Candice Warner honoured to be inducted into Surfing Walk of Fame at her home break Maroubra Beach- 19th July 2017

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Candice Warner is proud to be part of the Surfing Walk of Fame at Maroubra. Picture: Joel Carrett

by Melissa Seiler, Southern Courier

MAROUBRA Beach holds a special place in Candice Warner’s heart.

It is where, as Candice Falzon, she started swimming and racing on the sand with nippers before going on to carve out a stellar career as a three-time world surf lifesaving champion and where she and cricketer husband David Warner have built their dream home for their daughters.

Warner’s achievements will now be set in stone — literally — on that same shoreline, when she is inducted into the Australian Surfing Walk of Fame during at this Sunday’s Beach Breaks Carnival.

The Walk was initiated in 2006 to pay tribute to the outstanding achievements of Australia’s leading surfers and surf lifesavers.

The mother of two (pictured), 32, has also won 20 Surf Life Saving national­ medals, was named NSW Ironwoman Champion in 1999 and 2013 and Professional Series­ Coolum winner in 2012.

“I feel very honoured to be inducted into the Walk of Fame,” Warner said.

“I often walk past and have a look (at the plaques), so to actually have my name on there is really special.

“More so special for when my kids grow up, to be able to look down and see their mum’s name and be proud.”

Despite travelling the globe during her years as an iron woman, and now with her husband and daughters, Warner said her days at Maroubra Beach as a child were among her happiest memories­.

“Every summer, spending so many hours down here. It gives me a big smile now because it was such a great times,” she said.

“The best thing about living in Maroubra are the locals. Everyone I see has been here for so many years, no one really leaves.

“It’s a really nice community, very friendly, it’s the place I want to raise my kids.”

Three other legends of the surf will also be named on the walk this year.

They include 1972 Olympian Graham “Johno” Johnson, who competed at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships from 1966 to 1975 and is a life member of Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club.

Johnson said being in the company of mates including triple-ironman champion and swimming coach Barry Rodgers, who died last year, was emotional for him.

“To me it was a surprise,” he said.

“I know I’ve spent nearly all of my life in the surf, canoeing and at the Olympics, but this is one of the greatest honours.

“Representing Australia was the greatest honour, but being recognised in the area where I was born, bred and grew up, and have never left, is just marvellous.

Alongside him will be pro-surfing pioneer and local role model Tony White and Maroubra­ surfing mentor Kevin Davidson.

Randwick Mayor Noel D’Souza said: “Each of these Australian sporting heroes will have their very own plaque on the Maroubra Beach promenade, to forever commemorate and celebrate their remarkable achievements.

“The importance of Maroubra Beach to the surfing and beach communities cannot be understated.”

The beach-based fun will start at 9am with the Surfing NSW Grommets Title before­ the carnival kicks off at noon, including­ free surfboard and skateboard airbrushing­, amusement rides, face painting, sand sculptures and music.

Visit randwick.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 722 542

(Southern Courier)