19th August 2011 Redhead Surf

Redhead Lovely arvo 18/8/11 and a few good waves and some good surfers out.

Redhead Surfer 18/8/11

Redhead surfer 18-08-11 1

Redhead surfer 18/8/11

Redhead surfer 18-08-11 8

Redhead surfers 18/8/11

Redhead surfers 18-08-11 5

Redhead Bluff with the late arvo sun showing out its colour.

Redhead Bluff 18-08-11

But it went pearshaped Friday arvo 19/8/11 a strong front hit wiping the surf out for the weekend.

Storm coming 19/8/11

Redhead beach storm 19-08-11

Bad moon rising 19/8/11 Storm clouds on the way

Redhead stormy sky 19-09-11

Boys at the Barby for TR’s 21st Crows Garage 1980

Crows Garage party 1977

Sidewinder cranking at the Mawson 1978 – Great Band!!

Sidewinder Mawson 1978

Chambers of Horror Newcastle Show 1979

Newcastle Show Chambers of Horror 1979

Peaceful Byron Bay early morning 1979

Bryon Bay 1980

Scenery from around Redhead Beach

Cloud Wave at Redhead Beach – A southerly buster on the way around 1984. I took this and then headed for cover. The cloud looked like an enormous right hander.

Cloud Wave – Storm approaching Redhead Beach 1984

Jewells Swamp – Solarisation 1978. I tried to make the trees growing out of the swamp look a bit spooky by reversing the developing process – called Solarization. Actually I just switched the light on in the dark room when the photo started developing and all the light bits went black.

The Cliffs from Redhead to Dudley and the rock platform below are well worth a look. Access is from the Goat Track at Redhead Bluff. Wild flowers are everywhere along the top in Spring and there are a variety of interesting rock formations down below.

Rehead to Dudley Coastline 1980′s

This close up of the tree roots of a Paper Bark tree along the Redhead to Dudley Bluff Tops had some scary features. Maybe its just me that sees them.

Redhead Shark Tower in the June 2007 Storm. The wind, waves and rain whipped up a creamy froth that covered the beach.

The history of surfboards - A collection of all types of surfboards, gathered together for a photo shoot at Redhead Beach before being shown at the Surf Expo in the 1980’s.

A popular event on the beach in the 1980’s was the Beach Girl Contest as shown here at Redhead Beach.

Redhead Beach

Redhead Beach at night – Time exposure taken around 1984.

: Redhead Beach by Moonlight 1984

Another photo from the same night as above – The rocks in front of the Redhead Shark Tower. The movement of the water over time has made it appear like clouds.

Redhead Beach in the 1940’s – Details of photo unknown.

Time exposure overlooking Redhead beach with a full moon rising in 1976.

Redhead Beach by Moonlight 1976

Redhead 2nd Creek – June 2007 Storm.

The Pascha Bulker grounded at Nobbys and Redhead’s Second Creek finally got enough water to break its banks and flow again. A rare thing since the 3rd Creek was created and diverted the water flow.

Redhead Beach 2nd Creek June 2007 Storm

Redhead Surfers 1970′s

Surfing at Redhead

I started surfing at Redhead in 1963. Redhead was always a great place to surf with good surfers. Somehow I found time to take some photos along the way.

Col Smith was Redhead’s best surfer and in the 70’s and 80’s became respected for his surfing world wide.

Col Smith Channel Boards he took to Hawaii

Col Smith the day before heading to Hawaii with his new channel boards made by Shane, shaped by Jim Pollard. Col went well in Hawaii in 1976 winning the Pro AM and places in all other events including 4th at Pipe.

Col Smith surfing next to the Shark Tower at Redhead about 1976.

Col Smith in his shaping Bay making Channel Boards

Col started making his own harder edged Channels in his Dad’s Shed that he and Martin Littlewood from Delta Designs worked out. This one was my 6?5? single fin.

Martin Littlewood was another good Redhead surfer in the 70’s shown here at Redhead Beach. Martin has been making surfboards since then and is now over at Margaret River WA making all kinds of surf boards under the name Delta Designs.

Martin Littlewood Redhead Beach 1976

Peter Kuba was another good surfer from Redhead shown here in a nice tube same day as the photo above.

