udo, 1406492490

Warwick Smith, alcohol, drugs ?

spencie, 1406498193

Yes; one of those two mentioned. The scourge of the sixties in Manly and a few other spots. Caused havoc amongst some very talented surfers and led along a one-way path.

Fishlegs, 1421408542

Think Bobby Evans. The myth goes, his drink was spiked at the Steyne Hotel while he was DJ'ing. That was before I knew he was the pioneer that chased the waves at the Bower and beyond. He drew respect from all the elders that new his history. To see Bobby walking the beach ,at the time (circa 1970), to me meant he was having a good day.

blindboy, 1421409215

Robbie Holt?

mehollywood, 1421423075

Peter Frazier . Unknown ripper. A big inspiration to many of us younger guys. Watched him out at North Steyne lefts taking off behind the orange bouys. Really big .Queesie bombora breaking almost all the way through. Just south of the club house Simon Anderson ,Mark Warren surfing the rights. He smoked em .
Michael McCormack another local inspiration ,easily the best tube rider I had seen at that time .

spencie, 1421452800

Ah Peter Frazier. A young man who danced to the beat of his own drum. An old mate of mine and became a very good surfer along the way. What happened to him? Does anyone know? He was fearless in big waves.

None of us Queenscliffe/North Steyne guys wanted to acknowledge Robbie Holt as being a good surfer because he had a "pretty boy" style. He seemed to do well in comps though. Macca was a good surfer too. Not sure if he is still around. And Goody as well. Would be interesting to see what has become of all of the old crew.

sideslipper, 1421453052

Legs...Bobby Mills..RIP,Robbie Holt...RIP,Peter Frazer..RIP, John Otten...not good, Macca up the coast,Jack & Gordon too, Goody as well, Baddy at his beloved Anga.A few of the generation before still around Manly but of THAT crew,virtually all gone (one way or another) Hollywood - are you NF?

spencie, 1421455140

Is NF mean Nicky Frazer? If so, don't know what happened to him. Funny guy though. Good for a laugh.

sideslipper, 1421458788

He's living further up the northern beaches......a v gd surfer who liked 7'6 Otto's when everyone else rode 6'8s...smooth in every sense

mehollywood, 1421469280

No not Nicky Frazer , I lived next door to Jack and Gordo.
I remember John Spence of course who I think is spencie ?
There were many older guys that we all looked up to . Porky Peters ripped .when we first moved up to North Steyne we had nick names for the guys who we didn't know . John Otten was Mr Casual. Jack was Mr Angry !

spencie, 1421470892

Yeah; that's me. Paul Peters ripped. Jack and Gordo have been up at the Gold Coast for many years. I haven't been back to Manly in well over 20 years. In Tassie now. Waiting on a Hobart point swell today. Should be good tomorrow. Can't get the surfing bug out of the system. There is an old Manly surfer here (Bryan Hughes) who was a very good surfer in the 60s. He was in the first Bells contest. Can't surf any more due to injuries but rides a SUP and I think still makes them at Bicheno. He is putting together a history of the early surfboard manufacturing days around Brookvale. Has a wealth of information about the earlier history of surfing, but most younger guys don't appear to be that interested. He is trying to track down old surfers from the earlier days (50s onwards). Good to see that some of the old crew are still alive and hopefully getting into the waves.

coopersshoot, 1421471756

Sideslipper ,you got the names right ,Bobby Mills used to have a go at the bower ,saw John Otton catch some monsters also at the bower on the 74 swell ,a mate had some old super 8 footage of him ,Robbie Holt very good at winki on a blue paddle pop stick board , The list goes on ,lot of good surfers in the 60s 70s , Manly was a great place to grow up in those days but also a lot of sad endings for quite a few of the boys in the following years .

Darley Road, 1423369045

Recognise a few names...including one serial rapist noted as RIP. For the most part, good blokes around those days unless you thought the point at Nth Narra was a public surfing spot. Some pretty under- rated surfers like Jeff Holland/Fergus from Nth Steyne....I've seen him as a non competitor show up the best Nth. Steyne had out there competing once or twice. Almost all I knew well were RIP by '67 and drugs played a part in them all bar one.

