Re-enactment of the Duke surfing at Cronulla to mark 110th anniversary
Words/Images: John Veage. The surf at North Cronulla Beach on Saturday morning was a lot busier than 110 years ago when Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku first paddled out to become the first recorded surfer on our beaches, but Cronulla surfer Jarrod Pringle still had the crowd on its feet as he re-enacted Duke’s famous rides.
Jarrod was riding a 2-metre thin wooden Alaia which was a lot different than the Duke’s thick heavy 8ft 6 inch piece of hewn solid timber but still a world away from todays lightweight fibreglass performance models.
Surfing Sutherland Shire had organised a small celebration to mark Duke’s Day with mayor Jack Boyd saying surfing was an integral part of Sutherland Shire living.
The mayor also said the Duke was given a right royal introduction to the shire with lunch at Audley before a boat ride to Gunnamatta Bay and a surf belt exhibition swim at Cronulla before his famous paddle out.
Cook MP Simon Kennedy received applause from the crowd when he suggested a statue should be erected to commemorate the event.
There was also a wooden surfboard display from Riley Surfboards and a musical welcome from the St George and Sutherland Community of Ukulele Musicians.
A passer-by told organisers that his brother has a surfboard from Duke’s 1930 visit, which was left on Bondi Beach after an exhibition. He said it was purchased from a Grays Point local nearly 40 years ago and has since been covered in house paint.
Cronulla Surf Design sold a limited run of Duke T-shirts which raised $1000 for the Surfing Sutherland Shire Junior Regional Titles, Australian History Art donated a free raffle prize won by Justin Coleman and Cronulla Boardriders Club ran a free barbeque.
