Celebrity Surf
By Maritime Union of Australia
Surfing legend Wayne Deane, state Minister for Sport and Recreation
Alan Carpenter, Greenpeace organiser James Courtney, Surfing Australia
and MUA officials, members, surfers and a crowd of 5,000 came
together under the banner safer ships cleaner seas at the Whalebone
Classic Surfing Contest in Cottesloe, Perth, WA on Saturday, July
14,
Union sponsorship was timed to mark the 10th anniversary of the
Kirki shipping disaster, which threatened to wipe out the states
beaches and crayfish industry.
The competition got off to a dramatic start with seafarer and
MUA member Cai Wernblom covering himself in 'oil' to show how
a shipping disaster would impact on our beaches and our way of
life.
More than 170 surfers from the US, Peru, South Africa, and from
all around Australia lined up for the event. They spanned three
generations, with some as young as 10 years of age and others
grandfathers aged 70.
MUA surfer Mick Williams and Elanne Elis were among them.
Erin Nichols from the Gold Coast took out the Kirki Cup, with
Geraldton MUA member Leanne Ellis, the only female surfer, awarded
the wipe out of the event. Her father Tony made her surfboard
and won the over 50s division.
Minister Alan Carpenter officially opened the Whalebone Classic
with Kim Young alp candidate for Moore, down at the beach for
the Mullalloo Beach competition the following weekend.
"Tim Fitzpatrick, a talented Cottosloe lad, stole the show with
good walking, nose riding and tubes," said Mick Williams. "Scott
was also junior champion in the Whalebone the week before. Some
locals think he is a future world champion."
The results of the Kirki Invitational Comp at Mullaloo Beach were
as follows: 1st Tim Fitzpatrick, 2nd Jock Bahen, 3rd Kevin Anderson,
4th John Guest, 5th Dave Smith, 6th Scott Bond.
Next stop in the MUA national shipping and surfing campaign is
the annual Koori MUA Challenge in Wollongong on September 20-30.
Members wishing to compete can get entry forms from their local
branches.
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