Narrabeen Sports High School Principal Heidi Currie and NSW Premier Chris Minns with NSHS students and Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby - looking at Performance Hall and other school upgrades
Pittwater's MP Jacqui Scruby has welcomed key funding for Pittwater in the 2026/27 NSW Budget, which releases funding for long-awaited local projects, including $65 million for Mona Vale Road West and funding for the Northern Beaches Hospital, new electric buses, and Narrabeen Ambulance Station and significantly increased investment in the Shark Mitigation Program as well as the restoration of business support through the Small Business Advisory Program.
However, the Budget misses key opportunities for bolder structural reform, investments in mental health and gambling reform, medium-sized businesses and long-term community sports infrastructure, the MP for Pittwater said
"For a conservative budget, there is a lot of Pittwater specific investment, releasing significant funding for Mona Vale Road West, Wakehurst Parkway and releasing full funding to see the completion of the Narrabeen Sports High School Performance Centre and upgrades to Northern Beaches Hospital. We are finally seeing huge allocated funding for these long-awaited priorities, but there is more work to be done," said Ms Scruby.
“Overall as a Budget, it falls short on economic reform to address some of the issues we are facing. There was no revenue innovation in areas like poker machines, coal levies or an empty shop front levy and equally no cuts where it could have helped most - like stamp duty exemptions for downsizers or payroll tax cuts. I would also have liked to see more innovation and the use of AI to streamline government processes. I welcome the significant increase in funding for domestic violence frontline workers and for nurses and midwives and our bus networks. A huge miss was mental health and sports infrastructure and when you think about the social value our clubs bring we should be investing. I’m calling on the government to use its unallocated funding for a sports grants program.”
“The Opposition’s Budget reply, had some wins for business, including increased thresholds for payroll tax and support for urban renewable zones, but revealed very concerning policy to stop transmission lines as part of the state’s renewable energy plan which is essential for having electricity when Earring closes. I was equally concerned by developer-led planning policies - accelerating development by freezing developer contributions until mid-2029 and payable on completion rather than approval which will deprive Councils of much needed funding to support community infrastructure projects like sports fields upgrades.”
Tuesday June 23, 2026: report by Surfing Australia, photos by Andy Morris / Surfing Australia and Surfing Australia
The NRMA Insurance Seas The Day Women’s Surf Festival wrapped up its fourth edition with over fifteen thousand people in attendance across the two-day celebration. The event cemented its place as the world’s largest female participation surf festival, a vibrant showcase of community, connection, and the growing force of women’s surfing.
Surfers of all ages and abilities took to the water across a diverse range of divisions, highlighting the depth, talent and inclusivity of women’s surfing in Australia. From the emerging stars of the Babybel Under 14 Mini Shredders to elite competitors in the NRMA Insurance Open Women’s Shortboard and Sodii Hydration Open Women’s Longboard, the event showcased the full spectrum of female surfing. The Ghanda Girls Under 18 Shortboard division offered a glimpse into the sport’s bright future, while the Thermos Open Women’s Para division produced some of the most inspiring moments of the weekend.
OLYMPIANS, WORLD CHAMPIONS & INDUSTRY LEADERS
Australia's Most Decorated Olympian Emma McKeon, joined the world's biggest female surf festival, taking part in an inspiring discussion panel with fellow Olympians Tyler Wright and Danielle Scott.
McKeon spoke about the life-changing impact sport has had on her journey and the importance of creating opportunities for the next generation of girls to experience those same benefits:
"I'm really excited to meet a lot of the girls, see them out in the surf and be part of such an awesome day. It's great to support more girls getting involved in sport, and especially surfing.
I grew up around the water and absolutely loved it — it changed my life. I've made so many lifelong friends through the ocean, and sport has given me so much. It's given me health, happiness, confidence and opportunities I never could have imagined.
That's exactly what we're trying to give the next generation here today.
Surfing Australia's High Performance Program Director, Kate Wilcomes, said events like NRMA Insurance Seas The Day play a critical role in creating pathways and opportunities for women and girls at every stage of their surfing journey:
"Events like this are incredibly important because they create a space where girls feel safe, supported and like they truly belong. They inspire girls to surf more, get active and explore different sports, while building confidence and connections along the way.
It's also such a great environment to meet new people. You have the opportunity to connect with different generations, world champions and others who simply share a love for surfing. That's what makes this festival so special."
