Redhead Beach May 2007. Not a bad right and no one out. A film company making the movie “Newcastle” were set up in the beach car park, so other surfers were surfing a bank further down the beach. I paddle out here 5 minutes after taking this photo, when from the other side of the shark tower, one of the films surfing actors paddles out with a water cameraman in tow. I struck up a conversation and he advised it was no problem with me out during the filming, so we shared the break for the session with just the two of us out.

Redhead Beach May 2007

Redhead Beach May 2007

Jellyfish. Photo by my daughter Ellen.

Jellyfish. Photo by ellen Moore

Jellyfish. Photo by Ellen Moore

Glenrock Lagoon further up stream in 1993, not far from the now Fernleigh Track car park.

Glenrock Lagoon up stream 1990

Glenrock Lagoon up stream 1990

 

Martin Littlewood 1977 surfing behind the Redhead Shark Tower.

Martin Littlewood Surfing Redhead 1977

Martin Littlewood Surfing Redhead 1977

 

Martin Littlewood shaping Delta Design surfboards 1977. In the old Chicken Shed Surfboard factory at Redhead. This was most probably my new board.

Martin Littlewood shaping a board 1977

Martin Littlewood shaping a board 1977

 

If you want to get an Olympic medal – you have to put in some hard yards. In the water before 6am each morning and again after school. Here Shane Arnold takes his squad through their morning, before sunrise routine at Mayfield Pool in 1998. Olympic medalist Justin Norris was in this swim squad.

Arnold's swim squad at Mayfield Pool 1998

Arnold's swim squad at Mayfield Pool 1998

 

Sandy’s 3 pet hens – the Spice Girls.

Sandy's 3 Red Newhampshire Hens

Sandy's 3 Red Newhampshire Hens

 

Sandy and the kids taking a drink break walking back from the beach at Sand Bar 1993.

Sandy & the kids Sand Bar 1993

Sandy & the kids Sand Bar 1993

Cold Chisel played the Mawson Hotel at Caves Beach lots of times in the late 70’s. Well the hotel just got lunched, to make way for more stuff. Some good shows and good nights were had there.

This is one of my favourite shots of Ian Moss. In silhouette. I only used the stage lights, as flash bothers the players and washes out the atmosphere. I shot using fast speed film and doubled the time developing it in my garage darkroom. Mossy used to take a solo spot while the band had a drink and he would play Georgia, and it would hush the crowd down.

Ian Moss Silhouette Mawson Hotel 1978

Ian Moss Silhouette Mawson Hotel 1978

Cold Chisel at the Mawson with the crowd up close and personal.

Cold Chisel Mawson Hotel 1978

Cold Chisel Mawson Hotel 1978

Jimm Barnes in combat boots and ex arm gear rocking his heart out. Mawson Hotel Caves Beach 1978.

Jimmy Barnes Mawson Hotel 1978

Jimmy Barnes Mawson Hotel 1978

Grubby, Newcastle’s most favourite drummer, who played in Rim Shot and Rat Salad and many others and has mixed for a lot of bands too, summed up the crowds feeling after a Cold Chisel gig. Quite often Grubby would take in a show at the Mawson and then hitch into town to play with his own band, who would be waiting, wondering where the hell is he. Somehow he always got there, not so much on time, but got there.

Grubby the drummer Mawson Hotel 1978

Grubby the drummer Mawson Hotel 1978

 

Phil Small Cold Chisel bass player Mawson Hotel 1978.

Phil Small  Mawson Hotel 1978

Phil Small Mawson Hotel 1978

 

Ian Moss - another great guitar solo at the Mawson Hotel 1978.

Ian Moss Cold Chisel Mawson Hotel 1977

Ian Moss Cold Chisel Mawson Hotel 1977

 

Don Walker on Keyboards Mawson Hotel 1978. You didn’t get to see much of Don from the front of the stage, but he was the backbone of the group, writing some fantastic songs.

