born on 7 March 1958 at Newcastle in New South Wales
My name is Mark Richards and I represent ‘Girt by sea’ because I am a champion
surfer. I won my age group state surfing championship when I was twelve. Some people said
my style of surfboard riding was awkward and flailing and I got the nickname ‘Wounded
Seagull’ but that didn’t stop me. As an adult I won the world surfboard-riding
championship four times in a row starting in 1979.
1901-2001 Centenary of
Federation