Brian Thomas Hood ‘Hoody’ recollections by Rod Slater

Hoody grew up in the suburb of Triggs Island but lived in Lynn Street which was the border between Triggs and North Beach. Contrary to ‘popular’ belief while he did surf regularly at Scarborough, he was a Triggs surfer. He probably started surfing at the surf break known as Mettam’s Pool because it was a little friendlier than the notorious Blue Hole at Triggs Point, and he lived just up the hill from the beach. Hoody’s first board wasn’t actually his but belonged to a cousin of Eddie and ‘Boots’ Campbell, his name was ‘Skinny’ Campbell. He lived inland, maybe Tuart Hill, hence he stored his board at Hoody’s place as it was close to the beach. He let Hoody use it whenever he wanted.

*Circa 1964* Hoody surfing Skinny’s board at the Bowl, a little reef break across the road from Rick Syme’s house. No one ever surfed it except us ‘kids.’ Hoody reckons this photo was taken at the Mettams shore break but I am certain it was the Bowl.

Hoody played junior football at the Hamersley Junior Football Club, now known as the North Beach Football Club. He was quite tall and a handy ruckman. We didn’t win many games as North Beach was a rugby league stronghold and many of the players in the footy team were also surfers – a matter of priority.

*1963 Hamersley Under 16’s football team*
*The surfing contingent:*
*Back Row – Brian Hood ( third from the left)*
*Middle Row – Rod Slater (third from the left); Hans Scaff(?) (far right)*
*Front Row – Daryl Gath (RIP – far left); Rick Syme (third from the left)*
*Jeff Jowet(?) (far right – Len Dibben surf team member)*
*N.B. Ian ‘Mooch’ Strongman (RIP) also played with our team.*

Hoody’s early surfing days were closely linked to the Coastal Board Club, which was situated around the Watermans Bay, North Beach, Triggs Island area. Surfers like the Campbell brothers, Dick White, Geoff Boyle were all prominent members of the club and were accomplished board riders. Dick White placed in either the State Titles or Spring Titles one year. These guys travelled down south and Hoody started travelling with them. He left school in third year high and I think started working for the Public Service, like his father, Fred Hood. We drifted apart a little at this stage as a number of us stayed at school.

A significant event for Hoody was when he was called up for National Service, a situation he wouldn’t accept. As he was quite a handy boxer, apparently the army wanted him to represent them in intra service tournaments – he refused!

As time rolled on Hoody shifted to Darwin where he met his life partner ‘Chicky.’ I didn’t see him for some time and then Cyclone Tracy flattened Darwin and they were evacuated to Perth. When they arrived in Perth, they were given some emergency funding to carry them over, I remember we all went to the races and Hoody was determined to double his money – in typical Brian Hood style. He finally returned to Darwin in 1974 and eventually became the owner of Darwin Irrigation. He started surfing again by flying to Bali from Darwin on a regular basis. He eventually left Darwin and settled in Geraldton.

Brian is suffering with Parkinson’s disease and my wife spoke to Chicky via phone this week and she said he is becoming more affected by the disease.

*This is a recent pic of Hoody and I when we dropped in to see him at Drummonds Cove on our way to Port Hedland to visit kids and grandkids.*

Hoody competed successfully in State Titles and Invitational surfing events with former Aussie World Surfing Champions Midget Farrelly (Yalls) and Nat Young (Trigg) in the 60s.

Circa 1969 Hoody joined North Coast Surfers Club which was formed by Greg ‘Thunder’ Laurenson, Robin ‘Skullcap’ Sutherland and Mike ‘Spike’ Wynne. Club members included Spike, Thunder, Skullcap, Hoody, Rod Slater, Gooselegs, John Paris, Pee Wee Vos, Dig Dighelli, Terry Garrett, Big Eyes, Wayne Jacks, Steve Gath, Daryl Gath, Russell Quinlivan & others.

Hoody is a past President of Geraldton Longboard Club and has spent many winters chasing waves in the Northwest and Indo.