Gavin Bellis may be a retiree surfing on the Gold Coast now, but the pro adaptive surf champion is a former Para Olympian and veteran.

PIC: World Pro Adaptive Surf Champion Gavin Bellis at the 2024 Byron World Pro Adaptive Surf Titles (PIC: Mia Armitage)

Gavin Bellis may be a retiree surfing on the Gold Coast now, but the pro adaptive surf champion is a former Para Olympian and veteran.
PIC: World Pro Adaptive Surf Champion Gavin Bellis at the 2024 Byron World Pro Adaptive Surf Titles (PIC: Mia Armitage)

Byron Bay’s inaugral World Pro-Adaptive Surfing Titles have been happening all week and you’re invited to join us.

The five-day international competition comes in the leadup to the announcement of the Olympic committee’s decision on whether to include the sport in the twenty twenty-eight Los Angeles event.

Discover the glorious community spirit driving the world of pro-adaptive surf as Mia Armitage speaks with organiser and world champion Mark Mono Stewart, other competitors ranging from a 17-year-old to a veteran, and event volunteers from Byron, the United States and Japan.

1. A ‘celebration of life’: British pro-adaptive surfer Spike Kane and Aussie world champion Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart launch Byron world titles event featuring British Pro Adaptive Surf competitor Spike Kane and World Pro Adaptive Surf champion and Byron World Pro Adaptive Surf Titles event director Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart

2. The 17-year-old Gold Coast grommet taking out world Pro Adaptive Surf titles featuring World Pro Adaptive Surf champion Kai Colless

3.    Founder of Veterans Surfers’ Association and Para Olympian star Gavin Bellis just hopes his daughters are proud of him  featuring Veterans Surfers’ Association Co-Founder and Para Olympian gold medallist Gavin Bellis

4.    Community counts for more than competition points, says French Pro Adaptvive Surf contestent featuring French Pro Adaptive Surf contestant Guillaume Collen

5.    No full disabled toilet facilities between the Gold Coast and Coffs, says World Surf Champion Pauline Menser featuring World Surf Champion Pauline Menser

6.    Imagine being in charge of water safety at an adaptive surfing competition: meet Adam Land featuring Pro Adaptive Surf water safety co-lead Adam Land

7.    Lifelong friends after just four days: the volunteers helping Japanese Pro Adaptive Surfer Tomoki Fujiwarafeaturing volunteers Yoichi, Taka and Minami

8.    ‘I want to hear their stories,’: World Surf Champion Steph Gilmore shows up to Pro Adaptive Surf Titlesfeaturing World Surf Champion Steph Gilmore

9.    Northern Rivers News with Anny Reed

*producer: Mia Armitage. Reports produced by Mia Armitage unless otherwise indicated.Tune in to the Community Newsroom on Fridays from 11am-12 on Bay FM 99.9 or listen online at bayfm.org
Facebook: Community Newsroom NRN

PIC: 17-yr-old World Pro Adaptive Surf Champion Kai Colless (centre) with family at the 2024 Byron World Pro Adaptive Surf Tiitles (PIC: Mia Armitage)

Byron Bay’s inaugral World Pro-Adaptive Surfing Titles have been happening all week and you’re invited to join us.
The five-day international competition comes in the leadup to the announcement of the Olympic committee’s decision on whether to include the sport in the twenty twenty-eight Los Angeles event.
Discover the glorious community spirit driving the world of pro-adaptive surf as Mia Armitage speaks with organiser and world champion Mark Mono Stewart, other competitors ranging from a 17-year-old to a veteran, and event volunteers from Byron, the United States and Japan.
1. A ‘celebration of life’: British pro-adaptive surfer Spike Kane and Aussie world champion Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart launch Byron world titles event featuring British Pro Adaptive Surf competitor Spike Kane and World Pro Adaptive Surf champion and Byron World Pro Adaptive Surf Titles event director Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart
2. The 17-year-old Gold Coast grommet taking out world Pro Adaptive Surf titles featuring World Pro Adaptive Surf champion Kai Colless
3.    Founder of Veterans Surfers’ Association and Para Olympian star Gavin Bellis just hopes his daughters are proud of him  featuring Veterans Surfers’ Association Co-Founder and Para Olympian gold medallist Gavin Bellis
4.    Community counts for more than competition points, says French Pro Adaptvive Surf contestent featuring French Pro Adaptive Surf contestant Guillaume Collen
5.    No full disabled toilet facilities between the Gold Coast and Coffs, says World Surf Champion Pauline Menser featuring World Surf Champion Pauline Menser
6.    Imagine being in charge of water safety at an adaptive surfing competition: meet Adam Land featuring Pro Adaptive Surf water safety co-lead Adam Land
7.    Lifelong friends after just four days: the volunteers helping Japanese Pro Adaptive Surfer Tomoki Fujiwara featuring volunteers Yoichi, Taka and Minami
8.    ‘I want to hear their stories,’: World Surf Champion Steph Gilmore shows up to Pro Adaptive Surf Titles featuring World Surf Champion Steph Gilmore
9.    Northern Rivers News with Anny Reed
*producer: Mia Armitage. Reports produced by Mia Armitage unless otherwise indicated.Tune in to the Community Newsroom on Fridays from 11am-12 on Bay FM 99.9 or listen online at <a href="http://bayfm.org/">bayfm.org</a> Facebook: Community Newsroom NRN
PIC: 17-yr-old World Pro Adaptive Surf Champion Kai Colless (centre) with family at the 2024 Byron World Pro Adaptive Surf Tiitles (PIC: Mia Armitage)

2024 Byron World Pro Adaptive Surf Titles

Resonating stories and information from the Northern Rivers and afar. Join Community Newsroom reporters as they interview locals and guests from beyond the rainbow region. Thanks to the Community Broadcasting Foundation for support.

