The Australian Life Saving Team (ALT) Surf Boat Crews have successfully retained the Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Test Series title after a fierce contest on Saturday, 14 February 2026, at Wanda Beach, in Sydney’s south.
For the 2026 Trans-Tasman Series, the ALT Surf Boat Crews were represented by the Currumbin Barbarians (Open Males), the Collaroy Giants (Open Females), the South Curl Curl Burley (U23 Male), and the Palm Beach Pina Coladas (U23 Females).
The Australian Teams dominated the Open Male, U23 Male and U23 Female competitions, winning all three rounds against the Kiwis. However, the Open Female Oar Blacks were able to one up their Aussie counterparts and claim the Open Female category 2-1.
Full race results for the 2026 Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Series are available on Liveheats here, and you can rewatch the races on the ASRL YouTube Channel here.
Palm Beach SLSC's Pina Coladas Win!
In related Surf Boat news, the New South Wales Interstate Team brought home an incredible victory on Friday February 13 at Wanda Beach at the SLSA Interstates. Congratulates to all eight crews who left nothing on the beach.
Once again local surf boat crews were selected to represent, with South Curl Curl's Runaways (U19 Females), South Curl Curl Dribblers (U23 Male) and the Freshwater Freaks (Reserve Women) part of the State Team. Results here
Team NSW has got it done on home sands again this season, they are 2026 Surf Boat Interstate Champions!
The Australian Surf Rowers League Open Championships 2026 runs February 12 to 15 - more next Issue - results available so far are here.
The NSW ORC Championship opened the 2026 Pantaenius Australia Pittwater Regatta today - a day of light wind and a sloppy seaway under grey skies that caused race officials at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) to hoist the AP and then shorten the offshore courses – a difficult day on the water for officials and competitors alike.
Division 1’s original 27 nautical mile course was shortened by 10 miles and those that handled the conditions best were John Bacon’s Crazy Diamond, the Melges 32 finishing strongly to beat David Hamilton’s Farr 40, Seeking Alpha by a little over 5 minutes.
Division 2 was originally to sail 21nms, but that course was shortened to 16. Last year’s Division 1 winner, Garry Gudmunson’s ID 35, Organised Chaos, took overall honours by nearly five minutes from Simon Grosser’s Young 88, Young at Heart – a past winner of this event. Third went to Neil Padden’s Beneteau First 40.7, Wailea, with a gap of 11 minutes from the winner.
Crazy Diamond - bow up and raring to go. Photo: Andrea Francolini/RPAYC - Day 1- NSW ORC Championship saw Crazy Diamond, skippered by John Bacon, claim first place in Division 1, while Organised Chaos, under Garry Gudmunson, secured the top spot in Division 2
Saltwater Veterans provides sailing days on Pittwater - Sailing For Connection, Healing & Growth. Photo supplied
Avalon Beach RSL Sub-Branch is a core community meeting point for Veterans who have served and currently serve. Photo: PON
This past week Project Restore reached a huge milestone when they planted 800 endangered Posidonia shoots beneath their recently installed Environmentally Friendly Moorings (EFMs) at Balmoral Beach.
Back in November 2025, they replaced 10 traditional moorings with Environmentally Friendly Moorings (EFMs), in collaboration with the Balmoral Boatshed.
''This milestone represents the culmination of three years of collaboration with the boating community, mooring contractors, public agencies and scientists.'' the Project Restore team said
As part of Project Restore locals have been joining in on the Citizen Science project, The Storm Squad. This group is integral to helping us collect Posidonia australis fragments. They were asking the community to collect naturally washed up Posidonia fragments from their local beach and leave them at our collection points.
Station Beach, on the Pittwater estuary side of Barrenjoey Headland, is one of these collection points.
This is the second Palm Beach sea plant collected to help restore other areas. In 2014 UNSW and SIMS began collecting Crayweed from Palm Beach to help return other places to how they once were.
See February 2025 report: Project Restore: seagrass from Palm Beach Going to Sydney Harbour - Join the Storm Squad + Environmentally Friendly Moorings – Free Trial Available
Station Beach collection point. Photo: Project Restore/Sydney Institute of Marine Science
Sydney Harbour hosts more than 5,000 boat moorings located in shallow bays around the estuary. Traditionally, these moorings consist of a heavy chain and concrete block that allow safe anchorage for vessels. However, with the movement of tides and winds, the heavy chains swing and scour the seafloor—causing long-term damage to seagrass meadows and the important ecosystems they support.
Pittwater has a capped capacity of 3,641 total moorings, covering private, commercial, and public authority, according to local planning documents. Various marinas and clubs in the area also manage, lease, and provide access to hundreds of additional private and member-only swing moorings.
