Carving the surf for 50 years

In 1974, Peninsula Surf Centre owner Ted Bainbridge circulated a flyer telling fellow surfers of his plans to develop a surfers' club. “I think the membership fee should be $2 for Seniors and $1 for Juniors,” it read. “If we hold a few functions we should be able to raise some money to get our own contest T-shirts and get car stickers and stuff together.” Word spread through the surfing community, and the Peninsula Surfriders Club soon sprang into existence.

David ‘Skip’ Easton, one of the original committee members, still plays an active role in the club. President from 1976-78, he has led the club five times. David recalls the surfing scene in the ‘70s as a great time to be growing up. “Going to see bands live was big on Saturday nights, then down the surf after, sleep in the car ready to surf Sunday with a mate or a girlfriend,” David said. The beach car park was full of “anything you could put a mattress in: kombis, station wagons, panel vans, utes with a canopy. You’d get your mum or sisters to make curtains”.

Chris ‘Redeye’ Fowler, a junior when he joined, has also served five terms as president. Chris recalls his nickname came from “a guy at the club when I was 16. Every time I surfed my eyes would be bloodshot from a long day in the water”. Nearly everyone in the club had a nickname, some less affectionate than others: Scratch, Buster, Bazza, Turtle. Chris’s brothers Tony and Michael – presidents at various times themselves – became ‘Torps’ and ‘Salmon’ respectively. Another long-time member highly respected at the club, Ron ‘Gonga’ Gorringe, remains a great friend of Chris’s 50 years on.

Between partying, the Peninsula Surfriders performed in competitions from Gunnamatta beach to Western Port. Trailblazers at the club who went on to professional acclaim include Gary ‘GT’ Taylor and Wally ‘Tibbs’ Tibbals, winning the Quicksilver Trials. A later success was Andrew Everest, who earned a place in the ISA World Title. Peninsula Surfriders continues to be known for its output of surfing stars.

Member numbers have grown significantly and it’s now a family-oriented club featuring a junior development program called Super Groms. The progression of women and junior girls has also been a launching pad for talent, including Georgia Fish, Ava Holland, Sophie Wilkinson and Sara Hickson.

The past 15 years have seen solid contribution from club stalwarts Sean McDevitt and Lachie McDonald. David’s son James is the club’s head judge, while Caiden ‘Mopey’ Fowler is one of the club’s favourite surfing sons. The spirit of the club lives on in the next generation, and at the 50-year mark there’s no sign of the Peninsula Surfriders Club slowing down.

Members past and present are invited to join the club to celebrate its 50th anniversary at a special event in mid-March. For details, go to www.psc. org.au