Skye Rose with Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby. Photo: Michael Mannington OAM
For International Women's Day 2026 (March 8), the official theme is "Balance the Scales". This theme focuses on ensuring equality, safety, and a fair go for all women and girls, while encouraging the dismantling of systemic, structural barriers that hinder progress.
On Wednesday, 4 March 2026, Zonta NB hosted its IWD 29026 Breakfast at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club at Newport, with over 180 local women and guests, including men, in all fields with multiple interests attending.
Zonta NB’s 2026 Breakfast Speaker was 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. Shae graduated with first-class honours from a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering (Honours) at the University of Sydney, where she was heavily involved in student societies, including serving as Co-President of the Sydney Women in Aerospace Engineering society and Treasurer of the Sydney University Women In Engineering Society.
Shae Ingram. Photo: Michael Mannington OAM
The breakfast also is when the Pittwater Woman of the Year is announced.
In 2026 Mona Vale SLSC's Skye Rose was announced as the recipient of this recognition.
Skye, who was nominated by independent Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby, is the driving force behind the ‘Kickability’ program for children with disabilities at Pittwater Tigers AFL Club and the inclusive nippers’ programs at Mona Vale Surf Club.
Skye initiated Kickability after her own son, Dane, 17, who lives with autism, found mainstream AFL too intense. Kickability provides professional-led sessions, supported by junior volunteers and their coaches, creating “a strong, inclusive culture and genuine friendships. Kickability players are not a separate group - they are part of the Tigers’ family,” according to Skye.
Gidget Foundation Founder and Narrabeen Sports High student recognised at NSW Women of the Year Awards
Pittwater was also proudly recognised with two NSW Women of the Year 2026 awards going to inspirational locals this year.
Jacqui Cotton from Terrey Hills, was part of the Gidget Foundation Australia team - along with fellow founders, Simone Short, Libby Bowditch, Lou Hunter, Kim Mouret, Stephanie Hughes and Alexandra Berthold - who won the NSW Community Hero category.
The Gidget Foundation Australia works to improve the mental health of expectant and new parents across NSW. For 24 years, these incredible women have worked to improve mental health support for parents in NSW. In 2001, their sister and friend, Louise (nicknamed Gidget), lost her battle for mental health while experiencing postnatal depression.
Following this tragedy, they set out to make a difference in Gidget’s honour by increasing awareness of the illness and support for parents. Today, Gidget Foundation Australia provides parents with accessible, timely and specialist care. The foundation has established 39 Gidget Houses and delivered a total of 108,704 appointments to support 12,705 families. The founders are still actively involved, demonstrating dedication that has had a direct impact on perinatal mental health awareness, education and support in NSW.
Gidget Foundation Australia Founders - NSW Community Hero 2026 awardees
NSW Community Hero 2026 recipient, Jacqueline Cotton on behalf of the founders, Gidget Foundation Australia said:
“We started the foundation to make a change after losing my sister, so every parent could find access to the right support and care they needed. Never in a million years did I expect this to be recognised in such a way for doing what we do.”
“As a founding committee, we have been fortunate to receive unwavering support over the years - from talented health professionals to event attendees, corporate and government partners, and the broader community. Their commitment has helped transform our early dreams into a powerful reality.”
Elly Ings, a student at Narrabeen Sports High School, was named as “One to Watch” (aged 7–15).
At just 14 years old, Elly from Mona Vale is already making a meaningful impact in her school community - championing Aboriginal education, elevating First Nations voices, and building programs that connect students to culture, land and community.
Elly Ings said:
"Strengthening the role of First Nation perspectives in my school community is a very important part of my life. Helping to organise camps and excursions for First Nations students at my school helps to connect them to their ancestors as well as creating a comfortable school environment where they feel recognised and supported. Ultimately I want to help people feel seen and heard and continue to raise awareness so that everyone can thrive in this world of diversity."
"Having the privilege of accepting an award alongside women who have made a significant contribution in their field is very humbling. This experience has shown me the impact that one person can make on an entire community. Their selfless acts inspire me to continue to want to be involved with making a difference in other people’s lives."
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby with Elly Ings
Profile of the Week Pittwater Woman of the Year 2026 awarded to Skye Rose: Champion of Inclusive Sport + Gidget Foundation Founder and Narrabeen Sports High student recognised at NSW Women of the Year Awards Sky initiated Kickability after her own son, Dane, 17, who lives with autism, found mainstream AFL too intense. Kickability provides professional-led sessions, supported by junior volunteers and their coaches, creating “a strong, inclusive culture and genuine friendships. Kickability players are not a separate group - they are part of the Tigers’ family,” according to Skye.
