🌄 No Bluff News #10: Dusty Martin trains Great Southern Storm, Snake Run turns 50 & Australia Day celebrations across the region

G'day {{first_name | Friend}}! We're back with edition 10 of No Bluff News – your weekly wrap of positive local news, weekend plans, and all the community highlights you actually care about.

Here's what's in store:

Right, let's get into it!

Great Southern Storm players scored a last-minute training session with AFL legend Dusty Martin and Albany's own Michael Gardiner at Railways Football Club.

Martin, a three-time premiership winner and 2017 Brownlow medallist, led on-field drills and a Q&A alongside local AFL product Gardiner, who's recently been showing his old mate around Albany.

Local organiser Rogan Coffey pulled it together, and the players who made it along reckon they won't forget it.

More than 1,300 people packed Percy Spencer Racecourse on Saturday as Kojonup rockers Old Mervs brought their On A Truck festival to Albany for a sellout show.

True to its name, the band played from a converted flat-bed Fuso they grabbed on Facebook Marketplace. Local Jasper Lemann and WA acts Polly, Little Guilt and Great Gable rounded out the lineup, with the crowd singing along to All My Friends, Drift and Best Friend.

Albany showed up hungry for live music, and Old Mervs delivered.

Albany's Snake Run just hit 50. It's Australia's oldest skate park and the second-oldest surviving in the world.

Local kids and teens built the thing in 1976, raising about $3,000 selling raffle tickets, fairy floss and even blowing up helium balloons. The surf-inspired concrete run sits in a Mount Clarence quarry and hosted Australia's first National Skating Championship in 1979.

Skaters still rave about its lumpy, fast shape, and locals reckon it helped shape the sport here and abroad. Proper Great Southern pride point.

Albany Senior High School has landed a $9.9 million double-storey classroom block with room for about 200 students. The building packs eight general learning areas, staff facilities and a first-floor link into the existing school.

Refurbished studios now host a STEM laboratory and 3D printer room for marine science and ocean studies.

St Joseph's College in Albany, Denmark Senior High School and the WA College of Agriculture, Denmark landed spots on WA's top ATAR list for 2025. Fewer than 100 schools statewide made the cut and only nine were regional.

St Joseph's scored top marks in English and Religion and Life Studies, Denmark SHS in Outdoor Education and Biology, and WACOA Denmark in Agribusiness and Agricultural Science.

Glenda Williams, an Albany senior Aboriginal health worker, has hit 50 years with WA Country Health Service and was honoured at a Great Southern Aboriginal Health Service morning tea.

Over five decades she's worked with the diabetes education team, child development services and as a key link helping Aboriginal families access care.

Tambellup's Sergeant Mark Monaco has scored a 40-year service medal at the Great Southern District presentation. It's a rare milestone that recognises decades of country policing our towns rely on.

He reckons country work kept him in the job: "It's all I know now and it's pretty much all I want to do."

Albany Health Campus has 100 extra car bays open after a $2 million car park expansion reached practical completion. The upgrade adds wayfinding, safety bollards, new pathways, CCTV and security lighting.

The boost comes ahead of a planned 32-bed modular ward.

Albany Walk for Jacob: Fundraising walk for Ronald McDonald House, $20/$15 entry with all proceeds donated, 10am–1pm | Middleton Beach, Albany | Wednesday, 21 Jan

Summer Market: Eclipse Events' market with local stalls and makers, 9am–2pm | Albany Town Square | Saturday, 24 Jan

Australia Day Weekend: long weekend with lamb rolls, pies, chops, Aussie music and Sunday session BBQ, 10am Sat to 3pm Mon | Plantagenet Hotel | Saturday, 24 Jan

QUIZ NIGHT FUNDRAISER: GSBA's first fundraising quiz to help fund their bicentenary tournament, 6–10pm | Emu Point Function Centre | Sunday, 25 Jan

Binalup Festival: Beach celebration with big breakfast, citizenship ceremony, family activities, entertainment and live music, 7am | Middleton Beach | Monday, 26 Jan

RSL Peaceful Bay Australia Day BBQ Breakfast: Free community BBQ breakfast with face painting and music, 7–9:30am | Peaceful Bay Community Centre | Monday, 26 Jan

AV' A G'DAY IN WALPOLE: Community celebration with music, shearing and sheepdog demos, market stalls, kids activities, food, 8:30am–1pm | Pioneer Park | Monday, 26 Jan

Australia Day Market: Community market with local stalls, food vans and family activities, 9am–3pm | Eyre Park | Monday, 26 Jan

Australia Day Awards: Community celebration with Rotary breakfast and Citizen of the Year and service medal presentations, 8:30am | Frost Pavilion | Monday, 26 Jan

Australia Day at Karribank: Family day with epic playground, animals, café and sausage sizzle, 10am–2pm (café 8am–4pm) | Karribank, Porongurup | Monday, 26 Jan

Australia Day at Paul Nelson Wines: Party with DJ Opal, local wines and Shakas Dumplings, doors open 11am | Paul Nelson Wines | Monday, 26 Jan

Paint Your Own Cookie Activity: Buy a cookie and decorate it with edible paints, suitable for kids and adults, 10am–2pm | Historic Whaling Station | Friday, 23 Jan

Family Outdoor Movie Night: Free community outdoor movie, screening starts 7:30pm | Middleton Beach Precinct | Friday, 23 Jan

Family Acro Yoga + Circus Play: Collaborative family workshop pairing Acro Yoga with circus moves, 9:30–11:30am | Albany's Historic Whaling Station | Saturday, 24 Jan

