Surabout Magazine ’64

Jack Edens classic Surfabout Mag came out in Fall ’64 with a shot of The Point and a main feature story inside.

Jack Eden.

   

 A few tales about legendary surf photographer Jack Eden……Jack lives at Ramsgate,and started surfing at Bondi,before invading our territory. we were not keen on Jack, because he a noisy bugger on a wave,shouting ,yahooing etc .he was riding a board that had  a sharp turn up in the nose,much like a “pixie slipper “.so the nick name i gave him was “Pixie” ( still is ).it didnt take long for Jack to make it with the locals. he was always noisy out the back. when The Point was on,and a big set was on the way, he would yell ” save the women and children ! no f… them ,save yourselves.!! Jack was the first guy i saw do a floater at the point. he slid into the water, pushed a poop out, and it floated, and as he tried to get back on his board ,the thing was floating up his back. around this time,two of his brothers billy (flaps ) and tony (cuppies ) were surfing with us too . Jacks youngest bro Harry played presidents cup for St George.the captain was Ivan Henjak.(boo Broncos ). so during winter we would surf the morning,then go out to the football. i would go with “cheeks”. in those days you would get 4 games in an afternoon. also the game of the day was at SCG. so we would park in dowling st opp the Bat and Ball,sink a couple and walk thru the park, grab a couple of hot dogs,then up in the stands, and cheer on the Saints. the Eden boys could make a lot of noise. so when i was living at Coolum, i used to go to Noosa festival of surfing, and check out the prog to see anyone i knew ( yes i looked for you doug ) and Jacks name was there, so i found him and he didnt know me. i gave him some clues,no go, and then he said “wots my nickname ?”too easy jack Pixie,after all i named you !! just call me al (alzheimers ) he said.not long ago Birdshit said he was not well,after all he would be 80 this year……From the Ray Greenaway memory bank. Photo above Jacks magazine Surfabout 1962 edition.

Jack Eden

Jack started taking surf pics in 1958 and unknowingly at the time he was documenting the sport of surfing in Australia like no one else has. His Early images captured all the greats like Nat, Midget, Kevin the Head and Bobby Brown to name just a few. Coming from the Southside the Cronulla boys were often the focus of Jacks lens. Through his magazine Surfabout of which 24 issues were produced Jack was heavily responsible for bringing the local talent some well deserved exposure and also put Aussie surfing on the world map. Below portrait of Jack courtesy Jackson Surfboards.