Three local surfing legends in Maroubra are being honoured as the latest inductees into the Australian Surfing Walk of Fame.
Honouring Decades of Dedication
Lifelong surf lifesaving member Peter (Cuz) Kirkwood AM, one of Australia’s first certified female surf coaches Susan Wood-Moore, and professional kneeboard champion David Parkes will be officially recognised for their significant contributions to Australia’s surfing community.
The ceremony will take place on Sunday, July 21, as part of the Randwick City Council’s Beach Breaks community event in Maroubra.
Peter Kirkwood AM: A Lifelong Mentor
Peter Kirkwood has spent over 60 years coaching and mentoring younger surf lifesavers, a role he took on unexpectedly. He reflected on his journey, explaining that he began board paddling and unexpectedly found himself coaching young surfers due to the lack of available coaches. He didn’t initially plan to become a coach but discovered a passion for it as he enjoyed working with people and seeing their progress. For him, surfing became an addictive and beloved sport.
Despite earning over 100 medals at world, state, and Australian titles between 1972 and 2024, Kirkwood values the friendships forged through surfing the most. He said that the most valuable outcome of his surfing journey has been the numerous friendships he has formed. While medals can be set aside, the friendships he made at Maroubra and worldwide are truly priceless to him.
Susan Wood-Moore: Pioneering Female Surf Coach
Susan Wood-Moore, who established Australia’s first surfing school, Safe Surf Schools, in 1987, also played a crucial role in changing the male-dominated surfing culture at Maroubra. She recalled the challenges and noticed while that the boys were enjoying surfing, she couldn’t understand why girls couldn’t do the same. However, back then, girls were not accepted in the surfing community and were often discouraged from participating. It was a challenging and complex environment for her to navigate.
Years of persistence led to a cultural shift at Maroubra, where women and girls were eventually welcomed in the surfing community. Over time, the culture at Maroubra shifted from hostility towards girls surfing to a more accepting attitude. Initially, there was a lot of bullying and territorial behaviour, but eventually, it evolved into a community that simply encouraged everyone to follow the surfing rules.
David Parkes: Kneeboard Champion and Surfboard Shaper
David Parkes, an internationally renowned kneeboard rider and surfboard manufacturer, began his surfing journey at Maroubra Beach. He plans to continue surfing and shaping boards while travelling throughout Australia with his family and friends.
David has lifelong friends he surfed with as a child in the 70s and still surfs with today. He regards Maroubra as a fantastic place to be a part of, and the camaraderie continues even though he no longer lives locally. He believes that surfing at Maroubra has greatly contributed to his surfing career.
Community Celebration
These three surfing legends’ achievements will now be immortalised along the shoreline at Maroubra Beach. Their induction into the Australian Surfing Walk of Fame celebrates not only their personal accomplishments but also their lasting impact on the local and national surfing communities.
Published 19-July-2024