s 1950s Metro surfing memoirs and photos.
City Beach was the nerve centre of surfboard riding that led to the Yallingup bonanza, evolving from body surfing – especially in winter, exploiting the great wave shapes on the south side of the groyne. Among the regulars over the years were Greg & Eugene Mickle, Keith & George Kino, Brian Cole, Neil Chapple, Ray Geary, Tony Harbison, Jim Cavanagh, Ray Nelmes, the Taylor twins (Artie & Colin), Dave Williams, Jim Keenan, ‘Cocko’ Killen, Bernie Huddle, Bruce ‘Moonshine’ Hill, Kevin Merifield, Harry Kimber, Mark Whittome & the MacDonald brothers.
1958 City of Perth SLSC club rooms City Beach. John Budge pic Back. Bernie Huddle, Tony Harbison & Artie Taylor. Front. Dave Williams, Colin Taylor & Bruce ‘Moonshine’ Hill.
When the surf wasn’t ‘up,’ many of the guys played footy or, as in the case of Gary Mickle, engaged in more hazardous pursuits such as climbing into an old tyre and racing off down the steep hill adjacent to the City of Perth surf club rooms! But, above all, lots of laughter, mostly bought on by taking the piss out of each other.
1950s City of Perth SLSC City Beach clubbies. John Budge pic. L-R Ron Darge, Dave Williams, ‘Cocko’ Killen & Eugene Mickle
Mention should also be made of Bob Flecker, Ron ‘Quokka’ Holmes and Tom Hayden who seemed to turn up only when the winter waves were big, using their canvas covered wooden barges, measuring about 3ft wide and 10 ft long. These were very heavy jalopies, stand-up paddle things with a rope attached to the centre of the paddle and the bow of these clumsy aircraft carriers😊
The advent of flippers (swim fins) was a revolution for body surfing, enabling the users to surf waves of all sizes.
1950s John Budge with his plywood ‘toothpick’ board at City Beach. John Budge pic
The surfing bug bit me as a result of a nasty injury to my left knee wherein I crashed into a heavy steel hurdle during a race at Leederville oval. Following a few visits to renown masseur Waly Price, pedalling my bike from East Perth to West Leederville using one pedal. After several sessions with Wally, he advised me to ‘get into the ocean.’ When I saw the fun people were having in the surf, I said goodbye to hurdling and pole vaulting, surfing will do me.
Several years later whilst ‘willying’ on my bike behind a Bell Bros truck carrying coal to the East Perth power station, at about 9am, I crashed into a large lump of coal that had just fallen off the truck. Flying over the handlebars, I landed heavily on my poor old left knee – the only one I had left! Fortunately, I was able to hobble home from the Swan Brewery in Mounts Bay Rd to East Perth. Surfing became an imperative after that!
Familiar with the history of surfboard riding in NSW and the role Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku played in promoting the sport, it seemed just as night follows day, that the sport took off in WA.
1950s City Beach Boardriders Club first anniversary celebrations at Pagoda Ballroom South Perth. John Budge pic L-R John Budge, Colin Taylor, Joy, Alma, Artie Taylor, Mark Whittome, unknown, Sandra, Barry ‘Stretch’ Gallon, unknown, Ray Geary & Helen.
Some of the City of Perth surf club boys bought beautiful made Bill Wallace ‘Toothpicks” – 16 ft long plywood racing boards and ‘Moonshine’ bought a plywood Malibu which proved its worth at Yalls, followed several years later by Jim Keenan and Cocko Killen who bought a Wallace two-man wave ski. Around this time Brian Cole and Ray Geary and several others persisted with their own creations, followed a few years later by Ray Geary’s masterpiece – a 23ft long Four Man wave ski. Beautifully proportioned and superbly crafted by the multi skilled Ray Geary, it performed superbly, easily out pacing the City of Perth lifesavers boat.
1956 City Beach Neil Chapple & John Budge with his Morris Minor and Toothpick board. John Budge pic
In the meantime, a few Scarborough surf club members armed themselves with Wallace and homemade boards, Bob Phelps comes to mind.
It didn’t take long for the City Beach and Scarb boys to converge on Trigg Point, favoured for its steep shoulder and long rides – and body surfers. On two exceptional occasions, spaced years apart Scarb, Trigg & Rottnest experienced huge midsummer waves. Lots of people rescued and surfboats damaged. At Rotto the waves pounding the Transit Reefs were huge. The swell was peeling off ‘refracting’ adjacent to the lighthouse and petering out in line with the jetty. The waves persisted for two days – though by day two, the waves were down to just big. (From BLOODY BIG to just BIG).
