25th August 2011

The days are getting warmer and it’s 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- surfer1 25-08-11

Redhead- surfer1 25-08-11

25/8/2011 Redhead Surfer on the right on the big Beach. Redhead surfer 25-08-11 2

Redhead surfer 25-08-11

Redhead surfer 25-08-11

Redhead surfer on the left just past the Shark Tower Redhead surfer 25-08-11 3

Redhead surfer3 25-08-11

Redhead surfer3 25-08-11

Redhead surf Club 25/8/11

Redhead Surf club 25-08-11

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

James Fletcher Statue Newcastle

James Fletcher Statue Newcastle

Belmont 16 Footers Sailing Race Sunday 21/8/11. The wind was strong from the east, doing someone some good.

Belmont 16s Race 21-08-11

Belmont 16s Race 21-08-11

Redhead Shark Tower Rocks 22/08/11

Shark Tower Rocks 22-08-11

Shark Tower Rocks 22-08-11

Pigs grazing in the front garden NZ 1977.

NZ Pigs 1977

NZ Pigs 1977

Steve Butterworth 1980 at Redhead Beach showing his tube riding skill with smooth style.

Steve Butterworth 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

Watt St Newcastle 22-08-11

Watt St Newcastle 22-08-11

 

10th September 2011

Redhead Saturday cold change and the swell and the wind came up quick.

Redhead Beach rough surf 10-09-11

Redhead 10-09-11

Redhead 10-09-11

Redhead Beach looking nice Friday arvo 9/9/11 Redhead Beach 09-09-11 9

Redhead 09-09-11

Redhead 09-09-11

Redhead surfer Saturday 27/9/11

Redhead 27-09-11

Redhead 27-09-11

Redhead Boardriders Comp Saturday 3/9/11 surfer Matt Unwin

Matt Unwin Redhead 03-09-11

Matt Unwin Redhead 03-09-11

Redhead lineup Saturday 3/9/11

Redhead Beach 03-09-11

Redhead Beach 03-09-11

Redhead First Creek 09-09-11

Redhead 1st Creek 09-09-11

Redhead 1st Creek 09-09-11

Redhead Surfer 4/9/11 Fathers day

Redhead surfer 04-09-11

Redhead surfer 04-09-11

Close up Redhead cliff 9/9/11

Redhead Bluff 09-09-11

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 2011

Greek-Isles 2011

Bull Fighting in the Stadium at Barcelona August 2011 – yep some of the Newcastle boys jumped in.

Bull Fight Barcelona 2011

Bull Fight Barcelona 2011

26/08/2011  Spray Can Artist at work in a shop front Newcastle.

Spray Paint Artist at work 26-08-11

Spray Paint Artist at work 26-08-11

Surfing at Redhead 17th September 2011

Redhead surf early Saturday morning 17/9/11 looking nice and clean. The crowd were  sitting too far in for this one and it escaped unridden. Redhead empty wave 17-09-11

Redhead Unridden set 17-09-11

Redhead Unridden set 17-09-11

Redhead surfer early saturday morning 17/9/11 on a clean long wall.

Redhead surfer17-09-11

Redhead surfer17-09-11

Then the wind came up and the crowd came out and this  scene resembles a Michael Bell Dogbeach painting. Redhead crowded surf 17-09-11

Redhead surf 17-09-11

Redhead surf 17-09-11

Redhead surfer bashing a lip Saturday 17/9/11

Redhead Surfer 17-09-11

Redhead Surfer 17-09-11

John Purnell Redhead-Dudley surfer now up Nambucca way sent down some pics of  his latest creations. Hand made Paulownia wood hollow chambered, no glass just  bees wax/oil finishes. A labour of love as they take weeks to make.

John Purnell Paulownia Board Kiri Chambered Paulownia wood surfboard Kiri 6’5″.

John Purnell Wooden surfboard

John Purnell Wooden surfboard

John Purnell in a smooth arc cutback on the Paulownia Kiri his Paulownia wood hand made board 26.07.11

John Purnell surfing Paulownia board

John Purnell surfing Paulownia board

John Purnell’s son Ryan with his Paulownia Mado Keel Fish

John Purnell Mado Fish

John Purnell Mado Fish

This is my Hollow Ply wood 1950’s home made Kook Box with marine varnish finish. The term kookbox  came from when in 1956 Popular Mechanics magazine published plans and  instructions on how to make your own  hollow plywood surfboard and  then the surf craze boomed. 9ft 6 Ply Kookbox

