Like all surfers of the late fifties or early sixties we belonged to surf clubs and learnt to board-ride an old ply balsa and then the new fibreglass boards.
Surf safaris were organized to Byron Bay, Angourie and Noosa Heads, which meant we were away all weekend, and could not do our patrols with the surf club.
This caused trouble with the different surfing interest so some of us local Kirra, Coolangatta guys decided to start the first surf riders club in QLD.
In 1963 Kirra Board riders held their first club meeting in the ladies dressing rooms of the surf pavilion, run by old Johnny Charlton the beach hire man.
First President - Tony Butler, Vice President - Barry Sutherland, Secretary/Treasurer-Brian Mercer, Curly Pinniger. Patrons of the club-Joe Larkin- Surfboards, Doug Roughton- Homemade Pies and Milk shakes, Johnny Charlton- Beach hire man, Bill Stafford Snr-Clothing attire.
Some of the club champions of the sixties were Mal and Barry Sutherland, Brian Woodrick, Allan Balmer, Blackie, Graeme Merrin (Snappers first president), Curly Pinniger, Bill Stafford Jnr, Hacker Allen, Brian Austen and then later on Rabbit, Michael Peterson and Greg Bedggood.
Great photographer - MaI Sutherland and good surfer.
Early Old Members - Mal & Barry Sutherland, Curly Pinniger, Carol & John Charlton, Brian Woodrick, Tony Butler, John Standing, John Shearing, Keith Paull, Wayne Bail, Graham Merrin, Laurie Callaghan, Derek Neilson, Jeff Bowthorpe, Brian Mercer, John Bryant, Mick Stafford, Col Greatorix, Graham Black, Brian Austin, Jack Jones, Darryl Black, Allen Balmer, Greig Bedggood and Jim, Ted, Hacker Allen.
By mid 64/65 Kirra's momentum had slowed somewhat when a strength from Manly came to Coolangatta in Paul Daly.
Paul was a nice guy who was a great President with the knack to guide KirraSurfriders from the sixties into the early seventies.
Then the great help of Lynn & Graeme Scammell started to influence Kirra. Now there are some great stories that could be told about the adventures of the Kirra Surfriders but best kept for a night on the beers.
Lady members-Carol & Robin Charlton, Margaret Matherson, Sue Stokes, Lynne Bedggood, Cindy Pinniger and Helen Honnie.
"Who mowed the lounge room carpet?"
Which surfer ended up in bed with a buy machine from Byron?"
Who fell asleep drunk, parked across the main street traffic?"
What running meal was had in which running restaurant?"
"Who used their record collection as a frisbee comp?"
These will relate to the sixties or the nineties so I hope people will add to this.
Please forgive the vagueness as it was all a long time ago but come and help the current members of the Kirra Surfriders club go from strength to strength into the 21stCentury.
Curly Pinniger