A founding father of Surfing Queensland and widely respected Coolangatta icon John Deane has sadly passed away at 93 years of age on Saturday night 22 July. 

A builder by trade who loved surfing, taught his sons Robye and Wayne how to surf. John bought the boys their first surfboards on Xmas Day 1960 and took them surfing for their first surf at Snapper Rocks/Rainbow Bay. 

The Father and sons’ team would be a regular fixture surfing on the Coolangatta famous pointbreaks. It wasn’t long before both sons developed into champion surfers and proud members of the Snapper Surfriders Club while their dad took over the reins of the ASAQ (Australian Surfriders Association Queensland) from founding President Bill Stafford Senior established in 1964.

The admired John Deane successfully steered the State association in the development years hosting the National Titles twice at Greenmount in 1966 and 1970. He was the State President until 1972. Sadly, his youngest son Wayne passed away in 2018.

Last year John Deane was given a Life Membership of Queensland presented to him by CEO of Surfing Qld Adam Yates. 

“He was so happy with the award and cracking jokes to the amusement of everyone in the office. He was a hugely instrumental administrator for the then ASAQ now Surfing Qld and we are all in his debt for setting the pace and leaving such a great legacy.”

John is survived by his partner Rhondda, oldest son Robye and is a much-loved grand pop and great- great grandfather.

A church service has been organized for this Friday 28 July at 11.30am at Our Lady of the way Catholic Church, 11th Ave, Palm Beach for family and friends to pay their respects. 

John Smith Deane 1929 – 2023.