Freshwater's Surfers Walk of Fame needs to be fixed, say residents

In response to a proposal by surfing legends including Kelly Slater, Layne Beachley and Tom Carroll to build a statue of surfing legend Bernard 'Midget' Farrelly at Palm Beach Plaza, the Friends of Freshwater group is trying to shine a light on the rundown walkway at McKillop Park, which was established in 1994.

ALSO READ: Flick through this week's Northern Beaches Review

The Surfers Walk of Fame has numerous large plaques and mosaic depictions of surfing greats, including Midget in his iconic stance with his hands in the air and Duke Kahanamoku riding a wave.

The Friends of Freshwater is a not-for-profit organisation focusing on news, history and concerns in the local area, and committee member Denise Goldstein said the group felt the walk had been ignored.

"In real terms, Freshwater is considered the home of Australian surfing," she said.

"The recognition of surfers on the northern beaches hasn't been updated for quite some time now."

The group is arguing that Council could do both the Palm Beach Midget project and update the Freshwater walkway.

"The Midget Farrelly statue that is being proposed is fantastic and there is no reason not to do that," she said. "It's just presented an opportunity for us to refresh that walkway. It's overgrown and not particularly in good shape, it's been there since 1994, but nothing further has been added to it.

ALSO READ: Why we need to talk about men's mental health in the Beaches

"It would be lovely to acknowledge how a lot of the major brands like Billabong and Roxy were launched off the names of our local surfers when they went global."

Farrelly won the first official World Surfing Championship at Manly Beach in 1964 and lived in Brookvale until he died in 2016. He was honoured posthumously by being made a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to surfing at the national and international level.

"There's a bigger picture that hasn't been publicised and we're pretty sure it was because they just didn't know," Goldstein said.

"It (the surfer walk) should have had attention a long time ago, it would really good to see it rejuvenated.

"It's a spot that still resonates with everyone and this has provided an opportunity for us to see if we can upgrade something that has been neglected for a long time.

"The medallion for Midget Farrelly is actually getting overgrown by bushes."