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Your backstage pass to the world of surfing, hosted by MC and commentator Terry “Tappa” Teece. From pro surfers and legends of the sport to shapers, innovators and anyone with an epic story and a love for the ocean—The Green Room dives deep. Expect tales of epic wins, brutal wipeouts, and behind-the-scenes moments from life in and out of the water. Whether you’re chasing waves or just some inspiration, this podcast will leave you stoked to paddle out.
00;00;07;19 - 00;00;29;09
Tappa
Welcome to the Green Room. Your backstage pass to the world of surfing. I'm your host, surf emcee and commentator, Terry Tapper diving into epic winds, crashing fouls and wild stories with surfing's biggest names, as well as the legends working behind the scenes to keep that state alive. A big shout out to our sponsor for this episode. The official break out with their new Jersey lager.
00;00;29;11 - 00;00;47;22
Tappa
So wax up, paddle out and join us in the green room with a surf chat. Never guys flat. Good night, and welcome to the Green Room. Today's guest. I met through some of our previous guests on the Green room, up and coming prize surfers who went to a different type of schooling the Coue School at Eleanora High, Lily and young.
00;00;47;24 - 00;01;12;20
Tappa
At the 2023 and the 16 world champion Ziggy McKenzie met or introduced him at Coolum. They wouldn't shut up and it was all about the Curley School and and met here like I'm I by this you guys you've got to interview Matt. You've got to tell people about what he does now. He's a surfer, educator man behind the innovative program, which is a focus on schools, school and surfing and education.
00;01;12;23 - 00;01;14;03
Tappa
Welcome to the green room, Matt Barber.
00;01;14;04 - 00;01;15;04
Matt
Thanks, Matt, I appreciate it.
00;01;15;10 - 00;01;27;20
Tappa
How you doing, mate? Yeah, it's, a lovely little dye mate. And you know what? You do a lot with the school, but let's just find out a little bit about Matt Barber, because I don't really know. Mike. Where'd you grow up?
00;01;27;22 - 00;01;32;22
Matt
Oh, look, I've been around, Started high school in Grafton, and.
00;01;32;22 - 00;01;34;11
Tappa
After much of my mom's dad. Is that right?
00;01;34;12 - 00;01;48;19
Matt
Yeah. It's, Yeah, it's a bit bigger now than when I was there, but, And then. Yeah. Ended up moving up to Brisbane. Got my first teaching job on the Gold Coast. And, from that point onwards, it's sort of been my home, I guess.
00;01;48;20 - 00;01;52;09
Tappa
When did you start surfing?
00;01;52;11 - 00;01;56;13
Matt
I'd say end of high school. Early. Early university.
00;01;56;13 - 00;01;58;12
Tappa
I'd say somewhere like start, or so I was.
00;01;58;12 - 00;02;06;08
Matt
I don't have the, the, that's and that's the what I say when the kids run rings around me in the water, it's it's because I started younger.
00;02;06;11 - 00;02;21;00
Tappa
Are quite scared to. Okay. Kate welcomes did pretty good. She's a she show me at Grafton way. And my mom should be in border even further west. But. Yes, like to surfing. But what was your. Can you remember your first wife where you actually sort of got hooked on on surfing?
00;02;21;00 - 00;02;37;27
Matt
Yeah. Look, my, my brother in law, actually, he, Yeah, he gave me a board and, and just took me out. It was kind of a sink or swim scenario. He's he's always he's from Coffs and and, Yeah. And he was a red hot ripper. So, yeah. As most of the guys from closer. But.
00;02;37;29 - 00;02;59;09
Matt
Yeah. But yeah. So yeah. And after that it was kind of Yeah, it was, it was sort of, yeah, sink or swim and I just, I loved it, but I think as I've got older, I've started to appreciate it more and, and then just start to sort of dive into the, the other benefits other than just like my physical health, it starts to sort of impact on your mental health and which is why it's perfect for kids.
00;02;59;09 - 00;03;09;21
Matt
And, yeah, when you when you're connected in the environment, you're kind of disconnected from all of your social media and you and your technology and everything like that. So it's been a win for me for sure.
00;03;09;23 - 00;03;24;20
Tappa
Yeah. Well, that's I reckon like salt water's medicine for the mind just sitting in the ocean is it's really good at really. I really enjoy it now. My now what, what made you go into education? Was it just sort of you get to uni and said, oh, I think I'll be a teacher or not.
00;03;24;23 - 00;03;29;08
Matt
To be honest, I have. No, I didn't, I had no idea what like most kids, I had no idea what I wanted to do.
00;03;29;08 - 00;03;32;03
Tappa
And I was 33 till I had any idea.
00;03;32;06 - 00;03;46;23
Matt
And that's and that's the that's the issue really, I think. So I was kind of, you tend to just do what, you know, and kids say. Nope. Mum and dad, do they know the sort of the family doctor and they obviously see teachers. And so I kind of just went into it going, is it am I going to enjoy this?
