Australia’s leading adaptive surfers gathered in Byron Bay for a landmark week of elite competition, inclusion and global sporting inspiration across Australia’s premier adaptive surfing events: the BrightSky Australian Pro Adaptive Surfing Championships Presented by Forward Ability Support and the Buildcare Australian Para Surfing Titles Presented by Siblingscare, with the Buildcare Australian Para Surfing Titles Presented by Siblingscare running as a division of, and in collaboration with, the BrightSky Australian Pro Adaptive Surfing Championships Presented by Forward Ability Support.
Running from 22–29 March, the Championships are designed to prioritise athlete safety, fairness and performance by allowing organisers to chase the best possible surf conditions.
The Event Schedule was:
22 March: Parade of Nations from 3pm, where international competitors march through Byron Bay, followed by a Welcome to Country led by Bundjalung representatives and the Official Opening Ceremony featuring speeches and the ‘Pouring of the Sands’ ritual.
23 – 24 March: The Buildcare Australian Para Surfing Championships Presented by Siblingscare, crowning twelve Australian Para Surfing Champions.
23 – 27 March: Royal Rehab Group Come and Try Days supported by Macquarie Sports: an exciting opportunity for new participants with physical disabilities to experience the joy of surfing.
25 – 29 March: The BrightSky Australian Pro Adaptive Surfing Championships Presented by Forward Ability Support commence, with finals on March 29, concluding with the Official Presentation Night at Byron Bay Services Club.
Held at Byron Bay, one of the country’s most iconic coastlines, the events were an eight-day celebration of world-class competition, community engagement and inclusive ocean access.
This comes after the Australian National Surfing Team, The Irukandjis, brought home Team Copper at the 2025 ISA World Para Surfing Championships, finishing with eight individual medals in total. Delivered under Surfing Australia’s national competition framework, these events form a key component of the official selection pathway for athletes aiming to qualify for The Irukandjis ahead of the 2026 ISA World Para Surfing Championships. As momentum builds toward the 2026 ISA World Para Surfing Championships and the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games, the event is playing an increasingly important role in shaping the national conversation around adaptive sport pathways, high-performance opportunity, and the future inclusion of surfing on the elite sport world stage.
Six-time World Adaptive Surfing Champion and Byron local Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart is the visionary behind the event, working tirelessly to turn his dream into reality.
Stewart was joined by one of the sport’s most exciting next-generation talents, Kai Colless — the event’s youngest competitor and a powerful symbol of the future of adaptive surfing. As part of a new wave of para-athletes redefining the sport, Kai represents the strength, skill and determination of the next generation rising through the ranks on the international stage.
Another standout competitor in this year’s competition was 4X World Para Surfing Champion, best-selling author, and motivational speaker, Samantha Bloom. Well-known for her major motion Biopic ‘Penguin Bloom’, Sam’s is an inspirational figure in adaptive sport.
Sam Bloom said:
“Adaptive surfing is about freedom and possibility, which I discovered first-hand after sustaining a spinal cord injury. One of the best parts is the support and camaraderie among the adaptive surfers, who have all had to overcome insurmountable challenges to reconnect with the ocean and fall in love with surfing in a completely different way. Seeing people reconnect with the ocean after life-changing injuries is incredibly powerful, and Byron is such a special place to bring that community together.”
The event operated under a mobile beach format, with permits allowing competition to run from The Wreck through to Thomos Rock, with event infrastructure set up and packed down daily. An allocated lay day within the schedule provided further flexibility around swell and weather conditions.
As the state moved into the Easter break and the Autumn school holidays the results began to come through with many local athletes among those who won their event, including Emma Dieters, founder and president of the Northern Beaches Para Surfer Boardriders Inc., who surf at Mona Vale in conjunction with the Mona Vale Boardriders Club, and just says after the 2026 edition of the Boardriders Inclusive Classic hosted by the NBPSB and MVBC at Mona Vale beach.
Lee Farrier. Credit: @samuelsmith.co
Sam Bloom once again showcased her class, claiming her fourth Australian Para Surfing Title in the Prone 1 Women’s Final with a total of 12.76, just ahead of Grace Kennedy on 10.20pts in a highly contested final.
Sam Bloom. Credit: Andrew Shield.
Newport's Adam Brown never expected his Covid pandemic hobby to turn into an award-winning business — but his honey just took home multiple places at the prestigious Sydney Royal Easter Show - National Honey Competition.
