National Maritime Museum grant
for surf lessons (in the classroom)
Do you know why fin design makes one surfboard faster than another? Can you name five
Australian women surf champions?
It is not a sport traditionally associated with the studious, but young surfers may shortly be given
their chance to shine in the classroom with a new set of studies about surfing.
With the help of $3300 funding from the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Gold Coast
Surf Museum is putting together an educational program for school children that will be aligned
with the national curriculum.
The program will disseminate lessons on subjects such as the changing technology of surfboard
construction, the role of women in surfing and the economic importance of surfing.
“Surfing is more than a billion dollar industry on the Gold Coast alone,” said Karen Hutchinson,
Secretary at the Gold Coast Surf Museum. “We expect to attract students from coastal regions of
New South Wales and Queensland.”
The contribution of surfing to Australian culture has been profound. Companies such as
Quicksilver, Mambo, Rip Curl and Billabong collectively spawned a ‘backyard’ entrepreneurial
style with global consumer reach.
Surfing is over a hundred years old in Australia, with the oldest recorded surfboard in Australia
purportedly brought to Tasmania by a Hawaiian whaler in the late 1800’s. The sport was
popularised in 1914 when the Olympic swimming champion Duke Kahanamoku gave a
demonstration at Freshwater Beach on a 120 pound wooden board.
Targeting school children between grades four and seven, the new program will be distributed
online. Several schools and universities already have surfing programs, but the Gold Coast Surf
Museum is the first to specifically address the historical significance of surfing.
“Surfing is an important activity in the Australian way of life, it’s been important in our history,”
said Australian National Maritime Museum Director, Mary Louise Williams. “We are pleased to be
able to support this innovative education project through the Maritime Museums of Australia
Project Support Scheme (MMAPPS).”
The MMAPPS scheme, which the museum funds with Australian Government’s Distributed
National Collection Program, helps regional museums, community groups and volunteers to
promote and protect Australian maritime heritage. For more information, phone (02) 9298 3777 or
15 January 2010
Australian National Maritime Museum - Bill Richards (02) 9298 3645; 0418 403 472
Images and interviews are available upon request from brichards@anmm.gov.au
NEWS 
