Friendly Bloke

As a scrawny teenager, some 20+ years ago, I recall a familiar face that would normally appear when the surf was good. At Burleigh, you'd see him on rare days of size when there weren't many (if any) in the water. He wasn't the flashiest of surfers but was obviously one of the keenest and was willing to have a dig. What really set him apart though was his manner. He was super friendly. Buoyed by an infectious surf stoke, he always seemed excited. For a period of time I didn't know his name but we'd always stop to chat and always with a focus on the recent or prospective surf conditions.

In time I would learn more of Denis. His reputation as a humanitarian, an innovator, an organiser and a successful professional is well deserved. For someone who was so involved, well known and loved, it appears at odds to the notion of the quirky, friendly guy who loved to talk surfing. Amid the complex ego-system that can be associated with the politics of sport, the law or even trying to find a place in the line up, Dennis was unimposing. This lack of self importance and the same commitment to his convictions that saw him chase challenging waves was evident in his life and todays' service. Rab said "We may not be able to be like him but we can try, we should try".