Surfers are generally a transient lot chasing sun and surf.
On the East Coast of Oz there was a migration of surfers away from the cities to Northern NSW & Queensland in the 60s. In West Australia, a similar migration occurred with surfers from the city, East Coast OZ and California moving to the South West in the late 60 and 70s, to live, work and surf.
WA surfers had been holding State Titles in the South West since 1964 and were fully aware of its wave potential. The East Coast was alerted to our waves by Oz surf magazines after the 1969 OZ Titles were held in outstanding waves at Margs. Then Oz surf cinematographer Paul Witzig toured California screening his Evolution surf movie (1969) featuring footage of Margs waves during the 1969 Oz Titles, and that was enough to get restless Californian surfers to leave their homeland and relocate to WA.
Surfers have been chasing waves Down South since the mid-50s, however, most of the early surfers were weekend warriors from the Metro & Bunbury regions.
Some movement occurred during the 60s. Margaret River Primary School Teacher Mal Bromley and his surfing mate Warren McKinney lived, worked and surfed Margs circa 1960. Brian Cole & Murray Smith worked at Caves House Yalls while Peter Bothwell & Brian Boynes worked at the Collie Coal Mines to support their surfing lifestyle. The next influx came from George Simpson and other city surfers moving Down South in the late 60s and early 70s.
By the early 70s, the word was well & truly out about uncrowded South West waves. Rob Conneeley and other East Coast surfers relocated, as did Tom Hoye and other Californian surfers.
The surfing migration to the South West had begun and is still happening.
1973 A spontaneous collection of the Smiths Valley crew at Yallingup. Photo Helen ‘Spotty’ Smith. Standing: Peter, Tom Hoye (RIP), Hans Kopp, Lee Fenwick, Craig Kohtala, Chris & Jane Bowen-Sant, Jeff Carroll, Lulu, George Simpson Christine Brennan (RIP) & Tom Greybill. Sitting: Dog, Scott Andrew (RIP), Jack Kohtala, Dog, Ray Stammire & Robbo.
This is an unofficial Census of surfers who relocated from other regions to the South West in the 70s. Mark ‘Hillsy’ Hills, Perry Homes & Bill Gibson helped me compile the lists.
Our lists do not include born & bred SW surfers who were residing in the region at the time or Weekend Warriors from the city.
International – California USA / Europe
Bloomer Pat Calif.
Burrow Vance & Nancy San Diego
Hall Gene USA
Hoye Tom (RIP) Santa Cruz
Heussenstamm Mark USA
Heussenstamm John USA
Jones Andrew West Africa
Kopp Hans Europe
Malloy John Calif.
Mansell-Ward Rob Calif.
Thomasian Leon Calif.
1973 Californian ex-pat Pat Bloomer and some of his American surfing mates at their beach shack Lefthanders WA. Pat Bloomer pic
Inter State – East Oz
Barriskill Harry ‘Hippee’ (RIP) NSW
Bowen-Sant Chris & Jane Vic
Chobanoff Alex NSW
Clemenger John NSW
Conneeley Rob NSW
Favell Mark (RIP) & Julie Qld
Gibbon Gary Qld
Hardy Tony Tas
Loof Paul Sth Aust
McColl Andrew Vic
Moore Mark NSW
Nicholson Steve ‘Blue’ Vic
Redman Ralph NSW
Rice Garry NSW
Rice Steve (RIP) NSW
Ross Jim Qld
Rouw Ken Qld
Sidovedic Jeff NSW
Smith Helen ‘Spotty’ Vic
Stirling Keith Sth Aust
Streeter John NSW
Young Barry Sth Aust
1975 Ex-Queenslander Gary Gibbon, Andy Jones (West Africa) with WA’s Ronny ‘Ratshit’ Jeffrey at Peter Dyson’s place Yalls. Andy Jones pic.
