Allan
The Last Chapter
As the silence slowly fell once again, Spike
called upon Allan’s long-time friend and
close shaping confidant Dale Wilson “Come here (to Dale), I want to donate this
AB board to you.” Two mates embraced
and shared that instance like no other,
pouring out their sadness at the loss of their
friend - it was such an amazing reflection
of just how special an AB board is and the
hands it came from. Surely an incredible
gesture of such emotive and heart felt
generosity couldn’t be repeated? Well
Dale stunned the room and did just that!
Seemingly unable to accept the gift, he
offered it back to AB’s family saying - “That
board belongs in one place and that’s in
AB’s house … and Spike, you’re a legend
mate.”
Byrne
A proud father, a brother and mate, the
tragic loss of Allan Byrne to a motorbike
accident in August shocked the entire
surfing world. AB will be forever missed
by his family and friends, but also
by generations of surfers that
benefited from his gift as a master
shaper and inspirational surfer.
ned man
“he was a lear
y soulful”
in life and ver
nn
- Spike Neuma
“If he’d been here, Dennis
(Callinan) would have
been so proud of today
… he would have
been touched with
this great effort.” Rabbit
FROTH | Page 12
Th
Tears flowed and hearts melted,
as Allan Byrne’s last board was
making its final journey, to
the place we somehow
all already knew it was
destined to go - home.
For many, the day was
a fitting tribute and
send off, for others it
was their last and
only chance to
say goodbye.