Peter Kuba surfing at Redhead 1976

Here is Col Smith again in an excellent position, making getting a good photo easy. These lefts next to the Redhead Shark Tower were solid this day in 1976.

Col Smith Redhead Beach 1976

Redhead Boardriders Club was very competetive and finished 2nd to Merewether in the Newcastle area teams comps, having a great surfer like Col Smith helped. This team photo after a club competition was held at Col’s place and all members were having a good time as usual.

Redhead Board Club 1976

Bits and Pieces

Newcastle has a few favourite sons – MR, The Chief, Joey, Hoyo etc, but everybody’s favourite Newcastle identity is this bloke – Super Hubert. Internationally acclaimed magician, super hero, entertainer, comic and all round nice bloke, who still finds time to make kids and adults laugh and amaze them with his tricks and antics. Super puts on a show for my son’s 6th birthday party 1994.

Super Hubert performs at a kids birthday party in 1994

Super Hubert performs at Sams 6th birthday party in 1994

A peaceful scene – an elderly couple take in the view overlooking Terrigal Haven around 1983.

An elderly couple take in the view at Terrigal Haven 1983

A big swell overnight cleaned up and swung in early morning at Redhead

Big left behind Rdehead Shark Tower 1979

Big left behind Redhead Shark Tower 1979

In the pouring rain this pelican just opened up his beak and got a free drink of fresh cool water at North Haven.

A pelican takes a drink of rainwater at North Haven around 1988

A flight in a friends Cessna over Lake Macquarie was an absolute eye opener. Looking over Swansea Channel around 1979.

Swansea Channel from the air 1978.

A trip out in the Newcastle Shark Boat got 3 hammerheads out of the water this day around 1978.

Hammer Head Shark pulled out of the shark nets around 1978

A country coastal dirt road may lead you to an uncrowded wave. If it didnt, it was nice to look around anyway and maybe just have a swim. Somewhere up the coast around Coffs Harbour 1978.

Country Road North Coast around Coffs Harbour 1978

Surfing at Redhead around 1976

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.

Rehead Shark Tower Lefts after a rain storm around 1980

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 Rehead in local comp around 1978

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

New Zealand Scenery 1979

I visited New Zealand’s North Island in Summer of 1979. 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 1979

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 1979

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 1979

Redhead Surf Club in the 1970′s

Redhead Surf Club is a big part of Redhead’s life style and has always had a great crowd.

Redhead Beach on a crowded summer day showing Redhead surf club around 1978.

Redhead Beach in Summer 1978

The annual Redhead verses Swansea-Belmont touch footy comp presentation had all those present bemused, when PJ impersonating a female dignitary presented the losing captain of Swansea-Belmont with this Lumsdon Cartoon. A very funny moment is captured here and a good arvo was had by all.

Redhead SLSC Touch Footy presentation

The NSW Championships, held down at Woolongong around 1978 had the bus load of Redhead members celebrating big time after Peter Bale won the state flags. This picture shows all members were happy with the result. The ride home was very lively to say the least.

Redhead Surf Club Members NSW Championships 1978

The Redhead Boat crew were a fit lot and enjoyed their sport. Shown here cruising down a nice wave at Redhead around 1978.

Redhead Boat Crew 1978

Peter Bale shown here winning the Newcastle Flags at Blacksmiths Beach.

Peter Bale winning the beach flags Newcastle championships maybe 1978

Peter Bale winning the beach flags Newcastle in 1978

Grant Kenny was a convincing winner shown here already on the beach.

Grant Kenny winning at Redhead around 1978

Grant proved a popular draw card and was surrounded by fans and he graciously did some autographs on the way up the beach.

Grant kenny with fans at Redhead beach 1978

The Redhead Annual Surf Club Reunion nights are always big nights. Here the 70th had a good crowd of old mates.

Redhead SLSC 70th Reunion

Up the Coast

Angourie 1978 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

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 baulked 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.

Bells Beach 1977 Rory Russell the other Mr Pipeline

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

On Big Brother Mountain over looking Laurieton and Camden Haven.

View of Laurieton 1983

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

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

Old Photos from Redhead & Elsewere

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

Redhead Beach from the Bluff 1977

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

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

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

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.