00;03;46;25 - 00;04;03;19
Matt
And I had no idea really. And the police force was always sort of on my, on my radar. But then, I just went to uni because I just thought I could do something and I struggled at. You need to be honest. And it wasn't until I did my first sort of bracket at Beenleigh High.
00;04;03;22 - 00;04;06;02
Tappa
Wow. And oh, in the deep end that one way.
00;04;06;06 - 00;04;23;21
Matt
And just loved it. The kids, they were tough. But as a result like it just you saw the importance of community there and then so the teachers sort of band together and they're always looking at opportunities of what can I do for these kids to help them out. And and yeah, from that point onwards, I was kind of just I was hooked on it.
00;04;23;21 - 00;04;39;15
Matt
And so, from that. Yeah. So what it come about? Hi. Toward a broad in the UK? Yeah. I've had a number of different roles in the education space since, and, Yeah, I think it's it's just it's pretty powerful space to be in, I think.
00;04;39;21 - 00;04;57;04
Tappa
Right. Everybody has a bit of a gap. It teaches, you know how all what, 12 weeks holiday. Yeah. Blah blah blah. But right now a few teachers and these guys are the most overworked, underpaid people I know. And you do such an important job. If any of you out there, especially mom and dad, get 30 of your kids in a room for a day and say how you got.
00;04;57;07 - 00;05;10;25
Tappa
That's what I reckon, you know? And like, I deal with the grommets all the time at the surf camps. And, you know, I think it's a really great job that all teachers do because it and what they're doing, like you guys are doing is preparing our youth for the future, isn't it. That's that's really it.
00;05;10;25 - 00;05;29;08
Matt
Look. And that's it I think. Yeah. Realistically everyone has an education to some, some degree. Everyone's been to school. So everyone's good ideas about what school should, should look like in their own experiences. But but going back to you might like, honestly, the, the enthusiasm that you drum up in the, in those grommets as well.
00;05;29;08 - 00;05;41;17
Matt
It's, yeah, it's energizing and that's, and that's the it. I mean, at the end of the day, kids can, you can capture that energy and then and then feed it in different directions. I think that you were also on a win there too.
00;05;41;22 - 00;05;57;24
Tappa
Yeah. I, you know, my work I do with the Grahams commentate and being at contests, it gives me energy. It makes me feel young, you know, like, I don't know, I'm an all black, but I, I don't feel I still feel half like a grommet. But I think you should never lose your internal grommet. Anyone. They never lose your internal growing or otherwise.
00;05;57;29 - 00;06;16;20
Tappa
Actually, I had a young girl I knew while not young that she got kidnaped. She goes, my dad got old when he stopped surfing, so I think never stopped surfing. Now my saw you is he went been like came about taught overseas and stuff. How did you end up in with the coup spice. How did that all come about?
00;06;16;22 - 00;06;37;09
Matt
Yeah. So I, I was a bit disappointed with how kids were leaving school. Like I'd bump into kids in the, in the 20s, and I was sort of still trying to find their feet and trying to work out what they're doing. So Kiwi really initially it was it was about creating opportunities and pathways for kids. So to bridge that gap from school to real world, that was that was the emphasis behind it.
00;06;37;09 - 00;06;55;24
Matt
And and the surfing was the wellbeing side of it. You know, if you can turn up at 6:00 in the morning to surf training, then you can turn up to a job site. And that was kind of the the mentality behind it. But what I it was originally I guess pathways. But what I found is over time it turned into wellbeing.
00;06;55;24 - 00;07;03;04
Matt
So if I look after the someone it doesn't matter if it's a kid opus. Whatever you look after their wellbeing, everything else just happens. So.
00;07;03;09 - 00;07;08;21
Tappa
And Eleanor, I had some pretty good students back before the QE program, you know, pretty well known surfers in.
00;07;08;21 - 00;07;11;04
Matt
The Park series. And, I think it.
00;07;11;09 - 00;07;13;09
Tappa
Was on a huge Tweed River. Was he on.
00;07;13;16 - 00;07;15;11
Matt
It? Mick was, PVC.
00;07;15;13 - 00;07;15;19
Tappa
So.
00;07;15;21 - 00;07;16;20
Matt
Yeah. When he attended.
00;07;16;20 - 00;07;32;22
Tappa
Yeah, yeah. On my, my mates that went to pay Bay say Glen Elliott, one of them, I think a tiny ray Ross, Clark Jones even with it. But they I reckon they never went to school. I just checked in and they went to the alley. That's what they used to check in and then go back for alcohol and.
00;07;32;22 - 00;07;39;03
Tappa
Yeah, I've, I but my. Yeah. So Eleanor, I took the the school thing on audit. Did you come up with the idea.
00;07;39;08 - 00;07;58;26
Matt
Yeah. So I originally, I sort of pitched the idea to the education department, I'm, you know, employed by the Queensland government. Yeah. And, they sort of balked at it a bit. And, it was different. It was new, and they connected. And we'll give you 12 months, see if it works. So I refinanced my house.