The Pittwater local, began beekeeping during lockdown as a side project. Now, turned into a small business the beloved ‘Brown Bear’s Honey’ has earned a silver and two bronze medals in one of Australia’s most competitive food competitions.
The Sydney Royal National Honey Show at the Sydney Royal Easter Show is Australia’s premier apiculture competition, recognising excellence in honey, beeswax, pollen, candles, chunk and comb honey, creamed and granulated honey, and mead. First judged in 1888, it has helped set benchmark standards in Australian beekeeping for more than a century.
Open to all entrants and awarding gold, silver and bronze medals, the competition is evaluated by independent panels on flavour, aroma, clarity, density and presentation. Exhibitors receive detailed feedback, making a Sydney Royal win a significant achievement with substantial promotional benefits. The National Honey Show celebrates skill, dedication and the vital role of apiculture in Australian agriculture.
The 2026 RAS Results record:
2026 NATIONAL HONEY SHOW RESULTS
NATIONAL HONEY SHOW - LIQUID HONEY
CLASS: 13 Liquid honey, produced from Eucalypt, standard colour, light.
2 87 MR ADAM BROWN NEWPORT NSW 2106 Score: 89
CLASS: 14 Liquid honey, produced from sources other than Eucalypt, standard colour, light
3 108 MR ADAM BROWN NEWPORT NSW 2106 Score: 89
NATIONAL HONEY SHOW - NATURAL GRANULATION AND CREAMED HONEY
CLASS: 19 Natural granulation honey, fine grain.
3 175 MR ADAM BROWN NEWPORT NSW 2106 Score: 84.5
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What started out as a small-scale hobby has steadily grown into a recognised small business, with Brown Bear himself selling his honey monthly at the Narrabeen Lakeside Markets and through Instagram.
“I never thought I’d be entering competitions, let alone taking home a prize at the Sydney Royal Easter Show! I’m over the moon!” Brown said. “It started as something fun do during Covid lockdown, and it’s turned into something much bigger. Bees are so important and they’re such amazing little creatures.”
The recognition marks a significant milestone for his small business, highlighting the quality of locally produced honey from Sydney’s Pittwater.
Brown Bear’s Honey is available on the third Sunday of each month at Narrabeen Lakeside Markets, where visitors can sample the award-winning range. Pick up a jar and follow Adam and the bees’ journey on Instagram @brownbearshoney.
As we return from the Easter-Autumn School Holidays break, an insight into how local producers are still winning medals at the annual Royal Easter Show, with thanks to Jasmine Malone for putting this week's Profile together.
Newport Team A - Gold for Open Champion Patrol Team Gold: Back; Rebecca Cappell, Phoebe Savage, Jemma Smith, Front; Luke Thornton, Sam Capell, Guyren Smith. This team also won a Silver in the Open Board Tube Rescue and Bronze in the Open Mixed Champion Patrol in the 2026 Champion Patrol On Beach. Photo: Newport SLSC
Club rivalry was on full display as thousands lined North Kirra Beach for the culmination of Aussies 2026. After nine days of racing, more than 7,500 competitors racing in more than 650+ events, it all came down to this.
Northcliffe has once again taken home Aussies Club pointscore, capping off their stellar campaign with the double win in the prestigious Taplin Relays, winning the Open Men’s and Women’s.
Newport SLSC Open Team won 4th place this year, with 174 points and 11 Gold, 11 Silver and 5 Bronze medals, which included taking out the all important Open Patrol Competition with both the President Rebecca Capell and Vice President Guyren Smith on the winning team. Guyren also won Silver in the Champion Lifesaver competition on the first day of competition.
Local clubs also took out Gold, Silver and Bronze in the vital First Aid competition with Newport 1st, Freshwater 2nd and North Steye rounding out the top three an Freshwater's B Team placing 5th overall as well.
Newport’s Jemma Smith was also crowned Competitor of the Carnival, having won two individual gold medals in the Open Champion Lifesaver and Open Surf Ski, as well as helping her Club take home gold in the Open Ski Relay and Board relay.
In the Open Ski final, Smith took the gold medal ahead of Avoca Beach paddling Olympian Ella Beere and kayaking team mate Natalia Drobot.
“It really means a lot. I have missed the two previous Australian ski finals and so I was just really happy to be back in there.