Don Walker Mawson Hotel 1978

Don Walker Mawson Hotel 1978

Steve Prestwich Cold Chisel Drummer Maswon Hotel 1978.

Steve Prestwich Mawson 1978

Steve Prestwich Mawson 1978

A close inspection of Redhead Bluff (not too close, there’s rocks falling off – like in Billy the Mountain) shows a Tubular Section in it, recent rain has done some corrosive damage and has hollowed out a literally tubular gnarly slab.

Redhead Cliff with wave June 2010

Redhead Cliff with wave June 2010

 

A solid swell pumped through on the last Sunday of May 2010 and the wind held them up. Unknown surfer behind the Redhead Shark Tower.

Unknown Surfer Redhead left May 2010

Unknown Surfer Redhead left May 2010

An email from Julie and Shayne advised me of surfing footage from the 70’s taken from the movie Fantasea, of Col Smith and also Steve Butterworth on Youtube site:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38YzceIQAtE 

 

 Not somewhere in Europe – Hunter Valley Gardens in Cessnock’s wine country, a lot of very nice different types of gardens, very well put together. 

 

Hunter Valley Gardens 2009

Hunter Valley Gardens 2009

 

 The Redhead Crew celebrate Gilly’s Graduation around 1978

The Redhead surf crew at Gilly's Graduation celebration  around 1978

The Redhead surf crew at Gilly's Graduation celebration around 1978

 

Catherine Hill Bay in 1975. Catho hasn’t changed much in 35 years – lets hope it stays that way.

Catherine Hill Bay Township 1975

Catherine Hill Bay Township 1975

 

Lou Reed at the Majestic Newcastle Civic Theatre around 1978.  Lou had a great band and played great guitar and had the crowd on their feet.

Lou Reed Civic Theatre Newcastle 1978

Lou Reed Civic Theatre Newcastle 1978

 

Justin Lee, one of the most consistant long term surfers from the Lake Macquarie Beaches on a VERY solid day at Dudley September 2009. Photo by Geoff Connors.

Justin Lee surfing at Dudley September 2009

Justin Lee surfing at Dudley September 2009

Angourie 1978 4 guys out.

Angourie 1977 4 guys out

Angourie 1977 4 guys out

 

HOW TO GET MORE CHIPS.

In 1968, on a weekend surfari  up the north coast, a small group of starving surfers head into town for a feed after a long day of surfing at Green Knob. They stop at their favorite Taree Fish & Chip Shop. The boys walk up to the counter and the beaming old guy behind the counter asks “Yesssh Pleassshse Boyssssh! “ Yes he had a squeak to every S.

Without batting an eyelid one of the guys orders first (…let’s just call him Jim, a normally quiet reserved guy perhaps bouyed by a great day surfing) “Can I have a hamburger and 10 Cssssentssss worth of chipsssh pleassssh!” (10 cents worth is about $3 worth now)

We all roll our eyes and figure we will be thrown out and go starving now… but the gentleman remains cool and proceeds to take the other orders then make the food.

After a tense 10 minutes of subdued behavior from us, he hands over the first order to Jim – and low and behold there is enough chips to feed an army!  The rest of us get the standard portion serving of chips.

I guess he felt an affinity to the fellow speech afflicted Jimmy – or perhaps he just admired his cheekiness! The moral of the story – be an up front complete bastard and you can get away with anything.

 

Ronnie is getting good waves up the coast right now, here is Byron Bay in May 2010, photo by Ronnie Rudder.

