scratching the surfest

Uncle Kev

Kevin “Uncle Kev” McKenny is Chairman of the Wandiyali ATSI and local legend. Growing up in Newcastle, Uncle Kev has seen our city evolve from its humble beginnings. His love for Surfest and its organisers runs deep and knows full well the positive impact Surfest has amongst our indigenous brothers and sisters.

BACK TO ALL

“talking about reconciliation, wandiyali and surfest… steve kilroy and warren smith, have been doing it for 22 years!”

“Take what was special back home and remember it forever…”

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Oct 1

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@ellieharrisonnnnn joined an elite club at Surfest 2024 - Becoming just the fifth woman to win both the prestigious Surfest Pro Junior and Surfest Women's Pro.

📷 @darren.anderson.photography

@visitnsw @citynewcastle.au @reflectionsholidays @maitland_toyota @portstephens_toyota @hunter_gwm @cardiffgwm @portstephensgwm

#feelNSW #NewSouthWales #visitnewcastle #newcastlensw #seekoffbeat #TeamBurton #BurtonAutomotiveGroup #reflectionsholidayparks #lifesbetteroutside

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Sep 11

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CONFIRMED | With the support of @citynewcastle.au @portofnewcastleau and @wsl - Surfest 2025 will feature a Challenger Series event. Stay tuned for more!

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Aug 25

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Cold and uninviting outside? Here's a flashback to finals day at the #burtonautomotivepro to kick start your Sunday #surfest2024

@visitnsw @citynewcastle.au @reflectionsholidays @maitland_toyota @portstephens_toyota @hunter_gwm @cardiffgwm @portstephensgwm

#feelNSW #NewSouthWales #visitnewcastle #newcastlensw #seekoffbeat #TeamBurton #BurtonAutomotiveGroup #reflectionsholidayparks #LifesBetterOutside

📷 Darren Anderson

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Aug 5

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The Surfest Indigenous Classic is about more than just surfing.

It is an opportunity to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we gather on at Merewether, the Awabakal and Worimi People.

The Surfest Indigenous Classic is supported by the @nswgov @uni_newcastle @asquithworkforce & Longwall Haul.

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Jul 21

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We're celebrating 39-years of Surfest in 2025! Share with us your earliest Surfest memories to go in the draw for a merchandise prize pack!

@visitnsw @citynewcastle.au@reflectionsholidays @maitland_toyota @portstephens_toyota @hunter_gwm @cardiffgwm @portstephensgwm

#feelNSW #NewSouthWales #visitnewcastle #newcastlensw #seekoffbeat #TeamBurton #BurtonAutomotiveGroup #reflectionsholidayparks #LifesBetterOutside

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Jul 19

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SCRATCHING THE SURFEST | As she propels women’s surfing through her new avenue of commentating and surf journalism, Jesse Starling returned to Surfest this year outside of a comp rashie.

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Jul 12

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SCRATCHING THE SURFEST | ’99 World Champ, and dual Surfest Champion in ’86 & ’98, Occy returned to Merewether this year in a dual role - commentator and surf dad.

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Jul 9

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In 2024, Surfest ventured outside the Hunter region for the first time in its rich history, hosting the inaugural Reflections Holidays Cadet Cup at Bonny Hills. We can't wait to bring you more details on what is in store for Surfest 2025!

@visitnsw @citynewcastle.au @reflectionsholidays @maitland_toyota @portstephens_toyota @hunter_gwm @cardiffgwm @portstephensgwm

#feelNSW #NewSouthWales #visitnewcastle #newcastlensw #seekoffbeat #TeamBurton #BurtonAutomotiveGroup #reflectionsholidayparks #LifesBetterOutside #BurtonAutomotivePro #NewcastleRacecourseWomensPro

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Jun 23

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Did you know that just four surfers have claimed back-to-back titles at Surfest?

We’re giving away a Surfest prize pack of two shirts and two hats for one lucky winner who can name all four champions. Winner to be drawn on Thursday 4 July.

📷 @newcastleherald @darren.anderson.photography & Madman Entertainment.

T&Cs: Winner will be drawn at random from the correct comments on this post at 5pm on Thursday 4 July. Winner will be contacted via direct message within 24-hours of the draw. In order to receive prize pack, winner must reside in Australia.

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Jun 21

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For almost a decade, @westfieldkotara has been supporting the next generation of local surfers, through the Westfield Encouragement Award. One of this year’s recipients, @oceanlancaster, recently returned from the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships.

Ocean scored a semi-final finish at El Salvador, with former Encouragement Award recipient, @edenhasso also featuring in the Australian team, who overall scored a gold medal finish.

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Jun 13

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Congratulations to @philippa.anderson on a semi-final finish at the Nias Pro. Currently second on the Australia/Oceania Women's Qualifying Series Rankings.

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Jun 6

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Without our sponsors, Surfest wouldn't be the incredible event it is today! A special shout out to the team at @nbnnews who have been with us from the outset at #Surfest '85.

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Jun 4

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Did you know in 2024 Surfest celebrated 20-years of partnership with the team at Burton Automotive Group? If you haven't yet had a chance, check out their new GWM showroom and service facility at Cardiff!

@maitland_toyota @portstephens_toyota @hunter_gwm @cardiffgwm @portstephensgwm

#TeamBurton #BurtonAutomotiveGroup #BurtonAutomotivePro

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May 28

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@joel_vaughan left nothing to chance on his way to back-to-back Burton Automotive Pro titles at Surfest this year. The judges handed this wave an 8.50 - Where are you scoring it?

@visitnsw @citynewcastle.au @reflectionsholidays @maitland_toyota @portstephens_toyota @hunter_gwm @cardiffgwm @portstephensgwm

#feelNSW #NewSouthWales #visitnewcastle #newcastlensw #seekoffbeat #TeamBurton #BurtonAutomotiveGroup #reflectionsholidayparks #LifesBetterOutside #BurtonAutomotivePro #NewcastleRacecourseWomensPro

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May 22

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Flashbacks to that dreamy Thursday #Surfest2024

@visitnsw @citynewcastle.au @reflectionsholidays @maitland_toyota @portstephens_toyota @hunter_gwm @cardiffgwm @portstephensgwm

#feelNSW #NewSouthWales #visitnewcastle #newcastlensw #seekoffbeat #TeamBurton #BurtonAutomotiveGroup #reflectionsholidayparks #LifesBetterOutside #BurtonAutomotivePro #NewcastleRacecourseWomensPro

Photos by @darren.anderson.photography & @dano_foto

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Mar 25

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Offshore gallery from @themutualbank High Schools Team Challenge held on 14 & 15 March!

Congratulations to Newcastle Grammar School for taking out the win in the boys division and to Swansea High School for taking out the win in the girls division!

Thank you to @themutualbank for putting on an excellent event.

Pics by: @lighthousesportsphotography & @shane.blue

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Surfest 2024 in Newcastle, Australia

Surfest Newcastle Australia 2024 is made possible through the support of Burton Automotive, the NSW Government and Destination NSW, the City of Newcastle, Reflections, Newcastle Business Community crowdfunding and Newcastle and Hunter regional businesses. Surfest 2024 features World Surf League (WSL) professional and amateur surfing contests including the Burton Automotive Pro and the Surfest Women’s Pro (a WSL Qualifying Series 5000 events), the Burton Automotive Pro Junior (a WSL Qualifying Series 1000).

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scratching the surfest

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Surfest 2024 in Newcastle, Australia