Much as I feel for the blokes of the Bali 9 and their parents it's been part of a killer industry for decades and really started to hit Manly around '64. It's predator stuff and loosened up some of the girls at the Canopus Room. None of the 'head in the sand' predators care who dies...but we have no death penalty anymore . Others do...You take the risk with them and the AFP working together and it's a real outcome when you get nabbed.

I wonder what happened to Barrie Reedy and Peter Thomas...Peter Thomas the tough guy who drank at the Brighton..., Pommie Roy reputedly a golden gloves boxer ...Toni Balmer, Warren Mclintock's sister....trying to think of her name...began with a "G" but just eluding me right now.....Karlyn Berriman from up the Forest way...many others. 'Squeak' from the special spot group who went to Singleton...Remember his 61 green Falcon always seemed to be parked opposite Darley Road....?

Can you remember well Little Pattie and Roland Thunder/Storm down South Steyne dances. LOL!!...and those poor 'moon tanners' who braved the Corso and Sth. Steyne mockery , so obvious with their Duffle Bags. All the same, none of it as cruel as Facebook and Twitter are reputed to be....Cheers.

One of my favourite quiet guys was Neal Purchase.

Glen Ritchie...nice unassuming bloke and a few of them were in the Fire Brigade up near the man on the tyres. The chap who surfed the Bower when it was working "Bull"....Can anyone recall his last name? By the way if anyone knows the present whereabouts of Californian Chris Johnson /Fergusson who'd be about 65 now...Anybody reading might advise me. I heard Chris went to US again and joined the Air-force, went to Italy married an Italian Ballerina...He came from 529 South King Street Santa Anna California..still recall the address 50 years later LOL!!.Chris's Dewy Weber was stolen along with 8 other boards from Darley Road........or Dick Stuart who lived at Gladesville /Hunters Hill area, worked at Fire-Control as did Robbie Kerr (RIP at 21) and I think moved to Queensland. They just vanish....

bondisteve, 1423383194

Had the pleasure of sharing big "Island" with Bobby Mills back in the mid "80's" and was impressed by his grace and recognition of one of Bluey Mayes's boys. Bobby I think was in the company of Scott Dillions' son.

brutus, 1423431851

Bobby mills now theres a flashback...he lived in Torquay for awhile , great surfer...surfed in shorts here even in Winter...rember a really strong Offshore at Bells ....pre-legropes ( yeah I am that old!).....board got blown out to sea......he was on the beach looking for his bd......and when people told him....he just jumped back in the water...and swam a couple of miles and got it!!!

shaun, 1423682635

If you live to tell that story again in 10 years time Brutus, will he have swum all the way to King Island to retrieve it?:-))

brutus, 1423705821

he actually swum out until we couldn't see him.......bit like when ya lose ya bd at Sunset and have to swim out ......but yeah in 10 years he actually swam around Tassie....in 5 year K I....

shaun, 1423712954

Well let's hope you live a another 20 and he can chase t down to Antarctica. :-))

Fishlegs, 1427454465

Where did I get Evans from, when I meant to say Mill's, I suppose memories fade after time when they aren't being recycled. I might be having a brain fade again when I delve into the archives of my memory, and say. I remember playing the Pinnies at the milk bar owned by the Knight Bro's on the corner of Pine St and the Esplanade. The Knight's went north not long after that time.

Wind & Sea (later to become Wind & Sewerage) were the board-riders club of the time. The members of the club were those to be revered and respected. One fella that epitomized that to us Grom's was Big Jhono the Knee boarder, I witnessed my school mate paddling hard for what was the biggest wave I have seen us go for, and at the last moment when the gut's of it fell away, he pulled out. Johno paddled up to him with so much anger, grabbed him by the scruff, and ragged dolled him yelling if you ever waist a wave like that! you'll never surf this beach again! (were you the recipient BL). Classic! Lesson learned, RIP Twiz.