Byron May 2010 photo by Ronnie Rudder

Byron May 2010 photo by Ronnie Rudder

 At Bells Beach Surfing Comp in 1977 – I spot the other Mr Pipeline, the revered Rory Russell taking in the scene. Aprehensively I raise my camera, Rory spots me about to take his picture, I baulk as I don’t like to take anyones photo without approval. Rory breaks into a big grin then waves, Whew! Click! The next week he was cruising past Newcastle and dropped in to see Col Smith. Col says “where were you yesterday I brought Rory around to your place”. I was at work. I did however get to meet Buzzy Kerbox when he visited Col, real nice guy.
Bells Beach 1977 Rory Russell the other Mr Pipeline

Bells Beach 1977 Rory Russell the other Mr Pipeline

Whats this big piece of Crap below? What’s it got to do with surfing? Who put it there? Why?
This photo was taken from Nobbys Beach in 1978. It is the now decommissioned Zara Street Power Station. Not 300 meters from the beach, it used to belch out smoke all over Newcastle. In its place now is the Nobbys Forshore Park - thanks goes to all who decided to remove it.
Nobbys Power Station 1977

Nobbys Power Station 1977

On Big Brother Mountain over looking Laurieton and Camden Haven.
View of Laurieton 1983

View of Laurieton 1983

 

Frank “Meatball” Skewes surfs a punchy right peak in 1975 at Redhead Beach.

Frank Meatball Skewes Redhead 1975

Frank Meatball Skewes Redhead 1975

 

The Angels good Doc Neeson blesses his followers and there was plenty.. and it was good.

The Angels Doc Neeson gives his blessing at the Mawson 1978

The Angels Doc Neeson gives his blessing at the Mawson 1978

Dweezil Zappa, son of Frank, brought his dad’s music to life again in Newcastle at the great Civic Theatre in April 2009. Dweezil played amazing guitar. I saw Frank Zappa play back in 1972 and 1974, awsome. He had guest Norman Gunston (actor Gary MacDonald) play a harmonica solo. Here Dweezil rips out another guitar solo, this one was from the song Montana. My daughter Ellen took this picture.

Dweezil Zappa plays at Newcastle Civic Theatre 2009

Dweezil Zappa plays at Newcastle Civic Theatre 2009

Mark Richards gouges a cutback on his twin fin at Leggy Point around 1977, classic style.
Mark Richards Leggy Point 1977

Mark Richards Leggy Point 1977

Redhead’s Col Smith around 1979 in his shaping bay with some almost completed Channel boards, this one’s mine.
Redhead's Col Smith Shaping Channel Surfboards 1978

Redhead's Col Smith Shaping Channel Surfboards 1978

Midnight Oil’s Peter Garrett on keyboards and guitarist Jim Mogine on guitar playing at the Mawson Hotel at Caves Beach in 1977.  Awsome night. Not long after they were  packing the places out wherever they played.
Midnight Oil 1977 Garrett & Mogine mawson Hotel 1977

Midnight Oil 1977 Garrett & Mogine mawson Hotel 1977

Looking back up from Redhead beach to where I was living in 1975 . Before the tar car park, the grassy hill and the real big houses.
Landscape above Redhead Beach in 1975

Landscape above Redhead Beach in 1975

Crow &  Bird and Bridgette my Curly Coated Retriever in 1977 on the verandah.
Crow and Bird and Bridgette 1977

Crow and Bird and Bridgette 1977

Martin Littlewood cranks a turn windsurfing Blacksmiths around 1978.
Martin Littlewood Windsurfing at Blacksmiths 1977

Martin Littlewood Windsurfing at Blacksmiths 1977

On Surfari around southern NSW near Bega 1977 getting close to susnset,  we went through this water way and then went back and did it again for the camera.

On surfari near Bega 1977

On surfari near Bega 1977

 

Redhead Beach from the Bluff 1977

Redhead beach 1978

Redhead beach 1978

 

Ray Lunn stalls hard and then later gets a nice tube from behind the Redhead Shark Tower 1977.

Ray Lunn Redhead Beach 1977

Ray Lunn Redhead Beach 1977

 

Not a bad surf for no one out. Redhead Little Beach 1978.

Redhead Little Beach no one out 1977

Redhead Little Beach no one out 1977

 

Redhead Beach by moonlight 1977. Even looks good in black & white.  A 30 second time exposure.

