Rob Hutchinson: Behind The Shot

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

"Honoured you ran my B&W pic of dear Wayne saluting the tube. Geez, we're gonna miss him..."

So went the email received by photographer Rob Hutchinson the day after Swellnet bid Wayne Deane farewell. Included in the story was a photo of Deane saluting a north coast rivermouth. That's the caption to the photo as it appeared in print: "In the spirit of surfing Wayne Deane salutes a North Coast river mouth".

The publication was Nat Young's Surfing and Sailboard Guide to Australia where it got a double-page spread and imprinted itself on surfers of the era.

(Rob Hutchinson)

The river mouth was the Tweed Bar and below Rob recalls a bit more about the session:

"It was a winter's dawn back in the early-80s. I arrived early to see some very solid rights breaking out near Tweed Bar and a solitary surfer bobbing up and down with the swells."

"Wayne Deane had paddled out, probably in the dark, for the expected peak of the swell and the limited offshore window. I watched him ride one and it looked so special, I quickly set up the tripod, camera and telephoto lens to record it."

"Chappy Jennings sidled up just as Wayne paddled into this bomb, he flowed through several deep turns and snaps, then disappeared deep inside the barrel before casually exiting. 'The General' and I just looked at each other momentarily dumbstruck with what we'd witnessed. Deaney's positioning and timing was so sublime; ocean and human completely in synch."

"Within the hour the wind had swung onshore with rain squalls. Gone, but not forgotten."

"'The Salute'" was published in 1986 by Nat Young in one of his books where he described Wayne as embracing the true spirit of surfing. I bumped into Wayne out at good Kirra soon after. He humbly said he recalled the photo and thanked me."

"Later when a set wave feathered out on the reef, he called me onto it even though he was sitting a good ten metres inside of me. He was generous and he was genuine."

Rob keeps a colourful and active Instagram feed. Make sure to follow him.

Comments

buttplug's picture
buttplug's picture
buttplug Monday, 6 Aug 2018 at 5:31pm

The last paragraph sums up what surfing was all about. Sharing the love.
Not any more and it hasn't for some time.
Its a shame that corporate greed, surfing websites, WSL, facebook /you tube heros, surf schools
and relentless advertising selling the lifestyle, have destroyed something so simple.
I don't see people smile in the surf. All I see is anger, aggression and a full on self centered attitude. A complete disregard for other people who just want to enjoy the sport as well.
The majority of people who surf today are pricks.
Surfing suxs big time.

kneepete's picture
kneepete's picture
kneepete Monday, 6 Aug 2018 at 5:41pm

Cheer up, sport!

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Tuesday, 7 Aug 2018 at 7:42am

Might be surfing the wrong spots butty!

Tenn's picture
Tenn's picture
Tenn Tuesday, 7 Aug 2018 at 1:37pm

I'll second that 85% of the time

JosephStalin's picture
JosephStalin's picture
JosephStalin Monday, 6 Aug 2018 at 5:45pm

^Truth buttplug

Awesome shaped barrel Wayne in awesome style

buttplug's picture
buttplug's picture
buttplug Monday, 6 Aug 2018 at 6:58pm

Cheers Cobber.
That barrel is just gold. Style and no prick snow balling the wave.
Big sigh!!!!!!

buttplug's picture
buttplug's picture
buttplug Monday, 6 Aug 2018 at 7:19pm

Hey Sport!
Ignorance is bliss!

Gary G's picture
Gary G's picture
Gary G Monday, 6 Aug 2018 at 8:43pm

Sounds like you're in a bit of a dark place there, Buttplug.

mattlock's picture
mattlock's picture
mattlock Monday, 6 Aug 2018 at 9:04pm

Your best line yet Gary G. Dark place indeed.

Eugene Green's picture
Eugene Green's picture
Eugene Green Monday, 6 Aug 2018 at 11:12pm

Hahaha! Gold mate.

mr mick's picture
mr mick's picture
mr mick Monday, 6 Aug 2018 at 8:46pm

Me thinks Buttplug may need to smile himself, maybe it'll catch on! One can always see the
negativity in anything & everything if one wants, maybe try the positive side of things, you may be a happier little vegemite! As for surfing sux big time.... you have to kidding!!!!

