Stuart Nettle September 22, 2009

In 1978 Joe Engel won the Pro Junior contest at Narrabeen, the world's first competition for grommets. He also won it the following year, both times edging out Tom Carroll, who would go on to become a two-time world champion and much-loved icon of our sport. Following a very promising junior career, it was expected that Joe would find success at the senior level. However things didn't happen that way. His greatest result was Bells in 1982 – where he won his way through the trials and the main event – but following that victory the surfing world heard began to hear less about Joe Engel. Results not forthcoming he slipped from the surfing limelight. Joe quit competition altogether in 1985 at 25 years old. He quit surfing altogether not long after. As the surfworld moved on and new superstars rose to prominence, stories of unusual behaviour by Joe made their way into the media. Things didn't seem to be going very well for the former champion. Then, in 2006, it was reported that Joe Engel had died from a heart attack at Katherine in the Northern Territory. He was 46 years old. There is a litany of tragic figures in Australian surfing and it's not hard to see why. The surfing animal is a revered figure in this country: go hard in the water, go hard on land. The image is sometimes promoted by surfing companies ('If you can't rock n' roll don't fucken come') and always encouraged by peers – Australians love to drink. But the line between wild abandon and self-destruction is fine and many have stepped over it without even realising it was there. It is with this awareness that Sydney surfer Reg Barton has conceived the idea for a scheme to support surfers who have fallen on rough times. Through his work Reg has come into contact with Lindy Morrisson, former drummer of the The Go-Betweens. Morrisson sits on the board of The Support Act, a charity that 'provides relief and assistance to members of the Australian music industry who are in need or suffering hardship, illness or distress'. The Support Act is funded by the music industry, APRA and ARIA contribute to their coffers. Potential recipients – anyone from music performers to managers to roadies -  apply for assistance and their claims are assessed by the board of The Support Act. Having had a succesful musical career doesn't preclude someone from receiving help. In fact, The Support Act says that many recipients have previously had number one singles or been in top bands. When Reg first got the idea for a surfing version he was thinking of financial help for shapers who had contributed to surfboard design yet hadn't been rightly compensated - Simon Anderson immediately came to mind. However, it didn't take much to extend the thought and realise that the surfing community – much like the music industry – has an abundance of people who could do with help. Although there is no tangible structure yet Reg is clear on his vision: “The ASP through its own board, in partnership with surfing companies, should establish a 'war chest' and oversee the distribution of funds to identified surfers.” From the aforementioned shapers whos designs went unrewarded to surfers whos career trajectory resembled that of Joe Engel's, to fellas who worked in the factories before OH & S arrived and now suffer ill-health, the potential recipients are many. Reg believes firmly in the 'surfing community', a term he says gets used often but is meaningless unless we fulfill our responsibility to all members of said community. Playing devils advocate I asked if the scheme was providing welfare for irresponsible people. After all, the perception is that self-indulgence, or lack of self-discipline, causes many of the problems. “Who has never made an irresponsible decision?” came the rhetorical and thoroughly reasonable reply. He went on: “I'm suggesting that we don't judge but take some positive action. I'm not interested in how it happened. Maybe it's enough to say 'it happened', this person meets an established and agreed criteria and needs our support”. Magnanimity toward those in need is one thing, though Reg believes that a program for junior surfers is of equal importance. 'Getting ahead of the game' as he puts it. Mentoring programs, minimum levels of education for young pros, and TAFE courses are just some of the things he'd like to see established. If these were to be successful then future financial support won't be needed. And that is his ultimate goal. Reg firmly believes in the scheme, he's seen the music version work, and believes the surfing version has merit too. If he gets it up and running he would like Mark Occhilupo to be the patron. It's an inspired choice; most surfers know Occy's story and are aware of just how close he came to surfing oblivion. If it wasn't for the generous hand of Gordon Merchant he would've been lost forever. Occy was fortunate to have a benefactor – Reg's scheme will provide help for all those who don't. The groundwork is currently being laid for the scheme. If anyone would like to speak to Reg you can contact him via Swellnet: [email protected]