2025 Surfing Australia's - Hall of Fame Awards

Tuesday 9th December - 2025

At the 2025 Surfing Australia Hall of Fame Awards it became abundantly clear to me that if the future of Australian surfing lies largely in the hands of Surfing Australia, then I’m here to tell you that we’ve got no worries at all.

The evening was a masterfully orchestrated technical show that fired off with military precision and was solely dedicated to shoring up the very foundation blocks of Australian surfing’s true strength.  Whether you follow celebrity culture or not, Surfing Australia's strategy of leveraging raw surfing talent coupled with fitness and personality enhancements remains a masterclass in the modern era of the star building process.

2025 Surfing Australia Hall Of Fame Awards. Gold Coast Convention Centre.

Reno Gillespie (left) and Steve Core, accepting the major award of the night on

behalf of Graham 'Sid' Cassidy. The honour was Sid's induction into

Surfing Australia's National Hall of Fame Award.

Photo: Peter Gillespie

If nurtured and scaled effectively, this approach will redefine the entire industry. Built on Surfing Australia’s supportive networks and innovative ideas, these rising young star trails, above all, highlight the importance of self-belief, curiosity, and resilience. 

All I can say respectfully, is that we didn’t need royalty like Mick Fanning or Mark Richards to carry the night, this brigade of twinkling surf stars is, as ‘Rabbit’ would have termed as: ‘Busting Down The Door’.

Prepare yourself Brazilians, Hawaiians and Californians, there’s a bold new breed heading your way. 

(Above) The Sandshoes Boardriders table & crew:

Left to right: Peter Gillespie, Neil Coleman, Michael Durante, Reno Gillespie,

Chris Durante, Steve Core, Robbie Carr, former World Champion,

Peter Townend, who flew all the way from California for the event.

Sorry, but I’m an old washed up surfer from another era and I don’t get to hang out on the current World Tour like we used to do when we worked alongside pro surfing guru, old mate, Sid Cassidy. This is all new to me.

For this gala evening event, I was in for some mild shell shock as I was abruptly brought up to speed with the current state of the surfing nation.
My lifelong Cronulla friend Graham ‘Reno’ Gillespie and I were invited by Surfing Australia to attend the 2025 Hall of Fame Surfing Awards on the 6th December. 2025.

Walking into Hall 4 in the Gold Coast Convention Centre the mood was set right

from the get go for this year-end feature gathering. The space was basically a

perfectly over-sized box but it had been transformed into an intimate space.

It was set up for a live, big screen, video presentation and soulfully bathed in rich,

deep blue lighting, blue stage trimming and flared curtain up-lighting and blue

floral arrangements. A good eye for detail from the event builders to set the

ocean related ambiance no doubt. Blue. Nicely executed and it worked a treat too.

Photo: Surfing Australia

  
We were selected because with Sid Cassidy in full time institutional care with advanced dementia there were no family members available to accept the honour. 
Walking into Hall 4 in the Gold Coast Convention Centre the mood was set right from the get go for this year-end feature gathering. The space was basically a perfectly over-sized box but it had been transformed into an intimate space.

It was set up for a live, big screen, video presentation and soulfully bathed in rich, deep blue lighting, blue stage trimming and flared curtain up-lighting and blue floral arrangements. A good eye for detail from the event builders to set the ocean related ambiance no doubt. Blue. Nicely executed and it worked a treat too.

First off, the evening’s host and MC, Vaughan Blakey did a sterling job. I’ve never met him previously. Not only was he witty and chatty, he was 100% surf cred knowledgeable. Throughout the evening, Vaughan drip fed us countless bio’s to update the audience about each category winner's backstory, the age at which they started, and the key to their success. 

Entwined in his astute and sharp observations Vaughan was bloody funny too, in bringing us his fresh perspectives unburdened by conventional wisdom.
And Vaughan buddy, I used to do the live beach commentary for Sid on his ASP Pro World Tour events in the ‘70s and ‘80s, like you asked the Channel 9 guy on stage that night “Got any jobs going mate?” 

The charming Annie Goldsmith, the young female para surfer of the year. Goodness gracious. Such a talented surfer and an absolutely heartwarming genuine love of life from someone who has more to overcome in daily life then all of us put together.

Annie you are just a wonderful young lady, an awe inspiring example in every sense. During your speech I had tears in my eyes from your beautiful attitude and outlook on life and surfing. Simply outstanding.

Graphic: Surfing Australia

In a switch up of the program, the major award of the night going to Sid was going to be first cab off the rank. So guess what? It turns out that Reno and I were the evening’s opening act. 

We had to be the ice breakers and be first up on the main podium. Our host, Vaughan skilfully set it all up for us by presenting a beautiful encapsulated summary of Graham ‘Sid’ Cassidy’s lifetime anthology and his achievements. 
Then Reno and I had to accept the award in Sid’s honour and place. As lifelong friends that have known, recreated with, surfed with, and worked with, Sid for the last 50+ years. It was our privilege and completely humble honour.

Sid himself was a very humble man, he would have been overwhelmed by this level of attention centered on him. With that out of the way, the night could get into full swing. 

Where do I start? I had my socks completely blown off with the awesome surfing talent that we saw in superb video grabs and heard from in all categories throughout the evening. 

Surfing Australia's Head honcho, Ace Buchan, provided an awesome opening speech that had me totally believing that we were in good and steady hands.
All the winners were so impressive in their individuality. The amount of raw talent gathered for the evening was simply overwhelming.

Yet another amazing young female surfer, just 13-years old, Leihani Kaloha Zoric

walked off with the 2025 Stephanie Gilmore Rising Star Award. So impressive.

Leihani's award was presented by Molly Picklum (right).

Photo: Surfing Australia

The charming Annie Goldsmith, the young female para surfer of the year. Goodness gracious. Such a talented surfer and an absolutely heart warming genuine love of life from someone who has more to overcome in daily life then all of us put together.

Annie you are just a wonderful young lady, an awe inspiring example in every sense. During your speech I had tears in my eyes from your beautiful attitude and outlook on life and surfing. Simply outstanding.

And another amazing young female surfer, just 13-years old, Leihani Kaloha Zoric walked off with the 2025 Stephanie Gilmore Rising Star Award. So impressive. 
And what about Molly Picklum? Give me a break. This young lady is not only a super talented surfer (sorry, current World Champion, duh!) but she comes packing a charming and a disarming personality, far from a cookie-cutter Hollywood ego type personality. Totally at ease with a microphone in her hand.

Presenter, Pauline Menzer (left) and the charming Annie Goldsmith,

the 2025 young female para surfer of the year.

Photo: Surfing Australia

If your were a national brand commodity marketing boss and looking for a athlete to sponsor how could you past this excellent young sports women, with crystal clear eyes, beautiful natural smile, white teeth, fresh face (no botox) that can express herself and her thoughts crystal clear and doesn't umm or err in a sentence. Absolutely brilliant.All the winners in all the categories were perfect choices, so a big congratulations must go to all of them.

When we picture surfing’s bedrock founders, we often imagine experienced adults armed with decades of know-how. Yet history shows that some of the most iconic startups in this new world have sprung from the minds of youngest entrepreneurs with bold ideas well before they turned thirty or even twenty in some cases.

Well as I see it, that’s Surfing Australia from what I gathered in dealing with them over the last month or so. Very impressed. Sid would be proud.

So, am I a newly converted fan, you bet. I don't know what's in the water up there at Casuarina, but guys, please keep on drinking it.

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