Rabbit Reflects
A
s the twilight engulfed the famous Sydney Harbour, an illustrious gathering of Australia’s eminent surfing royalty rubbed shoulders with captains of industry, surf company founders and invited dignitaries on the wharf outside Doltone House, the venue for Surfing Australia’s gala dinner, incorporating the Hall of Fame and the announcement of Australia’s 10 Most Influential Surfers. This being Surfing Australia’s 50th birthday party, the patrons were resplendent in a combination of traditional black tie, individual flair and a gorgeous array of gowns. The MC Mark Beretta, brought an air of professionalism to proceedings, as we heard from Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark, Chairman Norm Innis, the Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan, Federal Sports Minister Kate Lundy and a special cross from Canberra by our Prime Minister Julia Gillard. With the official speeches out of the way it was onto the awards. It came as no surprise that Joel Parkinson and Stephanie Gilmore won Best Male and Female Surfers, or that Jack Freestone took out the Rising Star Award. All three won ASP World Titles in their respective disciplines: Steph for a fifth time; Jack a junior double; and Parko a breathtaking win over 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater in the season finale at Pipe. Waterman of the Year went to a By Surfing Australia Patron
Australian Surfing’s Night Of Nights One For The History Books
Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew AM
1978 World Champion most deserving Jamie Mitchell, winner of the Molokai Challenge a record 10 times. The Peter Troy Lifestyle recipient was long-serving Victorian veteran Bob Smith. The Surf Culture Award went to The Reef, a celebration of the Australian landscape using music to further delve into the connection between surfing, the ocean, landscape and music, while Misfit Aid, a group dedicated to the design, implementation and development of aid to communities around the world received the ASB Surfing Spirit Award. There were heartwarming acceptance speeches with the enormity of the occasion often overwhelming recipients, as well as graphic features depicting the achievements and contributions of and by the winners. One of the biggest cheers of the night went up for Nikon Movie of the Year, Storm Surfers 3D, the whole production team joining Tom Carroll and Ross Clarke Jones on stage... an Oscars moment for surfing. Peter Wilson provided a poignant reminder of the commitment of our lensmen in his acceptance speech for Nikon Surf Photo of the year, and to round it out Kirra Surfriders Club, who had recently celebrated their 50th, took out the Simon Anderson Club Award. Under normal circumstances we would be then celebrating the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, however the focus then shifted to the Big 10. There had been so much speculation about who would make the list, who was Australia’s most influential surfer of the past 50 years? In the room was an illustrious gathering and it should be no FVBF?B?F??Vv?F?W?F?B??B??RF?Rf????7B?F?R6??G&?'WF???2?b7WW'7F'27V6?2F?V??&F???WFW"G&?W???&'F????6??6?W??R??&??V??V??6V??????2?( ?F??V????&?v'&V??BWFW"F?v?V?B??B?F?W'2v??vW&V?( ?B??GFV?F?6R?7V6?2FW''?f?G?vW&?B?Bv??R??6???VVG2F?&R6???v?VFvVB?F?R7&?FW&?v26???27FFVB?F?R??7B??f?VV?F??v?F?F?Rf?F??r?FRW?bF?R????bf?R??GV7FVW2?Bf?7W'fW???F?R7W&f??rW7G&?f6V&???vR?6?6??&??F????bVW"????Bf6V&???f?F??rv?V?BFWFW&??RF?Rf????7B??F??( ?B??BF?66??6??rF?B??B?"??B??V?r?B?FvWBf'&V??2?F?2?v?V??6BF?v??BF??Vv?B?BF?&?Vv??6?V?B??Bv?7BF??6RwW?22?f??r&VV???f?VV?F??????7B??7?&??rf6????F?vV?W&F???2?bW7G&??7W&fW'2?F?R???V?6V?V?G2vW&RF??R??&??6?2?bF?&VR?6???V?V?FVB'?f?FV?6?2??v??v?F??rF?R&V6??V?G>( ?6??WfV?V?G2?B??f?VV?6R?FV?F??vW&R&?"?5Ff?6???&??66???W??B??( ?'Vv?Vw2???6V?b??Bv27GV??&V?VbF?&?F?&R??VB?BF??fR?B?WB?bF?Rv????B&F??7&?76W2F?B?( ?B6?B?W2f?"F?Rf????v??r??&???r??BF?V??BFv?VB???RF?B?????BWfV???RF?R?7B?'WB?6?V?B??r6?B&6??BV????v?72?b&?VvR??????W7G&??W26???????v?F?F?R6??r?gFW"F?R'&V??rF?&?Vv?RvW&R??VB2???R&V6??W??F?R???RfV??R&V6??V?B?F?RWfW"?V?"F??6'&????BW7G&? ( ?2f?'7B??Rv?&?B6??????FvWBf'&V???F?R???F?W"??B??GFV?F?6R??B?2???r&VV????v?F?BF?RfWVB&WGvVV??FvWB?B?B?v??6??6?6V?V'&FW2?G2SF?6????7F?V?FW2F?B?V?F?W"6?F?&VR?bF?RfW'?&W7B( 2&&&?B?&?"?5Ff?6??B?&??66???W????("?("7W&f??rW7G&??Ww0??