Surfers have been board riding at Mettams in Perth’s northern beach suburbs since the late 50s.
Trigg WA nonagenarian John ‘Budgie’ Budge fondly recounts the early days of surfing at Mettams.
John Budge. “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 & Yallingup.
Some years after discovering “The Wank,’ Dave Williams met up with astronaut Walter ‘Wally’ Schirra at a bar in town, resulting in Wally joining us for 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.”
L-R Colin Taylor, Dave ‘Davo’ Williams, Graham ‘Cocko’ Killen, Bruce ‘Moonshine’ Hill & Arty Taylor
Thanks for sharing your memories Budgie.
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