1950's Ply wood surfboard

1950’s Ply wood surfboard

28th September 2011

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

Redhead Rainy day 25-09-11

Redhead Rainy day 25-09-11

Redhead Beach 20/9/11 The wind was gale force from the West/South West

Redhead windy 20-09-11

Redhead windy 20-09-11

Redhead Little Beach surfer 27/9/11

Redhead surfer 27-09-11

Redhead surfer 27-09-11

Redhead Little Beach Body Boarder 27/9/11

Redhead  Body Boarder 27-09-11

Redhead Body Boarder 27-09-11

Blacksmiths Surfer 27/9/11

Blacksmiths surfer 27-09-11

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

Pelican Boating Jan2 2011

Fishing at Pelican Boxing Day 2011

Pelican Fishing Jan2 2011

Pelican Fishing Jan2 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 Racing Lake Mac Jan 2011

Moth Racing Lake Mac Jan 2011

Moth sailing Lake Macquarie 3 Jan 2011

Moth sailing Lake Mac Jan 2011

Moth sailing Lake Mac 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

Mayfield Pool 1998 Arnolds swim team

Mayfield Pool 1998 Arnolds swim team

 

2nd October 2011

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

Redhead storm 2-10-11

Redhead storm 2-10-11

Saturday early Redhead surfer 1/10/11

Redhead storm 2-10-11

Redhead storm 2-10-11

Redhead Surf 1/10/11 A left from behind the shark tower. Redhead surf 2 1-10-11

Redhead surf 2 1-10-11

Redhead surf 2 1-10-11

Redhead Surf 1/10/11 A right down the beach a bit.

Redhead surf 1-10-11

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

Redhead surf 3-1-10-11

Redhead surf 3-1-10-11

Jimmy Lewis Surfboard model HP98

Jimmy Lewis HP98

Jimmy Lewis HP98

Behind the scences at the beach girl contest Rehead 1985

Redhead Beach beauty contest 1985

Redhead Beach beauty contest 1985

Arial view from out of a Cessna Plane at Redhead Beach around 1978

Arial view Redhead Beach

Arial view Redhead Beach

A 2 headed chook? No just a fluke photo – 2 of Sandy’s chooks 1/10/11

2 headed chook 1-10-11

2 headed chook 1-10-11

21st October 2011

Dudley Beach 25/6/11

Dudley Beach  25-6-11

Dudley Beach 25-6-11

Newcastle Big winter swell 13/7/11

Newcastle 13-7-11

Newcastle 13-7-11

Newcastle Harbour Tug 14/6/11

Newcastle Tug 14-6-11

Newcastle Tug 14-6-11

Blacksmiths Surfer 4/6/11

Blacksmiths 4-6-11

Blacksmiths 4-6-11

Redhead surfer on a solid swell 4/6/11

Redhead surfer9 4-6-11

Redhead surfer9 4-6-11

Redhead  Surfer 2 4/6/11

Redhead surfer13 4-6-11

Redhead surfer13 4-6-11

Newcastle Beach Big surf close up 14/7/11

Newcastle Beach big surf 14-7-11

Newcastle Beach big surf 14-7-11

Redhead Bluff up close 10/6/2011

Redhead Bluff 10-6-11

Redhead Bluff 10-6-11

Redhead Beach early morning right hander 14/10/11

Redhead right 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

Redhead Beach early morning 25/10/11

Redhead Beach 25-10-11

Redhead Beach 25-10-11

Redhead bluff 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 beach Mark Hancock 24-10-11

Redhead Boardriders Club Contest 8/10/11

Redhead Boardriders 08-10-11

Redhead Boardriders 08-10-11

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

Redhead Galahs 16-10-11

Redhead 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 Beach cleaner 24-10-11

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

Redhead body boarder 08-10-11

Redhead body boarder 08-10-11

Redhead surfer 24/10/11

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 26-10-11

Redhead dirty surf 26-10-11

Redhead dirty surf 2 26-10-11

Redhead dirty surf 2 26-10-11

 

Black Neds Bay October 2011

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 enty 27-10-11

Black Neds Bay Boats 27-10-11

Black Neds Bay 34  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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kevin Harman Swansea 27-10

 

Photos taken around Newcastle

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

Dweezil Zappa 2009

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

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

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

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 Bird

Crow and Bir

Martin Littlewood cranks a turn windsurfing Blacksmiths around 1978.
Martin Windsurfing 1977

Martin Windsurfing 1977

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

Col Smith Shaping Channels

Redhead Bluff 2010

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

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-2010

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

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

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

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

Justin Lee at Dudley Sept 2009

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

Gillys Graduation