%20Lorna%20scott%20160.jpg?timestamp=1771103662529)
Profile of the Week Zonta Northern Beaches Club’s President Dr. Lorna Scott: On the IWD Breakfast + 2026 WorksNSW Women’s Week 2026 runs from Monday 2 March to Sunday 8 March, and will see a dynamic series of events, focusing on inclusivity and celebrating the achievements of women across NSW.
Although some of the tropes imposed on women persist in Australian society, as can be seen in the circus foisted on one Australian lady Leader in recent days, cooler heads have prevailed than the exhausted patience prompted in those growing up with lots of brothers and no sisters, and set another example.
This example has been garnered from other women, many of them members of the Zonta Club of the Northern Beaches, who have actioned numerous initiatives for over five decades to quietly create change.
The next event on their 2026 calendar is their March 4th International Womens Day Breakfast at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club at Newport, where Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby will announce who the Pittwater Woman of the Year is.
Tickets here: zonta-club-n-b-international-women-s-day-breakfast
Zonta NB’s 2026 Breakfast Speaker is Shae Ingram, a Class of 2018 graduate of Mater Maria at Warriewood who has gone on to become a Senior Program Engineer working in the Satellite and Space Systems team at Optus.
Ms Ingram is very passionate about advocating for women in STEM, promoting careers in Space, and participating in outreach programs as a Space Ambassador at Optus, where she spends her time educating young people about space, sharing her career pathway, and creating visibility around what an engineer can look like.
‘’From studying Aeronautical Engineering to working at Optus Satellite and Space Systems, representation and visibility of women in engineering is so important to foster a more diverse workforce, particularly for students who are considering future STEM careers.’’ Shae says
The Speaker is very timely given former South Curl Curl girl Katherine Bennell-Pegg was announced as the 2026 Australian of the Year, and fits with Zonta's own program of getting women 'off the ground'. Former Narrabeen and Mona Vale pilot Nancy Ellis, was, in 1953, the only Australian member of the Ninety-Nines and the winner of their Silver Jubilee Scholarship in the United States of America in 1954. The Ninety-Nines, founded by Amelia Earhart in 1929, is the International Organisation of Women Pilots that provides networking, mentoring, and flight scholarship opportunities to recreational and professional female pilots.
Zonta's own Amelia Earhart Fellowship was established in 1938 in honour of famed pilot and Zontian, Amelia Earhart. The US$10,000 Fellowship is awarded annually to up to 30 women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences. It may be used at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees in these fields.
This week a chat with current Zonta Northern Beaches Club President, Dr. Lorna Scott on that and what else is coming up this year.
160.jpg?timestamp=1770853153695)
Bricks with makers marks were gifted to us decades ago by Charles Benko. Charles stated he got these ones from Brookvale Bricks, when they were still around.
He explained the markings on these bricks, which are marked with a pipe in one case, and two thumbprints to make a heart or harp in the other, is made when the maker had completed run of 10 thousand of them. They would place a personal insignia in that 10 thousandth one made to mark the end of a run.
Charles who lived at the back of Manly near Condamine street, and was a Hungarian who spoke of Auschwitz – his wife was French (Suzanne ?), came to Australia after World War Two. He passed away aged 99 years back now, but his gift of old Brookvale bricks, and stories of our area in the late 1940's and early 1950's, prompted a look into brick making in our area.