Ken MacDonald, 1433311009

[quote=spencie]When I read Blindboy's comments today re Baddy Treloar and Johnny Otton it brought back memories of the many great surfers from that era. I grew up surfing Manly in the 60s and early 70s and can remember great surfing by Glen Ritchie, Baddy, John Otton , Jack Knight , Warwick Smith and Ted Spencer, amongst many others. I moved up to Byron in the mid seventies and both John and Ted called in to catch up early in the piece. Then we lost touch and I heard all sorts of differing stories but the main theme is that they didn't surf any more. Same with Warwick Smith (who could have easily been Aussie champ if he wished). I saw him a few years back in a little unit at Nambucca and it was tragic.

Does anyone else remember the great surfing legacy that Manly Pacific created?

I know there were many great surfers from Narrabeen but Manly was well under the radar, same with the Queensland guys.[/quote]

Ken MacDonald, 1433311369

I remember Warwick...sad the hear. Over the years I have wondered about a Freshie bloke named Butch Robinson who was too radical back in those days. His eccentricities would probably be lauded these days. Any information on him??

spencie, 1433312560

Hey Kenny! I had a heart attack six weeks ago and I've just started back surfing again. Good to see you're still alive and kicking. Are you still surfing? That was an interesting Manly crew that we hung out with. Lots of stories from that era. All the best.

Ken MacDonald, 1433331996

Is that Butch??

spencie, 1433334583

Ken MacDonald, 1433334783

Confusing.

mehollywood, 1433340249

Pretty sure Big John is dead. Came from Bondi I think . Used to confiscate money and smack from junkies as a living . A very scary guy who would just lose it at the drop of a hat .
Ken MacDonald , natural footer with a brother in the Finks ? Had to deliver a telegram to his house and his dobermans scared the shit out of me . Stood at the gate shitting myself hoping someone would come out .
The things we remember !

spencie, 1433370491

Hi Kenny. Sorry for my brief reply last night. I was in the middle of doing something else. It's
John Spence. I used to surf with you guys as well as Jack Knight, Macca, Goody, etc. etc. You were mates with Sallis, the Warnocks and Goanna I remember (unless there is another Ken MacDonald floating around). I left Manly for Broken Head in the seventies which was a breath of fresh air at that time. Good to see you guys are still going strong.

spencie, 1433370684

Hi Mehollywood. I think it was Robert Bradford who had a brother in the Finks. He took a fall for them on a murder rap and spent big time inside as a result. How's that for loyalty to your club.

mehollywood, 1433389565

Yeah Spencie it was a long time ago and I was a bit younger than you guys . I remember faces but not alway the names.
The Finks used hang out at John Dunns bike shop on Condamine st . I used to go there and drool over the bikes but when those guys were there I went back to the beach.
I think if it was me I would have done a runner .

Ken MacDonald, 1433469671

[quote=spencie]Hi Kenny. Sorry for my brief reply last night. I was in the middle of doing something else. It's
John Spence. I used to surf with you guys as well as Jack Knight, Macca, Goody, etc. etc. You were mates with Sallis, the Warnocks and Goanna I remember (unless there is another Ken MacDonald floating around). I left Manly for Broken Head in the seventies which was a breath of fresh air at that time. Good to see you guys are still going strong.[/quote]

Must have been another bloke. I had the nickname 'Cocka' until I moved to W.A.

tonybarber, 1433484712

Great stories here and I would say replicated at many spots around the country. Most of the blokes shared waves / stories during the 60s and 70s between the major spots. Just finished such a reconnect up the coast and yep, we thought - jeez this would make good reading or film. But is are the next generation interested ?

blindboy, 1433497588

No-one is interested in anything tony except that someone is clever enough to make it so.

Blubber, 1437829508

Here's one for your memories.

Nick Devery who was the boss of the Manly Pacific hotel sponsored Manly Pacific Surf Club and provided a room for our exclusive use. I remember Bobby Mills about to take a young girl there from the beach when her mother arrived. The only guy I have known to nail both mother and daughter in the same session. Of course, before the time we grew up and had wives and daughters of our own and before Millsy's drink was spiked at the "Here' disco in North Sydney. Rumour was by WS but just a rumour. Can't ever recall Millsy being any more than average in the water though.

Anyone remember Chris Doolis? Could have been as good as Baddy & JO and maybe even as good as Ted. The hammer got him on the Gold Coast. They had a memorial contest for him for a number of years but I guess as they aged they forgot about him. We started surfing together on the same day & I think about him occasionally.

