Youth Week 2026 has officially wrapped up after a series of successful "Skate Jams & Skate Deck Workshops" held across the Federation Council. The events focused on celebrating local talent, promoting safety, and giving young people a voice in their community.
The week started on Friday, April 24, at Corowa High School. Students worked with local artist Chris Henderson to learn street art and graffiti techniques. Instead of just practicing on paper, the students helped design the new look for the Corowa Skate Park buildings. They also got to plan out designs for their own custom skateboards.
The momentum shifted to the pavement on Sunday, 26 April, with two back-to-back events: Corowa and Howlong Skate Jams and Skate Deck Workshops hosted by the Grow Skate Society.
The morning kicked off at the Corowa Skatepark with a high-energy competition that drew a crowd of 70 young people. The schedule was packed with action, beginning at 10:00 am with a general skate session set to upbeat music to build the hype. The atmosphere then intensified during a semi-structured Skate Jam, where riders across various ages and categories competed for prizes.
Chris Henderson hosted a popular workshop where kids used spray paint and pens to decorate their own skateboards or scooters. Chris used this time to continued consulting with the community, gathering further design input into the murals.
Safety took centre stage through the Corowa Police Initiative, which championed responsible riding by awarding "Wear Your Helmet" prizes and giveaways. Sergeant Stephen Marshall handed out 32-prize raffle, rewarding local youth for positive behaviour. Over the previous six weeks, officers distributed more than 300 free raffle tickets to children spotted "doing the right thing"-specifically those wearing helmets, following road rules, and not riding e-bikes and e-scooters.
The morning wrapped up with casual coaching sessions and encouragement awards, ensuring every participant felt supported. Attendees enjoyed a free drink and a BBQ cooked by the Corowa Lions Club.
The celebration shifted to Howlong in the afternoon, maintaining the momentum with a second round of high-octane competition. Local skaters and scooter riders took to the park to showcase their skills, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of spectators and participants alike.
One of the standout features of the afternoon was the "hands-on" skate deck creation workshop. This creative session remained a major highlight, providing 35 young artists and riders the opportunity to design their own custom decks and take home a unique, personal memento of the day.
To keep the energy high, the community enjoyed a free BBQ cooked by Steve Fyffe, owner of the Howlong Country Bakery. The event reached a successful conclusion with a final round of giveaways, rewarding the local youth for their talent, sportsmanship, and community spirit.
These events were more than just fun-they helped local youth feel a sense of pride in their towns. By helping design the future murals at Corowa Skate Park (which Chris Henderson will finish in May), the kids are helping shape their own local spaces.
Spearheaded by the Federation Primary Prevention Team, these events were made possible through the dedicated support of the Federation Council and Youth Councillors Alyssa Walda, Bel Carrol, Max Sampson, and Wieste Walda.
This successful Youth Week 2026 celebration stands as a testament to community spirit, brought to life by the collaborative efforts of the Grow Skate Society, Chris Henderson, Corowa High School, the Corowa Lions Club, and Corowa Skate Park Committee.
Proudly supported by the NSW Government, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) and the Australian Government Department of Health.
