Well my dad was a keen photog. In the seventies, if he'd knew I'd gone for a wave, he'd often sneak down to Maroubra and film me surfing with his eight mil camera and then drive home without me knowing it.
And the first thing I'd know about his surreptitious activities would be when the film arrived back from Kodak about three weeks later.
Without saying anything he'd drag out the projector screen and set it up in the kitchen doorway, commandeer the kitchen table (green laminex marble pattern with silver art noveau table legs) for his projector, slip the small yellow reel into place, then carefully thread the wispy thin end of the film into the strange mechanical innards so that it clicked and clacked and whizzed while the projector lamp warmed itself up all bee-like subliminal buzz. And all the while Dad would have this strange smile on his face knowing that I didn't have a clue I was about to watch a kneelo surf movie....
So Dad's been gone since '94 and his eight mills films had all but dissapeared into dusty memory .....til the other day when my little brother decided he'd go rummaging for the long lost projector and films and try and convert what he could onto dvd....
And so three days ago history almost repeats itself when I get home from work I find shoved in the letterbox a dvd in a cardboard box. When I crack it open I find the title Andrew Surfing with a kneelo in a barrel printed on the dvd. The kneelo's riding an eight foot barrel, looks like Parkes at Sunset, but just cause it aint me doesn't matter...
The footage contains some interesting stuff
there's a maroubra club meet with film of the Great Glen Perry presiding on the beach with megaphone, one wave by a very young David Parkes looking so smooth and stylish, one with Terry Day ripping..
to give you an idea of the age of the first part I'm riding this (pre leg rope plug board)

The second segment is the last Sitmar Cruises. There's a few incedentals which I found interesting, a few walk on parts.
I know the quality is not good but:
Firstly can anyone tell me which Ware brother this is? It's the chap on the bottom right.

now if this is John Ware am I to assume the above lad is Peter?.

Anyone recognise this spray on the left? (I'm the guy on the right lugging a home made board.)

board from front

why does it remind me of this (obviously not the same board)? from tracks october 1976

Lastly for a litle kneelo history ; Peter Berry's 4wd parked on the boulevard



there's more plus the video if anyone is interested...
PS never heard of Terry Day?
tracks october 1977


Tracks coverage of the sitmar Tracks june 1979

