In a visual tribute to surfing, iconic filmmaker and soul surfer George Greenough specially prepared a 6 pack of historic short films to share with North Coast surfing communities in Byron, Lennox and Yamba specifically to help feed local people in need.
The well attended event held as part of Plunge Festival at the Yamba Cinema sold out days before and was truly an intergenerational celebration.
Local Yaegl elder, Ken ‘Fox’ Laurie son of Raymond Laurie and grandson of the great Rocky Laurie welcomed the audience to Yaegl country with a special dreaming story about Angourie.
Filmed on the North Coast 50 years ago, films included “Echoes”, now remastered from groundbreaking footage of tumbling waves in a kaleidoscope of colours and images from inside the tube filmed by George from a camera on his back.
Pink Floyd loved the original footage and provided the backing music in exchange for a copy of the film! They screened it 50 years ago as a back drop to their live performances for audiences of 50,000.
An added bonus for the local audience was the screening of “Animals” featuring Angourie surfing footage from 50 years ago. Local filmmaker, Paul Witzig, introduced the film which was first shown at the old Yamba Cinema 50 years ago.
Event organiser and MC, Helen Tyas Tunggal, thanked everyone for their attendance and explained: “I first met George Greenough in Yamba in the early 70s, along with many others that feature in tonight’s footage, so following the $4500 previously raised for Byron soup kitchen and $6000 for Ballina and Wardell soup kitchens, when George asked if I could run the film for the Yamba community, I thought it was definitely something worthwhile to share with everyone.”
She also thanked all of the local businesses who contributed to the mega raffle that ran in conjunction with the event. The audience were very excited as 28 fabulous prizes were drawn. Congratulations to Susan Ferguson who won the major prize of a year’s supply of “needessentials” wetsuits.
“Tonight we have raised $4000 to be shared with 2 local charities Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation and Wellspring Church for their food welfare programs.”