COMPETITION RESULTS
Some of the most exciting moments of the weekend came in the NRMA Insurance Open Women’s Shortboard, where Snapper Rocks SRC, made up of Samantha Arderne, Jordy Halford and Madison Kenchington, emerged victorious after a standout performance. Overcoming strong challenges from Byron Bay Boardriders Club, Kingscliff Boardriders Club, Starberry J.A.M from Yamba, Cabarita Boardriders Club and Lennox-Ballina Boardriders, the talented trio showcased impressive teamwork and high-performance surfing to claim the title. Samantha Arderne of Snapper Rocks SRC was so stoked to get the win after narrowly missing out last year:
"It feels so good. Last year we fell just short and finished second in the Under 18s, so to come back this year and take the win in the Open Women's is pretty special.
The conditions were a little tricky in the final, but we're stoked we managed to find a few good ones when it counted. All the girls were absolutely ripping — it was such a stacked heat.
My favourite part of NRMA Insurance Seas The Day is having so many women down here together. It has such an amazing festival atmosphere, and everyone is lifting each other up and supporting one another. That's what makes it so special."
Longboarding lovers were treated to a masterclass in style and flow, as the Atmosea team danced their way to victory in the Sodii Hydration Open Women’s Longboard final. With classy nose rides & graceful cross steps, their performance was a highlight of the weekend.
The next generation brought serious heat in the Ghanda Girls Under 18 Shortboard, with innovative surfing on display throughout the weekend. Team Daisies and Lily's, representing Torquay (VIC), claimed victory after a standout performance from Stevie O'Day, Lily White and Cobie O'Day, providing an exciting glimpse into the next generation of Australian women's surfing.
One of the most powerful moments of the festival came during the Thermos Open Women’s Para final. Team For the Greater Gouda, starring Victoria Feige, Grace Kennedy and Leanne Whitehouse, claimed the victory with a remarkable performance that embodied the spirit of the event and earned admiration from competitors and spectators alike.
Two-time World Para Surfing Champion Em Dieters once again showcased her class. While she narrowly missed out on the win, Dieters produced one of the standout moments of the final, posting the highest score, an excellent 8.67-point ride. Dieters also praised the festival’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity, highlighting the importance of creating opportunities for women of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to come together through surfing:
"There is such a diverse range of people here today, and it's important that everyone feels represented. I'm proud to represent people with a disability, particularly the women competing in this event. Visibility matters, and it's important that people know surfing is accessible and that our community welcomes everyone with open arms." Em said
Profile of the Week Avalon Bulldogs: Your 2026 A Grade Team + Cleared Eyed Future The Avalon Bulldogs Junior Rugby League club is a family oriented and community-based sporting club, located at the northern end of the Barrenjoey peninsula. The club has over 60 years of heritage, commencing in the Manly Warringah District Junior Rugby League in 1962.
The club capped off a historic 2025 campaign by winning the A Grade Premiership and taking home the district’s most prestigious honour, the H. Pop Hall Memorial Award (Club of the Year). This award is presented annually to the club judged to have done the most for the rugby league code in the district. Jazmin Ball was awarded Volunteer of the Year for her ongoing commitment, leadership, and tireless contributions to the club. However, Doggies members and players are eyes front and always looking forward to the next opportunity to ‘play footy’. This Issue, a look into the Bulldogs 2026 Season so far and what the plans for the future are.
Although Trafalgar Park was given to the Newport community in the pre-Newport 'Township' era form the 1880's on, it is Newport Oval that has proved to be a gathering place for fun from the late 1950's on. Newport Oval has become the home of the Mona Vale Raiders during Winter and a place for cricket during the Spring and Summer. It has also hosted jazz festivals for decades, been where you rode your horse, where the community built a library for children and baby health centre, and where there is a small scout hall for youngsters. This Issue a look into Newport's other Village Green.
