Redhead regular and a real nice bloke, Glen “Lenny” Folkard was attacked and bitten by a shark surfing at Redhead Wednesday afternoon 18/1/2011. With him keeping a cool head and the gutsy efforts of the guys in the water, he was brought in quickly. The Lifeguards and luckily some paramedics were there to help slow the blood loss and with the Ambulance’s speedy attention he is recovering in hospital from some large gashes.
The guys who helped should get unlimited waves from now on. Many thanks to Nathan, Steve, Tony and Danny and any others who were there and helped.
From all the Redhead guys, we wish Lenny all the best in his recovery and hope he can put it behind him. Did it rattle us? Yes … eveyone’s talking about it and going back out in the water very warily. This is the first shark attack since the 1930′s at Redhead, so the odd’s were big considering how many people have gone into the water in over 80 years. But we know they are out there. Fifty sharks were sighted that day between Blacksmiths and Newcastle from the air.
Steve Butterworth and Col Smith with Jim Pollard Channel Boards at Redhead 1978. This photo appeared in Sea Notes Magazine in 1978 .
Steve & Col Sea Notes Mag 1978
Surfhouse Surf Shop top of town Newcastle. A great place to browse for surf related gifts and a range of local surf photography to hang on your wall.
Surfhouse Surfshop Newcastle
Redhead Little Beach 27-09-11
Colourful Sunset Redhead 10/1/2012
Redhead Sunset 10-01-12
Newcastle Harbour and Nobbys Headland 12/11/2011
Newcastle Harbour and Nobbys
Herron looking for a feed Belmont South 14/1/2011
Herron Belmont South 14-01-12
Swans in Belmont South Bay 14/1/12
Swans Belmont Bay 14-01-12
Redhead beach 26/12/11 boxing day morning
Redhead Beach 26-12-11
Redhead beach 26/12/11 close out set.
Redhead close out set 26-12-11
Redhead surfer 26/12/11
Redhead Surfer 26-12-11
Redhead Beach 27/12/11
Redhead Beach 27-12-11
Redhead Shark Tower 29/12/11 – Sun on the water.
I was thinking of the beautiful song by Kirsty MacColl -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDzYqJs5HMM
Redhead Beach 29-12-11 Sun on the water
Redhead Beach 29/12/11 Lone swimmer.
Redhead Lone Swimmer 29-12-11
Black Neds Bay wildlife 8/12/11 The neighbours have a big mean pets
Black Neds Bay Crocodile 8-12-11
Black Neds Bay Ducks 8/12/11
Black Neds Bay Ducks 8-12-11
All the best wishes for the new year.
Redhead 20/11/11 Early morning sea fog during Redhead SLSC Proficiency.
Redhead sea mist 20-11-11
Saturday 26/11/11 The wind started as onshore then swung offshore and cleaned up the surf. Redhead lineup.
Redhead surf 26-11-11
Redhead surfer dogging thru behind the tower.
Redhead surfer 1 26-11-11
Redhead Surfer inside a nice left
Redhead surfer 26-11-11
Redhead body boarder on a nice clean one.
Redhead Bodyboarder 26-11-11
Redhead surfer on one starting to wall up.
Redhead surfer 3 26-11-11
Monday 5/12/11
A week of rain pushed lots of fresh water out to sea, then a raging southerly whipped it up to make some serious froth. Redhead shark tower.
Redhead foam 1 5-12-11
The foam was pushed into the Redhead Bluff painting it white.
Redhead foam 2 5-12-11
A close up of the thick goo whipped up by wind on fresh water, maybe with some additives the compliments of 20th century living.
Redhead foam 3 5-12-11
Blacksmiths same day the other end of the beach, clean as.
Blacksmiths 5-12-11
Blacksmiths, minutes later than the sunny shot above, a rain cloud parts and sun shines through onto the water.
Blacksmiths sun through clouds 5-12-11
A cloudy Saturday morning, but the clouds were a little bit fancy. Redhead Saturday 12/11/2011.
Redhead Beach Clouds 30-10-11
Early Sunday Morning 30/10/11 Redhead surf check showed an overcast day coming, but within seconds the sun seared a hole in the clouds and it came out sunny.
