The Fishery Bay Surfriders and Lower Eyre Coastcare invite you to join us for an evening of surf and community. Immerse yourself in the surf on the big screen and dream big ideas.

We want to bring our surfing, ocean lovin, beach combing, earth warriors together, build our community, share stories of our connection to the natural world and how we can all be part of caring for it together. This is the first of a series of community events we have in the "pipeline" for 2024 which we hope will inspire you to take positive hands-on action to care for our amazing coastline on Eyre Peninsula.

Honouring Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and their continuing connection to the land and waters of Eyre Peninsula. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Join us for us soup and bread served from 5.30pm, Welcome begins at 6pm first movie at 6.10 pm.

Our first film offering is the documentary ‘Surfing to Survive’, which shows the inspiring story of surfer and surf coach Karin Ochsner and talks about her disability and how the ocean helps her to survive in the face of severe health challenges.

Karin’s story is told by surfers Pauline Menczer, Danny Wills and Ozzie Wright, and the many people who have become friends with Karin along her journey. The awareness raised by this documentary has given Karin incredible support from a wide community, and her health is improving remarkably.

Our feature film is The Church of the Open Sky from award winning independent Australian filmmaker Nathan Oldfield, creator of Lines From A Poem, Seaworthy, The Heart & The Sea and Gathering. Shot on location in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka, the film features Dave Rastovich, Lauren Lindsey Hill, Tom Wegener, Belinda Baggs, CJ Nelson, Alex Knost, Johnny Abegg, Neal Purchase Jr, Jasson Salisbury, Devon Howard and many others.

The Church of the Open Sky is a luscious visual love poem that explores gratefully lived surfing journeys. It is a sea soaked celebration of the exquisite preciousness of being alive.

This film is an inspired and endearing representation of the surfing experience, where all participants are worthy and welcomed - to learn, play and grow together - in inclusive, sacred playgrounds beneath The Church of the Open Sky.

Filmmaker Profile: Nathan Oldfield

Nathan Oldfield is a husband / father / surfer / photographer / filmmaker / school teacher / sea gazer from the North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. He is interested in beautiful things and making stuff.

Nathan has been making films for over fifteen years. Past awards include Best Feature Film (San Diego Surf Film Festival), Best Feature Film (Berlin Surf Film Festival), Best Cinematography (Florida Surf Film Festival), Best Editing (International Surf Film Festival, Anglet) and Special Honor For Most Heart (Xpedition Film Festival, Colorado).

Nathan’s photographs are regularly published in international surfing magazines and he was included in Surfing World Magazine’s ‘Fifty Most Intriguing People In Surfing.’ Nathan is a local team rider and contributing filmmaker and photographer for Patagonia.

You can explore more of Nathan’s work via nathanoldfield.com or @nathanoldfield.

Nathan Oldfield is a maverick, a filmmaker who wants a surf movie to say something important, to move us and make us grateful for the sea around us and the life within us. His films are quiet, beautiful and brimming with sacred purpose.

TIM WINTON, Acclaimed Australian Novelist

Contact the host of Fishery Bay Surfrider & Lower Eyre Coastcare Surf Movie Fundraiser Night