Redhead Beach by moonlight 1977

Redhead Beach by moonlight 1977

Bring back the chariot races and the pillow fights at Surf Carnivals!  Newcastle region surf carnival Chariot Race at Blacksmiths around 1978,  these teams look like they were having fun.
Newcastle area surf carnival Chariott Race 1978

Newcastle area surf carnival Chariot Race 1978

We gave them the book, but it didnt seem to help much. My daughter Ellen and son Sam seem to be taking the business of toddler taming a bit too lightly.
Toddler Taming Sam & Ellen 1990

Toddler Taming Sam & Ellen 1990

Blower & his Dad and band playing some super cool music at Belmont Yatch Club around 1978.
Blower &  Dad's Band Belmont Yatch Club 1978

Blower & Dad's Band Belmont Yatch Club 1978

An uncrowded line up at Arrawarra around 1977.
Arrawarra 1977

Arrawarra 1977

A  bee on a flowering thistle plant close up make a nice combination of colours.
Bee on flowering thistle 1978

Bee on flowering thistle 1978

 

The Redhead Shark Tower Rocks have always meant a lot to most Redhead locals, it has the best ring side seat to an awsome view of the bluff and the surf.

My daughter Lia in 1976 playing in the storm blown foam in front of the Redhead Shark Tower. This photo also appears on the ABC Website – You know you grew up in Newcastle when…see  http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2010/02/22/2826363.htm

Lia Redhead Shark Tower 1976

Lia Redhead Shark Tower 1976

After a storm around 1975 the Shark Tower Rocks showed themselves for the first time since I was a kid (bloody long time aye)
Shark Tower Rocks exposed 1975

Shark Tower Rocks exposed 1975

I remember surfing this day still – Redhead Little Beach about 1985.
Redhead Little Beach going off 1985

Redhead Little Beach going off 1985

Eddo again around 1977 – William Harrison defines the re-entry – goes right over to the dry side and glides back down again right in front of the Shark Tower Rocks.
Eddo's Re-entry behind the Redhead Shark Tower 1977

Eddo's Re-entry behind the Redhead Shark Tower 1977

Local Newcastle band Pamdemonia take a break from practice around 1977.
Pamdemonia 1977

Pamdemonia 1977

It’s my daughter Ellen’s 25th birthday tomorrow – happy birthday Darl.
1985 – After 42 hours labour, a cesearian and 8 days in hospital, Sandy and Ellen finally got home.
Sandy & Ellen 1985

Sandy & Ellen 1985

Ellen relaxing in the water at Fingal Bay around 1990.
Ellen at Fingal Bay 1985

Ellen at Fingal Bay 1990

Simon Anderson is announced the winner at Bells Beach in 1977,  he looks surprised, because all finalists ripped so it would have been a close call.
Simon Anderson Bells Beach Winner 1977

Simon Anderson Bells Beach Winner 1977

Awsome Byron Bay Line up around 1980.
Byron Bay surf 1980

Byron Bay surf 1980

Belmont South Sunset 1985 – or any arvo there is a few clouds.
Belmont South Sunset 1985

Belmont South Sunset 1985

Graeme Harkin took some nice water shots of the Redhead surf crew around 1979, here are some of them.

Col Smith, Redhead, close up and having way too much fun, what a grin!

Col Smith close up Redhead 1979

Col Smith close up Redhead 1979

 

Col Smith again getting tubed at Redhead in 1979

Col Smith tubed Redhead 1979

Col Smith tubed Redhead 1979

 

Mick Carr on a hollow Redhead Little Beach right in 1979

Mick Carr Redhead Little Beach 1979

Mick Carr Redhead Little Beach 1979

Paul Smith Redhead Little Beach 1979

Paul Smith Redhead 1979

Paul Smith Redhead 1979

 

Philip Woodward Redhead 1979

Phillip Woodward Redhead 1979

Phillip Woodward Redhead 1979

 

Peter Kuba on a Redhead Shark Tower left 1979.

Peter Kuba Redhead Shark Tower 1979

Peter Kuba Redhead Shark Tower 1979

 

Chas Woodward at  Redhead.