00;07;59;00 - 00;08;16;06
Matt
I, leased a classroom in a PC. Well, I see, at Ashmore, I transport the kids, pick them up in busses, and did whatever I had to do to get him there, and, Yeah. And it was it was a hit. It kind of I, I was just so happy with the outcomes from the kids.
00;08;16;06 - 00;08;20;25
Tappa
So I gave them a job. You financed your house, refinanced your house. To do.
00;08;20;25 - 00;08;22;05
Matt
That? I did a.
00;08;22;07 - 00;08;23;19
Tappa
That's a bloody amazing.
00;08;23;26 - 00;08;40;10
Matt
Look, I think. Yeah. I mean, at the end of the day, Eleanor, I picked it up down the track where it started, when it started to get begun. And, and they've been great. Just in terms of, you know, offering support and we've got, I've got two big classrooms now full of, you know, 11 and 12. Before I had to teach the it was just me.
00;08;40;12 - 00;09;01;03
Matt
Yeah. So I was kind of the bus driver, teacher, guidance office, you know, Dogsbody, but, but yeah, now I've got some some, yeah, some real support. And this young fella, Casey who's, who's, up and coming and he's been involved in the past couple of years and, yeah, he's really helping me grow the program and,
00;09;01;05 - 00;09;03;18
Matt
Yeah. And just ultimately just provide opportunities for the kids.
00;09;03;26 - 00;09;09;08
Tappa
Now, what's the program about? So I see a average person, it is surfing related. Is that correct? Yes.
00;09;09;08 - 00;09;23;19
Matt
Every day starts the beach. Six, eight. So ultimately, yeah, that's that's their wellbeing and their disconnect from the technology field sort of lives. Then we come back to school and we do our normal subjects like we do in any school. All the subjects.
00;09;23;19 - 00;09;25;22
Tappa
Here, it's at reduced numbers of subjects like.
00;09;25;29 - 00;09;48;06
Matt
Yeah. So in a normal school you do about six subjects. Yeah. So we keep the six subjects, but English, maths and our sport and rec is basically the subjects that, the, covered by the Queensland curriculum. Yep. And and then they're electives that, that normally pick in a school. So say that's, I don't know aquatics or construction or history, biology whatever they want to pick.
00;09;48;09 - 00;10;12;28
Matt
I outsource that and I look for, training organizations in the community that deliver that. And, and I link it up with nationally qualified, sorry, nationally recognized qualifications. Yeah. So for instance, every kid, I guess their significance is every kid has a personalized program and pathway. So every kid that goes through that has a a direction that they're heading.
00;10;12;28 - 00;10;23;03
Matt
And then we map out the, we map out the learning plan I guess for them. Yeah. So if you take someone like Sysdig.
00;10;23;06 - 00;10;23;15
Tappa
Yep.
00;10;23;18 - 00;10;42;27
Matt
So Ziggy, she'll do her English, maths, sport and rec. She'll also then do a cert three in individual support where she wants to, you know, study to be a nurse. And then she'll also then look at doing a set three and fitness, you know, so she can break down the so the physical components of of a lot of her training as well.
00;10;43;00 - 00;11;01;09
Matt
And then she can, she can pick other things. I should do a cert to public safety. So she will get a bronze medallion. She volunteers at the, at the surf club, gives her time on the weekends when she's got time, to sort of give her skills back. So that's a key element because it's about creating a citizen first and then a student and a surfer, all in sort of one.
00;11;01;11 - 00;11;10;24
Tappa
So, you know, and as well with that, that means they get their proper senior certificate. Everything. What Richie did, so did I get a university entrance score as well?
00;11;10;25 - 00;11;26;19
Matt
Yeah, they sure do. So once again, it depends on if that's where the kid wants to go. So they have that. They can they can join the workforce, they can travel, they can go to uni whatever they want to do, depending on what they do. We just map out how the best way to get that is. So, no two kids are the same.
00;11;26;22 - 00;11;37;12
Matt
They all are doing something they come together every day and they're in the same room. It's almost like a primary school setting or a type setting. Yeah, but we just punch out their work and then, but they've all got their own goals.
00;11;37;15 - 00;11;45;06
Tappa
So they don't break off into different classes. They're all in that same room doing this. You've got so you got say maths is in the morning and stuff like that.
00;11;45;06 - 00;12;01;07
Matt
That's right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So yeah, we'll come back in some days if they, if I know that they've got maths assessment due, which is sometimes I'll just do math for the whole day. Yeah. So we'll just punch it out to try and get it done. So I mean I like the year 12. I have just graduated now and young fella just, shook my hand.
00;12;01;07 - 00;12;19;09
Matt
He's got, direct entry into, into parry medicine at Griffith. He's an option or he's got. Yeah. Or he's got, nursing at Southern Cross. So you've got options there. And other kids, the they're taking the day off the chips. Sparky's, you know. Yeah. So if you ever need anything around the house down. Right. Yeah.
00;12;19;09 - 00;12;20;15
Matt
Yeah.