Intra State – West OZ
Anderson Ross ‘Mahdu’
Anderson Trevor
Atkinson Shaun
Baldock Peter
Barratt Steve
Bean Al
Bettenay Craig, Stewart & Greg
Blaikie Ray
Branch John ‘Tex’
Brennon Christine (RIP)
Brent-White Craig & Drew
Bromley Mal
Cairns Ian
Campbell Steve ‘Horny’
Cole Brian (RIP)
Collins Tom
Corkill Lou ‘Longboard Lou’
Cough Alan (RIP)
Crossland Amber
Culmsee Geoff
Davies Peter
Eastaugh Geoff & Damon
Ellis Ron ‘Gremmo’
Farrell Jim (RIP)
Felton Brian & family
Fixter Al
Gath Rick
Gibson Bill & Kaye
Giles Tony
Gracie Micko
Greirson Gary
Green Chris
Halnan Keith
Harbison Tony
Hardy Tony
Hattrick David
Hawken Keith ‘Woolly’
Hayter Frank (RIP)
Hickson Max
Hills Cliff & Mark
Jacks Terry (RIP)
Jakovich John
James Terry (RIP)
Jebb Peter
Jeffrey Ron ‘Ratshit’
Jones Ashley
Johnson Howard (RIP)
Kidd Peter
Kotala Jack
Leonhardt Brad
Leslie Graham ‘Guru’ (RIP)
Lobe Rick (RIP)
MacKenzie Ken
Malcolm Rob
Marshall Jeff ‘RE’
Mathews Theo
McDermott Doc & Carol
McDonald Peter
McFarlane Jim
McKinney Warren
Middleton Barry
Monkman Bob
Moody Mark (RIP)
Morris Ian ‘Prive’
Nesbitt Laurie ‘Pup’
O’Brien Rob
O’Dwyer Kevin (RIP)
Paterson Mark
Plaistead David ‘Dappa’
Pullella Charlie
Rich Al
Rigg Richie
Robinson Grant
Robertson John ‘Dandaragan”
Russo Steve (RIP)
Semple Michael
Seward David
Sheen David
Simpson George
Smith Ace & Arns
Smith Laurie ‘Loz’
Strong Neil
Sutherland Rob
Tate Syd
Thompson Lindsay (RIP) & Helen
Thomsett Ross
Vidler Ron ‘Butch’
Waddell David, Gerard & Ron
Waller Paul (RIP)
Warrener Chris
Wells Mark
Wilson Adrian
Wise Peter ‘Rinso’
Wright Les
1975 Pig Breeders footy team Skins & Shirts scratch match Dunsborough school oval. Peter Mac pic
Many of the listed surfers still live & surf Down South.
Apologies if we missed you off the list.
Mark ‘Hillsy’ Hills – “There were 26 surfing families with holiday homes at Yallingup in the 70s, but they did not make the ‘sea change’ to the region until later.“
Many thanks to Hillsy, Perry Home and Bill Gibson for assisting with research on this matter.
Let us know if you have been omitted and/or other changes required.
Surfers are generally a transient lot chasing sun and surf.
On the East Coast of Oz there was a migration of surfers away from the cities to Northern NSW & Queensland in the 60s. In West Australia, a similar migration occurred with surfers from the city, East Coast OZ and California moving to the South West in the late 60 and 70s, to live, work and surf.
WA surfers had been holding State Titles in the South West since 1964 and were fully aware of its wave potential. The East Coast was alerted to our waves by Oz surf magazines after the 1969 OZ Titles were held in outstanding waves at Margs. Then Oz surf cinematographer Paul Witzig toured California screening his Evolution surf movie (1969) featuring footage of Margs waves during the 1969 Oz Titles, and that was enough to get restless Californian surfers to leave their homeland and relocate to WA.
Surfers have been chasing waves Down South since the mid-50s, however, most of the early surfers were weekend warriors from the Metro & Bunbury regions.
Some movement occurred during the 60s. Margaret River Primary School Teacher Mal Bromley and his surfing mate Warren McKinney lived, worked and surfed Margs circa 1960. Brian Cole & Murray Smith worked at Caves House Yalls while Peter Bothwell & Brian Boynes worked at the Collie Coal Mines to support their surfing lifestyle. The next influx came from George Simpson and other city surfers moving Down South in the late 60s and early 70s.
By the early 70s, the word was well & truly out about uncrowded South West waves. Rob Conneeley and other East Coast surfers relocated, as did Tom Hoye and other Californian surfers.
The surfing migration to the South West had begun and is still happening.
Standing: Peter, Tom Hoye (RIP), Hans Kopp, Lee Fenwick, Craig Kohtala, Chris & Jane Bowen-Sant, Jeff Carroll, Lulu, George Simpson Christine Brennan (RIP) & Tom Greybill.
Sitting: Dog, Scott Andrew (RIP), Jack Kohtala, Dog, Ray Stammire & Robbo.
This is an unofficial Census of surfers who relocated from other regions to the South West in the 70s. Mark ‘Hillsy’ Hills, Perry Homes & Bill Gibson helped me compile the lists.
