Tributes are flowing from across the Illawarra for surf photographer, musician and former teacher Clarrie Bouma, who succumbed to cancer on Sunday night.
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Often seen with a giant camera lens documenting surfers' hits and misses along the coast, he is being remembered as an "all round good guy", "happy snapper" and one of the "most lovely guys you'll ever come across" by northern suburbs board-riding club members.
"He took photos of everybody, he captured every punter, child, wife/husband or even professional surfers on our coastline," posted the Scarborough club on Facebook. "But it was at Sandon Point where he was truly at home shooting the waves".
"There wouldn't be many surfers from Stanwell Park to Gerringong that haven't had their photo taken by Clarrie at some point over the past 20 years or more," wrote the Woonona club.
Sandon Point Board Riders also posted their condolences, "gone but never forgotten, rest in peace our brother".
The "gentle giant" was also loved and respected by many musicians who were given a helping hand over the years - Pete Jordan was one of them.
"A lot of people know him for all his photos but in the '80s, '90s and 2000s he was the grandfather of the music scene in the whole of the northern suburbs," Mr Jordan told the Mercury.
Not only was Bouma a regular singer at many spots around town, he also started the Northern Suburbs Music Association and made vinyl records of many of the local cover bands that had been playing for years, Mr Jordan said.
Surfboard shaper Phil Byrne had known Bouma since the 1960s, as both were part of the teenage "rat pack" at North Wollongong Beach.
"He probably was one of the best surfers amongst us all," he said.
Mr Byrne was shocked to learn of his mate's passing, having only seen him a few weeks ago with his camera in hand, snapping photographs of local surfers for his website SandonPointPhotos.com
"He was a gentle giant ... very astute and analytical and intelligent," he said.
If you've surfed along the coast in the last 20 years you've probably been caught on camera by the local legend.
For professional photographer Ray Collins of Bulli, Bouma was a fatherly figure as well as a mate, after striking up a friendship with his eldest son Woodie.
"It didn't matter what the surf was like, he was just stoked sitting out on the point at [Austinmer] or Coledale or somewhere, just being in the click still," Mr Collins said.
"He just loved to be part of the community. There's a big Clarrie-sized hole which will never be filled by anyone else ... he was such a warm, giving man."
Wollongong photographer Warren Keelan got up early to capture Tuesday morning's sunrise, as a tribute to the "legend of a human".
"Clarrie's love of surfing and ocean, music and culture, and his dedication to his crafts ... inspired and influenced many people including myself," he said.
At this stage the Mercury does not know when a funeral or memorial service will be organised.
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