00;12;20;18 - 00;12;25;07
Tappa
I about a couple of GP services, you said don't get much done.
00;12;25;10 - 00;12;25;21
Matt
00;12;25;23 - 00;12;40;24
Tappa
Sorry, I, but but, Yeah. That's it. That's great that they can do that and they branch off into different careers. But in the. But the base of it is revolved around surfing. That's because much of these kids, they're, they're up and coming probably surface too, aren't they.
00;12;40;24 - 00;12;44;02
Matt
That's right. Yeah. And, they, I mean, every kid wants to be Mick Fanning.
00;12;44;04 - 00;12;47;00
Tappa
Well, bloody I and all their parents want them to be fanning too. Yeah.
00;12;47;00 - 00;13;01;23
Matt
So I just make sure they go to plan B. Yeah. And for some of them, like, you know, like Ziggy that she's that that's her pathway and she's, she's doing the best. She's off to compete in Peru soon and yeah, she's doing well in the SHS and so that so we just support that as best as we can.
00;13;01;23 - 00;13;18;20
Matt
And then I got another kid that, surfs for the, wellbeing and just loves a weekend warrior sort of scenario. So yeah, they might have a different pathway, might be a trade of some sort, but we look after that just as much as we will. The, the competitor.
00;13;18;22 - 00;13;41;23
Tappa
It's good to see that that that is all because like, when I was commentating the world tour back in, like I was doing all the events 97 or about 2002, and I had a little bay in my bonnet because like in rugby league, the under 20 ones competition, all the players had to either be doing a traineeship apprenticeship or something or they couldn't play wave surfing.
00;13;41;23 - 00;13;57;05
Tappa
It was like there was so much money around, like 16 year olds on 60 or 88, and it was like at 21. You're not on to it. Yeah. And there was no backup plan. And I was doing that was really disappointing with the industry. That was like they were turning and burning. But they just said to me, it's not our job.
00;13;57;07 - 00;14;04;16
Tappa
But in a way it's kind is because I don't want them to be at school. I want them to surf in competitions. Is that sort of where that that's come in as well?
00;14;04;17 - 00;14;25;20
Matt
Yeah, definitely. I mean, it's a hard balance and particularly surfing, it's, it's one that requires a lot of travel. You know, it's not sort of like, you know, say a kid was interested in, you know, being a rugby league player. You know, we can keep a lot of that in-house in terms of Australia. Whereas, you know, some of these kids, they're they're all over the world to compete.
00;14;25;20 - 00;14;29;29
Matt
So it's it's hard. It's, it makes it makes it global citizen pretty darn quick though.
00;14;29;29 - 00;14;30;18
Tappa
Yeah.
00;14;30;20 - 00;14;58;11
Matt
Which is great. So there's a lot of learnings that happen outside of that space. But yeah, it is definitely challenging. So if I can, if I can support that as best I can, then still making sure that they still get their senior certificate and they still get opportunities to do other, other things if they've got an injury or, you know, maybe they just have a change of heart because how many, how many people change direction, you know, these days it's it's it's gone to the days where you leave school, you get a job, and then you're doing that job for the rest of your life that, you know, now.
00;14;58;13 - 00;14;58;27
Tappa
That doesn't.
00;14;58;27 - 00;15;01;05
Matt
Happen anymore.
00;15;01;07 - 00;15;25;20
Tappa
Yeah. Well, it's, so we've got numerous people that are in it and there's different, different surfaces that are going to do different things. When they, when you actually, get down to it, though, it's the individual, what they want. Now, do you have discipline in the school like, as in, like you got to turn up, you've got to be here at this time and all that, or is it going to, you just turn up when you can?
00;15;25;20 - 00;15;28;28
Tappa
What's the what's the guy? How is it like that sort of thing?
00;15;29;01 - 00;15;52;19
Matt
Yeah. Not good question. And look, I'll give you a scenario I won't give you. I'll go and give you a school session. But essentially there was, some really, really good surfers that were at a different school, a larger school at the southern end of the Gold Coast that sort of flipped over, and came to us and the attendance was about, I think that's 23% on the previous year.
00;15;52;21 - 00;16;08;08
Matt
And doing exactly what you're saying, skip it out and, and, and surfing and it just it's hard for the kid to find purpose. So if I can, if I can give them a sense of purpose of why I'm coming to school in the first place, that attendance for that young man straight up to 100% attendance by the end of the year.
00;16;08;08 - 00;16;28;00
Matt
Like he I don't think he missed a day and and it's the reason for that is not because I'm doing anything flash. It's not about me. It's more about they they understand why they're here, and I understand what the what the goal is. And that because a lot of kids don't want to do anything at school. Like, why, when am I going to get used to.
00;16;28;00 - 00;16;46;20
Matt
It's how many adults are here. I'll never use that shit before. But if I can give the kids a sense of purpose and it's nationally recognized qualifications, I give them a sense of community. I give them a why. And even if some of them, if they want to win for the coach, they want to do it for me, which is, you know, so, because I'm there every single, every single morning I'm there.
