Ben “Pa” Bendall Canadian Air Force Pilot

Ben Bendall was born in Canada and learned to fly in the 1920s with the Canadian Air Force Reserve rising to the rank of Captain.  He piloted float planes in the Arctic Circle to fly in miners and deliver supplies to mining camps.  He filled various roles in World War ll; including as a flying instructor.  He came to Australia in 1949, and settled in Caloundra.   He and Marjorie (Ma) played tennis and body surfed daily.  In 1959 Caloundra’s first surfboard riders were Olympic kayak champions Gordon Jeffrey and Joe Irwin surfing Moffat Headland on their balsa surfboards.  Ben envied these surfers and before long he joined them on a 9 foot Wallace balsa board. He was hooked.

Today he and Ma lend their name to Australia’s second longest running surfing contest, the Pa and Ma Bendall Surfing Classic held at Caloundra’s iconic Moffat Headland.