We used to paddle to the Island from City Beach and surf the inner reef at night-time and could see the people drinking at the Rotto Pub. I remember Ray Geary surfing outer Transit Reef on his home made 24 ft four-man ski and doing a ‘loop the loop’. The ski nosedived on the wave and the front three fell out (Ray Geary, Colin Taylor and Neil Chapple) while the remaining crew member, Mark Whittome, was hurtled into outer space.
1950s Ray Geary’s homemade four-man wave ski at City Beach. John Budge pic
Some years after our regular trips to Yalls, a number of us were enticed to have a go at Miami Beach Mandurah. On good winter days with a southwest swell, Miami was good, with long rides. As in the case of Trigg & Yalls, Miami was useless when the wind/swell were from the northwest. And as we discovered, no good at ‘Wankers’ either.
1958 Miami Beach Mandurah. City Beach boys Owen Oates’ holden ute, Ken Hamer & unknown with Toothpicks & Malibu boards. John Budge pic
We discovered Wankers one brisk sunny late winter day, after touching base at City Beach. I think it was Dave Williams who suggested we try our luck by heading north, by passing the Trigg dumpers. We didn’t have to go far when we saw nice sets coming though on the north side of Mettams Pool. Very little wind all day – terrific! The name ‘Wankers’ was coined by Dave Williams; I believe a kind of harmless version of Yalls. Those in the first contingent to Wank were Bruce ‘Moonshine’ Hill, Col & Artie Taylor, Dave Williams & John Budge.
1958 Mettams Beach. Colin Taylor, Dave Williams, Cocko Killen, Bruce ‘Moonshine’ Hill & Artie Taylor. John Budge pic
Over the years this spot – ‘Wankers’ as it became known became a regular destination without having to put up with the tyranny of distance associated with Miami & Yalls.
Some years after discovering “The Wank,’ Dave Williams met up with astronaut Walter ‘Wally’ Schirra at a bar in town, resulting Wally joining us in a surf the next day in good conditions.
I cannot remember the year, maybe late ‘fifties,’ I started surfing a spot opposite the North Beach rd/West Coast highway intersection. On a good day they’re better than nothing. I named it ‘Boondy Bay,’ cos of the rocks. When Tom the Cheap Grocer set up his supermarket nearby, the spot simply become known as TOMS.
John Budge
Trigg WA
October 2021
Bonus Pic
You know you have made it when you get your pic on a rubbish bin at Yallingup 😊
1957 image of John Budge with his home-made ‘Nirvana’ balsa board on rubbish bin at Yallingup. Jim King pic.
An extract of Budgie’s surfing memoirs will appear in the ‘RECOLLECTIONS from the COAST’ book by Chris Holyday, due early 2022.
WA surf pioneer John ‘Budgie’ Budge started surfing in the mid-50s, initially at metro beaches before chasing waves in the Mandurah and South West regions. He was also a keen photographer and captured images of early surfing in WA. Many of his surf images have been archived by the WA State Library.
Budgie is an active nonagenarian (in his 90 years). The retiree lives at Trigg, cycles & swims regularly and enjoys life.
Budgie’s 1950s Metro surfing memoirs and photos.
City Beach was the nerve centre of surfboard riding that led to the Yallingup bonanza, evolving from body surfing – especially in winter, exploiting the great wave shapes on the south side of the groyne. Among the regulars over the years were Greg & Eugene Mickle, Keith & George Kino, Brian Cole, Neil Chapple, Ray Geary, Tony Harbison, Jim Cavanagh, Ray Nelmes, the Taylor twins (Artie & Colin), Dave Williams, Jim Keenan, ‘Cocko’ Killen, Bernie Huddle, Bruce ‘Moonshine’ Hill, Kevin Merifield, Harry Kimber, Mark Whittome & the MacDonald brothers.
Back. Bernie Huddle, Tony Harbison & Artie Taylor.
Front. Dave Williams, Colin Taylor & Bruce ‘Moonshine’ Hill.
When the surf wasn’t ‘up,’ many of the guys played footy or, as in the case of Gary Mickle, engaged in more hazardous pursuits such as climbing into an old tyre and racing off down the steep hill adjacent to the City of Perth surf club rooms! But, above all, lots of laughter, mostly bought on by taking the piss out of each other.
L-R Ron Darge, Dave Williams, ‘Cocko’ Killen & Eugene Mickle
Mention should also be made of Bob Flecker, Ron ‘Quokka’ Holmes and Tom Hayden who seemed to turn up only when the winter waves were big, using their canvas covered wooden barges, measuring about 3ft wide and 10 ft long. These were very heavy jalopies, stand-up paddle things with a rope attached to the centre of the paddle and the bow of these clumsy aircraft carriers😊
The advent of flippers (swim fins) was a revolution for body surfing, enabling the users to surf waves of all sizes.