Milkshakes & Masterpieces - A Family Paint & Sip: Guided acrylic paint session for families, starts 10am and 1:30pm | Albany Historic Whaling Station | Tuesday, 27 Jan

The Albany Sound Original Night: January instalment celebrating original music from the Great Southern, 5–8pm | Wilson's Brewery | Thursday, 22 Jan

Wilson's Light House Live Music Sessions: Kazza Karski: Guitar-led folk songs full of passion and powerful vocals, 5–8pm | Wilson's Brewery | Friday, 23 Jan

Live at the Earl: Steve Dougherty live at the historic Earl of Spencer Inn, 7pm | Earl of Spencer Historic Inn Bar & Restaurant | Friday, 23 Jan

Wilson's Light House Live Music Sessions: Kris Nelson, award-winning folk artist from the Great Southern, 5–8pm | Wilson's Brewery | Saturday, 24 Jan

SWING DANCE PARTY: Social swing dance for all levels, 6–10pm | Denmark Country Club | Saturday, 24 Jan

Niki C and the Flight Risk: Live covers of Dolly, Stevie and more, 5–8pm | Wilson's Brewery | Sunday, 25 Jan

Live at the Earl: Ben Chambers solo acoustic set, 4–7pm | The Earl of Spencer Historic Inn Bar & Restaurant | Sunday, 25 Jan

Freak Maestro: Albany teen indie band at the Binalup Festival, 2:30pm | Middleton Beach | Monday, 26 Jan

Book launch: Eungedup A Wetland Summer Diary by Giles Watson: Author readings, interview, short film and musical piece, 6–8:30pm | RSL Hall | Wednesday, 21 Jan

A WARM FOREIGN LAND | Young Choi: Photography pairing scenes from Korea and Australia, M–F 10am–4pm; Sat 10am–2pm | Vancouver Arts Centre | Thursday, 22 Jan

Ireland: The Voyage: Theatrical celebration of Ireland's history with live Irish musicians, vocals and dance, 7:30pm | Albany Entertainment Centre | Friday, 23 Jan

The Mirror | Jarrad Martyn: New paintings reworking archival photos tied to Albany's whaling past, open Tue–Sat 10am–5pm | Albany Town Hall | Friday, 23 Jan

End-to-End Online Workshop: Expert tips on planning your Bibbulmun Track walk, 3–6pm | Online | Wednesday, 21 Jan

Hidden Wetlands of Denmark: Locally guided walk to spot wetland birds and learn about Wilson Inlet ecology, 7:30–11:30am | Denmark Visitor Centre | Sunday, 25 Jan

Mt Barker Campdraft & Challenge: Three-day Campdraft and challenge, 8am | Frost Park | Friday, 23 Jan

Fuel to Go & Play WA Country Championships: Regional clubs carnival with beach and water events, includes Country Surf Boat champs | Middleton Beach | Saturday, 24 Jan

Bicentenary Swim: Community swim marking WA's 200th anniversary, open to all ages with 400m, 1.5km and 3km options, 7:30am | Middleton Beach | Monday, 26 Jan

Katanning Shire Proposes Sale: Shire of Katanning proposes to sell 25 and 27 Kaatanup Loop to named buyers for $100,000 each and invites written submissions by 2 February.

Cranbrook Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban: Shire of Cranbrook has a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban in place from 10am Friday 16 January until further notice.

Chilli Coconut: Authentic Indonesian halal has landed a bigger shop in Spencer Park Shopping Centre, offering $10 lunch deals | Spencer Park, Albany | Opening soon

Rock Salt: Pitmaster Rosa's custom Texas smoker is coming from Perth and will be fired up for next-level brisket, ribs and big flavours | Albany | Arriving soon

Qualified electrician: full-time role on varied jobs, $35–$45/hr plus penalties, company vehicle, training and fortnightly RDOs | Ganzer Electrical | Albany

Bakery assistant: 28-32 hours a week with early morning starts and rotating weekends, serving customers, prepping food | Mount Barker Co-operative | Mount Barker

Insurance assistant account executive: process insurance quotes, new business and renewals while receiving training in claims and sales | Elders Insurance | Katanning

24 Miramar Road, Mira Mar: 2-bed, 1-bath on 1,672m². Panoramic Oyster Harbour, King George Sound and Porongurup Range views. Leased to Nov 2026 | Over $699,000.

3 Chiltern Road, Ocean Beach: 3-bed, 1-bath on 1,042m². Neat coastal home ready to move in, short stroll to the beach and popular walk/bike trails | From $680,000.

35 Braeside Road, Katanning: 4-bed, 2-bath on 1,317m². Multiple living zones and sunken lounge with tiled wood fire, big kitchen with 900mm cooktop | $699,000.

🏃 Albany runner Ben Castlehow completes 24 parkruns in 24 hours

Ben Castlehow ran 24 parkruns in 24 hours on Albany's Mount Clarence, raising more than $12,500 for On My Feet, a charity supporting people experiencing homelessness. That's about 120km, roughly three marathons.

Castlehow reckons it was personal. On My Feet helped him rebuild his life after homelessness.

🎾 Albany Tennis Club shines at revamped CBH Country Championships

Tea Zizek won both the under-14 singles and doubles as Albany Tennis Club brought home multiple titles from the CBH Country Championships in Perth. James Grundy took out the under-16 singles and Albany's men's quartet won the doubles.

The revamped championships trialled team doubles for the first time, drawing more than 250 players.

And that's a wrap!

If you know someone who'd love the good stuff from the Great Southern, forward this their way or get them to sign up at noblufflocal.com.

Catch you next Tuesday!