00;16;46;22 - 00;17;02;08
Matt
And if there's a drama, they pick up the phone, they call me or the call Casey. And, I think they just feel supported. So therefore, you know, the attendance and the discipline, it all just, it all just happens, and I don't have to force it. I've just got to give a shit. Yeah, really? And if I think.
00;17;02;08 - 00;17;04;16
Tappa
Kids like it when someone actually gives a shit to me.
00;17;04;22 - 00;17;05;05
Matt
You're right.
00;17;05;11 - 00;17;23;00
Tappa
Yeah, yeah, well, like, I, I know one process I that I, I can't, I might size nine, but I was, doing a surf contest and he won the surf contest. This is like CTE level. And he had to sign an autograph, I can't remember. He asked me how to spell a four letter word. I can't remember what the word was, but.
00;17;23;02 - 00;17;45;12
Tappa
And no, I actually went to the team. I said, man, you got to do something about this. You can't have someone who can't spell, you know? But what it was, all he did was surf. He didn't even turn up at school. And but he was that good that he didn't have to worry about that. But in the end, when you're representing a brand or something that, you know, you know, being around spike and all that sort of thing is a big is a big thing.
00;17;45;12 - 00;17;57;11
Matt
Sure. Yeah. And I think you're right that and this is where I think Q is a that's a point of difference is, you become the teacher when I say you. I mean, I'm using you as an example because the amount of time that you spent with Lily B young.
00;17;57;13 - 00;17;57;29
Tappa
Yeah.
00;17;58;02 - 00;18;17;11
Matt
You became the teacher for her as opposed to me. Like, I can teach you as much as I as I can in the four walls. That's that real world connection that you offered her in the commentary. Space and bait, you know, that's what really gave her that drive in that purpose. So that's a that's a thank you for me.
00;18;17;14 - 00;18;32;00
Matt
Because ultimately, it doesn't matter. It could be a, a, you know, a post on a job site. It could be, anyone in there sort of in a network or their space can ultimately be the be the teacher. And I think that that's the importance of it.
00;18;32;02 - 00;18;48;25
Tappa
Yeah. Well, for me, it was just recognizing talent. First time she I had a break and she said, I'll hop on the mic because you still work. Correct. And honestly she's only 20 now and I still reckon she would be if she's traveling the world, but she'd have to be one of the best combat female commentators, no doubt.
00;18;48;25 - 00;19;05;23
Tappa
She's just got to go to and, and strangely enough she listens, which is, you know, probably a tribute to these guys. Right. Because get getting kids to listen and actually, you know, absorb stuff I think is a hard thing is particularly at that age because it's so much going on. Sure. And then growing and everything, you know.
00;19;05;26 - 00;19;15;13
Matt
Definitely no, you're definitely right. And they don't want to hear from you. I'm sorry mums and dads, but that in the day they, they, they switch off and they and and they switch off to me as well.
00;19;15;13 - 00;19;19;02
Tappa
I've got kids on that. I don't know if they listen to me yet.
00;19;19;04 - 00;19;35;22
Matt
But they are they're more they're more likely if you're offering if they look up to you and they look up to the there's people in their life that that they can, that they I mean, as I said, all these different teachers that are not qualified teachers, but offer them so much, they're the value that I think we get from the community.
00;19;35;23 - 00;19;35;29
Matt
You know.
00;19;35;29 - 00;19;53;06
Tappa
My son, when he was first out in the service, you know, he got to practices where he wouldn't listen to me. And then he went to a little coaching course. Phil McNamara was down it goes. Oh, dad, I got to practice for part of that. So I said, oh, really? Is that right? But, you know, it's someone else that they respect that they take because it's mum and dad.
00;19;53;06 - 00;19;56;02
Tappa
No, nothing until you have kids. Then you work out. They knew a.
00;19;56;02 - 00;19;58;01
Matt
Lot. Sure, I can imagine. Yeah.
00;19;58;04 - 00;20;17;11
Tappa
Well, that sounds probably the same to, you know, my time. Other thing I want to talk to you about schooling versus home schooling. These guys are kind of like a midwife kind of thing in a bit, in a way. But what, what what's your opinion on home schooling? Because I, I find that the unless the discipline is there to kind of can't work.
00;20;17;13 - 00;20;37;15
Matt
So I mean, I think there's a place for everything and I think since Covid, I think people's opinions, have shifted a little bit. I mean, and then we'll open to different forms of schooling. I mean, I really struggle getting this off the ground just because it was different. So it must be for, kids that can't handle normal schooling or drop kicks.
00;20;37;15 - 00;20;57;17
Matt
All must be for what? So, which I couldn't be further from the truth, but now, since Covid, I think when people did have to stay home for periods of time, it's, it's a lot more accepted. And I, you know, some of the, you know, that they're not sure there's men of business and there's busy schools as other ones that are popping up now, which is great.
