A RARE moment in a Port Stephens backyard has earned local wildlife photographer Nikki Kenwrick two major honours in the 2026 Australian Native Bee Association Photography Competition.
Nikki was named both Overall Winner and People’s Choice Winner for her striking image, ‘RIP Queen’ Tetragonula carbonaria.
The photograph captures an unusual moment in the life of a native stingless bee colony, with a worker bee removing a dead queen from the hive.
Remarkably, Nikki did not have to travel to a remote national park or wait for hours in the bush to capture the award-winning shot, as it unfolded in her own backyard.
“I happened to notice a worker bee removing a dead queen from the hive, which is something that is rarely seen, let alone photographed,” Nikki said.
“I grabbed my camera and was lucky enough to capture the moment as it happened.”
The competition was judged by award-winning nature photographers Charles Davis, Jannico Kelk and James Dorey, while the People’s Choice category was decided by popular vote during the Australian Native Bee Conference.
For Nikki, receiving recognition from both professional judges and the public made the win particularly special.
“It was incredibly exciting, particularly because wildlife photography is such a strong and competitive field,” she said.
“The People’s Choice was especially meaningful because it meant the image had connected with many people beyond the judging panel.”
Living in Port Stephens provides Nikki with no shortage of inspiration, with the region’s wildlife giving her opportunities to observe the behaviours that often become the focus of her work.
“I’ve always been fascinated by animals and their behaviour, and photography gives me a way to slow down and really observe them,” she said.
“Living in Port Stephens, I’m surrounded by wildlife every day, which is a constant source of inspiration.”
Nikki has previously taken first place in a BirdLife Australia photography competition, with her image featured in its 2026 calendar supporting bird conservation.
Her latest success also shines a light on some of Australia’s smallest wildlife.
“I hope my photographs encourage people to stop and notice the wildlife around them, especially the smaller creatures that are often overlooked,” Nikki said.
“If they help people appreciate our native bees and understand how important they are to our environment, then I’ve achieved something worthwhile.”
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
