The Bra Boys
Bra Boys
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The Bra Boys is an Australian gang founded and based in Maroubra, an eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. Dating back to the 1990s, the gang has gained notoriety through violent clashes with members of the public and police. The gang achieved national and international attention in 2007[1] with the release of a feature-length documentary entitled Bra Boys: Blood is Thicker than Water, written and directed by members of the gang.
Contents
1 Origins 2 Notoriety and violence 2.1 Criminal matters 2.2 General community activism 2.3 Art imitating life 3 Documentary 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External links
Origins
The Bra Boys are held together by surfing as well as community ties.[2] The group is often linked with the Maroubra Surfers Association, with which a number of its members are associated.[citation needed] In an interview on Triple J radio, Koby Abberton pointed out the "Bra" is a reference to the gang 's suburb, Maroubra,[3] and partly after the street slang for brother.[1] Some members of the gang tattoo "My Brother 's Keeper" across the front of their chest,[4] "Bra Boys" and Maroubra 's postcode "2035" on their backs.[citation needed]
With a reputation of being territorial,[1] the group is known to have taken control of a Sydney reef break, known as 'Cape Solander ', located in Kurnell, and renaming the break 'Ours '. In July 2007, The Sydney Morning Herald reported an altercation that took place between professional bodyboarder Mitch Rawlins and a group of several Bra Boys members, including Koby Abberton. Rawlins was allegedly approached by a Bra Boy member and told to "fuck off". It is believed an argument broke out and then turned physical with Rawlins being punched in the head. A spokesman for the Bra Boys confirmed there had been "some sort of small incident" but denied any major violence.[5]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The Bra Boys is an Australian gang founded and based in Maroubra, an eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. Dating back to the 1990s, the gang has gained notoriety through violent clashes with members of the public and police. The gang achieved national and international attention in 2007[1] with the release of a feature-length documentary entitled Bra Boys: Blood is Thicker than Water, written and directed by members of the gang.
Contents
1 Origins 2 Notoriety and violence 2.1 Criminal matters 2.2 General community activism 2.3 Art imitating life 3 Documentary 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External links
Origins
The Bra Boys are held together by surfing as well as community ties.[2] The group is often linked with the Maroubra Surfers Association, with which a number of its members are associated.[citation needed] In an interview on Triple J radio, Koby Abberton pointed out the "Bra" is a reference to the gang 's suburb, Maroubra,[3] and partly after the street slang for brother.[1] Some members of the gang tattoo "My Brother 's Keeper" across the front of their chest,[4] "Bra Boys" and Maroubra 's postcode "2035" on their backs.[citation needed]
With a reputation of being territorial,[1] the group is known to have taken control of a Sydney reef break, known as 'Cape Solander ', located in Kurnell, and renaming the break 'Ours '. In July 2007, The Sydney Morning Herald reported an altercation that took place between professional bodyboarder Mitch Rawlins and a group of several Bra Boys members, including Koby Abberton. Rawlins was allegedly approached by a Bra Boy member and told to "fuck off". It is believed an argument broke out and then turned physical with Rawlins being punched in the head. A spokesman for the Bra Boys confirmed there had been "some sort of small incident" but denied any major violence.[5]
References: ^ a b c Marks, Kathy (19 March 2007). "Sydney 's notorious surf gang turns tide of violence into big-screen adulation". The Independent (United Kingdom). Retrieved 16 November 2008. ^ Carroll, Nick (9 March 2007). "Bra Boys World Film Premier in Sydney, Australia - Movie review". Surfing Magazine. Retrieved 6 February 2011. ^ Warhurst, Myf; Whalley, Jason; McDougall, Lindsay (7 May 2007). "Myf, Jay and the Doctor: Interview with Koby Abberton" (radio). Triple J (Australia). ^ a b Minion, Lynne (8 August 2009). "Brothers in Arms". Canberra Times. Retrieved 6 February 2011. ^ Gilmore, Heath (15 July 2007). "Bra Boys say it 's Ours and we 'll fight for it". The Sydney Morning Herald. ^ a b Hellard, Peta (21 November 2008). "Guilty Bra Boy Koby Abberton in Honolulu jail for three days". The Daily Telegraph (Australia). ^ McKenzie, Nick (24 September 2009). "Cocaine gang had security clearance". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 February 2011. ^ Wallace, Natasha (6 May 2005). "Surf gang member cleared of standover man 's murder". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 February 2011. ^ Jones, Caroline (7 November 2005). "Sons of beaches" (transcript). Australian Story (Australia). Retrieved 6 February 2011. ^ Kennedy, Les (24 December 2002). "Night the thin blue line ran into the Maroubra stomp". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 February 2011. ^ Cuming, Angela; Munro, Catharine (7 August 2005). "Rage over 7000 meters for beaches". The Sun-Herald (Australia). Retrieved 6 February 2011. ^ McIlveen, Luke (9 December 2005). "A beast surfaces". The Daily Telegraph (Australia). ^ Silkstone, Dan (14 December 2005). "When two tribes go to war: a culture clash". The Age (Australia). Retrieved 6 February 2011. ^ Casamento, Jo (6 February 2011). "Bra Boys amused by Home and Away homage". The Sun-Herald (Australia). Retrieved 6 February 2011. ^ a b "Bra Boys". Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2011. ^ Pomeranz, Margaret; Stratton, David (14 March 2007). "Bra Boys". At the Movies (Australia). Retrieved 6 February 2011. ^ Idato, Michael (27 August 2007). "Bra Boys - DVD review". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 February 2011.