1960's Board Registration required

[billie_morini]

In the 1960's, the local council of Maroubra, Australia (10km south of Bondi Beach) required board registration. The local government thought, "If you can't afford to register your board, then you cannot surf." This did not work very well and surfers become outlaws and hoodlums. I wonder if Jaffa remembers this. For all we know, he may have lead the resistance.

[billie_morini]

But wait! It get's better. The local government promulgated an additional requirement! (image)

[jaffa1949]

Well a little potted history in response. All the municipal councils in Sydney and in the bigger towns and Protocities ( they weren't cities then) had board Registration in the sixties.
But let's take 2 steps back one to 1903 when An editor of Manly Daily Newspaper one Mr Gocher defied regulations and practiced sea bathing in daylight hours, the regulations became void. This led to crowds partaking of the waters, many subsequent drownings led to the forming of the Surf Life Saving Movement. / Clubs. SLSC
The SLSC System continues to this day.
Just Prior to WW1 Duke Kahanamoku 1912/13 brought board riding to a number of beaches around coastal Australia.
solid Wood and hollow paddle surf boards were made up to 16 Foot in length

Much in this manner until 1956 when a seismic shift occured .
The Melbourne Olympics were that year and California Lifeguards brought their Balsa Malibu Chip boards and turned the whole surf scene on its collective head. They turned and went across the wave!!!! Novel.
The hollow board makers shifted gear and went into Balsa board contruction.
The Balsa pig board was born
Here is Jaffa first board

Life Rafts on the Retired WWII naval vessels were stolen, their internal Balsa was stripped, Balsa boards were here.
Just in time for Gidget movies, Annette Funicello and surf music to boom with a massive surge.
The Bruce Brown and Bud Brown movies stormed through sold out cinemas-
Bikinis Hit the beach and SLSC inspectors enforced a 4 inch Side Panel rule

Registration for boards was introduced at first 10 shillings per board annually renewed.
Supposedly with included insurance for anyone injured by the board.
There were designated swimming areas on any beach between red and yellow flags and a blue flagged Buffer Zone on either side, riding inside these areas would bring a week's confiscation , no Sticker would result in confiscation until a new Sticker was produced

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The SLSC were military like in their requirements of Patrol duty and discipline and often had friends enforcing confiscation on friends.
Fights, break ins to retrieve held boards , finding entry points to the surf beyond lifeguard areas and the general disobedience and defiance of authority as rock and roll and the surfers rebellion spread.
A golden time really, much of the east coast of Australia was still an unexplored coast of opportunity
Then came Vietnam the Golden era was over, counter culture and the same pulse as went through the US occurred.
That's another Story for another post

[billie_morini]

The Manly Daily Newspaper editor defied regulations and practiced sea bathing in daylight hours?! Astounding that this was improper behavior. There is not much more natural than the sea.

Loved the photo of Jaffa's first board!! K-k-kool!

Thanks very much (Vielen Dank), Jaffa, for sharing the modern story about surfing in Oz.

[jaffa1949]

Here you are Billy registration for your board

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All suburbs of Sydney except the one from Newquay UK...... The idea didn’t spread much, the UK surf scene had Aussie lifeguards at the time, so they had to control the seething masses of board riders there too!