Gold Coast’s best kept secret manages to lure surfing champion back as museum patron

IN 1980, Peter Harris was creating history as the winner of that year’s Stubbies pro Surfing event and in the process becoming world champion, albeit briefly.

Talking about the future direction of Surf World Gold Coast are new patron and 1980 Stubbies winner Peter Harris and chairman Rob Ryan in front of the Stubbies exhibit which is now on permanent display.

IN 1980, Peter Harris was creating history as the winner of that year’s Stubbies pro Surfing event and in the process becoming world champion, albeit briefly.

Now, Peter’s achievements are part of the Coast and Australia’s rich surfing history which have been preserved at the Currumbin museum and on display for all to see.

And he will have a very close connection to the display in more ways than one, taking on the role of patron of Surf World and helping raise the profile of one of the Coast’s “best kept secrets”.

With 55 years of surfing to his credit which has included representing Queensland, competing on the professional circuit, and being involved with local Gold Coast surfing industry and the Burleigh Boardriders, Peter views his latest challenge, getting people through the doors, as perhaps his biggest.

“What we have here at Surf World is an outstanding collection of surfing memorabilia and history which has played a key part of the Gold Coast’s culture,” he said.

“There’s an Hawaiian saying that has stayed with me which translated means ‘We the older surfers are passing surfing on’ and that what I think is one of the great values of Surf World.

“Not only can we pass on history about the sport but last the culture which developed around it which I think has gotten a little lost in the modern era.

“I feel it’s important for young surfers to appreciate the roots of surfing, the changes the sport has undergone and to know some of the legends who paved the way.

“Other sports recognise past champions and heroes and with places like this museum, we can do the same.”

The Stubbies display has a special place for Peter, who aside from winning the 1980 event, was also world champion that year for a brief period before the next pro event but went on to become 1980 Rookie of the Year which also saw him receive an invite to compete in the prestigious Duke Kahanamoku Invitational event in Hawaii that year.

He said there was a misconception in the general public about what Surf World was, aside from the fact that the vast majority of Gold Coasters didn’t know where it was.

“This is much more than an museum, it’s an educational facility and a great function area and we intend to promote that more,” he said.

“One way of raising the profile will be by building connections with the local boardrider clubs from the Gold Coast and Tweed.

“We would like to be able to give each club some small space where they can present their own history.

“By having each club represented at Surf World, they could then direct to their grommets and juniors to us to learn about the clubs and what they have achieved and who has surfed with them.

“Getting juniors into the place where they can see their own clubs will also help to build a sense of ownership with Surf World and help us the spread the word.”

Surf World chairman Rob Ryan said the museum’s role of preserving the Coast and Australia’s surfing history was becoming increasing difficult due to the amount of space at the Tomewin Street building.

“We have so many people wanting to donate or contribute to what we have here at the moment but we are running out of room not only to display stuff but store it,” Rob said.

“Ideally we would like to have better signage directing people to where we are — we tend to be hidden among the trees opposite the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

“Also being on the second floor, it make sit hard for older surfers to tackle the stairs so an elevator would make access that much easier but it’s beyond our budget.

“We have a very dedicated band of volunteers who have helped to create an world class surfing attraction — now we need to let people know what’s here.”

For more on Surf World, visit www.surfworldgoldcoast.com