A big part of Stephen Cooney’s memoir Unearthed is about surfing and particularly what led to his involvement with the making of Morning of The Earth (MOTE to those in the know) but it’s about much more than that.
Coon is the nickname Stephen’s surfing mates gave him. It’s not as imaginative as many of their nicknames – Toad, Sluggo, Money Box, Pig and Orge! I’m using his nickname because reading Unearthed is like sitting down with a friend you haven’t seen for 30+ years, going through a box of black and white photographs and reliving your younger days. Tea is being drunk and the gentle and timelessly wonderful soundtrack of MOTE is playing.
Unearthed is a charming, untarnished insight into a world that’s fast fading on the Northern Beaches or most places. Life for Coon as a young one in Collaroy living with his recently widowed mother, five siblings and a few boarders was rowdy.
Money was tight but so what. He lived in a tight-knit community that took care of each other and his mother let him follow his dreams instead of being told to sit tight and finish school. Can you imagine letting a 14 year-old hitch their way to Queensland to enter a surfing competition these days? DoCS would be onto you quick smart.
Coon’s writing style is relaxed and evocative. The way he deals with many sensitive topics in such a loving and empathetic way made me want to give him a big hug. Coon was woke well before the term existed.
The Northern Beaches are the backdrop to much of Coon’s story. Surfers will enjoy reliving their own experiences surfing the breaks in our backyard and truly dedicated surfers will be familiar with the many places Coon and his mates drove thousands of kilometres to and from in dodgy vehicles and aging kombi vans to catch the waves of their dreams – Angourie, Noosa, Green Island, Manyana and many more.
You don’t have to be interested in surfing to be amazed at how the shape of boards evolved, and the board making industry, or the stories about how the legendary Tracks surfing magazine, produced by a bunch of crazy surf obsessed creatives from a rented house in Whale Beach, became the counterculture tabloid of its time.
There’s so much to love about Unearthed and I haven’t even touched on the wonder of Coon joining Albe Falzon for the making of the seminal surf film MOTE when he was just 15 years old.
If you haven’t seen MOTE then you MUST, and so should your children and your grandchildren. It’s an incredibly special film. 2022 marks the film’s 50th anniversary. I have no doubt it will be showing at a cinema near you soon. Hopefully the Northern Beaches Council will schedule it for open air cinema in Manly. Are you listening Mayor Regan?
Coon says in his introduction that “penning words about oneself is not only embarrassing and humbling but liberating.” I found Coon’s story liberated many memories I had buried and I’m grateful to Coon for that.
Big congratulations to Cyclops Press too – this Northern Beaches independent publishing gem run by John Ogden is genius at bringing us Australian stories that deserve to be told. The production quality of Unearthed is superb and the photography makes you feel like you’re right there with Coon and his mates.
Unearthed is available to buy at Berkelouw Mona Vale and Balgowlah, Bookoccino in Avalon, Humphries on Manly Corso, Keel Surf & Supply in Freshie, Rip Curl Narrabeen, Patagonia Manly, Glass Avenue in Newport, Harry Hartog in Warringah Mall, and online at www.cyclopsproductions.com.au
To see Stephen in person, and in lively conversation with Tracks editor Luke Kennedy, head to the Rip Curl Narrabeen store on Wednesday 6th April 6.30-8pm.