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

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

A few old photos

Posted on November 12, 2012 by geoffcrow

Newcastle has a few favourite sons – MR, The Chief, Joey, Hoyo, Sam Egan,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 awsome magician

A peaceful scene – an elderly couple take in the view overlooking Terrigal Haven around 1983.

Peaceful Scene Terrigal

A big swell overnight cleaned up and swung in early morning at Redhead

Big left behind Redhead Shark Tower 1979

Big Wave Redhead 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

Thirsty Pelican Camden Haven

A flight in a friends Cessna over Lake Macquarie was an absolute eye opener. Looking over Swansea Channel around 1979.

Swansea Channel arial 1978

A trip out in the Newcastle Shark Boat got 3 hammerheads out of the nets this day around 1978. Hammer Head Shark pulled out of the shark nets around 1978.

Hammerhead Shark

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 Nth Coast

Surfing in the Seventies

Posted on November 12, 2012 by geoffcrow

Mark Richards, 4 times world surfing champion taking time out to surf a local break.

Mark Richards Leggy Point 1977

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.

Martin & Roy chickenshack 1977

Windsurfing was big in the 70’s and Jim Wiley was one of the best shown here at Blacksmiths.

Jim Whiley Windsurfer Blacksmiths

This was a big day at Redhead in 2001, the waves were huge and some of the local guys were ripping. Unknown surfer.

Redhead big surf july 2001

A classic line up at Byron Bay in the late 70’s

Byron Bay surf 1980

Bells Beach Surfing Competion in 1977. The surf was good and big for the finals. I think the surfer was Bruce Raymond

Bells Beach Final 1977

Another good line up – Newcastle Cowrie Hole in 1978.

Cowrie Hole 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.

Redhead storm surf 2007

Photos of Redhead Beach

Posted on November 12, 2012 by geoffcrow

Redhead Beach by Moonlight – Time exposure taken around 1984.

Redhead by moonlight 1984

Shark Tower Time Exposure

Redhead Beach in the 1940’s – Details of photo unknown.

Redhead arial photo 1940s

Time exposure overlooking Redhead beach with a full moon rising in 1976.

Redhead 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 2nd Creek 2007

Scenery from Redhead Beach

Posted on November 12, 2012 by geoffcrow

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.

Redhead Beach Cloud Wav

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.

Redhead Swamp Reflections

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.Redhead to Dudley Coastline 1980’s

Coast view Redhead to Dudley 1980s

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.

Tree Roots & imagination

Redhead Shark Tower in the June 2007 Storm. The wind, waves and rain whipped up a creamy froth that covered the beach.

Redhead Shark Tower Storm surf June 2007

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.

Redhead Beach Surfboard Expo

A popular event on the beach in the 1980’s was the Beach Girl Contest as shown here at Redhead Beach.

Redhead Beach Girl Contest 1985

December 19th 2011- Chicken Story

Posted on November 9, 2012 by geoffcrow

Merry Christmas! I was trying to think of something to do with Christmas and it’s with thanks to Dale and Zoe I have the true tale of Wendy Bendy Bertha.

Poor Wendy (formerly named Bertha) the Chicken, somehow broke her leg. Dale and Zoe took her to the righteous vet at Raymond Terrace who set her leg in a cast. Her name now is Wendy Bendy Bertha.

Poor Wendy had to be suspended in a basket and with lots of loving care was slowly on the mend.

Poor Bertha

Because she was so good, the next trip into the Vet for a checkup Wendy got a little special treatment.WBB went shopping

Wendy picked out a video – her favourite Chicken Run of course.

Wendy picks chicken run

Wendy went in to try on some new shoes.

WBB goes shopping 1

Wendy even picked a handbag to match.

WBB goes shopping 2

Wendy paid from her own credit card.

WBB goes shopping 3

Wendy even got to sit on good Santa’s knee and tell him what she wanted for christmas.

Wendy and Santa

Wendy eventally got back out in the paddock with all her friends especially Scooby the horse, but now Wendy has a very unique Chicken Strut .WBB back in the paddock

WBB & Scooby

10/12/11 The surf was solid and choppy but this Redhead Body boarder finds a gem amongst the trying conditions.

Redhead bodyboarder 10-12-11

Rique Smith at Redhead with a selection of his dad Col Smith’s channel boards.Photo with thanks from David and Brendan.

Rique Smith Col Smith Channels

31st December 2011

Posted on November 9, 2012 by geoffcrow

Redhead beach 26/12/11 boxing day morning

Redhead Beach 26-12-11

Redhead beach 26/12/11 close out set.

Redhead Surf 26-12-11

Redhead Beach surfer 26/12/11

Redhead Beach surfer 26-12-11

Redhead Beach 27/12/11

RedheadBeach 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 Shark Tower2 9-12-11

Redhead Beach 29/12/11 Lone swimmer.

Redhead Beach 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 Crocodile 8-12-11

And nice cute pets too. Black Neds Bay Ducks 8/12/11

Black Neds Bay Ducks 8-12-11

All the best wishes for the new year.

21st January 2012

Posted on November 9, 2012 by geoffcrow

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

Steve and 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. Alas no longer there now…