Great times but so many casualties, so much wasted potential. There were at least a dozen guys who could have taken surfing to the next level but while we were getting stoned (& some going even further) the Nth Narra guys did what we could & should have done. Bummer for us but I hope most survived and went on to achieve fulfilment.

spencie, 1437862653

Hi Blubber

I remember Chris Doolis well. He had the nickname "Goanna" and I surfed with him regularly. Even got some old Super 8 film of him at McMasters Beach and Manly. He rode a shorter board which was quite radical for the times. Nice guy and fun to be around but there was a darker side which obviously manifested at a later stage. Shame.

Nuts, 1446424748

I met Chris Doolis when I was living and surfing on the Gold Coast with a North Steyne crew in 1969. The little guy of ethnic parents who became the Goanna was absolutely fearless in those days - on the land, at night and in the water. He rode a yellow BSA motorcycle and gave local Gold Coast constabulary severe headaches. Not to mention families with good looking daughters. When Chris moved to North Steyne in the early 1970s his surfing really took off but like so many of that era he found the good times could quickly became the dark times. Chris went to good time heaven decades ago along with many great mates. Their spirit lives forever.

rowland, 1451807777

I met Chris in 1969 when i joined Manly Pacific Surf Club in Surfers. Phil neuendorf was the president and the club was a mixture of Surfers and Main Beach boys mainly. A strong competitive club which held its own against Wind n Sea the other local Surfers club. Chris was a powerful surfer and a nice guy. The club split into Main Beach Boardriders and Manly Pacific around 1970. Peabrain became president of Manly Pacific. Competing with chris you needed to be on top of your game
Rowland

larry cambray, 1455081217

hi rowland trying to remember you i was one of the original members of the surfers paradise manlypacific which was started up by miachel macca mccormack myself and a few others in 196? we used to have our club meetings in my old mans niteclub called the"grotto" just one street down from cavillav we used to all hang up the surf end of cavill av on a strip of grass next to the hamburger kiosk and create a bit of havoc between surfs just as a good gromett does some of the guys names were gary stevens butch noble roy smith gordon price davey jones david franks and a few of the nancarrow boys from main beach i also knew chris doolis quiet well as well as a few of the manly boys steve warnock rod ball (whatever happened to him) we had a great rivalry with windandsea at the time as they were the supposed gun club and rightly so as they had some great surfers andy mckinnon micky stafford the neilson bros just to name a few i remember phil neuuendorfs name but cant put a face to it to many mushys in byron in the seventies do you remember mexican micks at byron well thets where i ended up yep they were the good old days

Luke.Frazer, 1464089563

Hi I'm Peter Frazer son Luke Frazer can anybody tell me some awesome stories about my dad I have been searching for years to find anything about him and his surfing and what he was like when he was my age I have a lot of his surfing trophies which I treasure and I know that he was 3x Australian champ please please share your knowledge with me he would absolutely dig it also like him I dance to my own beat as well hahahaha

sideslipper, 1464142130

G/day Luke...I was friendly with Dad but not one of his crew. He was certainly one of the standouts when some of Australia's best ( Baddy, Goody,Spargo,Otto,the Knights ,Holt,etc,etc )called Manly home. I remember he came 1st in the Newcastle Mattara jnrs (beat Mark Warren) in 1969 & came 3rd in the Aussie titles at Bells( Jnr)in 1971. He charged big waves & I'll always remember him at 10-12' Bower,in a cyclone swell in '74. pre legropes !! He also perfected a technique for paddling off the beach when Nth Steyne was big( a lot more frequent then) and you have to remember - no legropes & you couldn't duck dive those boards .....He would time his paddle so that just before the (big) wave broke,he would swing around with his back to the wave & sit right on the back of the board & as the whitewater exploded it would launch him above the wave,still hugging his board & then just paddle out....you needed balls & perfect timing ! One day I asked him what was his secret in Big waves & he said as soon as he got out he would pick off the biggest,ugliest,scariest wave & go for it ! And if he got smashed....well,that's the worst that could happen !! He was bold & brave & I admired him ! He certainly walked to a different drum - but it wasn't that different for back then. Wish you well Luke......thanks for stirring the memories.

