Bondi lifesaver, John Falkner in his white trunks, surfing north bondi around 1947, photo courtesy of Lorraine Coan
Just received this great photo from Lorraine Coan, along with info on her dad John Falkner, who is pictured here heading for shore on his trusty hollow ‘toothpick’ around 1947. That’s him in the white trunks with the Bondi Icebergs in the background. According to Lorraine, John was 10 when his family moved to Brighton Boulevard in 1939 and not long afterwards he fell in with the North Bondi lifesavers. By the late 1940s, in his late teens, he was a keen surfer. His hollow board had an image of a blonde haired women painted on the deck. Marriage and other things in his mid 20s put an end to his surfing days and the old board hung on the family’s back fence in Panania for years to come. Lorraine recalls how it took at least 2 people to pick it up and shift it when it was eventually retired to a central coast relative who lived beside a lake. Thanks to Lorraine Coan for the image and the information.
John Falkner ‘going down the mine’ at Bondi late 1940s, photo courtesy Lorraine Coan
John Falkner sliding at Bondi late 1940s, photo courtesy Lorraine Coan
somebody tell lorraine coan that I would like to send her 100 red roses for those pics – they are rare beauties indeed – thanks LC
pete bowes
5 May 11 at 11:44 pm
They’re rippers eh Pete…!
Gary Crockett
6 May 11 at 9:21 am
I can even make out the old handball court over at the baths – bottom left, darker brick, just to the left of the pumphouse – and the middle shot must be ben buckler, that’s a tough wave on a toothpick
pete bowes
7 May 11 at 8:23 am