Inbox News Australians living with disability at risk of exploitation by NDIS providers breaching consumer laws: ACCC, Serious incidents in childcare centres are still rising: Why?, Australian sport still has a gender-based violence problem. Our new guide might help tackle it, ASIC action sees FIIG Securities ordered to pay $2.5 million over cyber security failures, Reforms to enable NSW GPs to diagnose ADHD from March, NSW government increases funding to $12.8 million to support animal welfare enforcement, NSW Government moves to permanently reward safe drivers, Japan’s rock star leader now has the political backing to push a bold agenda. Will she deliver?, In the Australian outback, we’re listening for nuclear tests – and what we hear matters more than ever, Why scrapping a key health promotion agency makes little economic sense, The truth about energy: why your 40s feel harder than your 20s, ADHD prescriptions are up tenfold with the wealthiest kids most likely to be medicated, Was the violent Sydney protest avoidable and what can police and demonstrators learn?, Isaac Herzog visit: protesters lose challenge to sweeping special police powers. What now?, Victims have told us the worst of Epstein’s crimes for decades – and they are still being ignored, Indonesia’s leader is going after critics with a vengeance. This could complicate relations with Australia, Forget grand plans. These small tweaks can add meaning to your life, ‘I wish I could fall asleep and never wake up’: even passive suicidal thoughts are a worry. Here’s how to respond- All February 2026 Inbox News (includes Youth and Seniors news/reports)
Community News Cranzgots Pizza Cafe Closing March 15 2026, Johnson Brothers Store at Mona Vale is Store of the Year, Zonta Club's 2026 International Women’s Day Breakfast, Mow for Ol'Mate in March, Surf Life Saving NSW elects Female President, CSIRO partners with aviation sector to help STEM learning take flight, Drone Surveillance at Bungan, Unlicensed X-ray Operators Targeted by NSW EPA, Putting Safety First in the Digital Age, Saltwater Veterans: Helping Hands Needed, Barrenjoey High School P&C Welcome event: Feb. 19, North Sydney Council to Apply for 52.66% Rise In Rates, Narrabeen Sports High School 2026 Open Night, AOK: Urgent - Thursday Volunteers Needed, Feedback on Middle Harbour flood study findings Invited, MWP Care Seeking Volunteers, Monika's Doggie Rescue Pets of the Week: Bean + Jethro, Inaugural Surf Lifesaving Red & Yellow Day, More Inspectors to tackle illegal tobacco, Development Coordination Authority (DCA) changes: Feedback invited, Narrabeen Lakes Amateur Swimming Club: Saturday Afternoons, Now Open: funding round for the NSW Government's Holiday Break Autumn/Winter 2026 program, Petition: Stop Politicians from harvesting our data, Pittwater Residents Associations, Sports, Environment and Groups, Pittwater Offshore Newsletter
Environment Nymphes myrmeleonides: Yellow Lacewing, A few more local fliers, Climate outlook for March to June, First-Ever Release of Captive-Bred Mallee Emu-wrens Back Into the Wild, The lower Murray is officially on life support. Will we save it?, Sea lion camera reveals mother taking pup on educational foraging expedition in the wild, Mona Vale Dunes bushcare group: 2026 Dates, North Avalon Beach Dune Planting: Sunday 1 March, Bangalley Headland WPA Bushcare 2026 dates, Labor approves Middlemount coal mine extension, Maugean skate's status unchanged, Seismic blasting proposal near Whale Calving Grounds rejected, New compliance unit to strengthen NSW biosecurity systems, North Head visitor access Changes: feedback open until Feb. 27, community invited to have a say on recreational opportunities In Great Koala National Park, Royal National Park plan draft amendment: Have your say, New study warns huge areas of Australia are vulnerable to tree-killing beetle, Southern right whales are having babies less often; why?, Australia can’t reach its ambitious climate targets with current policies. Here are 6 things we can try, Rebuilding after a disaster is a long road. Lismore’s businesses offer hope for others, How delays in Australia’s switch to clean energy are hurting workers, If fracking begins in the Kimberley, it could damage a sacred river, How Indigenous ideas about non-linear time can help us navigate ecological crises, Trump’s EPA decides climate change doesn’t endanger public health – the evidence says otherwise, Trump’s plan to wipe out US climate rules relies on EPA rescinding its 2009 endangerment finding – White House announces it is rescinding the endangerment finding and the removal of judicial advice on climate change, The brilliant and bizarre ways birds use their sense of smell – from natural cologne to pest control, Why walking in a national park in the dark prompts people to turn off lights at home, What Olympic athletes see that viewers don’t: Machine-made snow makes ski racing faster and riskier – and it’s everywhere, , Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services) Needs People for the Rescue Line, 2025-26 Seal Reveal underway, 622kg of Rubbish Collected from Local Beaches: Adopt your local beach program, This Tick Season: Freeze it - don't squeeze it, Protect wildlife: dispose of fishing gear responsibly, Notice of 1080 Poison Baiting, Volunteers for Barrenjoey Lighthouse Tours needed, Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 Recycling Batteries: at Mona Vale + Avalon Beach, Reporting Dogs Offleash - Dog Attacks to Council, Plastic Bread Ties For Wheelchairs, Stay Safe From Mosquitoes, Mountain Bike Incidents On Public Land, Report fox sightings, marine wildlife rescue group on the Central Coast, Possums In Your Roof?: do the right thing, Aviaries + Possum Release Sites Needed, Bushcare in Pittwater: where + when, Friends Of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment Activities, Gardens and Environment Groups and Organisations in Pittwater, Ringtail Posses, Pittwater Reserves, Environment History insights + Walks, Birds +