Lou_indigoblue, 1475658639

Any further info on Big John the Kneeboarder from Manly? He's my father and I've never met him. I'm trying to track him down, any help would be so appreciated. His crazy temper is one of the reasons my Mum left with me, after I was born.
I have a photo of him from the late 70's, would love to know if it's the "Big John" you are talking about Fishlegs.

Facebook: Looking for John

https://www.facebook.com/pleasefindmyfather/?ref=py_c

Lou_indigoblue, 1475663225

mehollywood: Do you know any more info (or anyone else who would have more info) on Big John the Kneeboarder??

https://www.facebook.com/pleasefindmyfather/?ref=py_c

mehollywood, 1475669247

Yeah Lou,
really looks like John.
I will message you a bloke on facebook that probably knows what has happened. I heard what had happened but do not know for sure . I hope it brings some closure for you . As harsh as it is to hear your mother did the right thing imo .

One Fin, 1475669531

G/day Lou...the photo is definitely Big John, the knee boarder & your information is pretty spot on. He left Manly in the late 70's & I can't help you after that......maybe others can. All the best

mehollywood, 1475670160

Hey Luke ,
your dad was so good . I remember a really big day when Simon Anderson , Mark Warren and Geoff McCoy were surfing the rights .Around 6 ft with a few bigger sets and Fraze paddles out to the coke bank . Its breaking in line with the shark nets which were so far out . The Queensie bommie was maxing out and he was taking off next to the shark net buoy and just ripping the bag out of it .Was the star of that session for sure . It was on his big red rail and bottom Nipper Williams he got after coming 3rd in the Australian Juniors against Mark Warren and the other stars of the day .If he had had that board at Bells it would have been pretty hard to beat him.

Lou_indigoblue, 1475671948

Thank you mehollywood and One Fin, I really appreciate your responses. If anyone else knows anything further it'd be great to know, even if he went by any further/other names.

I know my mum did the right thing, he wasn't a safe person to be around from what I've been told.
Thanks again.

zelky, 1482483029

I grew up at North Steyne and was a member of Wind and Sewerage Boardriders. I lived at 120 Pittwater Road from the age of 1 till 46. Some of you may remember (some not fondly) my cousin "Nails".

My closest mates were the boys from the block between Carlton and Pine Street (I'll forget some please forgive me); Scott Bell, Paul and Darren Charlseworth, Max Menna, Justin Cook and his brothers Nathan and Christian, Andrew and Brett Gibson, Luke and Jake Rowe, Quenten and Nick Smith, Robert Gallacher and Rob Walton who both ended up playing Rugby. As we got a bit older crews from the different parts of the beach consolidated as friends. We had a huge crew...too many to name.

Bobby Mills was a legend to us as kids. He was obviously off tap, but we had older surfers explain to us why he ended up the way he did. And that scared the shit out of me as a kid.

The best surfer during my time (I was done by the time I was about 19-20) was Steve Garrett. Even Barton Lynch said Steve was the best surfer at North Steyne. I remember the first time I paddled out North Steyne and Steve was tearing it apart really aggressively...I'd never seen anyone surf so well up close. So aggressively, yet so smooth at the same time. And when he'd finish one wave he'd just pull off and start furiously paddling back out straight to the inside...rinse repeat. I remember thinking..."if you want to be accepted here kid...you need to do shit his way. Hard, fast and don't smile for anyone."

There was a shitload of above average standard surfers at Manly in those days. Between three clubs WNS, QBC and MSB there was hundreds. Paul Burnett was another huge standout.

In regards to Big John. He let me off the hook big time when I was a kid. I was paddling for a wave and was about to stand up when he started paddling next to me. I pulled back and shouted out "fucken cripple!!!".

Next thing I knew he was paddling straight towards me with a look of rage, repeating under his breath..."What did you call me? What did you call me?"

Being pretty brave for my age, and thinking the best thing to do would be to tell the truth I told him, with his face near mine "fucken cripple" in a meek little voice. He blew his fucken top, but turned and paddled away.

So Lou your old man might have been a bit of monster, but he did this little fuckwit a favour all those years ago and didn't give him the slap/beating he deserved. So to me there must have been some good in 'Big John'.

