Disabled surfing pioneer to join NSW Hall of Champions

BYRON Bay surfer Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart will be inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions, in recognition of his effort as five-time world champion and pioneer for disabled athletes.

He will be joined by Graham Arnold, Liz Ellis, Mo’onia Gerrard, Naazmi Johnston and Ricky Stuart at the NSW Champions of Sport Ceremony in Sydney on November 24.

Stewart is an eight-time Australian champion and competes in the kneel division after losing a leg to cancer as a teenager.

In 2021, he became the world’s oldest Para Surfing champion, winning the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championships at Pismo Beach, California, at the age of 59.

Two years later, he was the first adaptive surfer to get a perfect score with two 10-point rides in the final of an international event.

He is currently in the United States with the Australian team gearing up for the ISA World Para Surfing Championships.

Lismore-born rhythmic gymnast will be reccoginsed for her gold medal efforts and contributions to the sport. Photo: AAP/KEVIN FRAYER.

“I’m stoked to again represent Australia at my 10th ISA World Championship,” he said.

“I’m really looking forward to travelling and competing as part of this team and hopefully reproduce a gold medal performance.”

There is a Northern Rivers flavour to the 2025 inductees, with Liz Ellis and Naazmi Johnston having links to the region.

Johnston was born in Lismore, where she first learned gymnastics, before leaving the area with her family when she was eight.

She went on to win multiple gold medals in rhythmic gymnastics at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010.

Ellis is one of the best netball players Australia has produced, winning three world championships in 1995, 1999 and 2007, and two Commonwealth Games gold medals in 1998 and 2002.

Australian Captain Liz Ellis with the Fisher and Paykel Cup after the Fisher & Paykel Cup match between the Silver Ferns and Australia at Vector Arena, Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday, July 18, 2007. Australia won the match 53-46. Photo: AAP Image/Photosport

She moved to the region after her career finished a decade ago and remains active as a coach in the Ballina junior competition along with commentary and media commitments with the Super Netball competition.

She will be recognised with Legend status at the ceremony, which puts her alongside the likes of Sir Donald Bradman, Dawn Fraser, Shane Gould and Ian Thorpe.

Sport NSW chief executive Stuart Hodge paid tribute to Ellis and the new inductees.

“Liz’s tireless contribution and leadership, both on and off the court, has been immense over several decades,” he said. “The sport of Netball and the wider NSW sporting fraternity owe Liz a huge debt of gratitude for her services.”