The curtain closes on the sad life of an Australian champion…
If you live around Margaret River, you’ll know the shaper Tony Hardy and his brood. Amazing surf family. Tony is pops to surfer-bodyboarders Gene, Ryan, Brett and Josh.
All of ’em except Josh have won a State surfing title. Even his granddaughter Willow scooped one up to go alongside her two Small Fries crowns.
But Tony stopped surfing a while back; blamed age, injuries.
He is what you’d call, in polite company, an eccentric.
You’d see him at Main Break, Margaret River, the wave he owned in the seventies, trimming the pig-face that has grown over the footpath.
Or stopped at the side of the road in Margs with his shears trimming the bush.
On a Tuesday afternoon in January 2018, Tony allegedly got into a fight with his ex-wife’s husband, who was seventy-five, fatally injuring the man.
Tony’s ex-wife was also hospitalised for injuries.
The cops caught Tony hiding in bushland later in the afternoon.
Tony, who is now seventy, was set to argue he was not criminally responsible on the basis he was of unsound mind.
Yesterday, Tony changed his plea, admitting to his ex-wife’s husband’s murder and causing grievous bodily harm to his ex-wife.
He was remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing on January 28.
A sad tale of how shit goes pear shaped. A great clan that mob.
The man going left as only he could.
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GBH played the Olympic Auditorium and the cops had to call in the Sheriff who called in the fire dept.
I got hit by a hose of water, thought I broke ribs and pushed 10 feet.
Full mayhem, right before punk became gang proxy fights.
That is an unusually subtle story from beachgrit. Perhaps it is for the best that he stays where he is. Lots of positive stories about this man. Walking across the nullarbor in double pluggers was a good one. Nuts but good.
“tony allegedly got into a fight with his ex-wife’s husband, who was seventy-five, “
fucking hell man, almost 80 years old.. like biden vs trump i presume..
Such a sad tale . We all know , roughly how to talk to a friend , who is recovering from a broken leg , a major illness ,heartbroken etc but when the friend is trying to convince you that 2 + 2 = 5 or the moon is made of cheese and then they are hyperactive for a month and then they can’t get out of bed for a month , it becomes very difficult to interact , even if one really wants to help . This is the time to seek professional help .
My old Boardriders Club , is working with an organization called Man Anchor ……
“Man Anchor is a grassroots mental health and well-being movement designed to create opportunities for discussion, education and action on mental health issues that affect people every day.
We understand the power of a simple conversation and want to empower individuals with the tools needed to reach their local communities.”
Obviously it is only a beginning but if it saves one local member of the club or community,( having lost 2 mates in the 80s to suicide after suffering from bipolar disorders , I can honestly say one is too many ) or helps keep even a few from going off the tracks , then it is a start in the right direction .I have seen recently on social media ,people bagging the boardriders clubs ….. but as a member you’ll never walk alone.
Incredibly sad story.
Gene hardy is the only person to have had a cover shot in both a surfing and bodyboarding magazine. Ryan hardy is the best ever bodyboarder behind mike Stewart and a underrated Australian sportsman. Sad to hear the battle of mental illness with this family but i have listened to Ryan hardy speak on the subject of his own battles and he is inspirational.
I remember seeing that boog vid Tahiti Skins from 2000, about the comp help at Teahupoo. Hardballs’ spin in the tube to seal the final was so nuts. Absolute legend.
That contest was awesome. Victory at sea conditions at the Poo. Botha eating shit top to bottom on that bomb. Good times.
CAn’t believe that was 20 years ago
That spin in tube was all time. I heard him tell the story of driving down to the right paddling out solo through15 foot shories, then be first guy to paddle into the right before any jet skis were even in the line up. Hell man!!!
He walked from margs to tassie after breaking up with the miso