Peter thomas son, 1512323647

Peter thomas passed away on Thursday and his good mate roy will be attending his funeral on Wednesday the 6th of December.
If you no my dad or surfed a wave with him please call 0415674010 as i would love to see you on this day.

Peter thomas son, 1512324108

Please call me on 0415674010.
Did you no peter thomas and pommie roy.

blutek, 1515472722

Was that Peter Thomas, ex Balgowlah BHS.

Oigleman, 1536204123

I believe Peter went to Balgowlah BHS.....
Interesting to read some of the above......many of us are still about...like Bryan Hughes is living down in Bicheno Tas. Niel Purchase, Bob McNeal, Harry Jolly and Hugh Pierpoint were on the Goldie last time I heard. Ted Spencer is said to be in Hawaii, Treloar still at Angourie.....if you have time it is worth looking at he photo of us all sitting on the wall that Bryan Hughes put up on another site some time ago..(It's on the Sudney Living Museum / surfcity website)...I am also aware of the passing of Gary Bathgate, and a few others...but as someone said, many have simply disappeared........I also recall the passing of Robbie Barnes, who hung with Warrick Smith, and also John Otten's elder brother.......others may know or recall more as a result of reading this and other comments.....Anyone heard of Squeak (Chris Peel) or Bob Munro for example......see photo http://blogs.sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/surfcity/?p=2198......

Oigleman, 1536267803

Bobby Mills 'legendary' status came not from great surfing ability but the fact that he would take off on some hideous waves on those crazy big days at Manly and wow the onlookers with his daring. I never saw him make even one! They just had no shape at all.
When he first arrived on the scene he could not surf at all, but would be out there every day. He would talk with anyone, but always seemed to be alone. Especially over his last couple of years. Most shunned him because he could not communicate, and most likely got no help aimed at getting him back to some sort of normality. Sad.

spuddyjack, 1536310987

@ Spencie.
They would have been great days; savour the memory of having lived through that golden epoch. Time the conqueror . . . apologies to Jackson Browne.

Alan Berzins, 1537663812

Darley Road. Are you thinking of Jill McClintock? If yes I knew her well and surfed with her at Queenscliff. I tracked her name on Google to U.K. Not sure if thats her. Me. Im originally Queensie Mob from Golf Parade 60s. All the Ottons were mates

Alan Berzins, 1537664892

Im one of the original Queensie Mob. All the Ottons incl Johnny were mates as was Robbie Barnes (not suicide 1975 but murder. I have details). I just found out today from John Witzig that John Otton is now dead. I have lots of names in mind incl. eg. Lester Brien orig from Freshie. Yes. Many Dead from that era buy many still alive too as John Witzig said to me today

blutek, 1552722789

I last heard Johnny was living with Trent on the Sunshine coast hinterland, from his nephew on the FB Surfing the NB 1960's group.
Lots of Queensie boys checked out too early unfortunately.

Tony Jack Clancy, 1562270040

Hi, Peter Thomas' son left a message(2014) on "Forgotten Manly Legends (Swellnet) which I recently noticed. I tried to call him but to no avail...his mobile is disconnected it seems.

He advised " Peter Thomas passed away on Thursday and his good mate Roy will be attending his funeral on Wednesday the 6th of December.If you no my dad or surfed a wave with him please call 0415674010 as i would love to see you on this day."

I have a couple of stories about Peter...we met when he was sent to give me a flogging by three local surfers, my age not keen to have a go themselves. I'd warned them of 'consequences' after they boasted of terrifying a young retarded lass, from Far West sitting around the rocks at South Steyne, Peter and I formed a bit of a connection after that .

I was thinking of Pommie Roy recently I recall him as a golden gloves boxer, very straight up and handsome, pretty quiet too most of the time. Saw him mostly at mid-South Steyne. (My brother managed the Steyne pub, on shifts of course, for some 18 years and until Ross Ryan sold out.).

Would anyone who knows where to find Peter's son give me a message of how to contact him or ask him to contact me Also, one of those sadder eventsCan anyone recall the young chap, pretty well known I think ..hung around Nth Steyne who borrowed to start a surfboard business. From memory quite a lot of money. A lot of the lot went on might have been (new) an XY Ford GT...can't recall but from memory may have been gold-coloured. The business was then undercapitalised....He didn't work on the rule of thumb that any business has to have enough capital to run for at least 12 months without income. Sadly he disappeared and I heard he'd taken his own life. I spoke to him from time to time but his name...just can't recall it.