00;20;57;19 - 00;21;21;00
Matt
But it's a similar concept. So in terms of what how do I see this comparing to to home schooling? Look, I think that where I have a lot of, success is the myself, the parents, the student, the employer, the trainers, the coaches, all the people in their network. We all want the same thing. We want the kids to succeed.
00;21;21;06 - 00;21;37;16
Matt
Yeah. And then if you're at home and it's just it's sometimes the relationship between parent and student can get a bit tense purely because you're in each other's pockets the whole time. Yeah. And it goes back to the comment that you made before about, you know, what would you know? You know my dad.
00;21;37;18 - 00;21;46;00
Tappa
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Dad's not enough. The name of the mums, you know, and, you know, I, you know, I'd only surfed whatever, you know, like, for sure before he was born. I bet on the end of it.
00;21;46;00 - 00;22;06;02
Matt
So you got that. And then it's hard for parents then to go, well, you know, here I'm going to be a teacher, but then here I'm going to be mum, and then here I'm going to be, you know, it's it's it's so it's it's tricky. So I think but then in saying that I was chatting with, because here in, in Portugal and, and, you know, obviously, Sierra is an absolute machine and he.
00;22;06;02 - 00;22;07;26
Tappa
She is a citizen of the world. That young.
00;22;07;26 - 00;22;26;25
Matt
Lady. Unbelievable. And and he made a comment, you know, she's going to learn more on these trips with me than she is in any school situation. And there's a big push from, from the government in terms of embedding global citizenship in our in our curriculum all the time. But in lit, we just can't do it.
00;22;27;01 - 00;22;44;11
Tappa
Well unless it I don't know how many parents that have the income ability that curse. He's got a lot of curse. He's a great black too. And he he's a very smart man. And and honestly, the relationship him and Sierra have is amazing to say. And watching. Yeah he's a great black KZN nanny since he was 19. I saw him with his wife about at the at the contest.
00;22;44;11 - 00;22;58;06
Tappa
He was a sponsor and I said, oh, look at you two young kids. You know, that's like, yeah, I remember when they were young kids, you know, and it's just amazing seeing people cry like, oh, know I see you. You must, you know, like, I know you've been doing coach for ten years and you've probably seen a lot of these kids go through.
00;22;58;06 - 00;23;15;01
Tappa
And and for me, I've been doing commentary for nearly 30 and watching, you know, all these kids turn into humans and some humans of the planets, just, you know, moms and dads. And in an industry itself, it's been a part of my life that I really enjoy. And I can see why you enjoy what you do so much.
00;23;15;05 - 00;23;38;10
Matt
No. And I appreciate that, man. And look, I think, Yeah, I guess to answer your question, too, it's there's a place for everything. And I think if I can be flexible and around their schooling in terms of, you know, it's for someone depending on their pathway, if I can say, if I take someone like Ziggy and she has to go compete, I'll support it and I'll still make sure that she still gets the same certificate.
00;23;38;13 - 00;23;40;16
Matt
She it's give take, everything's give take.
00;23;40;16 - 00;23;48;01
Tappa
So. But she'd have to like put in for that too. So when she see it she's got to do the extra work to get. She has to do some sort of a deal really. And that's.
00;23;48;01 - 00;24;07;02
Matt
Right. And once again, and if as long as everyone's on the same page, parents, teacher, student as if we all want the same things, we just got to work out how it's going to how it's going to, come out in the end. And, and it's about mapping backwards. Where can I see myself beyond the school gates and then map backwards?
00;24;07;02 - 00;24;25;18
Matt
And then I think happy days, because the bulk of the thing is the kids support the kids as well. So, you know, there might be a young blood. Can you get some opportunity, on a job site somewhere, and I can. It's really big project coming up. I said, might take the week off and go work with them because you're going to learn a truckload about that.
00;24;25;21 - 00;24;41;16
Matt
You know, more than what I can teach you in the four walls and Pythagoras theorem. Yeah. You know, so, but then when you are back at school, we gotta we've got to sit down and get it done. So it's a lot of work. It's a lot of work sort of in, but it's also it's give take so and put the kids there in.
00;24;41;16 - 00;24;42;22
Matt
So if they're in, I mean.
00;24;42;29 - 00;25;00;11
Tappa
Well, I remember I was listening when Ziggy and Lily were having their chat. And it is kind of like a little family and they're there and they're they're all like brothers and sisters, you know, I'm sure there's a few, you know, bits of this and bit of that going on. But then, you know, like, I'm sure everybody doesn't get on all the time, but it is like, well, that's a family anyway.
00;25;00;11 - 00;25;00;24
Tappa
Really.
00;25;00;28 - 00;25;01;09
Matt
You're right.
00;25;01;09 - 00;25;04;11
Tappa
And they, they seem to have a bit of a support group amongst them. Yeah.
00;25;04;11 - 00;25;08;09
Matt
I mean, there's there's 46 of them this year.
00;25;08;11 - 00;25;09;04
Tappa
46.
