North Haven's Marty Ware is a single dad, who loves his daughter, surfing, gardening and God.
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But after breaking his leg when he dived off the back of a dangerous looking wave at North Haven on Monday November 26, you can now also add that he loves his community.
He says the support of surfers who assisted him immediately after his accident, to the nurse who was working in the cafe and to the hospital staff was unbelievable.
Marty says he is likely to be off work for up to eight weeks recovering from the injury.
"It has been pretty nice how well the community pulled together and helped me out," he said.
"That's been the really beautiful moment about the injury: I've only been living here for about two years.
"That's what has really touched my heart. Everyone was and continues to be, really concerned for my welfare. They've been dropping food around; it has been pretty amazing.
"This small community has a lot to say for itself. This is a wonderful place.
This small community has a lot to say for itself. This is a wonderful place.
- Marty Ware
"And I don't know everyone's names but just thanks to everyone; from the surfers through to the lady from the cafe," he said.
Marty, who was just getting over a serious health problem, says he was looking to ride his last wave of the day when he got injured.
"There was a bit of a rise in the swell coming up and we were all catching a few good waves," he said.
"I was on my last ride of the morning and ready to finish with a completed turn when the wave suddenly got all out of shape.
"I was moving too fast and had to dolphin out the back. Unfortunately the board shot back at me like a bullet and actually hit my knee even before I hit the water.
"A board doesn't normally do that but I guess it was the speed I was doing.
"It was a nasty hit and the pain started about a second later."
He says the pain was quite intense and remembers grabbing hold of his board to get back on top of the water.
"I couldn't feel much and the pain just shot up my leg," he said.
I couldn't feel much and the pain just shot up my leg.
- Marty Ware
Allowing the waves to carry him back to shore, Marty was soon helped by several surfers. They carried him to the seats near the clubhouse before he received some first aid treatment from a nurse at the cafe.
Although in pain, he didn't want to call an ambulance.
One of the surfers let Marty drive his automatic car - Marty drives a manual car - to the hospital where he received treatment.
His prognosis wasn't good: eight weeks off work with a fracture just below the knee.
But there is some good news.
Marty says he plans to use the time off to continue to promote his love of small space gardening.
He has been slowly building an online following for his two Facebook pages - search for Marty's Garden Show or Small Space Vegie Gardening in Australia - and his youtube channel.
A horticulturalist be trade, Marty has been engaging the online community with his quirky garden posts and informative discussions.
He plans to use the time off work to work with his online followers to produce a collaborative e-book on small space gardening.
"I took this up about eight years ago so I could better my life and help educate people about gardening in a small space," he said.
