Trudy Croad and Phil Jarratt (kneeling) hand over the loot to festival beneficiaries Keren Ruki (SurfAid International), Cynthia Hunter (Red Cross) and Moy Sweetman (Frangipani Dreams). Photo Jason McCallum.

The 2009 Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing, presented by Golden Breed, raised almost $19,500 to split between three beneficiary charities – Surf Aid, the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal and Frangipani Dreams.

At a hand-over of the donations in Noosa yesterday, Festival director Phil Jarratt and sponsorship manager Trudy Croad thanked major sponsor Global Surf Industries for the donation of 35 surfboards, and the artists from around Australia who donated their time and talent to create works of art from them. Jarratt said the silent auction of art surfboards had contributed more than $11,000, while the world champions teams auction had raised a further $7,500, and a Red Cross bucket appeal during a free concert had raised $800 cash.

“So many people contributed to this in so many ways,” Jarratt said. “Artists, musicians, sporting champions, surf companies, volunteers…the list is endless. But the main contribution came from everyone who participated in the Noosa Festival of Surfing in a spirit of generosity. With more than 500 competitors it’s the biggest surfing event in the world, but it’s also the happiest. The people who come to our event year after year know how lucky they are to be surfers, and they want to give back.”

Jarratt said major sponsors Global Surf Industries and Golden Breed had already committed to the 2010 festival, to be held March 14-21, and a full event program would be released during July. The festival website will be live and accepting entries from August 1.