00;25;09;04 - 00;25;27;07
Matt
Yeah. So there's a few. It's a and that's the thing to I want to, I want to, I want to apologize because sometimes we turn up at 6:00 and, you know, you're nothing worse. And you're trying to get a surf in before work. And then there's you look up and there's a whole bunch of kids that are just, ready to paddle out so that that can not set people at times.
00;25;27;12 - 00;25;29;28
Tappa
I'll go in there. Don't you worry about that.
00;25;30;01 - 00;25;44;19
Matt
So I do apologize for it. And but look, I think at the end of the day, too, there's kids doing some, some shocking stuff in the community and say, yeah, if our biggest gripe is, you know, a bunch of kids paddling out for two hours doing some surf training, then, you know, so be it.
00;25;44;22 - 00;26;05;13
Tappa
Well, that's the beauty of the surf community, you know, like, especially boardriders clubs and all that because they're taking all these kids and giving a community I know in my Boardriders club. So it was a couple of kids back 20 years ago, and their family was the Boardriders club because their home life wasn't that good. So, you know, and it is great that that surfing has that community about it.
00;26;05;13 - 00;26;16;00
Tappa
And your school seems to be, a lot to do with it as well, mate. Now next up, nine of those students is a moana right inside that Oscar Berry was was he?
00;26;16;03 - 00;26;16;06
Matt
He.
00;26;16;06 - 00;26;16;17
Tappa
Wasn't.
00;26;16;18 - 00;26;17;17
Matt
Hard. He was sort of.
00;26;17;17 - 00;26;20;22
Tappa
Motivate us to do it. But you've had a you got a world title so far.
00;26;20;25 - 00;26;28;02
Matt
We've got. Who have we got? We've got zigs. She's done really well. She will, you know, if I, if I talk about earlier, you got, you know, Clive Horn.
00;26;28;02 - 00;26;32;03
Tappa
Oh yeah. He's back in New Zealand now. He's giant boy now. He was a little like.
00;26;32;03 - 00;26;35;03
Matt
I used to always talk about you giving him a hard time about his weight.
00;26;35;05 - 00;26;45;16
Tappa
Yeah, because he's old, man. You had to call him in to eat because he was. He said, well, I'm going to make 25 kilos and, well, more than 20, probably four times that now.
00;26;45;18 - 00;26;47;20
Matt
But you've also got, I think so. Rico.
00;26;47;20 - 00;26;48;19
Tappa
Yeah. Rico, he won.
00;26;48;19 - 00;26;50;21
Matt
The, the single thing I think at one point and.
00;26;50;27 - 00;26;53;01
Tappa
He's won the Australian junior title as well.
00;26;53;01 - 00;27;10;27
Matt
It's phenomenal. Yeah. Who else? Who, she's in terms of I mean, obviously Lily's fantastic. A bit of a competitive beast herself is a young lady named, Zana Hutchinson. She's, she's, I think a three time, national champion in New Zealand.
00;27;10;29 - 00;27;13;08
Tappa
So are you getting students from New Zealand to come? Coming?
00;27;13;08 - 00;27;30;09
Matt
Yeah. Wait. NZ Bali. I've got, some from Great Britain next year. Amari, keep your eyes open on the young up and coming Amari. She's going to be a bit, yeah, she's going to come next year, but she's going to be great. And there's I think I'm going to chat with Hunter. He's a, he's a yeah.
00;27;30;12 - 00;27;33;18
Matt
He's coming. He's last name, but he, he's
00;27;33;21 - 00;27;34;29
Tappa
Popping in the riders.
00;27;34;29 - 00;27;36;18
Matt
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I'm.
00;27;36;21 - 00;27;37;18
Tappa
I'm the sanitized.
00;27;37;18 - 00;27;42;16
Matt
Originally. There's a few there's a yeah, there's a lot, actually. Just trying to think of something.
00;27;42;16 - 00;27;48;10
Tappa
So are you looking to expand it any further? Because you do 11 and 12. You're looking to guy like Dan to grade ten or.
00;27;48;12 - 00;27;58;16
Matt
Look, that is that is a thought. But I what my dream was when I first started, it was actually chatting with Bede. I'd love to put one on study and open up some opportunities for.
00;27;58;17 - 00;28;01;19
Tappa
Yeah, castrati. It's hard for the kids who go to high school in Cleveland.
00;28;01;19 - 00;28;30;17
Matt
That's right. And he mentioned that. And he he mentioned that it's tricky to give some of the indigenous kids to not coming to school. And so if I can offer them something over there, that'd be great. And, and Tweed Rivers just asked me to set one up over there. So. Yeah. My dream would be to have him all over the place and and have sort of little, you know, once again, if we're talking global citizenship, I'd love to have one in, the UK in Indo somewhere, and we can just set things up where we can kids can go and have sister schools and, yeah.
00;28;30;20 - 00;28;33;01
Matt
And then once again be global citizens.
00;28;33;01 - 00;28;37;16
Tappa
So G is also I do like with surfboard manufacturing. Is there anything in that that as well.
