The Guys of OB

A proud occassion for the Ocean Beach Surfriders Association was the first annual presentation and the proud participants, back row, from left, G Greenup, B Monie, J Mutton, K. Oxford (Sabbath), M Wilson, Second row, K Purdon, J O'Brien, J Monie, P Adams, Front row, C Wall, M Davies, I Peterson, and J Keys (Ropehead).
If someone was to say 40 odd OB Animals, all dressed to impress with accompanying girlfriends, and parents , would have been in the same hall to attend a presentation and annual dinner I just wouldn't have believed it! - this was unheard off. Everyone was so civil. What's the world cum'n too.

The road into Pelican in the late '60's was little more than a goat track and dealt all visitors brutally by attacking their vehicles.
The isolation made this a favourite beach. It was not surprising to surf the place alone, for hours, tripp'n, just you and friends.
In the name of progress we now have a boom gate across the road, closing the beach - dusk to dawn!!

Ray Wessel The two Johns Ray (Magilla - left) always looking like the lady killer and on the right is John Monie and friend "Ropehead" with family & special friend David .

Rope and I had started re-establishing our friendship over the internet a couple of years ago. He now lives in England

Colin Wall There are guys, most of them buddies since we were kids, who should be in these pages because they deserve to be! I have no images or storyline for them, So someone of outstanding character will send me some shots or outline of a story you would like to share and I'll include it, help me get this together and ya can say shit about whoever you want to. Ha! Ha! - use the email address at the bottom of the home page.
barsam1@optusnet.com.au

Graham (right) is one of my earliest surf'n buddies, we spent all of our time together at OB gett'n into the waves. This included before school, after school and during school if it was good enough. Nicknamed "Sparkes", because he became an electrician at an early age, studying while surfing.
"The Hill" at the southern end of the beach, was the camp for guys who happened to be the best local surfers on the beach and that's where I wanted to belong. I will not mention the primitive rites that evolved from the tortured minds of some when there was no swell and 20 or more bored minds would think of ways to amuse theirselves at anyone else's expense. You could cut the air with a knife, no-one knew what was going to happen next and didn't want to be the next victim. Strung up naked against the female toilet block for instance, was a favourite, or honey covered balls for the local mutt to lick off while tied to a stake.

Bill & Ray (upsidedown), filling in time till the swell gets bigger. Guys would get together and take off surfing up or down the coast, somewhere you might decide to rent a house for a while for a few creature comforts and surf the local area. I managed to do the same at Kirra, Broadbeach, Cotton Tree, Lennox Head, Suffolk Park and Kingscliff.
I'm sure their style isn't so relaxed out of sight of the camera. They also knew how to bung it on in the surf too! Some guys just had a knack for it, a feeling of what was to come next.

Another proud occassion for the guys at an OBSA Presentation night. Prizes and awards were given to the member who on the day managed to have one of his better surfing days. Most of the guys in the shot on the right are very talented, strong surfers, at home in 2-3 foot slop as well as 10-12 foot pipes, Big Jack Mal especially.
From Left to right - Peter Purdon, Keven "Sabbath" Oxford, Jack Mutton, Robert Hancock, Bill Monie, Bruce Guerin, Ray Wessel, (behind) Jack Maloney, and last but not least the black Prince (tongue firmly in cheek), Merv Watriama. Follow the link for more revelations about this enigma.

The finals of the Junior Division at OB. That's the Cove, the southern end of Ocean Beach in the background. These guys are ready to rip, look at these young men, wanting to show their stuff in the surf. From Left to Right, Bill Monie, Keven Oxford, Ricky Jackson, and Danny Bond. I think Danny might be a bit of a "ring-in". He was from Terrigal. Ricky (RIP). Young Ricky was one of three guys, who in late 1967 became the first OB guys to be busted for a bit of pot. Picking it on the banks of the Hunter River where it was growing wild.!!!

From Ocean Beach,the furthest point on the right is Box Head & half way back along that coastline is The Box. It's a much longer paddle than what it looks, but when your out there ya know that everything is good!