June Storm 2011

Another big June storm hit just north of Newcastle and we got the tail end of it’s fury.

Merewether Baths coping a flogging 14th June 2011.

Merewether in storm 14-6-11

Redhead beach on a dark on a stormy night.

Redhead in storm 14-6-11

2 Days before the storm was just building, Redhead Beach the surf is starting to get bumpy.

: Redhead Beach 12-6-11

Newcastle Foreshore. A lot of country towns have a big thing like a big banana or a big pinapple, Newcastle just has a big thingy.

Newcastle Ferry Wharf 14-6-11

Redhead 2nd Creek walkway between rain squalls.

Redhead 2nd Creek Walkway 11-6-11

A walk along the Redhead 2nd Creek walkway between rain storms, and I found the fairies had been busy in their Dell.

Fairy Dell Redhead 2nd Creek 11-6-11

Another look at this wave… I found 2 hell men deep inside trying to get out through the lip.

Redhead Heavy wave 4-6-11

Newcastle Beach mid week mid day.

Newcastle surfer 3-6-11

Redhead Bluff showing off it colour on sunset.

Redhead Bluff 9-6-11

This gnarled Banksia tree above the bright red soil has been doing it tough for a while.

Redhead Bluff 13-6-11

Going for a paddle around Swansea Channel, you see some nice sights.

Pelicans Swansea Channel 4-6-11

Redhead and Blacksmiths surf June 4th 2011

The swell jacked up for Saturday morning and there were some gnarly waves at Redhead and some hot surfing. Blackies was going off too.

Redhead 4-6-11

Redhead shark tower left 4-6-11

The paddle out was a bit hairy.

Redhead paddle out 4-6-11

There were some great surfers out.

Redhead surfer1 4-6-11

Redhead surfer2 4-6-11

Redhead surfer3 4-6-11

Redhead surfer4 4-6-11

Redhead surfer5 4-6-11

Redhead surfer6 4-6-11

Blacksmiths was pumping off the Breakwater too.

Blacksmiths 4-6-11

Blacksmiths Surfer 4-6-11

June 2011

I met young photographer Sam Glohe at Blacksmiths last Sunday when I was going out for a paddle. Sam took some water shots in the solid closing out but sunny conditions and his photos are awsome.

Check his site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samglohe/

Here is some of his stuff -

Blacksmiths by Sam Glohe

Closed Curtain by Sam Glohe

Pulled Back by Sam Glohe

Stringy by Sam Glohe

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Redhead local Bodyboarder John early April 2011 morning Redhead Little Beach.

Redhead bodyboarder John 2-4-11

Blacksmiths SUP Surfer Rick 14th May 2011

Rick Blacksmiths Beach May 2011

Newcastle Beach mid week May 2011

Newcastle Beach May 2011

Overlooking Newcastle May 2011

Overlooking Newcastle 1st May 2011

Surfer at Redhead Easter Friday April 2011

Redhead surfer 22-4-11

Surfer Newcastle 3rd June 2011

Newcastle surfer 3-6-11

Another Newcastle surfer 3-6-11

Newcastle surfer 3-6-11

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

Surfing in the 70′s Redhead area

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.

Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, Angels, Jimmy and the Boys

Cold Chisel first came up to Newcastle in the late 1970’s and played at the local southern pubs and clubs the Orana, Belmont Sporties, Mawson, Swansea Workers and went on to bigger things quick. They always played their guts out and got a big Newcastle following. great guys too. Ian Moss wowed us with guitar, Jimmy Barnes revved the crowds, Don Walker’s songs made us listen and the beat was held by Phil and Steve.

Ian Moss at Belmont Sporties

Jimmy Barnes at Cardiff Workers early 80′s

Here is a rare view of Don Walker as he was always behind the keyboards.

Don Walker loosens up at Belmont Sporties 1980

In the late 70’s and early 80’s Cold Chisel regularly visited around Newcastle and we always had a good night when they played.

Cold Chisel Group Shot Belmont Sporties 1980

Another hard working band, The Angels always kept the crowd on their feet hooting, with Doc bouncing around and the guitars riffing.

Doc Neeson from The Angels at the Mawson

Midnight Oil played at the Mawson in the late 70’s and were awsome. Peter Garret had the audience hooting.

Jimmy and the boys were outrageous and played great stuff. Ignatious was a showman and always up to mischief to say the least. Rumours were he left a lot of gigs in the roadies gear boxes. Here at he Belmont Sporties I had no idea what he was going to do next.

Jimmy and the Boys – Ignatious Jones

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

Cold Chisel Photos Newcastle 1978

Cold Chisel toured Newcastle constantly making Newcastle a Chisel stronghold. The music suited our town’s working class fans and were always great shows.

After another great gig at the Mawson, Don Walker gets to sit down and relax and takes the jar going around. Don was always thinking… and well, just maybe he comes up with inspiration and the first words for a new song (Cheap Wine).