news words by darren "curl" marks It was a much-needed community get-together featuring vintage surfboards, music, tattoos, art, photography, great food, tall tales, and cold ales. The inspiration came from a couple of mates with a scheme to pay their respects to the local surfing culture. Pat O’Garey and Lindsay Becker are both avid collectors of exotic watercraft, and thought it might be a good idea to put on a shindig that embraced both board and beach. But there is more to this story, and I’m not too sure if it's mere coincidence or cosmic confluence. If you’re an avid reader of Smorgasboarder, you may remember an article on Lindsay about a similar event he organised at a local holiday resort on Phillip Island a couple of years ago. The display he curated was an amazing effort that was sadly underappreciated by management. Their failure to see the benefit of securing permanent residency left his impressive collection now looking for a new home, and that was where Pat understood an unrealised opportunity. Pat has been a prominent member of Phillip Island’s hospitality industry for well over 20 years now. He’s currently operating his third restaurant, which he runs with his 21-year-old daughter and business partner, Ebany. Bang Bang Restaurant and Bar pumps out delicious, clean, and healthy Asian-style cuisine with an equally impressive and eclectic drink selection. Unpretentious and welcoming, it has taken on a life of its own since opening five years ago. So even if you may be a couple of penguins short of a parade, you can see where this is headed. A couple of mates with a passion for vintage surfboards, an impressive surf culture display that has recently been rendered homeless, and one funky surfside restaurant and bar looking for a distinctive personality. So, with a handshake and a six pack, a deal was struck, and Bang Bang now hosts a permanent display of over 70 beautiful surfboards across its walls and ceiling. Currently, they showcase a combination of their board hoards, running at around 60/40 in Lindsay’s favour. The pair would have to have one of the best combined personal collections open to the public. Some of you who believe in fate and the magnetic powers of the universe would not be surprised to find out that earlier this year, as an incredibly talented tattooist, Lindsay was part of a collective that has taken over the retail space next to Bang Bang called Hectic — a shop full of art, tattoos, music, clothing, and more surfboards. It only seemed logical that both premises combined to present an annual event to be added to Phillip Island’s cultural calendar. The Phillip Island Celebration of Surf had something for everyone, collectors came from far and wide to show their manicured sticks, classic 70’s surf photography provided by Simon Chipper, indigenous art by Millowl elder Steve Parker, legendary surf stories from Dogga Luke and Bobby Matthews, and the official (yet late) launch of the Aloha Barry book, “Sand in my Crack: Life as a Beach Bum” (now available on the Smorgasboarder store). Live music by Nic & Adzy and the Laing Brothers provided a party atmosphere for surf lovers of all ages. Fans of lowbrow cultural pursuits enjoyed a pleasant afternoon that lurched haplessly into the haziness of evening. Delicious beverages fuelled the bullsh*t and bravado of worn-out stories between old friends, and a few pairs of dancing shoes were dusted off. What is so enchanting about admiring the sensual curve of a 70’s swallow tailed single fin as you recall feats of embellished aquatic courage and years of wasted youth and wanderlust? Old surfboards are more than cultural artifacts — they are a museum of your memories, past glories, and future possibilities. It was a great day to pause and show gratitude for our fortunate ability to revel in the ocean's abundance. # 59 // smorgasboarder // 20
news OLD SURFBOARDS ARE MORE THAN CULTURAL ARTIFACTS — THEY ARE A MUSEUM OF YOUR MEMORIES, PAST GLORIES, AND FUTURE POSSIBILITIES. # 59 // smorgasboarder // 21
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