Community News Celebration of Joan Olive Johnson, Raffle this Sunday June 28 at Sharkies Home Ground at Lake Park for Cooper Family, NSW strengthens surveillance for H5 bird flu, SSD for Mona Vale: 40.7 metres Height, to 12 storeys + 8 Storeys at Mona Vale Beach + Ingleside Wilga Wilson Proposal to proceed to Gateway Determination, Marine Rescue Broken Bay News, Marine Rescue Cottage Point News, Theft of e-bikes: NBPAC, ACCC to monitor supermarket compliance with new excessive pricing prohibition, Paid parental leave expands to 6 months, Winter School Holidays Break 2026, ASGMWP July Speaker: Vic Cherikoff, Update: Protect Pittwater’s petition progress, Principal School Tour: Pittwater High School, Bastille Day 2026 at Avalon Bowling Club, Leaping Livers Lapping the Lagoon: July 26, Community Updates: Barrenjoey Headland Buildings + Careel Bay Shops Liquor Licence Update: NCAT Challenge commenced + Avalon Pump Track Now to Be Toilet Block + Sydney Water Use of Block of Car spaces + Elevated Plastic walk-cycleway Newport to The Serpentine South, Bilgola Beach + Pittwater MP's Community Forum: June 2026 + Significant Trees Register + Palm Beach Rock Pool Works + Avalon Rock Pool and Bilgola Pool update + McCarrs Creek Road – Safety Upgrade + North Narrabeen SLSC Alterations- Extensions Works are underway, Council grants available, Wakehurst Parkway: July Works Notification, Funding applications open to support community-led digital skills events, Have your say: National Redress Scheme, Standing with Scott in his fight against MND, Peter Garrett at Mona Vale Hotel this November: Tickets on Sale June 30, Superhero Week 2026 for Bear Cottage, Stop Lies in Political Advertising: NSW Parliament Petition, Newport Residents Association: July 2026 Meeting, Forst Aid- CPR at RPAYC this July, Men’s Table in Avalon, Please help Dee Why Lagoon: Clean Up, Polar Plunge at Dee Why: August 1 - register now, Northern Beaches Gambling Reform Alliance Planning Workshop: July 7, Peninsula Cricket Club Early Bird, Energy savings for NSW households: loans and discounts to help families lower their bills, $1 million for multicultural events across NSW: Grants, Nominations Open for 2026 Australian Sailing Awards, Help shape Council's next 4 years of disability inclusion work, Nominate an Environment Hero, Grants to improve the lives of people with disability: applications close July 2, Monika's Doggie Rescue Pets of the Week: Tails + Ocean and Reef , Pittwater Residents Associations, Sports, Environment and Social Groups, Pittwater Offshore Newsletter, Local JP's, Report Wildlife
Environment Plastic walk-cycleway Newport to The Serpentine South Bilgola Beach: Updated pictures, NSW strengthens surveillance for H5 bird flu + NSW Government offers support following H5 bird flu in Western Australia + Bird flu has spread to two Australian states. Here’s how it could accelerate our extinction crisis + Bird flu is here. Can we stop the spread? + Bird flu is deadly for backyard chickens – and even cats. A vet expert explains + The first case of H5N1 bird flu in Australia has been confirmed. What does this mean?, Please help Dee Why Lagoon: Clean Up June 28, Streets as shared spaces - Avalon Beach: New Permanent design open for feedback, Energy savings for NSW households: loans and discounts to help families lower their bills, Give electronic devices and household items a new life, PNHA Activities 2026, First-ever reintroduction of threatened rufous bettongs in Ngambaa Nature Reserve, National Plant a Tree Day 2026: 30 Year Anniversary, Have your say on the Caves Beach to Budgewoi Coastal Trail draft master plan, Dingoes in national parks in New South Wales Upper House Inquiry, Muogamarra open season 2026: Bookings Open, 2026 Tour de Gorge, Solar for apartment residents: Co-funding, Dedicated alpine weather page part of latest BOM website improvements, Ten Australians are taking the government to the UN over fossil fuel exports. What is their case?, Victoria claims to have stopped native logging. So why is it importing Tasmanian forests?, Cheap, effective and dangerous: how Australian farmers came to depend on the toxic weedkiller paraquat, Australia has already spent over $100 million dealing with Varroa mite. Here’s what we can do next, Most bees are solitary and don’t live in hives. Climate change risks them starving, We checked 2000 museum specimens and discovered a tiny new ‘ferocious’ Australian mammal, Flooding rains, ocean gains: how a huge Murray flood gave the sea a feast, Summer’s new normal is a hazard that’s testing Europe’s climate resilience, War‑induced fertilizer shortage may be reducing US soil and water pollution, When your local reflecting pool or pond turns green with algae, don’t reach for chemicals – nature has better solutions, Farmers in a national park are turning down lights at night to help wildlife – it could be good for crops too, Small forest fragments can protect more birds when the surrounding landscape is more helpful, Heat waves can leave homes dangerously hot – even for young, healthy adults, Summer’s silent killer: why the world’s heatwaves are a global health emergency, The Caspian Sea has lost an area nearly the size of Sicily: human activities are a major reason why, We found microplastics in hedgehogs – then we traced them back to pet food, Mona Vale Dunes bushcare group: 2026, Bangalley Headland WPA Bushcare 2026, Sydney Wildlife 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, Pittwater Gardens, Environment Groups and Organisations in Pittwater, Ringtail Posses, Pittwater Environment History insights + Walks, Birds +
