Sons of Beaches

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Dobbo - Out of the Surf

Dobbo, originally uploaded by sengsta.

I've been going through the last three years' worth of Blue Hole Club photographs for photos of Dobbo. Les from the club will give an eulogy at Dobbo's funeral this Friday and he asked for photos of his mate that could accompany the eulogy.

This image from one of the last swims of the 2007 season, of Dobbo running out of the ocean and it caught my eye. I think it's representative of the hardiness of the winter swimmer, the "who cares if it's bloody freezing, let's just get to it" attitude that marks Dobbo and his swimming mates at the Blue Hole Club.

Dobbo - Rest in Peace

Dobbo - Rest in Peace, originally uploaded by sengsta.

I received a call from a contact at Trigg Surf Club tonight and learned that Ken "Dobbo" Dobson had passed away yesterday after almost a year battling cancer.

Dobbo was a Blue Hole Club stalwart whom I had photographed at their swims on Sunday mornings in winter since 2006.

Dobbo always struck me as a bloke who was fighting fit - he was a strong swimmer and kept himself in good nick (as can be seen by his physique in this photo, which was taken in August last year).

I finished photographing the Blue Hole clubbies in August last year. Dobbo was diagnosed with cancer in September. From what I hear, he fought back and battled it into remission. But it returned and got the better of Dobbo in the second round.

Be at peace, Dobbo.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Book Launch - Sons of Beaches, the book

Sons of Beaches, a 108 page softcover book of surf life saving photographs, will be launched at the exhibition Opening Reception, and is available for sale during the exhibition:

30 March - 15 April
Kurb Gallery - 310, William Street, Perth
Exhibition hours: Sun-Thurs 1pm to 7pm, Fri-Sat 1pm -
8pm.

Whilst the exhibition explores specific themes relating to the surf life saving enterprise and its iconic place in Australian culture, the photographs in the book present a fuller picture of the endeavours and contexts within which we may view/read/interpret the icon, extending on themes raised in the exhibition.

The book consists of five chapters, each focusing on an aspect of surf life saving:

The Beach - location, setting, environment, physical space, and the people whom inhabit it.
The Crew - the men who crew the mighty surf boats
Surf and Sand - action, adventure, drama and pathos of surf life saving carnivals.
Open Water - long-distance open water swimming.
The Blue Hole - winter swimmers who brave the wild and frigid ocean.
Sons of Beaches - men whose lives are intrinsically linked to the lines and rhythms of the coast.

For more information, email seng_mah [at] yahoo.com.au or visit www.thesnapshooter.net