Meet the Hendys, Ron, Trevor and TJ, the first family of Surfers Paradise SLSC on the Gold Coast

FLASH flooding saw the Hendys turn their back on Port Headland and turn the family car to the Gold Coast ... and in doing so, a surf lifesaving legacy — to be carried through three generations — was born.

Trevor Hendy (right) with father Ron Hendy and Trevor’s son TJ Hendy. Picture Glenn hampson

THE Hendys came to Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club as young family searching for belonging in a place far from home.

Nearly half a century down the track and the Hendy name is as synonymous with Surfers Paradise as the bikini-clad beauties who walk the streets.

Forty years after his father Ron became president of Surfers Paradise SLSC, ironman legend and former world champion Trevor has followed the same footsteps, coaching before taking on the presidency this year.

Hendy began his nippers days at Surfers in 1976 and has retained his strong connection there for four decades.

TJ, Trevor and Ron Hendy on Surfers Paradise beach. Photo: Glenn hampson

“I’m coming up to 40 years in the movement — and I got my bronze medallion at Surfers in 1983,” Hendy said.

These days Hendy is a motivational speaker, a life coach and works part-time with Collingwood AFL club mentoring players, coaches and staff.

But it was his career in surf that Hendy is best remembered for.

He was Australian ironman six times, he won the Uncle Tobys series four times and has been inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the Gold Coast, Queensland and Australian Surfing Halls of Fame.

Hendy turned to kayak paddling, where he made the Australian team for the 1998 world championships.

TJ, Ron and Trevor Hendy. Picture Glenn hampson

In the background is 21-year-old TJ Hendy — grandson of Ron, son of Trevor.

Having taken up the sport as a 16-year-old, TJ Hendy is now chasing a career as an elite ironman at Surfers Paradise and looks set to carry on the tradition started by his dad and ‘Pa’.

But the Hendys road to Surfers Paradise Surf Club immortal status has been a long one and there are plenty of pages in the history books that are yet to be written.

But the story starts with Ronald Hendy, Trevor’s father, who fought as a professional boxer but under the name of Ron McGrath.

He can’t remember the origins of the pseudonym but he won enough fights to earn himself the money to buy a car.

Then, as promised, he gave up the fight game.

Flashback: Trevor with daughter Kristelleand wife Jacki.

It was only by fate that the Hendys ended up on the Gold Coast.

Ron, a carpenter, packed up his small Melbourne-based family in the early 1970s and embarked on a trip around Australia to find a place he deemed worthy enough to raise children.

Two years later and a week before the Hendys were destined to settle at Port Headland about 1600km north of Perth in Western Australia, a well-timed storm ruined their plans.

“He told mum in a week’s time we’re going to go back to Victoria, get the stuff out of storage and we’re going to settle here. There’s a lot of work, a lot of opportunity, a good climate,” Trevor said.

“Then it poured rain for the next week I think it was, flooded the whole place … and as soon as we could get out of there we never turned back.

“The second choice was the Gold Coast.”

Trevor Hendy win an event in 1993.

Arriving on the Coast, the kids were enrolled at Surfers Paradise Primary School where Trevor was a sporting standout.

Here he was encouraged by teammates at the Surfers Demons Aussie rules club to take up nippers.

“I cried my eyes out because I felt intimidated by the whole thing but by the end of the first day loved it and got into it and never looked back,” Trevor said.

“Mum became the caterer in the surf club and my sister was the social organiser and did other things on the committee.

“We basically joined at the same time and he joined so he could do it with me.

“By getting his bronze medallion he soon became an awards trainer and then within two years or so he became the chief training officer which back then used to be called the chief instructor.

“Then he stepped up and took the role of president for two years. When he was president of the surf club I think I was 16, 17.”

Within a few years, Trevor, was a jack of all trades when it came to sport — that was until his father sat him down at age 16.

Ironman Trevor Hendy cruises to victory during the 1996 Uncle Tobys ironman circuit at Glenelg Beach, South Australia.

“I was messing around with tennis and life saving and he said to me one day; ‘all right Trev … you can go on being good at everything you do or if you want to, you could take one thing, concentrate on it and be the best’,” Trevor said.

“It really hit home. I thought about it.”

Then next 20 years would see Trevor rise to Surf Life Saving superstardom as arguably, the best ironman this country has ever produced.

He retired from professional sport in 1998 and dabbled off and on for many years in coaching while pursuing his own business interests — eventually becoming a motivational speaker and life coach.

Trevor’s son, TJ. Photo: Adam Head

It wasn’t until TJ told his dad five years ago that he wanted to be an ironman that Trevor unexpectedly found himself living a life his father had paved 30 years before.

“Because of that our youngest one Jaali got into nippers and she absolutely loves it,” he said.

Hendy has four kids TJ, 21, Jaali, 13, Bailey, 18 and Kristelle, 28. But it is TJ and Jaali that have fallen in love with the ocean.

“Jaali’s heavily in it and one of the real leaders in the nippers,” Trevor said.

“Based on some of the cultural change I helped the club with, I thought it was about time to put my hand up and be president.

“I cherish those moments with my dad, my mum and my sister so much.

“It’s such a great lifestyle training and being healthy and in many ways I’m reliving it (through my children).”

Trevor and TJ in 1997.

“(And) to be honest, running for president was the idea of my wife Jo but now that I’m there I am really enjoying the challenge,” he said.

“What I’m pushing is how we can best take advantage of the club’s iconic location and name, especially with overseas tourists.

“I am so grateful to Paul Donovan from Gold Coast Airport and Mayor Tom Tate for meeting with us to give us their thoughts on the future direction of the club.”

But there was a time Hendy fell out of love with his sport.

“For a while even as I came through and became world champ and (was) the poster boy for the sport for a while … that was a great experience but it was also something I couldn’t wait to get away from in some ways as well — from the limelight.

“I had a lot of challenges through that as well, a marriage breakup through that time.

“I kind of slayed my own demons ... and then found myself just back at the club helping them out.”

For TJ, who has dreams of winning just as many titles as his father, the future is just as much about building Surfers Paradise back to the pre-eminence of its heyday as it is about personal glory.

“The great thing about my family … is we believe Surfers Surf Club should be an iconic club,” he said.

“It’s probably lost that a little bit.

“But there’s probably only one major beach in Australia that is more well known and that’s Bondi.

“If our surf club wasn’t there, a lot of stuff might happen ... like more swimmers at risk on Surfers beach ... (who are safe now).”

Hendy took over the presidency from four-term veteran Craig Chapman.

Hendy said Chapman had done an “amazing” job in turning the club around.

“Craig did a cool job stabilising the club and now I want to take it to the next step,” Hendy said.

“We have an amazing culture and I want to open the doors to more members, more nippers, more patrol members.

“Do you know we’re the second smallest club in the South Coast Branch? We’re ahead of only Coochiemudlo in Moreton Bay.”

Proud grandfather Ron viewed his service as president of Surfers as a rite of passage.

He also believes TJ has the makings of a professional ironman in the some vain as Trevor.

But when asked if he has one hope for his son as the club’s newest president, the 72-year-old says high standards and the Hendy “tradition” are what he holds most dear.

“He’s a very motivated type of person. I think he’ll push the club forward,” he said.