James McMillan: 2015

poster art JMc • 1st Byron Bay Surf Festival October 2011

Last night, 12^th Feb, was the annual Australian Surfing Awards, held by Surfing Australia, in Manly NSW. The event has been running annually since 1985 and honours great achievers and contributors towards surfing in Australia, such as Peter Troy, Tom Carroll and Mick Fanning. Amongst the 13 awards each year is, the Surfing performance of the year, the Duke Kahanamoku award, the photo of the year award and also there's the surf culture award. This year the surf culture award went to the Byron Bay Surf Festival!! I was meant to be in attendance to receive the award with fellow directors Vanessa and Mike but unfortunately at the last minute couldn't make it! I had a speech prepared and thought I'd give it some life by shareing it here…

First I’d like to thank the original custodians of the Byron Shire land, the Bundjalung mob in Byron Bay, where we are very privileged to hold the annual Byron Bay Surf Festival. Much respect to the Arakwal people.

I have always believed in, participated in, and been an advocate of surfing and art as positive lifestyle choices. On a warm Thursday night in April of 2010 my friend Vanessa Thompson and I fused surfing and art together under one roof when we ran a small surf film and artshow night at the Byron Bay Community centre. We showed the Dear & Yonder surf film by Tiffany Campbell, artist Thomas Campbell's wife, and also my short film titled Blue Yonder, along with an exhibition of some of my paintings and an accompanying art talk that I did. Our friend, keen surfer and artist Tracey Brown, was in attendance to help with all.

Around 5 months later in September 2010 I was in an old shed on Skinners shoot rd back-bush Byron fixing surfboards when Vanessa dropped by. We brainstormed an idea to create something a little bigger than that first Thursday night event; we called it the Byron Bay Surf Festival!

Not so long after that founding day, Vanessa and I deposited $100 into a Westpac bank account and then 6 months later, in October 2011, and with the help of Tracey Brown and another friend Michael Jahn, plus many more, we succeeded in running the first Byron Bay Surf Festival. 4 years later, and lots more waves and work, here we are.

It's humbling for what we have created to be recognised as a leading and positive contribution to surfing in Australia, by an organisation such as Surfing Australia, for an event that was created from a position of passion. I believe that the Byron Bay Surf Festival as an event and experience, is both enhancing an already existing culture, as well as potentially creating a new and modern culture within the broader realm of surfing. The measure of success comes from the public ...Over 30'000 surfers, shapers, artists, musicians, and culture vultures are saying yes. I strongly believe that when one does something driven by a purpose of passion and creativity, and not by money, that they will be much more fulfilled and successful in that endeavor, because the fire of passion cannot be put out too easily. Ask any surfer why they rise at 5am...

In the summer of 2012 after the second Byron Bay Surf Festival, at the Balcony restaurant, we had a little team pow-wow. I shared a vision with Vanessa and Mike. It was to create a dreamy environment under and amongst the trees on the Byron Bay beachfront with tipis and yurts full of surfboards, art, music, clothing and people! I didn't know the politics involved but i knew Vanessa, Mike and I could pull it off! I could feel what it would create, and I knew the people would come. Thanks to the dedication and commitment of the team, we have created that environment for the past 2 years and are now looking to add new ideas into the future. ...And you’re all invited!!

Thankyou very much for this award, and thankyou God for the waves :)

James McMillan

Co-founder/Creative director

Byron Bay Surf Festival

...below are some memorable images from the very first Byron Bay Surf Festival October 2011