Category Archives: Lennox Head

2018 Skullcandy Oz Grom Surfing Open

Held annually at Lennox Head in the July school holidays, this major junior surfing competition draws around 300 competitors, not only from NSW, but around Australia and even from around the world.

Many parents take advantage of the pilgrimage to combine travelling to the comp and make for a family surfing holiday.

I went out behind the scenes with a backdrop of perfect winter weather… to capture a different perspective of the general ‘cool’ vibe of the aged variety of spectators taking in the ‘Groms At Play: IN and OUT of the WATER’ …

MY FIRST AUTHORED BOOK

Well, co-authored to be correct.

For over a year, with limited resources, I was part of the dedicated volunteer ‘Surfing Lennox Crew’ applying our best efforts to assist the Lennox Head Heritage Committee produce a 104 page book Surfing Lennox: From Then to Now.

The  book chronicles 70 years surfing around the town of Lennox Head and takes you on a wild ride following the evolution of the town from a once sleepy fishing hamlet, to when the first lone surfers tentatively entered the water, to the seemingly unstoppable crowds attracted today to the iconic world renowned surf location.

The book covers the breaks of the Lennox National Surfing Reserve (LNSR) stretching from the south between Flat Rock to the Lennox Head-Alstonville Surf Club in the north. It is ten years since the dedication of the LNSR and the book explores all the themes that define National Surfing Reserves: ‘sites of environmental, cultural and historical significance to the Australian surfing culture.’

Behind this backdrop are the people, groups, the characters who were born here, visited, stayed or have come and gone. It is not only the location and environment, but this diverse bunch that together in some way, shape or form, makes Lennox such a special and unique ‘buzzing’ town.

As co-authors’ our contributions combine with materials delivered via donations from the public to make for irreplaceable recollections the local community can now keep as an archival document.  The volume of information and images received was overwhelming and we faced some difficult challenges; many decisions about inclusion were very tough to make.

To include everything and everyone was impossible and there is no claim as definitive, but in turning the history pages of our towns surfing journey the modest size book still covers a great measure of authentic ground. Who knows, perhaps, with more resources the next generation could produce a definitive history and fill a large 300 page hard-cover book.

But right now we do finally have an interesting, stylishly presented book. And all entirely locally produced, edited, designed and printed!

Monies from the sale of the book will go to the not-for-profit Lennox Head Heritage Committee and Lennox National Surfing Reserve Inc.

Surfing Lennox From Then to Now is currently selling at Lennox Post Office,  and local shops, Anchor Chief, The Book Room, Lennox Head Surf and ABC Bookstore Ballina for $49.00 RRP.

HIPPY’S IMAGE

When ‘Hippy’ Craig Richards became the new licensed  trader at Lennox Head Motors, he asked me: “…can you design a new Ad, as the old Ad with the Volvo HAS TO GO (sorry Volvo drivers) as it just doesn’t fit our image here in Lennox, right across from the beach and all.”

AD BEFORE:

AD AFTER:

I came up with this look based off the old style N.S.W. Rego stickers. It features the iconic EK Holden wagon cruising down the road with the waves rolling in, complete with a classic timber log surfboard strapped to the roof!

A few months later Hippy asked to design a new Business Card in the same style, so we ‘pimped-up’ the ride and power modified the set-up.

The Stairway to Heaven

Here is a nice slice from ‘hanging out’ on The Stairway to Heaven on the a weekend 14 – 15th May. The weather is as good as it gets. Cool nights with perfect warm sunny blue sky days equalled with water temps in the mid 20’s degree C. Topped with excellent water clarity of magnificent colour, light off-shore winds and some nice little waves.

Lennox Walks for Climate Change

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Approximately 300 people marched in Lennox Head in solidarity with people all over the world as part of the Peoples Climate March on Sunday 29th November.

The event was organised by Community Owned Renewable Energy Lennox (COREL), a newly formed group which aims to take local action on climate change through various renewable energy projects . Any future money and sponsorship COREL raise will be put back into clean powering community owned assets.

LOGO

The Walk fell on the eve of the Paris Climate Conference and was intended to send a message around the globe for action on climate change. A crowd gathered at the park near the bus shelter where they listened to speakers, including organiser Amelia Hicks, Greens MP Tamara Smith and multi award winning travel writer Louise Southerden. Other guest speakers included members of community energy group Mullumbimby COREM sharing their knowledge and experiences after already being established since 2014.

In attendance were Ballina Councillor Jeff Johnson and Mayor David Wright.  Many participants in the walk and others passively attending added their name to a public letter which will be sent to Ballina Council showing the community’s support for new renewable community projects.

Despite the cloudy weather (and several light showers) the event PA was completely powered by the sun, thanks to Sebastian Sledge of Solar Trailers Australia and his 1.6 KW mobile power station. The sound gear was supplied by Disco Statik and Master M.C. Vic Leto was very impressed that for the first time in 32 years hosting, the P.A. ran entirely ‘unplugged’ and free off the sun!

After the speeches the large crowd made its way onto the beach for a photo and then a short walk to the Surf Club and return. Once back the entertainment was led by musicians Gair and the very funny trio of ‘Bronnie and the Bishops.’

NOTE: As a founding member of COREL I was also an organiser of the event.

Vic Leto.

Great East Coast Trail

My Photo scored the front cover of the Lennox Wave after I joined Scott Rawstorne for a sunrise ride along the Seven Mile Beach stretch of the Great East Coast Trail.

Cover

You can read more about Scott’s plans for the trail on this link: http://lennoxwave.com/2015/05/a-great-adventure/

Meanwhile here are just a few more awesome images of the ride.