Redhead Beach sunrise 12-11-11
Redhead Surf 6/11/2011
Redhead surf 6-11-11
Redhead boardriders comp 5/11/2011
Redhead Boardriders comp 5-11-11
Nobbys Beach 12/11/2011 a fully loaded ship exits the harbour while kite surfers have a ball in the stiff North Easter and clear water.
Nobbys Ship & Kiteboards 12-11-11
Newcastle Harbour 12/11/11. 3 tugs make their way back home after pushing another loaded ship out to sea.
Newcastle Tugs 12-11-11
Nobbys Beach 12/11/11. A very idyllic Beach Volleyball competition venue.
Nobbys Beach Volleyball 12-11-11
Sandy’s Chooks. 3 Broody chooks, on strike having a sit in November 2011.
3 broody chooks 30-10-11
Black Ned’s Bay at Swansea is a picturesque place to go for a paddle. The wind was stiff from the east and no beaches were worth a look for a surf but, a paddle out here on a SUP, or anything that paddles can make up for that. It is quiet beautiful protected and there is lots to look at. Best go at high tide as the bottom has some sharp oyster shells on the Mangrove roots. I had a paddle here a month or so ago and a pelican came flying toward me, landed not 10 foot from me and grabbed a fish, I though – I wish I had a camera on me so I came prepared today.
Black Ned’s Bay entrance from Swansea Channel
Black Neds Bay entrance 27-10-11
Pelicans on a sand spit at Black Ned’s Bay
Black Neds Bay Pelicans on sandspit 27-10-11
Boats moored at the entrance
Black Neds Bay Boats 27-10-11
There are lots of islands to explore
Black Neds Bay Islands 27-10-11
The mangrove trees reflect into the glassy water
Black Neds Bay Mangrove reflections 27-10-11
A Ski paddler comes the other way, a smile and a wave is common place
Black Neds Bay Ski Paddler 27-10-11
There are lots of pelicans here as the bottom is shallow and they can see their dinner
Black Neds Bay Pelican 27-10-11
The shallow water has some sharp oyster clusters to beware of. I suggest you don’t jump in, maybe wear booties in case
Black Neds Bay the sharp things on the bottom 27-10-11
Another spreading Mangrove tree with its reflection in the water
Black Neds Bay Big Mangrove 27-10-11
I took a run under the Swansea Bridge and I noticed a bloke looking over with interest. I recognised it was Kevin Harman – the Lake Macquarie areas master of all things to do on water and a great bloke, I stopped for a chat. Kevin is an icon in our area having built and ridden surfboards in the 60′s, windsurfed in the 80′s then became the World Champ Masters ski paddler as well as winning Aussie State and Branch titles.
Kevin Harman at Swansea Bridge 27-10-11
Dudley Beach 25/6/11
Dudley Beach 25-6-11
Newcastle Big winter swell 13/7/11
Newcastle Beach Big and cold 13-7-11
Newcastle Harbour Tug 14/6/11
Newcastle Harbour Tug 14-6-11
Blacksmiths Surfer 4/6/11
Blacksmiths Surfer 4-6-11
Redhead surfer 4/6/11
Redhead Surfer 4-6-11
Redhead Surfer 2 4/6/11
Redhead Surfer 2 4-6-11
Newcastle Beach Big surf close up 14/7/11
Newcastle Beach big surf close up 14-7-11
Redhead Bluff up close 10/6/11
Redhead Bluff 10-6-11
Redhead Beach early morning right hander 14/10/11
Redhead Beach early morning right hander 14-10-11
Saturday morning 22/10/11 around 7:30 am.
The surf was very ordinary at 2 foot with a light onshore starting up, but it was the best place to be to watch the local dolphins throw a party. Dozens of dolphins gathered just outside the break in what appeared to be an introduction of the new young calves to the extended dolphin clan. The young ones were accompanied by adults as they cruised around and around, meanwhile the young adults cavorted further out getting some serious air. They threw some awsome stale fish moves but without grabbing a rail. They stayed for almost an hour in the same area while the few surfers out watched in awe a few metres away.
Another weekend of torential rain, at least the footy finals are on.
2/10/11 Another Sunday surf check you don’t get out of the car for.
Redhead Beach bad weather 2-10-11
Saturday early Redhead surfer 1/10/11
Redhead surfer 1-10-11
Redhead Surf 1/10/11 A left from behind the shark tower.
Redhead surf 2 1-10-11
Redhead Surf 1/10/11 A right down the beach a bit.
