Trish Samuels (Patsy Lane)
1947-
by Trish Samuels
The ‘Beachcombers’ of Palm Beach NSW and their boards 1959.
Pearl Turton and I grew up together at Palm Beach and we were both in the group called The Beachcombers back when we were all of 14 years in 1961. The Beachcomber Club was a little club we started operating from the main beach at Palm Beach in about 1960. It consisted of a small group of local youngsters, average age 15 friends mainly from school. Our uniform was for winter a sort of bomber jacket and our hats were our cut down winter velour hats from our high school. The Beachcomber Club only lasted for a few years.
Some original Beachcombers Surfbord Riders Club Palm Beach NSW 1961 near the present day dressing sheds. Note Johnny Hawkes Beach Buffet in the background washed away in king tides. The Beachcomber’s Club was underneath the Beach Buffet. Back row – Ken ‘The Blue Streak’ Mackey, John ‘Pine’ Prosser, Richard Parkinson. Front – John ‘Olly’ Oliver, Ron Turton, Pearl Turton, Glenys Pearson, John ‘Beaver’ Gonsalves, Ronnie Berczelley and Laci ‘Hompus Stompus’ Berczelly
We would borrow the boys surf boards for the short time that they would let us to ‘have a go’ on them. It was a great time and I guess we were in the infancy of surfing. I didn’t surf as Pearl did but just borrowed the boys boards (when I was allowed!) however, I have always lived near the sea or close to it and love being in it .
Part of this was surfing films at the theatre at Collaroy – good times. The surf films were shown at the Collaroy cinema and I know The Endless Summer, the Bruce Brown movie was one of them. One of the Witzig brothers used to make films also. I remember borrowing my brothers jumpers and his after shave (as perfume) to wear with jeans to the movies.
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