- All June 2026 Environment News - from Issue weeks
Aquatics Coogee Shark Bite Hero Reflects on Rescue Efforts: Newport SLSC's Charlie Verco
Children Sunday Cartoon and Animations This week: Shaun the Sheep Season 3 - all episodes (Winter School Holidays special), Winter School Holidays Break, Seas The Day 2026 a Resounding Success, How Sydney Travelled in 1971, 2026 Premier's Reading Challenge, The Storyteller - full movie for Winter School Holidays, Curious Kids: Why don’t humans have hair all over our bodies? + Why do baseball players put a black mark under their eyes? + How high can a volcano throw lava up in the air? + How do plastic bags harm our environment and sea life? + Why is the Sun orange when white stars are the hottest?, Inspirations: Where You Are (From "Moana"/Sing-Along) + Moana - Official Behind the Scenes Clip (2026) with Sydney girl Catherine Lagaʻaia and Dwayne Johnson, Stories this Issue: David Gets into trouble + 'Arnie the Doughnut' read by Chris O'Dowd, Local activities and clubs for you
Youth Winter School Holidays Break, Seas The Day 2026 a Resounding Success, How Sydney Travelled in 1971, Opportunities: Rowers Wanted + First Aidf and CPR + 2026 Premier's Reading Challenge, Financial help for young people, School Leavers Support, Word Of The Week: Phase, Generational conflict has been around forever – just ask the ancients, Game changers: how a stroke of paint transformed basketball, and the athletes who play it, Friday essay: despite the AI hype, some experts warn of a bubble – what happens if it pops?, The art of literary translation exposes the limits of AI, Struggle to pay attention? How to tweak your life to help you focus, The US and China are planning Moon bases. It could help improve life on Earth, In an exhibition tracing 1,500 years of art, Vishnu’s avatars offer tonic for our times, Unis are going back to in‑person exams. But some students are finding new ways to cheat, Secrets of Stonehenge and other ancient sites unlocked for the summer solstice, Local Services for you
Seniors Celebration of Joan Olive Johnson, How Sydney Travelled in 1971, Funding applications open to support community-led digital skills events, Winter Break 2026, Paying Super to carers could make them $45,000 better off in retirement – fix the gap, New Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner appointed, Age Pension Indexation and Deeming Rates changes, Men’s Table in Avalon, In an exhibition tracing 1,500 years of art, Vishnu’s avatars offer tonic for our times, AvPals Term 2 2026 Schedule, Consumer Medicines Line to close on 30 July 2026, Can wiggling your pinky really stop cognitive decline?, The US and China are planning Moon bases. It could help improve life on Earth, Grattan on Friday: Now’s the time to renovate multiculturalism, elevating ‘interculturalism’, Local groups, clubs, events and services for you
DIY Ideas Winter School Holidays 2026: Fun Projects You Can Do Around The Home - Something For Everyone
If younger readers keen to get away from screens and phones this Winter school holidays we have some projects you may like. This Issue we've compiled some ideas younger Readers have enjoyed completing in the past years. Some of these are little projects, others will take a little longer, some are for younger readers, others for those who like making their own furniture. Whatever your age, there's nothing like doing it and seeing it come together- and it's good fun.
The Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 End of Financial Year Catalogue, which runs from May 27 to June 30 2026. The Max Your Tax Back catalogue, available online, lists items that are great for the home DIYer and businesses who need to replace assets in time to lodge these as write offs for this financial year.
Inbox News Hammer comes down on underquoters with tough new laws, 85% of kids are still using social media despite ban, Online marketplaces pledge to do more to protect consumers from unsafe products, NSW health budget: support for children with hearing loss, Miyagi and its CEO in court over alleged unfair contract terms and misrepresentations in health program sales, ASIO chief reveals former Australian resident directed attack on Melbourne synagogue, ‘I had no idea people in Australia call police if anyone is beaten’: why many abused migrant women don’t involve police, ‘Kidfluencers’ are everywhere on social media. Should Australia consider the Netherlands’ proposed ban?, The new Vegemite Kids has 50% less salt. No, that’s not ‘un‑Australian’, Spending on child protection has almost doubled in a decade, so why isn’t it improving?, From pay to taxes, big changes are coming for Australian workers and businesses from July 1, View from The Hill: Longer NDIS inquiry is bad for the government, costing ‘a few hundred million dollars’- All June 2026 Inbox, Seniors Youth News - from Issue weeks
Pictures Narrabeen Lagoon on a Sunday Afternoon + a Few North Narrabeen Vicinity History Notes
Park Bench Philosophers History shows quarantine can be a blip – or mark some people forever + North Head Quarantine Station, Manly: Some history - Governor Ralph Darling saved Australians; saved Australia
Food Winter Warmers: Parsnips, Pumpkin Soup Variations, Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding, Avocado Season - did someone say 'chocolate'?
Events Winter Market: Catherine Park, Scotland Island, Ladies Day at Narrabeen, Newport and Warriewood, Elanora Players July production of Neil Simons 'Rumours', Author Talks, PNHA Walks, Music at all compass points, Markets, Social Groups + more on!