Also, who can recall who began the 'fruit salad" works that seemed to be powering along, along with Yoghurt down Nth Steyne/Queensliff area....Slurpers had their brekkies watching the swell. I have a feeling it was a couple of older surfers, maybe from Manly Pacific. Is Manly Pacific still going?

I've left a message some-where on the (searchless?) forum....asking the whereabouts of several blokes, including Jeff Fergus (Fungus/Hollands from Carlton Street, married "Sammy" ..had a young brother, Ian I think, and one sister. Peter Rimmer, worked then at Garden Island I think was another survivor...little Andre..(c'est vraiment francais mais sans l’accent acute) the brother of Gabby who kept Manly Police busy when the plods weren't organising weed sales...…(That old buggar Sgt Menzies wasn’t a great lover of surfers….not was the ranger who patrolled Nth Head) .Bobby MacDonald and his sister, Dick Stuart from Gladesville (like Robbie Kerr was ex Fire-Control at Brookie) who went to Qld....cute Jillian McLintock and Toni Balmer who’s father built unit blocks around Steyne were some who periodically reappear into my mind. Any memories and whereabouts from you others?

At that era (60’s) the Water Board gave work to casuals….which suited surfers down to a “T” . Several went to Israel to work in the kibbutz’ and try out the willing local talent. Sorry if I reminded anyone…..(chuckles). Anyone recall the Board. One copper, related, who worked part time for them told me they installed a valve to direct raw sewage into the sea during storms…Collaroy I think it was. Anyone who recalls the ‘sea-lice’ and condoms in which we surfed …maybe that’s why!

Robbie's sister married Mike Jeffery from SAS. I still clearly recall the night I had to find his Mum, Joyce, and tell her Robbie had been killed. He was a good mate. Yes...I'm sentimental it's true and there are so many videos in my memory that I see events as very clear 're-runs'…but I’m losing a bit with age maybe…or just the pressures of my Masters Degree…which will finish in September. HD’s take a lot of work.

Tony Jack Clancy, 1562849838

Alan not sure if the "Darley Road" reply was for me...I said Darley Rd but that was where well known local Robbie Kerr lived...I think Spencer knew him reasonably well and the blokes at the fire Station up Sydney Road......I should have written 'Carlton Street' not Darley ...which was where (opposite) Squeakie and the 'special spot' group hung about. I wrote about Squeak elsewhere.

Jill McClintock (brother was Warren) I recall well, I got on ok with her....

I have a list of 'missing persons' however one who's name doesn't seem to pop up is Bob Pike...I think he was one the Bower group.

Snow McAllister was a legend...anyone have stories about him?... saw him occasionally up Central Coast as well as off Queenscliff. Another local, Jeff Hollands (aka "Fungus"...his mother remarried and Tom Fergus became his stepfather I think) again, anyone seen Jeff recently or know where he is? I'd like to chat with him.

Is Mid Steyne / Manly Pacific club still going? I can't believe I'd have turfed my club shorts but I've put on about 10" (waist!) since then but it's nostalgia... .

Again would anyone know how to get to Peter Thomas' son, his mobile shown in the earlier posting isn't operational. Peter and I got on pretty well after he was sent to smack me around, which didn't work out that way.

A couple of others who spring to mind...Paul and Louchie Gee who lived up along Addison Road ...I heard later they'd both o/d'd. The Dawes brothers who's dad drank at the Brighton. He ran foul of Peter Thomas. Another ..any one recall "Garbo"...pretty well known local. Toni Balmer...I remember her well and particularly from a quite dissipating 4 day party she held in one of her Dad's apartments around the South Steyne point.

Peter Morgan another Brighton drinker told me about his about Friday night/ Saturday night (whatever) entertainment up the Cross "Poofter Punching" with his mates....pretty miserable stuff. A fortnight or three weeks later Morgan came to the Brighton looking much the worse for wear, stickers bruises and band-aids.