Aquatics Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race: First in best dressed! by Di Pearson
Children Sunday cartoons and animations - This Issue: Never Give Up, Brookvale + Bayview + Mona Vale Bricks: Makers Mark Every run of 10 Thousand, Battle of the Bands – Youth Edition: at Palm Beach, Winter sports sign up, Curious Kids: How much does a cloud weigh? + how do currents form under water? + why can’t we tickle ourselves? + how does our heart beat? + how do scientists hunt for dark matter?, Stories this week: The Secret Pizza Party + 'Hey, That's My Monster!' read by Lily Tomlin, local groups and fun for you
Youth Brookvale + Bayview + Mona Vale Bricks: Makers Mark Every run of 10 Thousand, First-Ever Release of Captive-Bred Mallee Emu-wrens Back Into the Wild, illegal e-bikes to be seized-crushed in NSW, Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship tour applications open, ARTEXPRESS is back!, Out Front 2026 celebrates the next generation artists, The Bull: The Surf Legend Who Walked Away From Everything, Opportunities: NASA 2026 is a go!! + Sevens by the Sea + Battle of the Bands – Youth Edition: at Palm Beach + Sports sign up + Fix our Feeds, Financial help for young people, School Leavers Support, Word Of The Week: Mind, 6 tips to survive and thrive in your first year of university, Worried AI means you won’t get a job when you graduate? Here’s what the research says, Deep-sea fish larvae rewrite the rules of how eyes can be built, What a Renaissance plate reveals about a woman who shaped literary history, Communal bathing was a public good. Then it got hijacked by wellness culture, How bird poo fuelled the rise of Peru’s powerful Chincha Kingdom, Why Aristotle would hate Valentine’s Day – and his five steps to love, Forget flowers: lovers in 18th- and 19th-century Ireland exchanged hair, Unpacking Bad Bunny’s Superbowl show – an alternative joyful vision for America, Local services for you
Seniors National Seniors & Australia's largest fee-free ATM network join forces to keep cash, The Bull: The Surf Legend Who Walked Away From Everything, Mow for Ol'Mate in March, The damaged Gaza War Cemetery highlights ongoing risk to soldier graves in conflict zones, Local Seniors Festival Events: 2026, New appointments to the aged care quality and safety council, Meanjin has been resurrected by QUT, Where are Europe’s oldest people living? What geography tells us about a fragmenting continent, Funny, tender, goofy – Catherine O'Hara lit up the screen every time she showed up, Amid an Olympic boom, it’s risky timing to lift a ban on developers’ political donations, Local groups, clubs, events and services for you
DIY Ideas A Job For Life: Apprentice Carpenter + Fee-Free Courses + Commencement Tool List + How to Look After Your Tools - TAFE classes commenced this week for those starting or continuing attaining qualifications in their chosen field.
Worth noting is the NSW Government is investing in the qualifications for new apprentices. This saves up to $2,000 for training costs per apprentice.
To be eligible for a fee-free* apprenticeship, including school-based apprenticeships, you must:
- have an employer that is signed up as an Apprenticeship Connect Australia Provider (ACAP)
- be funded under the NSW Government's Smart and Skilled Program
- commence your apprenticeship before 30 June 2027
- not have exceeded the maximum of three fee-free* apprenticeships under this initiative.
There are also a range of other help, support and incentives for those who want to do this through a traineeship for those over 21 with fee caps there too. Fee Free Apprenticeships courses and more information at at: www.tafensw.edu.au/fee-free-apprenticeships
For those who haven't made up their mind and may not enrol until the mid-year start, there are a range of fee-free courses, which include a Statement of Attainment in Pre-Apprenticeship in Construction
This Issue, an overview of one for those who like working with wood and a few pointers we've picked up through the decades that may help with taking the path towards becoming a Carpenter.
Park Bench Philosophers The ultra-processed foods problem is driven by commercial interests, not individual weakness; Mandatory Health Star Ratings on food products won't fix that while they can be 'Gamed'
Pictures Pittwater Regatta 2026 - reports by Di Pearson, Photos by Andrea Francolini and RPAYC
Food 10 Minute Salads: End Of Summer Sweetness - Summer vegetables and fruits in the best seasonal quality and price are now available with that end of season sweetness - peaches are at peak, melons are super-sweet and also have become cheaper. This week we’d like to share a few recipes and that combine some of these in dishes that suit the season and will give you great energy. Most of these, if the prep is already done, can be tossed in their dressings and served in 10 minutes, so these are great ideas for those who would rather spend more time enjoying the season and those late afternoon strolls in Pittwater than cooking.
Events Battle of the Bands – Youth Edition: at Palm Beach, WRC IWD Lunch at LRGC 2026, Pittwater Regatta 2026, Zonta's 2026 International Women's Day Breakfast, Manly Writers Festival, Music, Markets, Social Groups + Heaps more on!