Skye was formally honoured at the Zonta International Women’s Day Breakfast at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Newport on March 4.
160.jpg?timestamp=1772864678007)
Park Bench Philosophers Mackellar MP Dr. Sophie Scamps re-launches updated ‘Ending Jobs for Mates’ Bill
Pictures Avalon Beach Historical Society's March 2026 Meeting: On Bangalley Headland's 'Ovens' Caves by Geoff Searl OAM and John Illingsworth
Inbox News Government withdraws its FOI Amendment Bill, Severe irritability in teens can be reduced by daily doses of vitamins and minerals – new research, Australia’s official plan for AI safety isn’t much more than a single dot point. Will it be enough?, NSW respiratory surveillance, Over 100 short-term closure orders issued to illegal tobacconists as tobacco excise increases tomorrow, The Pentagon strongarmed AI firms before Iran strikes – in dark news for the future of ‘ethical AI’, Dog attacks keep happening in NZ. Why hasn’t the law kept up?, Dog attacks keep happening in NZ. Why hasn’t the law kept up?, What is black sesame? Is it really the new matcha? An expert explains, What is Aspergillus the fungus behind recent hospital deaths?, What’s the link between talcum powder and cancer?, Open justice no more: how Victoria’s courts are stopping journalists from doing their jobs, Neither preemptive nor legal, US‑Israeli strikes on Iran have blown up international law, Ukraine: after four years of war, exhaustion on both sides is the main hope for peace, View from The Hill: Leaked election review slates Dutton while highlighting Liberals’ longer term intractable problems
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 Bungan Gold 2026, Manly Writers Festival, Music, Markets, Social Groups + more on!
Community News Protect Aussie birds from lethal SGAR rat poisons: add your voice by March 16, Environmental Art & Design Prize 2026: Open, Marine Rescue NSW appoints new Commissioner, SLSA Inducts 3 New Life Members: Congrats to Barry Antella, Marine Rescue Hawkesbury: at Flint and Steel Point, Aussies 2026, Marine Rescue Broken Bay: Want to Help us be there for you?, Results: 5.5m Championship 2026, No Avalon Beach SLSC Swims this year, NSW Optimist Championship 2026 on Pittwater, International Women's Day: Catherine Park, Scotland Island - Sunday 8 March 10am, Avalon Land Gifted to the Community: Notice, Blues Deluxe: Final Show, Women' Seminar on Building Wealth at Mopna Vale: March 11, French Film Festival at Warriewood until April 8, Helen Roberts SC appointed to Supreme Court of NSW, BHS Surf Team Raffle, NSW Government's Heat Pump Feasibility Grant for businesses: closes March 31, Open Arms group programs, Boosting opportunities for women-owned businesses in NSW, Cranzgots Pizza Cafe Closing March 15 2026, NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee: share your thoughts on supports under review, IPART seeks community feedback as 10 councils apply to increase rates above the rate peg, Police issue warning over authority scams targeting multicultural communities, Monika's Doggie Rescue Pets of the Week: Tucker + Freckles, Cranzgots Pizza Cafe Closing March 15 2026, Mow for Ol'Mate in March, Narrabeen Lakes Amateur Swimming Club: Saturday Afternoons, Saltwater Veterans: Helping Hands Needed, MWP Care Seeking Volunteers, AOK: Thursday Volunteers Needed, Petition: Stop Politicians from spamming & harvesting our data, Pittwater Residents Assoc.s, Sports, Environment and Groups, Pittwater Offshore Newsletter
Environment Protect Aussie birds from lethal SGAR rat poisons: add your voice - closes March 16, We discovered lethal new fungal diseases in wild Australian reptiles. It’s time to act fast, Help protect the Red Goshawk from extinction, Mona Vale Dunes bushcare group: 2026 Dates, Bangalley Headland WPA Bushcare 2026 - March 8 next session, March 2026 at Kimbriki, Council's Wildflower Project + Bushcare Volunteers, Wollondilly Shire Council's 'significant concerns over CPCP 'modifications' impact Koala corridors, Independent Reviewer appointed to Water Act Review, Support for Saltmarshes on NSW South Coast, NSW Government moves to make feral pig and deer management bigger, ACCC authorises Sydney Water and a group of Sydney councils to procure the development of an organic waste bio-refinery, NSW Government's Heat Pump Feasibility Grant for businesses: closes March 31, Have your say on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review, Australians scorn this fish once adored by monks and kings: Murray River choked with carp, We thought inbred koalas were at risk of extinction. But what we discovered upends genetic conventions, Meet ‘Tous’ — an entirely new genus of mammal we identified. Here’s why it’s so exciting, Honey from Australian wildflowers has potent power to kill bacteria, Dogs can detect trafficked wildlife hidden in shipping containers from tiny air samples, Ed Sheeran