Chas Woodward 1979

Chas Woodward 1979

Kenny Stanton wellcovered up Redhead 1979

Unidentified surfer at Redhead 1979

Unidentified surfer at Redhead 1979

Col Smith again Redhead 1979.

Col Smith Redhead 1979

Col Smith Redhead 1979

Redhead Little Beach in 1983 on a cold winters afternoon. A surfer on a nice wave, framed by the cliff and the shark tower rocks.

Redhead Beach 1983

Redhead Beach 1983

 

Redhead Shark Tower, this time covered in foam during the June 2007 storm. Lots of people were out and about as the ship Pascha Bulka had grounded at Nobbys and also the power was out for 3 days so there was nothing to do at home.

Redhead Shark Tower in June 2007 Storm

Redhead Shark Tower in June 2007 Storm

Redhead Beach Ghost 1983 . I took the photo of Sandy with the cameras flash and left the button down and she walked out of the photo.

Sandy the ghost 1983 Redhead Beach

Sandy the ghost 1983 Redhead Beach

 

Redhead Surf Club March Past Team around 1978. A great bunch of blokes who put a lot of time and training into what they do.

Redhead March Past team around 1978

Redhead March Past team around 1978

 

Redhead Swamp before the drought and the digging out of the Third Creek. We used to paddle tin canoes made from roofing sheets and wooden boxes with road tar to seal them, from the second creek up into the swamp when we were kids.

 

Redhead Swamp 1975

Redhead Swamp 1975

 

Mick Carr styling on a nice left from behind the Redhead Shark Tower.

Michael Carr surfing at Redhead 1977

Michael Carr surfing at Redhead 1977

Ronnie Rudder drops around to show off another new board,  but this one has a history. A shaped blank has been stored in the rafters of Forster Board maker Bobby Brown’s shed for 10 years. This 9′6″ Noserider was shaped by the then 72 year old Floyd Smith from American Gordon & Smith Surfboards fame. Given to Ronnie by Bobby, faithfully cleaned and glassed at Pacific Dreams by Roy and the boys, this old classic beauty eventually has come to life.

Ron & Crow & Floyd Smith Noserider

Ron & Crow & Floyd Smith Noserider

Redhead 1984, Martin Littlewood the Margaret River board builder of Delta Designs, comes back over to Redhead with a new batch of space age boards way ahead of their time. All lightweight epoxy/styrene hand shaped and hand glassed beauty’s.  Included here are some Antman Paul Patterson UFO fish models featuring step decks and drop rails.
Martin Littlewood with new DeltaDesigns 2004

Martin Littlewood with new Delta Designs 2004

Col Smith surfing a local Redhead Board Club event around 1975. Col as usual tearing it up, showing lots of style.
Col Smith Redhead Boardriders Comp 1975

Col Smith Redhead Boardriders Comp 1975

Around 1964 Skateboards made their way into the surfing culture. They looked like a good idea so we grabbed some skates from the Op shop and some packing case boards for decks and made our own and off we went down the back of then Kotara Fair (now Westfield) car park on a Saturday arvo when the shops closed. Yes they closed at 12pm then.
Crow Skateboarding Garden City Carpark 1964

Crow Skateboarding Garden City Carpark 1964

Redhead Little Beach has not been as good as it was. Just to show what I mean check this 1977  empty line up with a perfect left tube coming off Pinny Reef next to the cliff.
Redhead Little Beach left 1977

Redhead Little Beach left 1977

Another ground breaking surf board design from around 1976 shown off here by the proud owner Peter Murnaine. The Ben Apai Stinger just looked awsome. Ben Apai’s boards were available at Mark Richards Surf Shop Newcastle.
Peter Murnaine and Ben Aipa Stinger 1976

Peter Murnaine and Ben Aipa Stinger 1976

Eddo (William Harrison)  on another of his left-go-right foam hits at Redhead surfing in the same heat as Col Smith in a local boardriders comp around 1976.
Eddo Redhead local comp 1976

Eddo Redhead local comp 1976


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