What happened to you Morgan?..."Well we followed this (descriptive) bloke down a side street (to flog him) but it was a set-up. As we caught up with him a bloke jumped out of a doorway swinging a claw hammer and they got stuck into us"

Well what goes around comes around, eh...…
Cheers

Tony Jack Clancy, 1563524256

Hi...is Ted Spencer still with us, and contactable;?..I'd be obliged for that info if someone can help out. My Regards

brutus, 1563752045

Ted lives in Hawaii , could try and find him , still have a few friends who are in contact with him.

Laurie McGinness, 1563755302

Is he still a Hare Krishna?

brutus, 1563839944

I know he did turn into a businessman in a suit , but I think he has kept his Hare Krishna roots...

stunet, 1563851028

Be nice to think he's still dancing for Krishna.

udo, 1602583514

Nice gesture of your friend Stu to buy the John Otton shaped single fin Dale from gumtree and pass it onto Johns Family.

Optimist, 1617474026

Happy Easter Paul...Jacks probably who your after.
https://www.harvestsurfboards.com/

paul.benney, 1617486437

Hi, l am a Cornish boy that use to spend the Cornish winter in Manly during the 80'-90's around 83 l was introduced to the Knight brothers who were well-known surfer/shapers they were going to shape me a surfboard, but before they would commit to the shape and board l wanted they took me up the coast surfing where l tried out one of their twin fin boards, having always surfed a single fin rounded pin every wave l lost the tail when doing a bottom turn? So not convinced on the twin fin set up l stuck to my preference of the single fin, l still have this board 6' 8" channel bottom rounded pin! l would like to contact the brothers and let them know that l still have this board! l still surf my local break at Crantock, Cornwall UK mostly now on my Mal at the young age of 69, if there is anyone out there that could help with this l would be much appreciated. l did know some of the Manly lifeguard's Ted Lin "head lifeguard" Lee Burns, Mark Mcdougal "Ching" Tim Bushell, and some of the Manly characters Graham Elison "stinky" Pete Mills? who frequented the Steyne and the North Steyne surf lifesaving club Ged Brenan, Paul Nass
Hope you can help
Regards Paul Benney

paul.benney, 1617486596

Thank you Optimist, l will chase it up!

Blubber, 1629966042

RIP John Fleck - Big wave surfer, Master glasser, Good bloke

stan.buckman, 1734677434

[quote=paul.benney]Hi, l am a Cornish boy that use to spend the Cornish winter in Manly during the 80'-90's around 83 l was introduced to the Knight brothers who were well-known surfer/shapers they were going to shape me a surfboard, but before they would commit to the shape and board l wanted they took me up the coast surfing where l tried out one of their twin fin boards, having always surfed a single fin rounded pin every wave l lost the tail when doing a bottom turn? So not convinced on the twin fin set up l stuck to my preference of the single fin, l still have this board 6' 8" channel bottom rounded pin! l would like to contact the brothers and let them know that l still have this board! l still surf my local break at Crantock, Cornwall UK mostly now on my Mal at the young age of 69, if there is anyone out there that could help with this l would be much appreciated. l did know some of the Manly lifeguard's Ted Lin "head lifeguard" Lee Burns, Mark Mcdougal "Ching" Tim Bushell, and some of the Manly characters Graham Elison "stinky" Pete Mills? who frequented the Steyne and the North Steyne surf lifesaving club Ged Brenan, Paul Nass
Hope you can help
Regards Paul Benney[/quote]

stan.buckman, 1734677643

stan.buckman, 1734679222

Hi Paul, I remember you ( vaguely) Ted Lin, Ching , Tim Bushell are still locals, so is Lee Burns I think. Stinky moved North
https://www.facebook.com/mark.mcdougall.3532 It's private I think you need to send a friend request.

Off topic Paul Burnett was mentioned elsewhere - He has a website, into surf foils among other things. https://paulburnettauthor.com/?page_id=753
Cheers

Optimist, 1734683400

Manly legends….Jack knight….made me the best board I ever rode…..
David Treloar….world’s oldest grom.. RIP.………Graham Eadie……best footy player of all time……Fairy Bower…….a place to ride the biggest waves fairly safely.