**Update 30 Mar 2022 – Correction to Aust Titles results**
Murray Smith WA. “Hi Jim, the contest details are not quite right, I came 2nd in the Senior Men’s behind Queensland’s ‘Fury’ Brian Austin (dec) in that year and had a very upset Bob Kennerson NSW (he shaped my boards at McDonaghs in the early days), I had known Fury for about 10yrs at the time and spent time in Qld with him, I think it was Goodtime surfboards. He was in WA in the early 60s with his sister Gail, she stayed in WA for a few years then went back to Qld and started Goodtime Surfshop in Brisbane. Brian died of cancer in the late 80s I think, so I was the only one to bring home silverware, sorry about the correction, I know Cairnsy surfed really well in the 2nd round as well as Russ Catto, but it would have to be checked on, also I think Kirk the American kneelo did well.
This is the board I came 2nd on at Burleigh Qld. I was on my backhand, the other contestants were on their forehand, a slight disadvantage in that era of surfing.”
1974 Murray Smith surfboard used by Murray in Aust Titles Qld. Muzz pic.
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The WA State team to compete in the 1974 Australian Titles held at Burleigh Heads Queensland was selected from finalists in the WA State Titles.
Contest Results 1974 WA State Titles
Mens. 1. Ian Cairns, 2. Barry Day, 3. Murray Smith.
Jnr Mens. 1. Bruce Hocking, 2. Rick Gath, 3. Shaun Atkinson.
Womens. 1. Joyce Merchant, 2. Pam Bedford, 3. Jan Young.
Snr Mens. 1. Murray Smith, 2. Terry Jacks, 3. Tony Harbison.
The WA team didn’t bring home any silverware but had a damn good time participating in the event.
Contest Results 1974 Australian Titles Queensland
Mens. 1. Michael Peterson NSW, 2. Peter Townsend QLD, 3. Mark Warren NSW.
Jnr Mens. 1. Steve Jones NSW, 2. Daryl Parkinson QLD, Terry Richardson NSW.
Womens. 1. Kim McKenzie QLD, 2. Judy Trim NSW, 3. Gail Couper VIC.
Snr Mens. 1. Brian Austin, QLD 2. Bob Kennerson NSW, 3. Don Allcroft VIC.
Contest results source: Surfing Australia – A complete History of Surfboard Riding in Australia book by Phil Jarratt 2012.
These photos of 1974 WA State Team at the Australian Surf Titles held Burleigh Heads Queensland are courtesy of WA Team manager Len Dibben and competitor Steve Cockburn.
1974 WA state surf team at Perth Airport flying out with TAA to National Titles in Queensland. Photo courtesy of Steve Cockburn. L-R Guy Quackenbush, Steve Thomas, Mark Waller, Ric Gath, unidentified, Shaun Atkinson, Mike, Kurt Brechnel, Steve Cockburn, Jane, Trevor Kenyon (Kenmac) & Murray Smith.1974 WA competitor Russell Catto drove his Holden sedan to the Aust Titles Qld. Photo Steve Cockburn Russ Catto & Ian Hocking in front seat & Bruce Hocking in the back.1974 Celebrities competitors at Aust Titles Burleigh Heads Qld. Photo Steve Cockburn. L-R Rabbit Bartholomew (Qld), Ian Cairns & Barry Day (WA) 1974 Burleigh Heads wave line-up for Aust Titles Qld. Photo Steve Cockburn1974 WA team members at Aust Titles Burleigh Heads Qld. Photo Steve Cockburn, L-R Steve Cockburn, Colin Ladhams & Ian Hocking.1974 WA Team Manager Len Dibben with Rod Teys Surfboards van at Aust Titles Qld. Photo Steve Cockburn1974 Len Dibben doing bookwork for Presidents meeting at Aust Titles Qld. Photo Len Dibben1974 WA Team members out on the town at Aust Titles Qld. Photo Len Dibben pic. L-R Jane, Guy Quackenbush, Len Dibben, Trevor Kenyon & Russ Catto.1974 Closing ceremony Aust Titles Qld. Photo Steve Cockburn. L-R Mike, Greg Laurenson, Steve Cockburn & Rabbit Bartholomew (Qld).1974 Closing ceremony Aust Titles Qld. Photo Steve Cockburn. L-R Kurt, Len Dibben, unidentified, Mike, Steve Cockburn & Steve Thomas.1974 Closing ceremony Aust Titles Qld. Photo Steve Cockburn. L-R Guy Quackenbush & Tony Harbison on the right.1974 Closing ceremony Aust Titles Qld. Photo Steve Cockburn. L-R Unidentified on the left. Jane, Len Dibben, Ian Hocking, Kurt Brechnel & Russell Catto in front.