“To have the chance to put a good race forward and to execute it like that today, I couldn’t have asked for much more today.
“I was giving it everything I have to pull on that little runner, which is really tricky, and I knew that if I didn’t get down it, there was a good chance that the rest of the field was going to be coming right behind me.
“The depth of the woman’s ski field is so so strong at the moment so I really had to make the most of what mother nature threw my way,” Jemma said.
In what mimicked an Olympic final, the Open Male Ski saw Paris Olympic silver medallist Jackson Collins (Kurrawa) claim his fourth Australia title ahead Newport’s Mitchell Trim and fellow Paris Olympics K4 team mate Riley Fitzsimmons (Northcliffe).
In the U19 Female Surf Ski, Redhead’s Tully Elliott edged out Olivia Clues (Newport) and Britt Ackerley (Alexandra Headland).
Masters
Also taking Gold in the Masters Divisions and her signature event, the Female Single Ski, was Palm Beach SLSC's Fi Rae. Manly LSC's Jo-Anne Carmichael finished just outside the points tally in the 60-64 age division, while clubmate Rachel Crerar won Silver in the 35-39 yrs Female Single Ski.
Warriewood SLSC's runners again proved their prowess on the sand with Iain Archer, Ben Hargy, Adam Gee and Glen Bauder taking Gold again in the 200 yrs min Male Beach Relay. Adam Gee took Gold again this year in the 50-54 yrs Male Beach Sprint and Ben Hargy the 5th place while teammate Iain Archer secured Bronze in the 45-49 yrs Male Beach Sprint.
Warriewood wins again. Photo: Warriewood SLSC
Shannon Job, North Steyne, took Gold in the 30-39 yrs Male Beach Sprint while clubmate Deborah Foote won Silver in the 60+ Female Beach Sprint and Freshwater's Cheryl White secured the Bronze. Narrabeen's Luke Alcock won Silver in the 30-34 yrs Male Beach Sprint.
Andrew Stuart, North Curl Curl, won Gold in the Beach Runs 60-64 M and F, Sukie Southern of Queenscliff took Silver in the 65-69 yrs Female Beach Sprint with Queensie clubmate Linda Burrell collecting the Bronze.
The Grandfather of them all, Ted Smithies of Newport, took Gold again this year in the 75 yrs & Over Male Beach Sprint with Robert Tomblin of Collaroy winning the Bronze, backing that up with another Gold in the 75 yrs & Over Male Beach Flags while Robert Tomblin bettered his sprint final through securing Silver behind Ted.
In the Open March Past Gold and Silver went to the Collaroy Ladies and Collaroy Bears respectively. Freshwater's Team A ran 9th.
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Ted Smithies of Newport edges out Robert Tomblin in the 75+ years Flags. Photo: Shane Abrahamson
Open March Past Teams:
1st (Gold): Collaroy Ladies; Jacqueline de Kort, Susan Perry, Ann-Maree Donlan, Janine Fahey, Brooke Miller, Alison Ducker, Kerry Armstrong, Anne Bullivant, Debra Trim, Dominique Powis (Farrell), Anna Mickan, Nicole Bowyer.
2nd (Silver): Collaroy Bears; David Macintosh, Martin Bowyer, Craig Williams, Barry Muncke, Ben Crabbe, William Marynissen, Luke Hochkins, Gregory Broome, Gregory MacMahon, Anthony Brown, Neil Armstrong, Robert Tomblin
Freshwater Team A: Kelly Marsh, Susan Walmsley, Anna Block, Ross Parry, Wendy Quail, Judith Bennett, Rachel Needham, David Torevell, William Inches, Jane Freakley, Wayne Freakley, Christopher Tyrrell
Jacqui Scruby MP has proudly presented seven Pittwater residents with Local Senior of the Year Awards, recognising their outstanding contribution to the community as part of the NSW Seniors Festival 2026.
The awards were presented at Narrabeen Surf Club on April 1 and celebrate local seniors whose service and dedication continue to strengthen the Pittwater community.
“It was an honour to recognise and celebrate some fantastic local seniors, who are doing so much to make our community better every day,” said Ms Scruby.
“Our seniors regularly show us that age is no barrier to showing up for each other. They bring energy, dedication and a real sense of community to everything they do.
“I sincerely thank you so much for the valuable contribution they make to the people of Pittwater and for leaving a great legacy.”
