PORT Macquarie is hailed as the “bodyboarding capital of Australia”.
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And, with good reason too … three world titles, 23 national crowns and 17 state honours emphasises the area’s stranglehold on the sport.
Tomorrow night, the Port Macquarie Bodyboard Association will host its 21-year reunion at The Westport Club.
But, the celebration is expected to be tinged with sadness following the death of founder John Eppelstun this week.
The father of the club’s first world champion Michael “Eppo” Eppelstun lost his battle with leukaemia – just days before the gala event.
“John, or Mr Eppo, will be sadly missed at the reunion,” PMBA president Sean Hall said.
“Plenty of the guys, who are attending, owe a debt to him.
“He was a fellow of great character and integrity – and John put a lot of them on the right path.
“His influence has made a positive difference on many people and, it’s the best thing you can say about a person, when he really has left the world a better place through his being here.”
On June 14, 1987, the Bonny Hills Boardriders ran a contest at Middle Rock called the “Morey Boogie Championships”, which featured what would turn out to be some of the biggest names in the club’s history.
Michael Eppelstun, Peter Gleeson, Matt Hay, Rob Cotter, the Navin brothers in Pat/Ben/Shannon and Simon, Stewart Clark, Luke Berhmann, Wayne Hadfield, Anthony Summers, Matt Scully and the legendary David “Goose” Gosby were all part of the first movement in competition history in the region.
“Although this was one of the maiden events before the club was formed, it was definitely a step in the direction of what would become the PMBA as its known today,” former president Clayton Pickworth explained.
“In just a few months time, the smell of a strong following was imminent.
“So, in September 1987, John and Kathy Eppelstun called a public meeting at the Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Club to see who was interested in the formation of a bodyboard club.
“Lo and behold, more than 200 kids and parents turned out to see what was going on, much to the amazement of the Eppos!”
However, after initial shock had worn off a little, the Hastings Bodyboard Club was eventually formed and, with such a good following into each competition day, it became time for the organisation to move forward.
In 1989, the Hastings Bodyboard Club became the Port Macquarie Bodyboard Association – and so started the campaign to turn the organisation into a force to be reckoned with.
But, a force into what?
“Well, outside of the club competitions, was the vibrant contest scene, which included Zone/Regional/National Titles and also a Pro Tour,” Pickworth said.
“The Port Macquarie members certainly put some street cred into the arena with big names such as Rob Cotter, ‘Eppo’, Peter and Vicki Gleeson, Luke Berhmann, Shane McEwan, the Murray brothers, and many others, securing top placings against the best in Australia.
“The results snowballed, which enabled the new breed to look up to some of the most skilled riders around.
“With the introduction of media magazines and videos, the young crew like two-time world bodyboarding champion Damian King, Simon Thornton, Todd De Graaff, Rick Bannister, Steve Sonter, Mason Rose, Luke Hall and Todd Lee to name only a few, certainly had a bright future ahead.
“In contest results for New South Wales, PMBA has produced a massive 17 state champions in all divisions.
“The National Titles looked certain to be a lot different, and so they were, with a staggering 23 crowns being bagged by PMBA members, which I think is the most by any club in the history of our sport.
“And, who could forget that PMBA now has three world titles to its credit, thanks to Eppo and King.”
It all started with …
* The Murray brothers in 1989 (Ash Murray winning the “boys” or “grommets” and Adam the “cadets” division)
* Adam Murray, juniors (1990)
* Todd De Graaff, cadets (1992)
* Simon Thornton, juniors (1994)
* Michael Eppelstun, opens and the first ever world title (1994)
* Bill O’Brien, grand masters (1999)
* Nerida Murray, junior women’s (2000)
* Brooke Smith, junior women’s (2001)
* Michael Eppelstun, seniors (2001)
* Brooke Smith, junior women’s (2002)
* Brooke Smith, junior women’s (2003)
* Simon Fuduric, cadets (2004)
* Brittany Hockley, junior women’s (2004)
* Charlie Holt, grommets (2006)
* John Gorton, grand masters (2006)
* Jones Russell, opens (2006)
* Jay Turner, cadets (2007)
* Keegan Cronin, drop knee (2007)
* Charlie Holt, cadets (2008)
* Chase O’Leary, juniors (2008)
* John Gorton, grand masters (2008)
PMBA also boasts two inductees into the Australasian Bodyboarding Hall of Fame with Eppo in 2001 and Vicki Gleeson in 2002, along with Merit Awards for Service to Elynne Toft and Seano Hall in 2005.
John and Kathy Eppelstun were awarded life membership with New South Wales Bodyboarding earlier this year.
Tickets to tomorrow night’s reunion are $20 and available at the door.