It may be hard to believe, but Australia's first world champion only began surfing four years earlier, taking up the sport at the advanced age of 23.

"I was a late bloomer and don’t really know why I took up surfing but I did. When I first started in Sydney, I could hardly paddle,” said Phyllis O'Donell in 2018.

She and her older sister bought a board from Nock & Kirby - a hardware store - and began surfing Freshwater regularly, with the younger O'Donell quickly advancing.

"In those days when you were surfing with men, you had to be aggressive because there were only a hand full of women on boards at the beach," she said.

In 1964, Phyllis was invited to the first world titles at Manly Beach, riding the hardware shop board ("It was a Joe Larkin") through the main event.

"There were 50,000 people on the beach that day and no-one thought I could beat the American champ Linda Benson, but I did.”

Phyllis styling her way to the '64 world title

The ladies were scheduled before the men meaning Phyllis was Australia's first world champion, being crowned an hour before Midget Farrelly did the same for the men. Midget was six years younger than O'Donell.

“Back in the day, we’d often get cigarettes and a trophy for winning an event, occasionally we’d also get money but you could guarantee you’d take home a pack of Craven As’.”

Phyllis went on to win the Australian national women’s titles in 1964 and 1965, plus eight Queensland State titles after she moved to Tweed Heads in the mid-60s. Phyllis retired from competition in 1974. In 1996, she was inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 1996. The second woman inducted - Isobel Letham being the first.

In the early hours of November 6th, Phyllis died. A world champion and classic Australian character.