21st October 2011

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

Dudley Beach 25/6/11

Dudley Beach 25-6-11

Newcastle Big winter swell 13/7/11

Newcastle 13-7-11

Newcastle Harbour Tug 14/6/11

Newcastle Tug 14-6-11

Blacksmiths Surfer 4/6/11

Blacksmiths 4-6-11

Redhead surfer on a solid swell 4/6/11

Redhead surfer9 4-6-11

Redhead Surfer 2 4/6/11

Redhead surfer13 4-6-11

Newcastle Beach Big surf close up 14/7/11

Newcastle Beach big surf 14-7-11

Redhead Bluff up close 10/6/2011

Redhead Bluff 10-6-11

Redhead Beach early morning right hander 14/10/11

Redhead right 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. Sorry no pictures I was just out in the surf amazed.

26th October 2011

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

Redhead Beach early morning 25/10/11

Redhead Beach 25-10-11

Redhead bluff 25-10-11

Redhead Bluff 25-10-11

Redhead surfer Mark Hancock 24/10/11

Redhead beach Mark Hancock 24-10-11

Redhead Boardriders Club Contest 8/10/11

Redhead Boardriders 08-10-11

Galahs in the dunes Redhead 16/10/11 Real ones for a change.

Redhead Galahs 16-10-11

Redhead 24/10/11 Early next morning the Beach Cleaner clears away the traces of a busy Sunday.

Redhead Beach cleaner 24-10-11

Redhead Bodyboarder on the wave of the day 8/10/11

Redhead body boarder 08-10-11

Redhead surfer 24/10/11

Redhead surfer 24-10-11

Redhead 26/10/11 The usually clean surf was “muddied” up by quick upwelling southerly swell, the water was brown and grody to the max.Redhead dirty surf 26-10-11

Redhead dirty surf 26-10-11

Redhead dirty surf 2 26-10-11

Black Neds Bay October 2011

Posted on November 15, 2012 by geoffcrow

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

Black Neds Bay enty 27-10-11

Black Neds Bay Boats 27-10-11

Black Neds Bay 34 27-10-11

There are lots of islands to explore. Black Neds Bay Islands 27-10-11

Black Neds Bay 1 27-10-11

The mangrove trees reflect into the glassy water

Black Neds Bay Mangrove reflections 27-10-11

Black Neds Bay Mangroves 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

Black Neds Bay Ski Paddler

There are lots of pelicans here as the bottom is shallow and they can see their dinner

Black Neds Bay Pelican 27-10-11

Black Neds Bay Pelican 8 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

Black Neds Bay oyster shells 27-10-11

Another spreading Mangrove tree with its reflection in the water

Black Neds Bay Big Mangrove 27-10-11

Black Neds Bay Mangrove Tree

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

Kevin Harman Swansea 27-10

Photos taken around Newcastle

Posted on November 12, 2012 by geoffcrow

Dweezil Zappa, son of Frank, brought his dad’s music to life again in Newcastle at the great Civic Theatre in April 2009. Dweezil played amazing guitar. I saw Frank Zappa play back in 1972 and 1974, awsome. He had guest Norman Gunston (actor Gary MacDonald) play a harmonica solo. Here Dweezil rips out another guitar solo, this one was from the song Montana. My daughter Ellen took this picture.

Dweezil Zappa plays at Newcastle Civic Theatre 2009

Mark Richards gouges a cutback on his twin fin at Leggy Point around 1977, classic style.

Mark Richards Leggy 1977

Midnight Oil’s Peter Garrett on keyboards and guitarist Jim Mogine on guitar playing at the Mawson Hotel at Caves Beach in 1977. Awsome night. Not long after they were packing the places out wherever they played.

Midnight Oil 1977 Garrett & Mogine Mawson Hotel 1977

Midnight Oil 1977 Garrett & Mogine

Looking back up from Redhead beach to where I was living in 1975 . Before the tar car park, the grassy hill and the real big houses.

Landscape above Redhead Beach in 1975

Above Redhead Beach in 1975

Crow & Bird and Bridgette my Curly Coated Retriever in 1977 on the verandah.

Crow and Bird and Bridgette 1977

Crow and Bir

Martin Littlewood cranks a turn windsurfing Blacksmiths around 1978.

Martin Windsurfing 1977

Redhead’s Col Smith around 1979 in his shaping bay with Channel bottom boards.

Col Smith Shaping Channels

Redhead Bluff 2010

Posted on November 12, 2012 by geoffcrow

A close inspection of Redhead Bluff (not too close, there’s rocks falling off – like in Billy the Mountain) shows a Tubular Section in it, recent rain has done some corrosive damage and has hollowed out a literally tubular gnarly slab.Redhead Cliff with wave June 2010

Redhead Cliff with wave 14-06-10

A solid swell pumped through on the last Sunday of May 2010 and the wind held them up. Unknown surfer behind the Redhead Shark Tower.

