My uncle George wrote this for his brother, my Dad, who passed away yesterday at home in Torquay. He wanted it to be shared somewhere where those that might have known Dad to see it (he doesn't do Bookface, as he calls it). 🌊

Sorry if these photos are skewiff... I'm emotionally exhausted and can't be bothered spinning them around. Maybe tomorrow.

It's definitely a surfers tribute in an historically surfers town - I thought it would be of interest to the surfing community on Hive. I'm not really here at the moment but these words had already been written and I hoped someone here might enjoy them.

🌊In memory of Hans. 🌊

The life blood of Torquay is in the thousands of everyday surfers who come to enjoy the surf at every chance that they can. They may not join clubs, enter competitions or work in surf related industries, but their lifestyle is what has made the history of the surf coast.

Hans was part of this tribe, starting surfing in the mid sixties. His first surfboard was 9’2” D fin solid balsa wood. Regular road trips from Melbourne led to surfing along many of our west coast breaks.

Then in the early eighties he moved with his wife and two daughters to Jan Juc. He grew through all the years of change, transitioning from Logs, vee bottoms, single fins, short twinnies and into the era of modern thrusters. All while surfing at every chance he could; as all we surfers do.

As surfing changed he progressed into Windsurfing, then Kite surfing, then Stand ups as well. He was even part of a group that hired a generator, some flood lights and set these up on the cliffs at Rincon to try some night surfing.

He has passed his love and enthusiasm for the surf on through his family and friends and for that we are most thankful.

Chances are, that if you’re part of the everyday surfers along this coast, you have probably shared a session with him at some time.