Tune in to the Community Newsroom on Fridays from 11am-12 on Bay FM 99.9 or listen online at bayfm.org

Facebook: Community Newsroom NRN

PIC: Mia Armitage interviews NSW Minister for Music, Minister for Night-time Economy John Graham

*producer: Mia Armitage. Reports produced by Mia Armitage unless otherwise indicated.

Resonating stories and information from the Northern Rivers and afar. Join Community Newsroom reporters as they interview locals and guests from beyond the rainbow region. Thanks to the Community Broadcasting Foundation for support.
Tune in to the Community Newsroom on Fridays from 11am-12 on Bay FM 99.9 or listen online at <a href="http://bayfm.org/">bayfm.org</a>
Facebook: Community Newsroom NRN
PIC: Mia Armitage interviews NSW Minister for Music, Minister for Night-time Economy John Graham
*producer: Mia Armitage. Reports produced by Mia Armitage unless otherwise indicated.

Community Newsroom Interviews

Resonating stories. Journalists from around the block, interstate and overseas.With no corporate interests and no government bias, when it comes to news, we put community interests first. Our stories come from you. 

Thanks to the Community Broadcasting Foundation for support.

Facebook: @CommunityNewsroomNRN

Got a tip? Email communitynewsroom@mail.com

Anchor / Executive Producer: Mia Armitage

Contributors: Emma Setterfield-Smith; Anny Reed; Dr John Jiggens; Julie Beesley; Michelle Michels; Dione Green; Kate Payne; Jim Beatson; Emma Meyers; The Wire; National Radio News Service; Community Radio Network and more

listen to past episodes and interviews here.

PIC: Mia Armitage and Emma Setterfield-Smith

Resonating stories. Journalists from around the block, interstate and overseas.With no corporate interests and no government bias, when it comes to news, we put community interests first. Our stories come from you. 
Thanks to the&nbsp;<a href="https://cbf.org.au/about/community-media/">Community Broadcasting Foundation</a> for support.
Facebook: @CommunityNewsroomNRN
Got a tip? Email communitynewsroom@mail.com
Anchor / Executive Producer: Mia Armitage
Contributors: Emma Setterfield-Smith; Anny Reed;&nbsp;Dr John Jiggens; Julie Beesley; Michelle Michels; Dione Green; Kate Payne;&nbsp;Jim Beatson;&nbsp;Emma Meyers; The Wire; National Radio News Service; Community Radio Network and more
listen to past episodes and interviews <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/community-newsroom">here</a>.
PIC: Mia Armitage and Emma Setterfield-Smith

Community Newsroom: weekly program

Resonating stories. Journalists from around the block, interstate and overseas.With no corporate interests and no government bias, when it comes to news, we put community interests first. Our stories come from you.Thanks to the Community Broadcasting Foundation for support.

Facebook: @CommunityNewsroomNRN

Got a tip? Email communitynewsroom@mail.com

Anchor / Executive Producer: Mia Armitage

Contributors: Emma Setterfield-Smith; Anny Reed; Dr John Jiggens; Julie Beesley; Michelle Michels; Dione Green; Kate Payne; Jim Beatson; Emma Meyers; The Wire; National Radio News Service; Community Radio Network and more

listen to past episodes and interviews here.

Resonating stories. Journalists from around the block, interstate and overseas.With no corporate interests and no government bias, when it comes to news, we put community interests first. Our stories come from you.Thanks to the <a href="https://cbf.org.au/about/community-media/">Community Broadcasting Foundation</a> for support.
Facebook: @CommunityNewsroomNRN
Got a tip? Email communitynewsroom@mail.com
Anchor / Executive Producer: Mia Armitage
Contributors: Emma Setterfield-Smith; Anny Reed;&nbsp;Dr John Jiggens; Julie Beesley; Michelle Michels; Dione Green; Kate Payne;&nbsp;Jim Beatson;&nbsp;Emma Meyers; The Wire; National Radio News Service; Community Radio Network and more
listen to past episodes and interviews <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/community-newsroom">here</a>.

Community Newsroom

Gavin Bellis Veterans Surfers Association Gold Coast

11:00 am - Community Newsroom

12:00 pm - Community Newsroom

Community Newsroom  - 20 March 2026

Community Newsroom  - 13 March 2026

Mark Gresser is walking more than 5,300 kilometres alone, from the westernmost point of Australia to its easternmost edge.

He began his journey at Steep Point in Carrarang and is making his way through the outback with the goal of reaching Cape Byron. Along the way, he hopes to raise money for youth mental health organisation Batyr.

Travelling solo, Mark is pushing a self-made cart carrying his most essential supplies including food, water and a tent.

However, the journey hasn’t been without setbacks. Mark has spent the past month stranded in the small outback town of Tibooburra due to record-breaking heat and heavy rainfall.

Mark tells us how his journey is going so far and discusses some of the challenges he has faced along the way.

Mark Gresser is walking more than 5,300 kilometres alone, from the westernmost point of Australia to its easternmost edge.
He began his journey at Steep Point in Carrarang and is making his way through the outback with the goal of reaching Cape Byron. Along the way, he hopes to raise money for youth mental health organisation Batyr.
Travelling solo, Mark is pushing a self-made cart carrying his most essential supplies including food, water and a tent.
However, the journey hasn&rsquo;t been without setbacks. Mark has spent the past month stranded in the small outback town of Tibooburra due to record-breaking heat and heavy rainfall.
Mark tells us how his journey is going so far and discusses some of the challenges he has faced along the way.

Gavin Bellis Veterans Surfers Association Gold Coast

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