The original version of this blog was posted 29 October 2014. This version has been reformatted and contains additional images……enjoy 😊
Micko Gracie surfer, sailor, traveller revisited
Former Maylands goofy footer Michael ‘Micko’ Gracie has been surfing in the SW since the late 60s. He moved to the region in the 90s to be closer to his favourite wave at Three Bears.
In 1969 Micko travelled to the east coast up to Queensland in his ‘Choco’ VW with WA surfers Mark Rudenberg and Peter ‘Mac’ McDonald.
Note: Mark Rudenburg, George Simpson and Mick ‘Micky’ Pearce discovered Bears surf break in August 1971. Tom Hoye initially named the surf break MGM’s after the three boys’ initials.
1969 Micko with his Choco VW and the boys at Crescent Heads NSW. Peter Mac pic. L-R Mark Rudenburg, Micko Gracie & Peter Mac.
In 1972
Micko travelled to South Africa, England and Europe on a surfing trip with Bob
Monkman, Peter McDonald & Bruce King. The boys surfed good waves on their
travels.
1972 Perth Airport departure to South Africa. Bruce King pic. L-R Bruce King, Micko, Peter Mac and Bob Monkman. 1973 South Africa the boy’s weekly pig-out. Bruce King pic L-R Bob Monkman, Micko & Peter Mac 1973 England sun baking at Greenwich. Bruce King pic L-R Denise George, Jenny & Micko 1973 On the beach in Spain. Bruce King pic L-R Denise George, Micko & George (from Eastern States).
In 1973 Micko & Peter McDonald left the Bob and Bruce in cold Europe and travelled to Bali on their way home to WA. They got lucky & surfed big, perfect waves at Uluwatu on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula.
1973 Bali friends and Micko (on right) in losmen. Peter Mac pic Early 1970s Micko reunion with Rodney dog in South Perth after the overseas trip. Bruce King pic. Early 70s McDonald’s holiday home at Moore River. Peter Mac pic L-R Peter Mac (standing), Steve ‘Blue’ Nicholson, Jenny Limb & Micko.
In 1974 Micko & Peter Mac started building a ferro cement yacht in Maylands. Peter’s enthusiasm for the project eventually waned, but Micko carried on and finished the yacht.
1984 Peter Mac & Micko sitting on the unfinished hull in Maylands. Peter Mac pic
In 1984 Micko sailed his yacht Mimi (named after Micko & Michelle first two initials) around the top of Australia with his wife Michelle and son Kai.
1974 Micko sailing Mimi past Cairns Queensland. Peter Mac pic.
Micko has been a regular surf traveller to the Maldives
for years.
2013 Maldives Micko warming up with his leg up a tree. Ace Smith pic. 2013 Maldives Micko Gracie & Scarlett from England wearing a Micko’s Surf School t-shirt. Ace Smith pic 2013 Maldives Micko & Russell Arnold aka Rusty. Ace Smith pic. 2013 Maldives Micko surfing a fast left. Ace Smith pic.
Micko and the boys from the 1972 Overseas Trip have annual reunions in Dunsborough.
2019 Reunion at Bob’s place in Dunsborough. Jenny Monkman pic. L-R Bruce King, Bob Monkman, Micko Gracie & Peter McDonald
Micko is still a keen surfer (his spot at Bears is reserved) and he plans to resume his winters getaways and surf remote Indian Ocean islands post covid.
Thanks photo contributors for sharing your Micko pics.
Foreword
The original version of this blog was posted 29 October 2014. This version has been reformatted and contains additional images……enjoy 😊
Micko Gracie surfer, sailor, traveller revisited
Former Maylands goofy footer Michael ‘Micko’ Gracie has been surfing in the SW since the late 60s. He moved to the region in the 90s to be closer to his favourite wave at Three Bears.
In 1969 Micko travelled to the east coast up to Queensland in his ‘Choco’ VW with WA surfers Mark Rudenberg and Peter ‘Mac’ McDonald.
Note: Mark Rudenburg, George Simpson and Mick ‘Micky’ Pearce discovered Bears surf break in August 1971. Tom Hoye initially named the surf break MGM’s after the three boys’ initials.
L-R Mark Rudenburg, Micko Gracie & Peter Mac.
In 1972 Micko travelled to South Africa, England and Europe on a surfing trip with Bob Monkman, Peter McDonald & Bruce King. The boys surfed good waves on their travels.
L-R Bruce King, Micko, Peter Mac and Bob Monkman.
L-R Bob Monkman, Micko & Peter Mac
L-R Denise George, Jenny & Micko
L-R Denise George, Micko & George (from Eastern States).
In 1973 Micko & Peter McDonald left the Bob and Bruce in cold Europe and travelled to Bali on their way home to WA. They got lucky & surfed big, perfect waves at Uluwatu on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula.
L-R Peter Mac (standing), Steve ‘Blue’ Nicholson, Jenny Limb & Micko.
In 1974 Micko & Peter Mac started building a ferro cement yacht in Maylands. Peter’s enthusiasm for the project eventually waned, but Micko carried on and finished the yacht.
In 1984 Micko sailed his yacht Mimi (named after Micko & Michelle first two initials) around the top of Australia with his wife Michelle and son Kai.
Micko has been a regular surf traveller to the Maldives for years.
Micko and the boys from the 1972 Overseas Trip have annual reunions in Dunsborough.
L-R Bruce King, Bob Monkman, Micko Gracie & Peter McDonald
Micko is still a keen surfer (his spot at Bears is reserved) and he plans to resume his winters getaways and surf remote Indian Ocean islands post covid.
Thanks photo contributors for sharing your Micko pics.
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