Lou Reed came to the Civic and gave a great show, I was lurking about a bit back from the stage with my camera when a big wild hairy guy picked me up put me on his front row seat and said “now take an fn picture mate”. Lou eyballed me, I clicked and then Lou just winked at me and carried on the great show.
Lou Reed about 1978 at the Civic Theatre
I just love this one – when opposites attract. Jimmy & The Boys Ignatious Jones, Neo Punk meets Nimbin shoeless Hippe girl and rock out together regardless. A fan gets up and helps out Jimmy and the Boys at Belmont Sporties around 1978.
Jimmy and The Boys with a fan at Belmont Sporties
Joe Cocker played the Civic, didnt sing out of tune and put on a great show. His band were great.
Joe Cocker Civic Theatre around 1978
Cold Chisel’s Jimmy Barnes hard at work as usual Cardiff Workers around 1978.
Cold Chisel's Jimmy Barnes Cardiff Workers around 1978
Cold Chisel’s Ian Moss also hard at work around the same time.
Cold Chisel's Ian Moss Cardiff Workers 1978
Midnight Oil’s Peter Garret at the Mawson Hotel 1978. He inspired all us unco guys to just get up and have a go when the music gets ya. I got caned in primary school for bad dancing.
Midnight Oils Peter Garret Mawson 1978
Kevin Coyne – scottish folk/rock/social critic had an album out called Marjory Razorblade in the late 1980’s which I recommed listening to. He played the Newcastle Uni solo and was just awsome. His guitar stlye is unique, using his thumb on the frett board to make chords, he has a very powerful strumming style.
Kevin Coyne Newcstle Uni 1978
Redhead’s Col Smith also had a great backhand. One of the top Hawaiian surfers was quoted as saying he was the best backhand at Sunset he had seen after Col had won the Pro Am there.
Col Smith Backhand at Redhead
If you wanted a new board made in 1976 at Redhead, this is the front door to the board shop where Martin Littlewood (Delta Designs) and Roy Lee (Pacific Dreams) were making their own designs. This was an overgrown abandoned chicken shed.
Martin and Roy's Surfboard Factory Redhead 1976
Steven Butterworth was a local at Redhead and got the hang of the lefts on offer.
Steve Butterworth Surfing at Redhead around 1978
A trip up the coast mid week scored nice waves with only a few out at Scotts Head around 1978.
Scotts head 1976
A rain storm came through and the surf cleaned up and lots of locals were on it as the sun came out again late arvo. This is a typical right behind the tower day with the right conditions.
Redhead Shark Tower Lefts after a rain storm around 1980
Col Smith surfing in a Redhead club comp around 1978. The negative is a bit worse for wear but shows Col in full flight and eh, he probably won it.
Col Smith surfing Redhead in local comp around 1978
Mark Richards surfing a local Newcastle break around 1978.
Mark Richards Surfing around 1978
A young Don “Uncle” Ashton on a nice one in the middle of the Little Beach Redhead around 1978.
Don "Uncle" Ashton at Redhead around 1978
Gary “Boston” Searl on a thumper that will end right in behind the Shark Tower rocks at Redhead Beach.
Gary Boston Searl surfing Redhead around 1978
Bali was just being discovered as a surfing/holiday destination and it didnt take long to catch on.
The Sunsets at Bali are beautiful.
Fishing Boat at Sunset inside Kuta Reef
Surfing at Uluwatu
Unknown Surfer Uluwatu 1977
Uluwatu Line up.
Ulwatu Line Up 1977
The Balinese men were very serious about their Cockfighting.
Man with his Rooster
The Sunrises were also beautiful, looking back from the beach at Legion.
Sunrise at Legion
Heavy wave Uluwatu 1977
The friends I was staying with at Legion decided we should go for a day trip to climb up the mountains to the top of this Volcano.
Active Volcano near Batur
The trip started early in the morning and took about 5 hours, it was hot and dry and a bit daunting. I was amazed that about halfway up we met a young boy with a bucket of cold drinks. I think he sold out that day. This is what the inside of an active volcano looks like, and its a long, hot, way down.
Inside the Volcano at Butur
The Surf was good most of the time at Legion, here I managed to get in front of the camera for a change.
Crow surfing at Legian 1977
The hillsides in Bali are well utilised with these Rice Paddy’s.
Bali Rice Fields
I am not sure what these Graffiti artists were thinking, probably not much.
Bali Burial Site
Balinese Ceremony
Balinese Religious Ceremony
The Elephant Cave Ubud
Elephant Cave Ubud
Balinese women in beautiful coloured clothing preparing Rice Dishes.
Balinese women preparing food
A poor blind woman in a small mountain village trying to make a living.
Blind Balinese Woman
I visited New Zealand’s North Island in Summer of 1978. The weather was warm and pleasant and the scenery there is awsome. I hitched around for a week and was picked up by many friendly people and I have always appreciated their kindness. I had a lift with 2 retired farmers who stopped at some wonderful places and they waited till I took photos and they shared their sandwiches and thermos of tea with me. I got a lift with a milkman who stopped and opened up the fridge and gave me a carton of milk. I got a lift with a farmer who when he dropped me off told me to visit his brother who would put me up. I walked down quiet county town streets and people stopped and said hello. I wonder if its still the same there now.
New Zealand Waikato Stream 1978
This lake was completeley deserted, no one around for miles, no houses no shops.
New Zealand North Island inland Lake
A waterfall beside a quiet country road.
New Zealand North Island Waterfall
Rotarua has hot springs and geysers that were something I had never imagined. Here mud bubbles away making Op Art patterns.
Rotarua Mud Bubbles 1978
This Geyser was so cool it was actually blowing smoke rings.
New Zealang Geyser Rotarua blowing smoke rings
The coast was quiet and peacfull and the beaches beautifull and unspoilt. We sure could learn from them.
New Zealand Coastline Raglan 1978
New Zealand’s North Island in January 1978 had excellent surf and good weather as the following photos show. The NZ people were friendly and helpful and made my short stay there a memorable one. Locals picked me up if I was hitching, took me surfing, to the pub and put me up. The beaches were unspoilt and beautiful.
Driving down the road to this point you are welcomed by a view of one of the best set ups you could imagine.
New Zealand 1978 Whale Bay
And it just seemed to get better and better…
New Zealand 1978 Raglan Indicators
Manu Bay had most of the crowd on it but this view was hard to pass.
New Zealand 1978 Manu Bay
The mid week afternoon sessions were popular with the locals but crowds were thin during the day then.
New Zealand 1978 Evening Surf Raglan
A beautiful summers day 1978 at Manu Bay with a local surfer enjoying the conditions.
Surfer New Zealand Manu Bay 1978
And another scenic point break photo with only 3 guys in the water…
New Zealand Raglan 1978