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An interesting historical note (1996), about
the sign at the bottom of the stairs at Yallingup (south west,
Western Australia), is that the sign was put there as a result
of a (officially) joint initiative between The Vasse Leeuwin
Community Health Service, Soulwater Australia and Surfrider
Foundation.
The actual instigators were Rob Conneeley
(legend surfer and Surfrider Foundation member who moved to
Margaret River from NSW about 25 years ago ) and Roscoe
Kermode ( a Margaret River graphic artist/surf photographer
and owner of Soulwater Australia). These guys put the Tribal
Law thing together in an attempt to put some historical sense
and and perspective into what was becoming, and remains, one
of the most divisive and vibe-sapping problems in our great
sport/past-time.
It was Rob's influence that saw Surfrider
Foundation credited on the signs. 'In Rob’s words;"Inspired
by early surfers at Bondi, Gentleman's Rules, seeded by Peter
Cuming, Sustainable Futures, fertilized with Wayne Murphy,
with red wine and blarney, and brought to fruition by my soul-mate,
Roscoe Kermode, artist. Supported by the surfing community
of Margaret River."' (Surfing
Australia report)
They were enthusiastically joined by local
physiotherapist / surfer, John McTaggert, who was seeing a
massive increase in surf-related injuries at the Margaret
River Hospital, some of which were directly related to a lack
of surf etiquette.
John called together a meeting of people involved
with the surfing community in the area and also organised
funding from the Vasse Leeuwin Community Health Service to
produce these signs which were designed by Roscoe Kermode.
I attended that meeting on behalf of Surfrider
and we were given a number of these signs to put up at surf
breaks. Local Yallingup brickie / surfer Loz Smith laid the
limestone plinth and fixed the sign at Yallingup.
One final interesting fact is that Rob Conneeley
was recently inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame in Torquay
for the Tribal Law initiative and Roscoe Kermode popped up
in a coffee table surfing culture book by James McMillan called
"Blue Yonder" as a talented surf photographer living near
Raglan in NZ.
Tim Lynch
Cape Naturaliste Branch
Related articles:
Surfers Code
Perry
and Rob inducted into Surfing Hall of Fame
Australian Surfing Hall of Fame Awards 2006
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