THE death of surfing legend Tim Gates 12 months ago was to spark an extraordinary period of mourning.
Perhaps most memorable was the moving ceremony at Fairhaven Beach when surfers took to the water to form a circle and laid wreaths in the sea.
This Saturday, to mark the first anniversary of Mr Gates’ death, a memorial walk will proceed from Fairhaven lifesaving club to Moggs Creek.
Mr Gates was a national and international surf competitor who instructed Fairhaven nippers over many years and instilled into them a confidence in the surf and an understanding of its dangers.
His wife Jane this week recalled one of the many tributes sent by the mother of a young nipper who Mr Gates taught that summer:
“In those 15 minutes he seems to have instilled a love of board riding that I suspect will last a lifetime. I am quite sure that these 15 minutes exemplified Gatesy’s life – taking the time, instilling the passion and teaching what needed to be taught all with laughter, fun and love of his fellow human beings.”
She said Mr Gates loved the surf lifesaving club.
“Tim liked nothing better than, with a beer in his hand, to tell stories of his exploits in the surf and to take visitors on tours of the many photographs and commendations around the walls of the club.
“It was a place he loved.”
Mr Gates’ teaching skills were not limited to the beach. He was the director of outdoor education at the Melbourne Grammar Camp at Woodend, where students learned bush craft and survival skills.
A memorial service was also held at Melbourne Grammar 12 months ago, and was attended by thousands of students, friends and parents.
Since his death, Jane has established the Tim Gates Foundation to administer the generous donations made after his death, and to commemorate those values for which he stood.
The trust is a not-for-profit organisation and a proportion of the investment will be paid each year for the benefit of a young surf competitor from the Fairhaven club.
Anyone interested in obtaining details of the Foundation should contact the club through the website, www.fairhavenslsc.org.
Donations should be sent to Fairhaven SLSC, PO Box 221 Aireys Inlet, 3231. Cheques should be made payable to the Tim Gates Foundation.
The memorial walk from the Fairhaven SLSC to Moggs Creek, starts at 5pm and all are welcome.
Original Article:
Peter Blegg
Geelong Advertiser
Image:
Tony Kerrigan