Thanks Len Dibben & Steve Cockburn for sharing your photos.
**Update 30 Mar 2022 – Correction to Aust Titles results**
Murray Smith WA. “Hi Jim, the contest details are not quite right, I came 2nd in the Senior Men’s behind Queensland’s ‘Fury’ Brian Austin (dec) in that year and had a very upset Bob Kennerson NSW (he shaped my boards at McDonaghs in the early days), I had known Fury for about 10yrs at the time and spent time in Qld with him, I think it was Goodtime surfboards. He was in WA in the early 60s with his sister Gail, she stayed in WA for a few years then went back to Qld and started Goodtime Surfshop in Brisbane. Brian died of cancer in the late 80s I think, so I was the only one to bring home silverware, sorry about the correction, I know Cairnsy surfed really well in the 2nd round as well as Russ Catto, but it would have to be checked on, also I think Kirk the American kneelo did well.
This is the board I came 2nd on at Burleigh Qld. I was on my backhand, the other contestants were on their forehand, a slight disadvantage in that era of surfing.”
…………………………………
The WA State team to compete in the 1974 Australian Titles held at Burleigh Heads Queensland was selected from finalists in the WA State Titles.
Contest Results 1974 WA State Titles
Mens. 1. Ian Cairns, 2. Barry Day, 3. Murray Smith.
Jnr Mens. 1. Bruce Hocking, 2. Rick Gath, 3. Shaun Atkinson.
Womens. 1. Joyce Merchant, 2. Pam Bedford, 3. Jan Young.
Snr Mens. 1. Murray Smith, 2. Terry Jacks, 3. Tony Harbison.
The WA team didn’t bring home any silverware but had a damn good time participating in the event.
Contest Results 1974 Australian Titles Queensland
Mens. 1. Michael Peterson NSW, 2. Peter Townsend QLD, 3. Mark Warren NSW.
Jnr Mens. 1. Steve Jones NSW, 2. Daryl Parkinson QLD, Terry Richardson NSW.
Womens. 1. Kim McKenzie QLD, 2. Judy Trim NSW, 3. Gail Couper VIC.
Snr Mens. 1. Brian Austin, QLD 2. Bob Kennerson NSW, 3. Don Allcroft VIC.
Contest results source: Surfing Australia – A complete History of Surfboard Riding in Australia book by Phil Jarratt 2012.
These photos of 1974 WA State Team at the Australian Surf Titles held Burleigh Heads Queensland are courtesy of WA Team manager Len Dibben and competitor Steve Cockburn.
L-R Guy Quackenbush, Steve Thomas, Mark Waller, Ric Gath, unidentified, Shaun Atkinson, Mike, Kurt Brechnel, Steve Cockburn, Jane, Trevor Kenyon (Kenmac) & Murray Smith.
Russ Catto & Ian Hocking in front seat & Bruce Hocking in the back.
L-R Rabbit Bartholomew (Qld), Ian Cairns & Barry Day (WA)
L-R Steve Cockburn, Colin Ladhams & Ian Hocking.
L-R Jane, Guy Quackenbush, Len Dibben, Trevor Kenyon & Russ Catto.
L-R Mike, Greg Laurenson, Steve Cockburn & Rabbit Bartholomew (Qld).
L-R Kurt, Len Dibben, unidentified, Mike, Steve Cockburn & Steve Thomas.
L-R Guy Quackenbush & Tony Harbison on the right.
L-R Unidentified on the left. Jane, Len Dibben, Ian Hocking, Kurt Brechnel & Russell Catto in front.
Thanks Len Dibben & Steve Cockburn for sharing your photos.
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