New Gold Coast bridge named after city’s ‘Godfather of surfing’

A new bridge connecting Kropp Park and Len Wort Park in Tugun has been named the Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew Bridge in honour of the city’s unofficial Godfather of surfing.

A GOLD Coast bridge has been named in honour of one of the Gold Coast’s most revered surfers — almost six months after it opened.

The bridge, which connects Kropp Park and Len Wort Park in Tugun, has been named the Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew Bridge in honour of the city’s unofficial Godfather of surfing.

The 5m wide bridge, which replaced an old timber bridge which ran across Flat Rock Creek,

has become popular with pedestrians and cyclists since it opened in September.

Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

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Mayor Tom Tate unveiled a plaque to mark the bridge’s naming at a ceremony this morning.

“Congratulations today to Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, the unofficial godfather of surfing on the Gold Coast, with the naming of the Currumbin Oceanway Bridge between Len Wort and Kropp Park, Tugun after this Gold Coast legend,” Cr Tate wrote in a post on Facebook.

Jan Stuckey, Wayne Rabbit Bartholomew, Mayor Tom Tate and local area councillor Gail O’Neill at this morning’s ceremony. Picture: Facebook.

The $1.5m bridge upgrade, part of the Gold Coast Oceanway, will help improve access for spectators and local residents during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Inducted into the Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame in 1999, Mr Bartholomew was instrumental in pioneering surfing, helping establish the world tour in the mid 1970s.

Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew received an Order of Australia Medal in 2013 for his work with the surf industry and environmental issues.

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A master of the tube and strategic competitor renowned for his almost cavalier approach to big waves, he won the 1978 world professional title and was rated in the top five in the world for eight consecutive seasons.

Since retiring from the professional circuit in the late 1980s, Mr Bartholomew has held various senior roles in organisations dedicated to the development of surfing.

Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew at the new Tugun pedestrian and cyclists’ bridge named in his honour. Picture: Facebook.

He served as a national coaching director for Surfing Australia and as president and chief executive officer of the ASP, overseeing the multimillion-dollar world tour.

Mr Bartholomew also played a key role in the city’s successful bid to have the section of coastline from Burleigh Point to Snapper Rocks declared a World Surfing Reserve.