Halibut's picture
Halibut's picture
Halibut Tuesday, 7 Aug 2018 at 8:13am

Shape your own boards to suit your own style and ride them in ordinary waves at out of the way places Buttplug. There's way more to surfing than being part of the crew.

Agitator's picture
Agitator's picture
Agitator Tuesday, 7 Aug 2018 at 9:11am

Truth remains but only a few perceive.....surfing is NOT a sport!

ashleigh's picture
ashleigh's picture
ashleigh Tuesday, 7 Aug 2018 at 10:03am

Ain't that the truth...!!

ashleigh's picture
ashleigh's picture
ashleigh Tuesday, 7 Aug 2018 at 10:00am

Hey Buttplug, agree with the negatives corporate greed etc has on surfing, but Halibut's comment is right on the mark. You can choose not to be a part of it and just soul surf and do your own thing - at least that way you're not feeding the "greedy" corporates.

Brian from Brissy's picture
Brian from Brissy's picture
Brian from Brissy Tuesday, 7 Aug 2018 at 2:26pm

Hi Buttplug can share a cuppla muddy ones in Moreton Bay if you're keen - hardly anyone on to it yet

buttplug's picture
buttplug's picture
buttplug Tuesday, 7 Aug 2018 at 5:42pm

Cheers Guys.
Heaps of advice both good and bad.
Gary G you have only one dark place and I ain't going there! I see the light, praise the lord.
Smile more , when I sit out the back and watch the line up paddling like fools , hassling each other all jockeying for the inside spot, basically not relaxing, I just start cracking up, I think it is hilarious.
I have always sort out solo or uncrowded waves were ever possible, unfortunately age and work curtails the opportunities, no choice; join the hordes.
I just believe surfing has lost its soul, it has lost its innocence.
It is now big business and that is progress and sentimental fools like me will be left having my hissy fit in the sound proof booth.
Thanks for the reply guys, may your waves be abundant.
And don't forget, share the love.
:-) xx
PS There's a wave in Moreton Bay, will post it on Facebook, so we all can share!

davetherave's picture
davetherave's picture
davetherave Friday, 10 Aug 2018 at 6:43am

great shot and caption today swellnet friday august 10, well done and thanks.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Friday, 10 Aug 2018 at 7:16am

Cheers Dave.

Gary G's picture
Gary G's picture
Gary G Friday, 10 Aug 2018 at 9:47am

Are there any articles/interviews with the late Mr Deane commenting on the JetSki thing?

It’s well noted that he was one of the only Coolangatta elders who espoused strong views on the subject but for all Gary’s lurking he can’t find them documented.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Friday, 10 Aug 2018 at 10:17am

He had a lot to say but little for the media.

That's OK, it was consistent with his nature, but also I think he realised that it was his son's peer group out there on the skis and by becoming a public spokesman he could easily makes their lives difficult.

amb's picture
amb's picture
amb Friday, 10 Aug 2018 at 10:20am

Stu, while we are in request mode love to read an interview with Chappy Jennings.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Friday, 10 Aug 2018 at 10:22am

I'll see what's possible...

Oink's picture
Oink's picture
Oink Friday, 10 Aug 2018 at 11:22am

Stayed a few months up the Goldy in '87 and Chappy spent more time in the tube than anyone

tworules's picture
tworules's picture
tworules Friday, 10 Aug 2018 at 7:43pm

was havin a coffee in the dbar cafe when the wife spotted a lone figure way out on the tweed bars in wild conditions ,on his way in I thought he was going to step off onto the end of the Dbar groin with no problem at all in that environment. I asked around who is the fittest guy in town and some pointed to the surf club, but a photo hog put me straight, and I'd learnt the difference between good and alright in that lesson out there

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Saturday, 6 Feb 2021 at 6:29am