T
he Australian surfing
community gathered
in Manly in early
March to honour
surfing pioneer Barry
Bennett who was inducted into the
Australian Surfing Hall of Fame.
Bennett became the 38th inductee
into the Hall of Fame. The influence
he has had on the Australian Surfing
industry is timeless. Not just for
his pioneer work as a surfboard
manufacturer and shaper but for the
guidance he provided to many of the
country’s leading shapers and surfers.
Born in 1931, Barry started building
plywood and balsa surfboards and
skis in the 1950s at Waverly in the
eastern suburbs of Sydney which
quickly became a full-time job. He
formed Bennett Surfboards in 1960
and opened a factory dedicated to the
manufacture of surfboards and blanks
in Brookvale.
1. 38th Inductee into the Australian Surfing
Hall of Fame Barry Bennett on stage with
fellow inductees.
2. 38th Inductee into the Australian Surfing
Hall of Fame Barry Bennett.
3. Surfing Australia Life Membership recipient
Norm Innis with fellow Life Members Rod
Brooks (left) and Mal Gregson (right).
4. Female Surfer of the Year Sally Fitzgibbons
with 7-time World Champion Layne
Beachley.
5. Rising Star Award winner Jack Robinson
with former World Champion Barton Lynch.
6. Milwaukee Waterman of the Year Jamie
Mitchell with former World Champion
Wayne Bartholomew (left) and Milwaukee
Brand Manager Tom Mathieson.
7. ASB Surfing Spirit Award winner Andy
McKinnon with ASB publisher Keith
Curtain.
8. Peter Troy Lifestyle Award winner Bruce
Channon with Libby Troy.
9. Simon Anderson Club Award winner Coffs
Harbour Boardriders with Simon Anderson.
10. Surf Culture Award winner Duke’s Day
organisers.
11. Nikon Surf Photo of the Year winner Leroy
Bellet with Nikon Marketing Manager John
Young.
12. The International College of Management
at Manly.
13. 1999 World Champion Mark Occhilupo on
stage accepting the Male Surfer of the Year
Award on behalf of Mick Fanning.
During this time a steady