Barry Bennett: Australian surfing pioneer farewelled at Manly funeral
The life and achievements of Australian surfing pioneer Barry Bennett were celebrated at a packed, and colourful, funeral in Manly.
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One of the pioneers and legends of Australian surfing has been farewelled at a colourful northern beaches’ funeral.
Hundreds of people packed into St Matthews Anglican Church at Manly on Wednesday to celebrate the life and achievements of Barry Bennett, 90, the founder of iconic Bennett Surfboards.
Mr Bennett, who was described during the service as a “quiet achiever” who helped create the nation’s surfing industry from his iconic factory at Brookvale and as a hardworking craftsman who influenced millions of surfers around he world, died on July 12.
The church on The Corso was so crowded with family and friends, mourners had to be seated at the church hall next door.
To honour his life, people were urged to wear “aloha” or Hawaiian shirts to the funeral. The serve was followed by a procession, led by Mr Bennett’s family, through the Manly CBD. One of his legendary boards was carried ahead of the hearse.
Mr Bennett gained international fame as one of the so-called “Brookvale Six” — the pioneers of the Australian surfboard design and manufacturing industry based on the northern beaches.
Along with the rest of the ‘six” — Greg McDonagh, Scott Dillon, Denny Keogh, Bill Wallace and Gordon Woods — he was at the forefront of what became a massive board making industry.
He also founded Dion Chemicals, Australia’s biggest supplier of surfboard “blanks and went on to help launch surfing into the nation’s culture from his factory and retail outlet on Harbord Rd.
The service was told Mr Bennett was so dedicated to his craft that he was still working in the factory up until just a few months ago.
His achievements led to him being inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame and the first Australian into the International Surfboard Builders Hall Of Fame. He also received an Order of Australia Medal in 2019 for his extraordinary contribution to surfing and surf life saving.
On its website the business boasts that “Bennett Surfboards has been in the surfboard business longer than any other Australian manufacturer”.
Mr Bennett also developed surfboard rescue boards used throughout life saving in Australia and across the world
He also had a long association with Manly Surf Life Saving Club, where he was a Life member and where he competed for decades on surf skis.
His grandson Tom Bennett told the service that “you’ll never find more of a legend than our Pop, Barry Bennett”.
“I challenge anyone to find a harder worker than my Pop.”
Tom Bennett said his grandfather, who was keen on maintaining his fitness, was until recently, still lifting weights at home. He made the weights with empty resin tins filled with concrete, connected by a broomstick.
He described Mr Bennett as a “quiet achiever and a legendary waterman”.
“You leave behind a legacy, larger than imaginable and one that will never be forgotten.
“I know your are cruising upstairs with the other late legends of the Brookvale Mafia, sharing kegs as you guys did in the 60s.
“Enjoy boys.”
Surf writer Nick Carroll told the service that Barry was in his factory on his 90th birthday.
“There was nothing Barry liked better than being in the factory, just messing around with stuff,” Mr Carroll said.
“Whether it was blowing blanks, or sweeping the floor when everyone else had left, maybe doing a gloss coat on a special board, just all that stuff a born craftsperson loves to do.
“On behalf of all surfers in Australia, if I might be so bold, I’d just really like to say ‘thankyou Barry for all you gave us.”
Mr Bennett is survived by his wife Margaret, children Greg, John and Kathy, and his grandchildren.
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