Redhead surfer May-201

An email from Julie and Shayne advised me of the surfing footage from the 70’s taken from the movie Fantasea, of Col Smith and also Steve Butterworth is on Youtube site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38YzceIQAtE

Not somewhere in Europe – Hunter Valley Gardens in Cessnock’s wine country, a lot of very nice different types of gardens, very well put together. Hunter Valley Gardens 2009

Hunter Valley Gardens 2010

Catherine Hill Bay in 1975. Catho hasn’t changed much in 35 years – lets hope it stays that way. Catherine Hill Bay Township 1975

Catherine Hill Bay 1975

Lou Reed at the Majestic Newcastle Civic Theatre around 1978. Lou had a great band and played great guitar and had the crowd on their feet.

Lou Reed Civic Theatre Newcastle 1978

Lou Reed Civic Theatre

Justin Lee, one of the most consistant long term surfers from the Lake Macquarie Beaches on a VERY solid day at Dudley September 2009. Photo by Geoff Connors. Justin Lee surfing at Dudley September 2009

Justin Lee at Dudley Sept 2009

The Redhead Surf Crew celebrate Gilly’s Graduation around 1978.

Gillys Graduation

Up the Coast

Posted on November 12, 2012 by geoffcrow

Angourie 1978 4 guys out.

Angourie 1977

Arrawarra 1977

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 Bay 2010 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

Bells Beach Rory Russell 1977

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

Nobbys old power station 1977

On Big Brother Mountain over looking Laurieton and Camden Haven 1983

Laurieton View 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.

Doc Neeson Mawson Hotel 1977

Redhead Surf Club in the 1970’s

Posted on November 12, 2012 by geoffcrow

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 1980

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.

Redhead Swansea surf Club 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 Bus Trip NSW Championships 1978

Redhead SLSC at 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 Surf Boat Crew 1977

Peter Bale shown here winning the Newcastle Flags at Blacksmiths Beach 1978

Peter Bale Newcastle Beach Flags

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

Grant Kenny winning at Redhead around 1978

Grant Kenny Winner Redhead

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

Grant Kenny and Fans Redhead

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

Redhead SLSC 70th Reunion

New Zealand Scenery 1979

Posted on November 12, 2012 by geoffcrow

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 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

New Zealand Stream

New Zealand North Island inland Lake. This lake was completeley deserted, no one around for miles, no houses no shops.

New Zealand Lake

New Zealand North Island Waterfall beside a quiet country road.

New Zealand Waterfall

Rotarua has hot springs and geysers that were something I had never imagined. Here mud bubbles away making Op Art patterns like a slide projection backdrop at a Greatful Dead concert.

New Zealand Mud Bubbles

New Zealang Geyser Rotarua. This Geyser was so cool it was actually blowing smoke rings.

New Zealand Geyzer

New Zealand Coastline Raglan 1979. The coast was quiet and peacful and the beaches beautiful and unspoilt. We sure could learn from them.

New Zealand Raglan

Bali 1977 Surf and Scenery

Posted on November 12, 2012 by geoffcrow

In 1977 Bali was just being discovered as a surfing/holiday destination and it did not take long to catch on.

The Sunsets in Bali are beautiful. Fishing Boat at Sunset inside Kuta Reef 1977

Bali Boat at sunsut 1977

Surfing at Uluwatu. Unknown Surfer Uluwatu 1977. Uluwatu had some sections in it that day, so I was glad to come in and take some photos. The surf got better with the tide coming in. Take note don’t surf here at low tide.

Bali surfer at Uluwatu 1977

Bali 1977 surfer at Uluwatu

The Balinese men were very serious about their Cockfighting.

Bali 1977 Man with Rooster

The Sunrises were also beautiful, looking back from the beach at Legion.

Bali Legion Sunrise 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 active Volcano near Batur.

Bali Volcano 1977

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

Bali Volcano Crater

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

Bali 1977 Crow surfing at Legian

The hillsides in Bali are well utilised with these Rice Paddy’s.

Bali Rice Fields 197

I am not sure what these Graffiti artists were thinking, probably not much.

Bali Burial Site 1977

Balinese Reigious Ceremony 1977

Bali Ceremony 1977

The Elephant Cave Ubud

Bali Elephant Cave 1977

Balinese women in beautiful coloured clothing preparing Rice Dishes.

Bali Preparing Food

A poor blind woman in a small mountain village trying to make a living.

Bali Beggar Woman

Surfing at Redhead around 1976

Posted on November 12, 2012 by geoffcrow

Redhead surfer 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.

Redhead Board Factory 1976

Martin Littlewood (Delta Designs) and Roy Lee (Pacific Dreams) making surfboards in the Chicken Shack Surfboard Factory at Redhead 1976.

Martin & Roy chickenshack 1977

Steven Butterworth 1978. Seve was a local at Redhead and got the hang of the lefts on offer.

Steve Butterworth at Redhead 1978

A trip up the coast mid week scored nice waves with only a few out at Scotts Head around 1978.

Scotts Head 1976

Redhead Shark Tower surf 1986. 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 he tower day with the right conditions.