Capturing the roots of surfing history and culture
In 2010 the Surf World Museum in Torquay launched its Oral History Program.
Through the program Australian surfers are invited to share their surfing experiences, and recall the
moments, places, characters and equipment that have all gone towards shaping our surfing lives.
Limited time and resources mean that we cannot personally interview all the surfers we would like too.
So we are asking you to provide some of details of your surfing life by using the online form , downloading
and filling out the Word document or just phone us and we will post out the questions guide format and you
can write out your experiences and post them in to us and we will type it up for you.
We are trying to capture the complete history of Victorian surfing that will be lost if the stories relating to
active surfers before 1970 and not captured in some way. We would love to record the characters, incidents
and stories that are the real roots of surfing in Victoria. It doesn’t matter if you are still an active surfer or
not your individual participation in this sport helped to create Australia’s surfing identity and culture.
Perhaps you could supply a recent photo and access to copy any surf related photos from earlier times that
you would like to share and preserve for all in the future.
Initially, just because of limited volunteer resources, the focus will be on Victorian West coast history.
It is intended that the information collected will form part of Surf World’s web presence.
Allen Loone
Project Volunteer
Surf World Torquay
YOUR SURFING STORIES
Full name:
………………………………………………………………………………..
Nick Name ………………………………………………………………… (would you tell us about it? )
Some leading questions
1.
Where were you born, grew up and went to school?
2.
When and where was your first surfing experience?
3.
What do you consider to be your home break and where else did you surf mostly?
4.
Who else was a surfing in the area at the time, do you recall any outstanding or inspirational
surfers of that time?
5.
How did you get to the beach?
6.
Can you tell us about your first board – who made it, where you got it from . What about other
favourite boards you had?
7.
Do you believe surfing has influenced how you live your life, how?
8.
What would you describe as your best surfing memory?
9.
What would you describe as your worst surfing memory?
10. Are you still surfing – what does it mean to you today?
11. What do you think about current surfing – new developments in equipment and styles etc?
Your Stories and anecdotes
Boards
Progressive history of your surf boards – favourites, sizes, makes, what happened to them etc.
Classic Days
Do you remember some particular session or just one wave that sticks in your mind as a classic day.
Spin a few stories
We would love to hear as many of these stories as you can recall or dare to relate.
………..It’s Ok we don’t think you can get arrested for THAT now…….
Summary of your surfing life – 5 year periods
Years
1950-55
Where were you surfing, with who and what else were you doing?
Change
dates to suit
you
1955-60
1960-65
1965-70
1970today
If you are still surfing just a paragraph or two to capture your continuing participation in the sport
PS: save this all out as a Word Document and add your name to the file name.
Example: Bill-Smith-surfing-history-Victoria.doc
Interview Release Form
SURFWORLD is continuing to develop exciting new exhibitions and programs for our museum in
Torquay. Your participation will form part of our Oral History Program which will document the
history of surfing.
Your participation will provide important information on people and events from the past and help
contextualise other collection holdings.
Excerpts from your information may feature in future exhibitions and a range of associated
programs.
Subjects permission
I understand and agree that this information:
1. Will be included in the Oral History Program, preserved and managed by SurfWorld
Museum Torquay for future generations.
2. May be included in exhibitions, multimedia books, and associated programs.
3. May be used to promote exhibitions and programs at SurfWorld Museum Torquay.
4. May be used for education and promotion via Surfworld Museum website only.
(Please note that for the Oral History Program purposes our minimum requirement is for the first section to be ticked)
Contact Details
Current Address:
Email:
Phone:
Mobile:
Signature ……………………………..Date…………….
Craig Baird, Curator SurfWorld Museum
Phone: 03 5261 4606
Email: cbaird@surfcoast.vic.gov.au
SurfWorld Museum
Beach Road
Torquay, Vic, 3228
www.surfworld.com.au