Local Bloke… Bluey Graham From Bronte

By James Hutton on March 5, 2013 in People

Bronte legend Bluey Graham shares some of his thoughts with The Beast…

How long have you lived here?
I have lived in Bronte all of my 68 years. I’m a life member of Bronte Surf Club and have been a member for 53 years.

What school did you go to?
I went to Bronte School as a kid and so did my two boys, Aaron and Kobi. High school for me was Maroubra High. We used to ride our pushbikes all the way from Bronte to Maroubra to get to school. There were no gears in those days.

How have things changed around here?
The shops at Bronte have changed heaps since the old days. There were no coffee shops back then. There are a lot of rich yuppies now living in Bronte but I find them very easy to live with.

Do you like the changes that have happened over the years?
I think it’s all for the better.

How’s the surf club been going?
The big change with surf clubs over the years has been the addition of girls and nippers. It has saved the surf clubs as they were really strug- gling for a while.

Do you play any sport?
I played footy at school but board riding was always my favourite. My first board was a 16′ hollow long board. There were no leg ropes in those days. My boys are mad board riders as well. As most of you know, Kobi broke his neck surfing Ours a few years back.
What sports do you follow? I’m a mad Roosters supporter and so are the boys.

What do you do for work?
I have recently retired after 15 years as a garbo for Waverley Council. I loved the job but I had to pull the pin at 68 as the body was doing it tough. My sons Aaron and Kobi work for Waverley Council as lifeguards.

Now that you are retired what do you do with yourself?
Since I retired my wife and I have travelled around Australia for six months in a caravan. One of the highlights was swimming with whale sharks off Western Australia.

Whereabouts overseas have you travelled?
I have been going to Bali every year for the last 13 years. I leave my Malibu board up there so I don’t have to cart it back and forwards from Australia. I travelled the world for a few years when I was young. I worked on a massive dam up in Canada with four guys from the surf club. I also travelled around the USA in 1981 with the Australian Surf lifesaving team for six weeks. As far as I’m concerned we live in the best country in the world and it doesn’t get any better than Bronte.

What do you think should happen to the Bronte RSL site?
I’m not too concerned as I live on the other side of Bronte. Whatever the residents want I’m all for.

Final word?
I love The Beast and my favourite is Pearl. Love ya baby!