The History of Surfing at Evans Head exhibition is open over the long weekend at 10am–4pm every day at the Evans Head Living Museum.
Barry Sheridan wrote about Harry Hann and the Longboard Club for the exhibition.
Barry was known for doing headstands on his surfboard. He lives at Coraki and was at the museum on Friday, October 2 where the surfing displays brought back memories.
Barry Sheridan
It was a balmy afternoon at the end of summer 1990 when Brian ‘Harry’ Hann was sitting alone on the sand in front of the Ins and Outs, north of the surf club at Evans Head.
Directly in front of him there was some sort of competition going on.
He didn’t know those involved at the time, but curiosity got the better of him, so he sauntered into their midst.
It turns out that they were the Super Eights Longboard Club from the Gold Coast on an away weekend.
From memory, it was Neil Smith that Harry spoke to first.
This would be the start of a friendship which would last until Harry’s passing in September 2022.
What Harry witnessed that afternoon must have impressed him immensely.
The camaraderie, the family atmosphere, the quality surfing and the fun they were having – these things impressed Harry greatly.
I met Harry in primary school in the 50s. I have three siblings, but Harry was an only child, a rare thing in those days. He told me once that all he ever wanted was a brother or a sister. What he witnessed and subsequently approached that day must have had an enormous impact on him.
He had two small children of his own and was raising them as a sole parent, and that would have had some bearing on what he was thinking.
Whatever the motivation, a spark had ignited, and the rest is history. 
The name Brian is of Irish descent and from the ancient Celtic word BRIGH or BRIX. It translates to high, noble, hill or strong and represents strength, virtue and leadership. In my opinion, Brian or Harry as he was mostly known, lived up to his name.
I spoke at length with Harry about his idea of starting a club, although he did most of the talking.
He had a picture in his mind’s eye and was going to make it real. No one could have envisaged the effect this would have on the surfers or the community at large, but it was tremendous.
This is most definitely attributed to Harry. The Evans Head club was formed, and not long after it had twelve members.
At that point, the first competition was held. Then it began to grow.
In those early days, associations with other clubs up and down the Eastern seaboard were cemented.
The Invitational was created which brought other clubs to the town.
It was a win for all concerned.
In reality, I could write a book about those early times, and perhaps, one day I will but I’m mindful of the fact that Harry Hann is the one who has made that a possibility.