Our lists do not include born & bred SW surfers who were residing in the region at the time or Weekend Warriors from the city.
International – California USA / Europe
Bloomer Pat Calif.
Burrow Vance & Nancy San Diego
Hall Gene USA
Hoye Tom (RIP) Santa Cruz
Heussenstamm Mark USA
Heussenstamm John USA
Jones Andrew West Africa
Kopp Hans Europe
Malloy John Calif.
Mansell-Ward Rob Calif.
Thomasian Leon Calif.
Inter State – East Oz
Barriskill Harry ‘Hippee’ (RIP) NSW
Bowen-Sant Chris & Jane Vic
Chobanoff Alex NSW
Clemenger John NSW
Conneeley Rob NSW
Favell Mark (RIP) & Julie Qld
Gibbon Gary Qld
Hardy Tony Tas
Loof Paul Sth Aust
McColl Andrew Vic
Moore Mark NSW
Nicholson Steve ‘Blue’ Vic
Redman Ralph NSW
Rice Garry NSW
Rice Steve (RIP) NSW
Ross Jim Qld
Rouw Ken Qld
Sidovedic Jeff NSW
Smith Helen ‘Spotty’ Vic
Stirling Keith Sth Aust
Streeter John NSW
Young Barry Sth Aust
Intra State – West OZ
Anderson Ross ‘Mahdu’
Anderson Trevor
Atkinson Shaun
Baldock Peter
Barratt Steve
Bean Al
Bettenay Craig, Stewart & Greg
Blaikie Ray
Branch John ‘Tex’
Brennon Christine (RIP)
Brent-White Craig & Drew
Bromley Mal
Cairns Ian
Campbell Steve ‘Horny’
Cole Brian (RIP)
Collins Tom
Corkill Lou ‘Longboard Lou’
Cough Alan (RIP)
Crossland Amber
Culmsee Geoff
Davies Peter
Eastaugh Geoff & Damon
Ellis Ron ‘Gremmo’
Farrell Jim (RIP)
Felton Brian & family
Fixter Al
Gath Rick
Gibson Bill & Kaye
Giles Tony
Gracie Micko
Greirson Gary
Green Chris
Halnan Keith
Harbison Tony
Hardy Tony
Hattrick David
Hawken Keith ‘Woolly’
Hayter Frank (RIP)
Hickson Max
Hills Cliff & Mark
Jacks Terry (RIP)
Jakovich John
James Terry (RIP)
Jebb Peter
Jeffrey Ron ‘Ratshit’
Jones Ashley
Johnson Howard (RIP)
Kidd Peter
Kotala Jack
Leonhardt Brad
Leslie Graham ‘Guru’ (RIP)
Lobe Rick (RIP)
MacKenzie Ken
Malcolm Rob
Marshall Jeff ‘RE’
Mathews Theo
McDermott Doc & Carol
McDonald Peter
McFarlane Jim
McKinney Warren
Middleton Barry
Monkman Bob
Moody Mark (RIP)
Morris Ian ‘Prive’
Nesbitt Laurie ‘Pup’
O’Brien Rob
O’Dwyer Kevin (RIP)
Paterson Mark
Plaistead David ‘Dappa’
Pullella Charlie
Rich Al
Rigg Richie
Robinson Grant
Robertson John ‘Dandaragan”
Russo Steve (RIP)
Semple Michael
Seward David
Sheen David
Simpson George
Smith Ace & Arns
Smith Laurie ‘Loz’
Strong Neil
Sutherland Rob
Tate Syd
Thompson Lindsay (RIP) & Helen
Thomsett Ross
Vidler Ron ‘Butch’
Waddell David, Gerard & Ron
Waller Paul (RIP)
Warrener Chris
Wells Mark
Wilson Adrian
Wise Peter ‘Rinso’
Wright Les
Many of the listed surfers still live & surf Down South.
Apologies if we missed you off the list.
Mark ‘Hillsy’ Hills – “There were 26 surfing families with holiday homes at Yallingup in the 70s, but they did not make the ‘sea change’ to the region until later.“
Many thanks to Hillsy, Perry Home and Bill Gibson for assisting with research on this matter.
Let us know if you have been omitted and/or other changes required.
Related Content
1973-4 Pat Bloomer’s beach Life published 13 July 2016
Living in the south west in the 70-80s by Julie Favell published 8 Feb 2017
1975 Pig Breeders footy team images by Steve ‘Horny’ Campbell published 23 Sept 2017
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