Palmy Army marks major anniversary
FUN, FREE-SPIRITED CLUB STILL MAKING WAVES 50 YEARS ON
IT’S a big year for the Palm Beach boardriders club, better known as the Palmy Army.
They will celebrate their 50th anniversary on August 4 at Currumbin RSL Soundlounge and this Sunday will host their annual Eager Beaver event at 25th Ave.
The event is in memory of much-loved and respected Nathan “Beaver” Jager and raises awareness of mental health issues.
Palm Beach boardriders club was founded in the garage of Neville Palmer’s house at 8th Ave – the house is still there – in 1968 by Ian Gordon, the late Peter “Naughts” Evans, Peter “Ned” Kelly, Shaun Conway and the Palmer brothers.
Palmy was a free-spirited, alternative anti-establishment club embracing the KAOS logo taken from the famous Get Smart TV series of the 1960s and ’70s.
While Palmy retains some of that rebellious streak from the anti-establishment days, the tide of change is turning
and they are quietly becoming a very slick professional outfit.
Former Palm Beach boardriders president and club coach Dru Adler says
surfing itself has changed from those early heady days.
“Surfing in general has changed so much over the years and the club has been working hard to adapt,” said Adler, whose family surf thanks to his legendary dad Ken, a ’60s world finalist and well-respected shaper.
“At times surfing has been an alternative lifestyle and no club on the Gold Coast carried that flag more than Palmy.
“Surfing is not only an Olympic sport now but a healthy pastime which parents are happy to have their kids involved in.
“Palmy has a heritage of great surfing and a lot of fun.
“I’d like to see the next generation being guided in the right direction, to keep having fun in a healthy environment.”