TBC celebrates 40 years

Torquay Boardriders Club members hit the dance floor at the 40th anniversary event.

On Saturday night the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club was buzzing for a pumping soirée to celebrate Torquay Boardriders Club’s 40 years.

The crowd assemble included Ross Slaven, Lee Slaven, Tim, Stu and Johnny Hawken, Craig Stevenson, Glen Casey, Stephen Bell, Paul Hart, nathan Edward, Johnny Robertson, Andrew Flitton, and Mike DiSciascio to name a few.

The night began with a stirring introduction from former president and life member Tim Hawken, who returned home to the Surf Coast for the weekend from Western Australia to MC the event.

Decade by decade, some of the TBC’s finest recounted the escapades and victories of the past.

Ross and Lee Slaven took us through the inception of the club and the wild years of the 1970s.

Andrew Flitton recalled the 1980s and – to use a team’s titles term which was the theme of the night – was the designated “power surfer” with a number of wild stories of club greats such as Sean Brooks and nathan Edwards.

Mick Ray and Mike DiSciascio told stories of how the club almost died in the 1990s until a resurgence of families and groms in the 2000s.

Tim Hawken and Dave Matthews relished in delivering the tales of the new millennium followed by current club president Cahill Bell Warren who took the crowd through to the present.

Bell Warren commended his young crop of Torquay locals who have rallied around him and the Torquay Boardriders Club, helping to make the club the powerful and cohesive club that it is today. “It is an honour to be the president of such a prestigious and united club. We are all excited to see where our next generation of incredible surfers take us.”

A feature of the night was the 40-year magazine curated by the talented Tom Edgar.

The magazine is a beautiful depiction of the club and if you wish to obtain one, contact Torquay Boardriders Club through Instagram.

The night ended the only way Torquay Boardriders know how – with a roof raising set from AC/DC cover band Thundstruck who played the club anthem “Hells Bells” with gusto.

Our next aggregates are: Juniors on April 21 and Seniors May 12.