Following the tragic loss of Northern Beaches surfer Mercury Psillakis last weekend after a fatal shark attack at Dee Why Beach, a number of initiatives have been set up to help support his family.
Organisers of the Jack McCoy Australian Surf Film Fest, which kicks off tomorrow in Sydney, have announced that all profits from ticket sales and auction items on the final day (Sunday) of the festival will be donated to the family. Long Reef Boardriders have also set up a GoFundMe page so anyone can make a contribution.
The final day of the festival will be held at the Bennett Surfboards shop in Brookvale, the original epicentre of the Australian surf industry, and where both Mercury and identical twin brother, Mike, worked as surfboard manufacturers throughout their lives.
Festival co-founder and McCoy’s son in law, Luke Campbell, has surfed at Long Reef with the Psillakis family for over 30 years and was in the water at the time of the attack.
“Merc was one of the most loved members of Long Reef and there wasn’t a day that went past that he wasn’t in the line up sharing the stoke. The whole reason we created the festival was to bring together the community, and there couldn’t be a more important time for us to wrap our arms around the Psillakis family and each other in this tragic time.”
Alongside the GoFundMe, Long Reef Boardriders have organised a public group counselling session which will take place this Saturday at 9am at the Long Reef SLSC. This will be followed by a BBQ and an opportunity for the community to come together.
To purchase tickets for the Sunday of the festival in order to support the family, click here.
To donate to the GoFundMe click here.