caught the train to Melbourne to protect the climate. But what about his thousands of fans?, Is Australia’s scorched earth baiting program actually paving the way for fire ant invasion?, The future remains bleak for corals – but not all reefs are doomed, In a heatwave, a cool library or shopping centre is a lifeline. Do we need more climate shelters?, Wasps and frogs keep evolving a crucial pain molecule in their venom. Now we know why, The Iran war has triggered a fuel price rise. What does this mean for Australian consumers?, The strikes on Iran show why quitting oil is more important than ever, Petrol prices too high? Here’s how quickly an EV could save you money, ‘Silky’ doesn’t mean it’s made from silk – how confusing textile language can harm the environment, Satellite images show how Antarctica’s vanishing sea ice is changing the food chain, How protecting wilderness could mean purposefully tending it, not just leaving it alone, England’s sewage scandal hinges on lack of water industry regulation – new docudrama reveals how profit drives pollution, Wet winter, hot summer? What ‘climate whiplash’ means for the UK, 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 Summer Coastal Drowning Report Released: One Coastal Drowning Death Every Two Days Over Summer 2025-2026
Children Sunday cartoons: Meet Piella Bakewell - Wallace and Gromit, Elanora Heights Public School Goes Red & Yellow for Inaugural Day to Honour Volunteer Lifesavers, Endeavour’s anthem launch fires up Matildas Asian Cup campaign, Visit a thriving habitat garden | Habitat Gardening for Birds with BirdLife Australia, Taronga Zoo Sydney: Doubling down with record Booroolong Frog release, New fossil reveals the weird ‘tooth cushions’ of an apex predator from 425 million years ago, Curious Kids: ‘I would like to know why man lions have manes and lady lions don’t’ + Why do sea otters clap? + Do worms have tongues? + Why do we have two kidneys when we can live with only one? + Why do we have fingernails and toenails?, Stories this week: The Most Magnificent Thing + 'Carla's Glasses' read by Nicola Coughlan, clubs +groups for4U
Youth Womens Day 2026, Endeavour’s anthem launch fires up Matildas Asian Cup campaign, Visit a thriving habitat garden | Habitat Gardening for Birds with BirdLife Australia, Taronga Zoo Sydney: Doubling down with record Booroolong Frog release, New rules and high expectations: can Oscar Piastri break Australia’s F1 drought?, Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship tour applications open, Opportunities: Girls Can't Surf available for Free on ABC iview, Financial help for young people, School Leavers Support, Word Of The Week: Girl, ‘Fry now pay later’: tracing a century of skin cancer messaging in Australia, The novel that changed my mind; ten experts share a perspective ‑shifting read, Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure criticised university elitism – it still rings true today, That cosy candle? It’s also polluting the air you’re breathing, New fossil reveals the weird ‘tooth cushions’ of an apex predator from 425 million years ago, Back at uni? How to help your wellbeing while you study, How to whistle: the art and history of our shrillest skill, AI has powerful uses for First Nations oral cultural knowledge. Here’s how, Matildas effect 2.0? Why the Women’s Asian Cup is a huge moment for Australian soccer, Home ground disadvantage? How sleep and travel could impact the Matildas, Local services for you
Seniors Mow for Ol'Mate in March, Targeted action to deliver more aged care beds, Local Seniors Festival Events: 2026, New aged care beds welcome; deeper system reform still needed, How Everyday Experiences Shape Subjective Age Across Adulthood, New rules and high expectations: can Oscar Piastri break Australia’s F1 drought?, Understanding Brain Activity During Stepping in Younger and Older Adults, A New Framework for Advancing ECG Classification Across Diverse Populations, How to live a long and healthy life, according to the ancients, Australian children now have half as many moles as kids in 1992. That’s good news for melanoma risk, Local groups, clubs, events and services for you
DIY Ideas Reducing Ticks in Your Garden: Garden care, Plants that Repel, What to Wear Outdoors
With confirmation this week of the nation’s first death from a tick-induced meat allergy, and research showing Pittwater has the highest population of people living with mammalian meat allergy (MMA), information on how to reduce ticks in local gardens runs this Issue. There are some things you can do to lessen the incidence of being bitten by ticks in your garden and some plants that have been shown to repel them from the outdoor areas your family uses.
The largest numbers of juvenile ticks are around in Autumn, with the middle phase, called “nymphs”, peaking in Winter and the adult numbers appearing through Spring and Summer. .