Redhead surf 1-10-11
The swell jumped up quick and this one had the guys scrambling for cover.
Redhead surf 3 1-10-11
Jimmy Lewis HP98
Jimmy Lewis HP98
Behind the scences at the beach girl contest Rehead 1985
Redhead Beach Beauty contest 1985
Arial view from out of a Cessna Redhead Beach around 1978
Arial view Redhead Beach 1988
A 2 headed choock? No just a fluke photo – 2 of Sandy’s chooks 1/10/11
2 headed chook 1-10-11
Sunday morning cold wet and windy. Didn’t get out of the car. Redhead Beach wet and windy Sunday 25/9/11.
Redhead Rainy day 25-09-11
The wind was gale force from the West/South West Redhead Beach 20/9/11
Redhead windy day 20-09-11
Redhead Little Beach surfer 27/9/11
Redhead surfer 27-09-11
Redhead Little Beach Body Boarder 27/9/11
Redhead Body Boarder 27-09-11
Blacksmiths Surfer 27/9/11
Blacksmiths Surfer 27-09-11
Marks Point 2011 Boxing Day drew a large crowd of picnicers, boaters and fishermen on a day made for it.
Pelican Boating Jan2 2011
Fishing at Pelican Boxing Day 2011
Pelican Fishing Jan 2 2011
Moth Sailing Championships at Belmont 16 Footers club January 2011. The Moth sailing boats have a winged keel that lifts it out of the water as it gathers speed, so they just glide though the water with no drag.
Moth sailing Lake Macquarie 3 Jan 2011
Moth Racing Lake Macquarie Jan 2011
Mayfield Pool 1988 at 6AM Arnold’s swim squad early morning training. If you want to be a champion swimmer you have to do the hard yards. A young Justin Norris was in amongst this squad of young swimmers.
Mayfield Pool 1998 Arnold's swim team
Redhead Saturday cold change and the swell and the wind came up quick.
Redhead Beach rough surf 10-09-11
Redhead Beach looking nice Friday arvo 9/9/11
Redhead Beach 09-09-11 9
Redhead surfer Saturday 27/9/11
Redhead Surfer 27-09-11
Redhead Boardriders Comp Saturday 3/9/11
Redhead Boardriders Comp 03-09-11
Redhead lineup Saturday 3/9/11
Redhead Surf 03-09-11
Redhead 1st Creek
Redhead First Creek 09-09-11
Redhead Surfer 4/9/11 Fathers day
Redhead Surfer 04-09-11
Close up Redhead cliff 9/9/11
Redhead Bluff 09-09-11
My son Sam got back from Europe and managed to take in some of the scenery. Greek Isles August 2011
Greek Isles August 2011
Running with the Bulls Barcelona August 2011
Running with the Bulls Barcelona 2011
Bull Fighting in the Stadium at Barcelona – yep some Newi boys jumped in.
Bull Fighting Barcelona 2011
Spray Can Artist at work in the shop front of Mystery Ink Newcastle.
Newcastle Spray Paint Artist at work 26-08-11
The days are getting warmer and its starting to look like summer already. Late afternoon Redhead 25/8/11. A few different peaks showing up.
Redhead surfer surfing the right across the back of the Shark Tower.
Redhead surfer 25-08-11 1
Redhead Surfer on the right on the big Beach.
Redhead surfer 25-08-11 2
Redhead surfer on the left just past the Shark Tower
Redhead surfer 25-08-11 3
Redhead surf Club 25/8/11
Redhead Surf Club 25-08-11
The statue overlooking Newcastle Beach. James Fletcher 1834-1891. A Newcastle man worthy of the view, a mine manager that valued his workers, a politician that fought for workers rights and owner of the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate.
James Fletcher Statue Newcastle 22-08-11
Belmont 16 Footers Sailing Race Sunday 21/8/11. The wind was strong from the east, doing someone at least some good.
Belmont 16s Race 21-08-11
Redhead Shark Tower Rocks 22/08/11
Redhead Shark Tower Rocks 22-08-11
Pigs grazing in the front garden NZ 1977.
Pigs in the garden NZ 1977
Steve Butterworth showing his tube riding skill with smooth style at Redhead 1980.
Steve Butterworth Redhead 1980
The top end of Newcastle. Looking down Watt Street, over the Hunter River to Stockton Beach – 2 water views.
Watt St Newcastle 22-08-11