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 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 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
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
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
Redhead Surf Club is a big part of Redhead’s life style and has always had a good 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.
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 winning the beach flags Newcastle championships maybe 1978
Grant Kenny winning at Redhead around 1978
Grant kenny with fans at Redhead beach 1978
Redhead SLSC 70th Reunion
Here are some scenery shots I have taken from around the Redhead area.
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
Rehead to Dudley Coastline 1980's
- 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
Here’s a collection of bits and pieces of surfing related stuff.
Mark Richards, 4 times world surfing champion taking time out to surf a local break.
Martin Littlewood and Roy Lee making boards in the old Chicken Shed down along the Redhead Road around 1976. Both are now established respected board makers. Martin as Delta Designs in Margaret River and Roy as Pacific Dreams in Newcastle.
Windsurfing was big in the 70’s and Jim Wiley was one of the best shown here at Blacksmiths.
This was a big day at Redhead in 2001, the waves were huge and some of the local guys were ripping. Unknown surfer.
Unknown surfer Redhead Beach July 2001
A classic line up at Byron Bay in the late 70’s
Bells Beach Surfing Competion in 1977. The surf was good and big for the finals. Sorry I can’t remember who it was.
Another good line up – Newcastle Cowrie Hole in 1978.
Out of control storm in June 2007 making a mess of Redhead beach. The storm grounded the Pascha Bulker at Nobby’s the day before.
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 Redhead early 70’s
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.
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.
Redhead Boardriders Club was very competetive and usually 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