Sylvia won the News Photography of the Year category (in the Rural/Regional/Suburban division) ahead of 12 other finalists from around Australia and New Zealand. Another of Sylvia’s pictures was also a finalist in the Portrait category for the Rural/Regional/Suburban division.

Her winning picture, Storm Surfer, captured a surfer with storm clouds brewing in the background. It featured on the Mercury’s front page on April 8.

Congratulating Sylvia on her achievement, Mercury editor Alistair Langford-Wilson said Storm Surfer was a stunning picture that deservedly won in a strong field of finalists.

“The Mercury is blessed with an exceptional team of photographers.

“They are all artistically and technically outstanding.

‘‘It shows in their work every day, and it is no surprise that thousands of readers continue to make our online photo galleries one of the most popular attractions of our website.

“Remarkably for a daily newspaper, the majority of the Mercury’s photographers are, like Sylvia, true locals, born and raised here.

‘‘They know every corner of the Illawarra and are still excited to go out every day to photograph this magnificent area and the people who live in it.’’