If there was someone you wanted using your brand in the 1980s, it would have to be this bloke.
With his impressive chest and even more impressive moustache, Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV, better known as Magnum P.I., was The Man.
Played by Tom Selleck, he was always in the thick of the action in a series of adventures in Hawaii and Aussies loved him.
However, few would know of his link to Sunshine Coast surf lifesaving’s royal family, the Kennys.
Hayden was this week honoured with a carnival that will carry his name – the Hayden Kenny Classic.
As well as being Australia’s first ever ironman champ and a surfing and helicopter rescue identity, Hayden also developed a surf craft brand.
Hayden Surfcraft was launched in the 1960s and has become a leading supplier of surfboards, rescue boards and surf skis.
One of the business’s biggest coups was Magnum paddling a Hayden ski in the opening scenes of the TV show each week.
Apparently, it was one of Grant Kenny’s skis from an early Molokai race, where they actually introduced Hawaii to the craft, which was pretty cool.
Having Thomas on board would have done wonders for the brand.
Wave of support for carnival
As mentioned, there was exciting news in surf lifesaving this week, with the announcement of the Hayden Kenny Classic, to be held at Alexandra Headland on December 10-11.
The event was launched at the Sports Hub on Thursday, and it will be part one of a three-part series by Summer of Surf, thanks to Shaw and Partners and the Sports Hub.
Personally, I think having a full-on surf carnival with some pretty substantial prizemoney is a great opportunity for athletes who train particularly hard for mostly little reward.
Thanks to the generosity of Shaw and Partners, who support two of my favourite sports in rugby league and surf lifesaving. They are certainly creating opportunities.
The thing that really warms my heart is the fact that the event is named after a real pioneer of surf, not just ironman racing, but all things surf.
Hayden is a true waterman, and also innovative in all things surf craft.
I remember watching him surf at the Bluff in the early ’60s in a cyclone swell, on a board that he made. The Hayden brand was legendary.
This carnival gives us all an opportunity to celebrate his and his family’s achievements, which are seemingly endless.
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New teams pose new questions
The Dolphins are certainly getting plenty of press at the moment, becoming the well-deserved 17th team in the NRL.
It opens up 35 more spots for young players to get a crack in the NRL, which is great.
All the hoo-ha about coach Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins has started the debate about who the 18th team should be, with Andrew Johns tossing up PNG, which is an awesome idea.
They may struggle to win for a while but every team that played them would know about it and imagine their home games and what it would do for their economy.
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Justin Olam would make a pretty good inaugural captain as well and maybe Andrew could coach them?
Just on the Dolphins, I thought it strange that Sunshine Coast product Adam Mogg resigned as their Queensland Cup coach in the same week as they announced Wayne as coach for 2023.
Adam has done a wonderful job at Redcliffe, being one of only a few who have won a premiership as a player and then as a coach, so I guess he certainly has contributed plenty, but I thought it would be a logical next step for him to be a possible assistant to Wayne? Watch this space.
Walk and talk for mental health
Don’t forget the Lift The Lid Walk for mental health on Sunday.
It will start in the park directly behind the Mooloolaba Surf Club.
Did you know that 1 in 4 Australians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime?
Mental Health really is every Australian’s issue.
Australian Rotary Health funds research, focusing on mental illness, to find better prevention strategies, interventions, treatments and possibly even a cure for mental illness.
One hundred per cent of all donations go to funding research.
Without research cures aren’t possible so your help is important.
I’ll be there ready to shuffle off at 8am, so I hope you can join me.
Visit liftthelidwalk.com.au to get involved and join me in Mooloolaba at the Lift The Lid Walk for Mental Health. More at facebook via @liftthelidevent, Instagram via @ausrotaryhealth and Twitter via @ausrotaryhealth.