00;28;37;18 - 00;28;47;19
Matt
Yeah I've got a I've got a few. Yeah I've got a few kids in that space actually. Keo Bartholomew who came through, he he was looking to do that originally and he's changed his mind now. He's, he's doing.
00;28;47;19 - 00;28;48;15
Tappa
Drama turkey.
00;28;48;21 - 00;29;12;07
Matt
Phenomenal. He's phenomenal. He's just finished college. His horticulture. He's he's a tradesman. Nearly finished his horticultural apprenticeship and, Yeah. And you see someone like Johnny Cash a lot that, you know, they're off traveling the world doing great things as well. The lot family been great supporters. So, yeah, I think, look, I could pretty much tell you every single kid that's been through the program and, and the pathway that they're sitting on now.
00;29;12;09 - 00;29;21;03
Matt
So I couldn't as a teacher, that's what you want. You want to be able to have that sit back and go, you know what? That's that's my why.
00;29;21;05 - 00;29;34;07
Tappa
And you've done some that's it's led to them going somewhere rather than doing circles and gone that way for sure. Yeah. Yeah. That it's amazing that that like that it's taken so long to like I know she's been down ten years. Is that right?
00;29;34;09 - 00;29;35;09
Matt
99.
00;29;35;09 - 00;29;44;00
Tappa
Years. Nine years and and like like, okay. Like it. That's that's fair. Well, but in the education system that is like, just a tiny little splinter.
00;29;44;01 - 00;29;44;21
Matt
You're right.
00;29;44;24 - 00;29;54;15
Tappa
And you've got such a, there's a there's a lot more that you can do as well with that. There's, what are you what are you thinking of besides. Yeah. Schools everywhere. Anything else? Are you looking to expand the program in any way?
00;29;54;18 - 00;30;14;11
Matt
Yeah. Look, I, I love it to to I mean, surfing the great thing about these places is obviously the surfing aspect because it has the mental health, but the music industry is another one where I think that, you know, the arts in general, really, I just think that'd be great for kids because it it's an outlet for them and all sports and things are as well.
00;30;14;11 - 00;30;33;10
Matt
But I just the kids that benefit from from music, I'd love to be able to set something up where we could, we could harness that, that energy that they've got for the music space. And then if we can get people from the industry to support it. I mean, if you look at Alex Chompy, Pullen was probably my biggest supporter, back when it first started.
00;30;33;12 - 00;31;06;13
Matt
And I'll never forget, like, he'd sit with the kids and he'd, and he talk to them about, you know, if you're only a good person when you're winning, then those days come around few and far between, you know? So it's about being a good person first and then, and then everything builds off that. Okay. And so that's kind of stuck with me and it's kind of it's it's and I think the best way to, to capture, like that is just put them around good people such as yourself in these environment.
00;31;06;13 - 00;31;21;16
Matt
So 70% of our behaviors are attributed to our environment. So if we can have this supportive environment around them, we're going to have good humans. Doesn't matter what they do because they'll work it out and they jump in that change and whatever, but just create a good human and then the rest is fine.
00;31;21;21 - 00;31;37;24
Tappa
That's how I remember my dad's speech at my 21st year of speech. You ever say any guys you got out there, you guys? Well, I've had never had any trouble with Terry or Robert and I. Yeah. Hang with shit. You become, she says, must be all right. And that was his speech. And it was like. But it's kind of right.
00;31;37;24 - 00;31;49;00
Tappa
If you hang with good people, become a good person, then that's that sort of translates to everything. And, and that's probably what the big part of your whole theory there that is. Yeah.
00;31;49;02 - 00;31;54;19
Matt
It's just that you're a citizen first you're a student, then you're surfer and, yeah. And just look after each other.
00;31;54;22 - 00;32;10;19
Tappa
That's unreal. And mate to see what you've done with with some of the kids already. And I'm sure there's going to be many, many more. I would love one day to get you back in here, maybe ten years down the track, and we've got a world champion that's going to Kuwait. That'd be that'd be pretty cool. That'll be pretty awesome, mate.
00;32;10;23 - 00;32;15;04
Tappa
Thank you so much for coming on the Green room. You're doing a great job. Awesome stuff Matt.
00;32;15;04 - 00;32;16;13
Matt
Appreciate it man. You just have me.
00;32;16;16 - 00;32;33;14
Tappa
Thanks. Right. Awesome. Thanks for tuning into the green room. Hey. Thanks. Would you like to get your name in the Green Room podcast? Well, we are looking for sponsors, so if you want to get a sponsorship, check it out at Pod Fire. Lots of people can hear about your product on one of the best podcasts around the green room.
00;32;33;14 - 00;32;53;14
Tappa
So, check it out. Pod fire. Thanks for tuning into the green Room. A big thank you to our guests for sharing their stories and insights. And pod Fire for bringing this podcast to life. Don't forget to subscribe, like, leave a review and share the green room with your friends. We'll catch you next time for more conversations with the legends of Surf and beyond.
00;32;53;18 - 00;32;55;19
Tappa
Until then, catch you in the waves.