Surfing Australia turns 50, throws party

Surfing Australia Updates

Phil Jarratt launches book on Australia's surfing history

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 21 November, 2012 : - - Surfing Australia’s 50th Anniversary celebrations were officially launched today by Acting Prime Minister, Treasurer Wayne Swan at Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club in Sydney. Surfing Australia was established in 1963 as the Australian Surfriders Association and next year will celebrate its 50th Anniversary.

To commemorate the milestone, Surfing Australia has planned a series of important initiatives culminating in next year’s Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame in Sydney in February.

Today’s event included the launch of the book Surfing Australia: A Complete History of Surfboard Riding in Australia written by Phil Jarratt; the release of a collector’s coin in partnership with the Royal Australian Mint; announcement of an in-circulation stamp in partnership with Australia Post; and the announcement of a special initiative to name Australia’s 10 Most Influential Surfers 1963-2013.

Surfing Australia is a lavish book with more than 150 photographs and chronicles the birth, growth and development of surfboard riding in Australia. It traces the sport’s pioneering days through to the surfing boom and the development of competitive boardriding leading to Australia’s dominance in the professional era.

The uncirculated 50 cent coins produced in partnership with the Royal Australian Mint are each packaged with their own unique surfboard shaped coin holder. The holder features an image of five-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore.

The four stamps to be released with Australia Post express an historical arc from the 1950s to the present day and will be available from 12th February, 2013. Voting to name Australia’s 10 Most Influential Surfers 1963-2013 has opened and will be conducted via an online public poll as well as votes provided by the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame Inductees. Voting will close on Monday 31st December, 2012.

Treasurer Swan was joined by former surfing world champions Layne Beachley, Mark Richards, Tom Carroll and author Phil Jarratt at today’s launch. “Surfing is such an important part of our history and our community – so many Australians have grown up amongst the waves,” he said.

“For a sport which some might say had pretty humble beginnings in Australia, surfing has come a very long way to where it is today - at the forefront of this has been the work of Surfing Australia.”

The launch was held at Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club as it was the location where Duke Kahanamoku brought surfboard riding to prominence in Australia at Freshwater Beach in 1914 and 1915. Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark said the organisation was proud to celebrate such an important milestone.

“Surfing Australia are extremely proud to be launching our 50 year celebrations at such a fitting location as Freshwater and we are honoured to have the Acting Prime Minister Honourable Wayne Swan here with us today to officially launch the celebrations.

“The 50 year celebrations include a number of exciting initiatives that will all combine to ensure the 50 year milestone is celebrated at the highest level it so rightly deserves. The sport of surfing is part of the Australian ethos and culture and has a rich history. A history which deserves to be celebrated.”

Seven-time World Champion and Surfing Australia Board Member Layne Beachley said the 50th Anniversary for any organisation was worthy of celebrating. “It’s good to be celebrating it in style with the release of a commemorative coin and stamp, and the book, and I’m really looking forward to celebrating it all in February,” Beachley said.

“We have a lot to be very proud of as an organisation, as a culture and as a sport. I’m proud to be a World Champion Australian surfer and a Surfing Australia Board Member and am grateful to the guys back in 1963 that had the vision to start the organisation.”

www.surfingaustralia50years.com

Source: Surfing Australia

Author: Tim Brimblecombe

Tags: History, Australia, Duke Kahanamoku

History: Surfersvillage