The awards are among a range of exciting events taking place across the state as part of the NSW Seniors Festival 2026, which celebrates older people and helps keep them active and engaged with their community.
Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said the festival, now in its 68th year, is a key initiative in the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting seniors.
“As part of the festival there are almost 50 NSW Government run and sponsored events happening across the state designed specifically for our older community members,” Minister Harrison said.
“On top of this, there are dozens more events organised by councils and other organisations, ranging across sports, culture, nature and food, so there is plenty on offer for everyone.
“The NSW Government is committed and continuing to realise our vision of creating a state where seniors reap the benefits of living longer, more active lives.”
Recipients for the NSW Seniors Festival Pittwater Local Senior of the Year Awards are:
Kelvin Auld Mona Vale Residents Association
Dorothy Clark Pittwater RSL
Joy Nason Easylink
Tina Seaton MWP Care
Prof. Richard West AM Palm Beach Whale Beach Residents Association
Noel Wheatley Link Community Care, Narrabeen
Michael Wooley Sailability Pittwater, sails from Rowland Reserve Bayview, Pittwater
Maria Dalmon whoops with delight as she completes the circumnavigation of Scotland Island off Bayview. Visit: Sailability Pittwater: Making Dreams Come True - report by Michael Woolley, Sailability Pittwater
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Profile of the Week Adam Brown of Brown Bear Honey: Newport Beekeeper Celebrates Sweet Success at the Sydney Royal Easter ShowNewport's Adam Brown never expected his Covid pandemic hobby to turn into an award-winning business — but his honey just took home multiple places at the prestigious Sydney Royal Easter Show - National Honey Competition.
The Pittwater local, began beekeeping during lockdown as a side project. Now, turned into a small business the beloved ‘Brown Bear’s Honey’ has earned a silver and two bronze medals in one of Australia’s most competitive food competitions.
The Sydney Royal National Honey Show at the Sydney Royal Easter Show is Australia’s premier apiculture competition, recognising excellence in honey, beeswax, pollen, candles, chunk and comb honey, creamed and granulated honey, and mead. First judged in 1888, it has helped set benchmark standards in Australian beekeeping for more than a century.
Open to all entrants and awarding gold, silver and bronze medals, the competition is evaluated by independent panels on flavour, aroma, clarity, density and presentation. Exhibitors receive detailed feedback, making a Sydney Royal win a significant achievement with substantial promotional benefits. The National Honey Show celebrates skill, dedication and the vital role of apiculture in Australian agriculture.
Brown Bear’s Honey is available on the third Sunday of each month at Narrabeen Lakeside Markets, where visitors can sample the award-winning range. Pick up a jar and follow Adam and the bees’ journey on Instagram @brownbearshoney.
As we return from the Easter-Autumn School Holidays break, an insight into how local producers are still winning medals at the annual Royal Easter Show, with thanks to Jasmine Malone for putting this week's Profile together.
First published in Pittwater Online News in April 2012
Anzac Day in Pittwater 2026: Updated list of Services - Events
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Food Pears: Autumn Fruits + Packham's Pear - the Australian Pear
Pear crops have been coming into local produce stores during the last few weeks and this year’s fruit is sweeter than it has been for a few seasons. With many health benefits related to these wonderful Autumn fruits, as well as ensuring you get your daily fibre intake for good digestive health, and with prices that reflect a bumper crop this year and freshness straight from the farm, a big bowl of pears for the youngsters to help themselves to may be a good idea.
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DIY Ideas Autumn Planting For Gardens Full Of Colour and Cheer + Autumn Garden Support: Feed-Mulch-Check the Lawn Mother’s Day flowers will be out everywhere soon, with the huge crowns of white and pink chrysanthemums joined by rows of bright potted cyclamens, orchids, carnations and grevilleas, gum blossoms and shining stems of bright yellow wattles. But why not have these brightening up your garden every day?
Vegetables to plant in Autumn include broccoli, beetroot, cabbage, cress and cauliflower, lettuce, onion, peas, spinach, spring onion and turnip. Herbs that flourish at this time of year include coriander, fennel, garlic, lavender, parsley, rocket, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Autumn is also a great time to rejuvenate your garden and prepare it for Winter and for next Spring. Rejuvenating your lawn, pruning, feeding the earth that supports what you grow and adding spots of colour are all Autumn Garden Tasks that suit being outside in cooling air and getting some enjoyable exercise.