The surfing bug bit me as a result of a nasty injury to my left knee wherein I crashed into a heavy steel hurdle during a race at Leederville oval. Following a few visits to renown masseur Waly Price, pedalling my bike from East Perth to West Leederville using one pedal. After several sessions with Wally, he advised me to ‘get into the ocean.’ When I saw the fun people were having in the surf, I said goodbye to hurdling and pole vaulting, surfing will do me.
Several years later whilst ‘willying’ on my bike behind a Bell Bros truck carrying coal to the East Perth power station, at about 9am, I crashed into a large lump of coal that had just fallen off the truck. Flying over the handlebars, I landed heavily on my poor old left knee – the only one I had left! Fortunately, I was able to hobble home from the Swan Brewery in Mounts Bay Rd to East Perth. Surfing became an imperative after that!
Familiar with the history of surfboard riding in NSW and the role Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku played in promoting the sport, it seemed just as night follows day, that the sport took off in WA.
L-R John Budge, Colin Taylor, Joy, Alma, Artie Taylor, Mark Whittome, unknown, Sandra, Barry ‘Stretch’ Gallon, unknown, Ray Geary & Helen.
Some of the City of Perth surf club boys bought beautiful made Bill Wallace ‘Toothpicks” – 16 ft long plywood racing boards and ‘Moonshine’ bought a plywood Malibu which proved its worth at Yalls, followed several years later by Jim Keenan and Cocko Killen who bought a Wallace two-man wave ski. Around this time Brian Cole and Ray Geary and several others persisted with their own creations, followed a few years later by Ray Geary’s masterpiece – a 23ft long Four Man wave ski. Beautifully proportioned and superbly crafted by the multi skilled Ray Geary, it performed superbly, easily out pacing the City of Perth lifesavers boat.
In the meantime, a few Scarborough surf club members armed themselves with Wallace and homemade boards, Bob Phelps comes to mind.
It didn’t take long for the City Beach and Scarb boys to converge on Trigg Point, favoured for its steep shoulder and long rides – and body surfers. On two exceptional occasions, spaced years apart Scarb, Trigg & Rottnest experienced huge midsummer waves. Lots of people rescued and surfboats damaged. At Rotto the waves pounding the Transit Reefs were huge. The swell was peeling off ‘refracting’ adjacent to the lighthouse and petering out in line with the jetty. The waves persisted for two days – though by day two, the waves were down to just big. (From BLOODY BIG to just BIG).
We used to paddle to the Island from City Beach and surf the inner reef at night-time and could see the people drinking at the Rotto Pub. I remember Ray Geary surfing outer Transit Reef on his home made 24 ft four-man ski and doing a ‘loop the loop’. The ski nosedived on the wave and the front three fell out (Ray Geary, Colin Taylor and Neil Chapple) while the remaining crew member, Mark Whittome, was hurtled into outer space.
1950s Ray Geary’s homemade four-man wave ski at City Beach. John Budge pic
Some years after our regular trips to Yalls, a number of us were enticed to have a go at Miami Beach Mandurah. On good winter days with a southwest swell, Miami was good, with long rides. As in the case of Trigg & Yalls, Miami was useless when the wind/swell were from the northwest. And as we discovered, no good at ‘Wankers’ either.
We discovered Wankers one brisk sunny late winter day, after touching base at City Beach. I think it was Dave Williams who suggested we try our luck by heading north, by passing the Trigg dumpers. We didn’t have to go far when we saw nice sets coming though on the north side of Mettams Pool. Very little wind all day – terrific! The name ‘Wankers’ was coined by Dave Williams; I believe a kind of harmless version of Yalls. Those in the first contingent to Wank were Bruce ‘Moonshine’ Hill, Col & Artie Taylor, Dave Williams & John Budge.
Over the years this spot – ‘Wankers’ as it became known became a regular destination without having to put up with the tyranny of distance associated with Miami & Yalls.
Some years after discovering “The Wank,’ Dave Williams met up with astronaut Walter ‘Wally’ Schirra at a bar in town, resulting Wally joining us in a surf the next day in good conditions.
I cannot remember the year, maybe late ‘fifties,’ I started surfing a spot opposite the North Beach rd/West Coast highway intersection. On a good day they’re better than nothing. I named it ‘Boondy Bay,’ cos of the rocks. When Tom the Cheap Grocer set up his supermarket nearby, the spot simply become known as TOMS.
John Budge
Trigg WA
October 2021
Bonus Pic
You know you have made it when you get your pic on a rubbish bin at Yallingup 😊
An extract of Budgie’s surfing memoirs will appear in the ‘RECOLLECTIONS from the COAST’ book by Chris Holyday, due early 2022.
—————————————-
Share this:
Like this: