The Hall of Fame will eventually be located within the Cronulla Surfing Gallery, located near the Cronulla Central Library. Surfing Sutherland Shire is currently working with Council to initiate a physical home for the Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame will grow over the coming years to further recognise those who have made an outstanding contribution to our surfing community. Surfing Sutherland Shire will consider nominations annually.
The Cronulla Surfing Hall of Fame is an initiative to recognise surfers that have made an outstanding contribution to our local surfing culture. It will become a permanent feature of the Cronulla Surfing Gallery located in the Cronulla Central Building with an honour board that lists inductees. The Hall of Fame will grow over the coming years as Surfing Sutherland Shire considers nominees annually.
Sutherland Shire Mayor, Carmeo Pesce noted that we have a rich and vibrant surfing community and that local surfers have made outstanding contributions to public safety, youth sport, business development. He also acknowledged the countless volunteer hours that Boardriders club members have provided via there club activities and events.
“Sutherland Shire Council is proud to support Surfing Sutherland Shire and acknowledge the contributions that local surfers have made for the betterment of our community”
State MP for Cronulla, Mark Speakman said surfing and the beach are a central part of Cronulla recreation and commerce. “The Cronulla Surfing Hall of Fame is a tangible and permanent celebration of the sport which has enriched our local culture, and of its colourful characters” Mr Speakman said.
Although 1976 World Surfing champion Peter Townend is a Queenslander, and one of the original ‘Cooly Kids’ a group of super competitive surfing talent that emerged at the birth of the shortboard, he also called Cronulla home in the 1970’s.
PT, moved to Cronulla in 1971 after negotiating to make surfboards at Caringbah’s Gordon and Smith Surfboards-and he lived at Mick and Sue Anastas house in Franklin road, surfing at Sandshoes with his mates and honing his big wave skills at Cronulla Point and at 22, he was competing in 20-foot surf at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Hawaii, on the way to a World Title.
1971-1976 were his ‘Cronulla years’ and Townend who won the Inuagural ASP World title never forgot his time in the Sutherland Shire visiting old friends every time he returns.
Townend retired soon after his World Title and has lived in the USA at Huntington Beach ever since,and is now the Chairman at the Huntington Beach International Surf Museum and the Surfing Walk of Fame.
PT along with Ian Cairns formed the “Bronzed Aussies” he was executive director and coach for the USA surf team and for 10 years he led the advertising department at Surfing magazine before running marketing at Rusty-Townend also famously was the surfing double for actor William Katt in ‘Big Wednesday’.
PT was guest of honour at the Surfing Sutherland Shire 100 years of Surfing celebration dinner, and spoke about his years living at Cronulla and making history when he became the first professional world surfing champion.
Townend is also a Hall of Fame member of Surfing Australia.
Photo: John Veage
Nominations will be considered annually by the Surfing Sutherland Shire committee. Examples include but are not limited to the following.
Note: Outstanding surfing achievements at the elite level are recognised in the Cronulla Surfing Walk of Fame. Examples include;
“The Hall of Fame is a wonderful way to acknowledger those who have made a significant contribution to our local surfing community”
“Over the course of 100 years, surfing has become a multi-million dollar business that is integral to the Cronulla brand. The Cronulla Surfing Walk of Fame is a tangible and permanent celebration of the sport which has enriched our local culture, and of its iconic stars,”
