Early Days with Dave Wilson

The following post is the first in a series  by longtime Cronulla surfer Dave Wilson. Dave has an extensive knowledge of Cronulla in the early days of the sport and has been involved in surfing ever since……. I was born in Cronulla in the late 40s ,and my parents were born there as well. My family on both sides lived and worked with the ocean and bays. Both my grandfathers worked on the 2 pubs, the odeon picture theatre and all the rock pools on the peninsula. My pop Freddie Wilson was a Narragansett Indian from Connecticut USA  and arrived here in 1919 after fighting in France for Canada in WW1 and never left Australia, he was well known in Cronulla. In the early 30s they built a new house on the corner of Robinson st and Kurnell rd, and owned the block next door, my grandmother owned 18 horses and had the riding school and horses for hire [fond memories of Kurnell and boat harbor when i was little before the road was built] , they had the first surfoplane hire business, so on weekends and holidays they had the rights to rent surfoplanes, sell hot water, rent deck chairs ,wigwams [large beach shades], and horse rides to wanda/boat harbour. This all operated out of Dunningham Park and everything was stored behind old Mr Lucases house beside the surf club and the horses were corralled on vacant blocks of land or out at Kurnell where they owned 2 blocks of land. My father and Frank Lattas father were  shell gritters in the winter and Dick made money by towing people out of bogs [thats how the Kurnell bus service started] who were foolish enough to attempt to drive out to Kurnell… …….more to come from Dave on the surfboard side, including the original surfers and manufacturers plus Dave’s involvement with Floyd Smith and Gordon and Smith in 1966 and eventual ownership in 1995…stay tuned. The photo below is of South Cronulla Beach back in the day pre 1950s.

Spike in Waves

Richard “Spike” James featured in a Waves article around ’88 based on City Surfing. The double spread was taken by Peter Simmons of Spike heavily pitted at The Point.

Bobby Brown Memorial Contest

The 1968 issue of Surfing World Volume 10 No 4  featured a rundown of the first Bobby Brown Memorial Contest at Wanda. In a 5 page article it covered the event blow by blow. The waves were 1 metre and fair for the finals and the best of the best Aussie talent were competing.Ted Spencer, Keith Paull, Midget, Kevin Parkinson, Robert Connelly and Frank Latta were left to battle it out in the final heat. It was Farrely who trimmed and nose rode to victory and walked away with a Bobby Brown sculptured trophy.

Andy King Fundraiser

24 June 2004: The surfing community got together to support Cronulla surfer, Andy King. Following  the injuries he sustained after being vicously assaulted outside a local nightclub. Hoping to raise an estimated $80,000 for cochlear implants, a  golf day, surfing contest and celebrity sports auction took place in the ‘Shire’. The Golf Day, raised $20,000 . Hundreds  gathered  to witness ‘King of the Beach’ with small but contestable waves  local and WCT surfers Keiren Perrow, Beau Emerton, Luke Hitchings, Tom Whitaker, Mark Occhilupo, Mick Fanning and others  were a part of the special event. The crowd was  thrilled  when Andy King entered the water alongside former world champion Mark Occhilupo.

Following the surfing event was the celebrity sports auction, which was held at Cronulla Leagues Club. With Occy and Kelly Slater leading the auction, the night  raised a whopping $50,000 .Kelly Slater auctioned his own surfboard. At the completion of the successful fundraiser, the total of  $90,000 was raised. Below Kingy gets mobbed by an emotional beach crowd as he leaves the water  pic CSP

 

Cronulla Street Pre-Mall

Check this shot of Cronulla main street prior to the construction of the mall around early 80’s. The top end of surf road was still driveable and you could even park outside the Pie Shop. Theres a BP Garage on the corner while the Cronulla Theatre  from the outside hasnt changed that much.Those were the days.     pic Stroh

Terepai

Terepai Richmond is well known around Cronulla for his big wave charging at the Island, Voodoo and anywhere else that is firing. This shot is another side to Terepai you dont normally see in photos.Throwing the tail  sometime in the 90’s.   pic CSP

Todd Mingramm

Heres a shot of young Todd Mingramm taken around early 2000 pulling a solid turn at Wanda. These days Todd also raps and his name is Slippery MC….pic CSP

The Duke @ Cronulla

Duke at Cronulla 1915 …..Info courtesy of surfresearch.com.au 

 One of the first famous international visitors to the Club (Cronulla) was Duke Kahanamoku, the world famous exponent of surfboard riding and at present a prominant civic dignitary of Honolulu.

Exacting preparations for his 1915 visit were undertaken by the club in an effort to make him feel at home.
The Duke and his party were welcomed to the district by the club on leaving the steam train at Sutherland.
Through the generosity of club members, F. Stroud,J. Hallet, J. Munro, L. Giddings, N Bouffier and J. Hill Sr. making their cars available the visitors were transported to Audley via Waterfall and Lady Carrington Drive.

After lunch at Audley, the party joined the ferry to Cronulla, hence to the beach for surfing.

Tea was arranged in the Park Pavillion after which the party returned to Sutherland for the farewell ceremony.
The Duke brought with him a surfboard (one of at least three made in Australia) which he presented to the Surf Bathing Association of NSW.

While there were already surfboard exponents on our own and other metroplitan beaches, Duke Kahanamoku first focused public attention on surfboard riding in NSW.

The visit of this famous surfer also had effect on the local talent.
The Duke’s board later became the property of noted club member, Ron “Prawn” Bowden, who sold it  to Fred Locke, who in turn signed it over to the inimitable Jack McTigue.

Jack, chivalrous character that he was, gave it to a certain beautiful surf siren but alas she married another (ungrateful hussey, recalls Jack).

Welcome to Cronulla Surf Museum

Thanks for visiting Cronulla Surf Museum. We will be updating this blog regularly with stories, pictures, memories, old magazine clippings, and anything else we can find in our archives. So stay tuned, big things to come

Photo: CSP