Boardriding pioneer Bernard ‘Midget’ Farrelly honoured for his service to surfing and surf lifesaving

SURFING legend Bernard ‘Midget’ Farrelly left behind a legacy of loving the great outdoors for his children and grandchildren and today he was honoured for his efforts.

Midget Farrelly won the first World Surfing Championship on the northern beaches.

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SURFING  legend Bernard “Midget” Farrelly left behind a legacy of loving the great outdoors for his children and grandchildren.

On Monday, he was honoured posthumously by being made a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to surfing as a competitor and industry pioneer at the national and international level, and to surf lifesaving.

Midget Farrelly on his way to winning the first World title in 1964.

Farrelly, a Brookvale resident who died last August at the age of 71, was the inaugural world surfing champion in 1964, runner-up in the 1968 and 1970 world championships and Australian surfing champion in 1964 and 1965.

His daughter, Johanna Isherwood, said the family was “extremely proud” of him.

“It’s not until something sad happens (like his passing) that you remember his contribution to the evolution of surfing in Australia,” Mrs Isherwood, of Freshwater, said. “It’s sad he’s not here (to receive his award) but Mum is really pleased. She’s beside herself.” Mrs Isherwood and her sisters, Priscilla and Lucy, are surfers, as are her three sons.

Midget Farrelly.

Farrelly in his younger years.

The Farrelly girls grew up in Palm Beach when it was a sleepy village and they had the beach to themselves for 10 or 11 months of the year. “Dad was the typical dedicated surfer who was always gone by the time we woke up,” Mrs Isherwood said.

“He was a surfie dad but we didn’t realise how much he was also immersed in the business side of the industry until we were older (he pioneered the Midget Farrelly stringerless model surfboard in 1965). He’d always take us surfing on weekends and he taught all three of us the importance of making the most of the outdoors.

Johanna Farrelly, Lucy Farrelly, Beverlie (wife) Farrelly and Priscilla Farrelly with the Australian Open of Surfing tribute to their father and husband who was the first world surfing champion Midget Farrelly Picture: Adam Yip/ The Manly Daily

This award helps us remember how much he did contribute.” Farrelly was a founding member and inaugural president of the Dee Why Surfing Fraternity in 1961, a founding member of the International Surfing Federation (now International Surfing Association) in 1964 and founding member and inaugural president of the Australian Surfriders Association (now Surfing Australia) in 1963. He established Farrelly Surfboards in 1965 and owned Surfblanks Australia in the ’60s.

Farrelly was a Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club member 1999-2016, a member of Whale Beach Surf Life Saving Club 2006-2016, an inductee in the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 1986, and inductee in the Surfing Walk of Fame at Huntington Beach, California, in 2007.

“When I go for a surf I always catch a wave for him and push myself because I know he’s over my shoulder telling me to do it,” Mrs Isherwood said.