🌄 No Bluff News #12: Misery Beach and Elephant Rocks hit Lonely Planet's top 100, Old Mervs score Hottest 100 double & live music all week

G'day {{first_name | Friend}}. Back to school this week as we come at you with edition 12 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:

Okay, let's do it!

WA dominated Lonely Planet's top 100 beaches in Australia, with 20 spots on the unranked list. Two Great Southern beaches made the cut: Misery Beach in Albany and Elephant Rocks at William Bay National Park near Denmark.

Perth only managed one beach (Cottesloe), while other WA spots include The Basin on Rottnest, Turquoise Bay in Exmouth and Hellfire Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park.

Lonely Planet reckons Misery Beach suits "more adventurous" travellers and ranked it fourth nationally for bushwalking.

Kojonup duo Old Mervs scored their first double inclusion on triple j's Hottest 100, with Don't Go landing at number 98 and Everyone Will See It locking in 83rd spot in the January 24 countdown.

The surf rockers (childhood mates David House and Henry Carrington-Jones) have been here before. What You've Lost hit 38th in 2024, while Sweetheart grabbed 27th in 2023 for their debut.

The band spent Hottest 100 day wrapping their regional WA On a Truck tour at Dunsborough Football Oval, after playing to a sold-out crowd at the Albany Racing Club in early January.

Albany celebrated 28 community champions on Australia Day at the Citizen of the Year Awards, held during the Binalup-Middleton Beach Festival.

Joe Lembo scored Citizen of the Year for opening his former venue free to service groups and mentoring young hospitality workers. Carol Pettersen OAM landed the Annette Knight Community Leadership Medal for empowering Aboriginal communities since 1975.

Peter Finlay grabbed Young Citizen for music and youth mentoring, Dorothy Field won Senior Citizen after two decades of volunteering, and the Community Bank All Abilities Ball took out the active citizenship group award.

WA grain growers are set to smash harvest records with 27.2 million tonnes. That's 2 million tonnes more than the 2022 record, driven by good conditions and more hectares sown.

The Great Southern scored 5.35 million tonnes (700,000 above its previous record), while Esperance hit 4.05 million tonnes. The bumper crop is expected to pump $10 billion plus back into the WA economy.

Albany-born musician Darren Gillis landed the Best Independent Male Artist Award at the 2026 Indie Country Music Association Awards in Tamworth on January 24.

Gillis thanked his partner Kate Alyce, Fremantle Recording Studios, and local supporters who backed him along the way.

Environmental campaigner Peter Robertson scored a Medal of the Order of Australia for more than four decades protecting WA's south forests, rivers and landscapes.

His work includes the James Price Point fight in the Kimberley and the Old Growth Forest campaign in the southwest.

Walpole's Australia Day celebration pushed through rainy weather to deliver thong throwing, sheepdog demos and the Mucky Duck Bush Band.

Wahnu claimed the thong throwing crown with a 36.30-metre throw, while 30 volunteers and sponsors including the Shire of Manjimup made it happen.

AI expert Julian Moore will headline the Fields and Fortunes Regional Business Forum on February 19, showing farmers how tech can diagnose crop readiness and livestock health issues on the spot.

The event at Gnowangerup sporting complex also features speakers on robotics, marketing and broadband. Tickets available via the Shire of Gnowangerup website.

Golden Hill Steiner Markets: Community market with stalls, food and kids' activities, 2:45–4:45pm | Golden Hill Steiner School | Friday, 06 Feb

Footy Stars Weekend 2026 - Sports Dinner with Memorabilia Auction: Hear footy tales from local legend Jeremy McGovern and AFL Hall of Famer Glen Jakovich over a three-course dinner and memorabilia auction, 6pm | Motel Le Grande | Saturday, 07 Feb

Cars on the Green: Free swap meet for automotive parts, tools and collectables with coffee, sausage sizzle and bagels, 8:30am–12pm | Centennial Oval | Sunday, 08 Feb

Albany South Coast Lions Club Bargain Bonanza: Community treasure-hunt market with stalls and bargains, 8am–1pm | Carpark, Plaza Shopping Centre | Sunday, 08 Feb

Storytime - Bringing Books To Life: Free, inclusive storytime for under-5s with books, puppets and sensory toys, 10:30am | Albany Public Library | Thursday, 05 Feb

Game Night: Monthly night of tabletop and Nintendo Switch games for 12–25s, snacks and prizes provided, 5–7pm | Albany Public Library | Thursday, 5 Feb

Hip Hop Dance (Ages 5-8): Seven-week beginner Hip Hop class, 4:00–4:45pm | Albany Leisure & Aquatic Centre | Monday, 09 Feb

Rock Salt Texas Smokehouse Feast: brisket, pulled pork, spicy buttermilk chicken, sausages and sides, 6:15pm | Rock Salt restaurant Albany | Friday, 06 Feb

Club RnB: 90s + 00s RnB Night - Albany: 18+ throwback party with 90s and 00s RnB classics, 9pm | EVE Late Night Bar | Friday, 6 Feb

Kevin Bloody Wilson - Aussie Icon Tour: No-holds-barred comedy and songs from Aussie stalwart, 6:30pm | Albany Entertainment Centre | Sunday, 08 Feb

Piano Room: Immersive post-classical piano performance blending cinematic sound and poetry with virtuoso pianist Roger Cui | Albany Entertainment Centre | Friday, 06 Feb

Live at the Earl: Jonelle & Tony King: Jonelle and Tony King with local music legends, 6pm | Earl Hotel Inn Bar & Restaurant | Friday, 06 Feb

Rosé: Soul, blues and RnB set mixing originals and covers from Carole King to Amy Winehouse, 5pm | Wilson’s Brewery | Friday, 06 Feb

Simon London + the Spirits & Clay Brown: Free night of dust-on-the-boots folk, alt-country and blues with soul, 8:30–11pm | Six Degrees | Saturday, 7 Feb

LIVE AT THE EARL - David Rastrick: Melodic magician brings jazz-reggae and acoustic soul (with trumpet), 4–7pm | The Earl of Spencer Historic Inn | Sunday, 08 Feb

ADELE OLIVER & TANYA RANSOM Secret House Concert: Intimate evening of stories and song with special guest Tilly Kay, 5pm | Secret House Concert | Sunday, 08 Feb

Connecting Threads – A History of Albany Woollen Mills: blankets, memorabilia and community stories, 9am–5pm | Albany Historic Whaling Station | Wednesday, 04 Feb

DELVE DEEPER | Artist Talk: Heather Brown: Heather Brown discusses her Delve Deeper photographic exhibition, 10:30–11:30am | Vancouver Arts Centre | Saturday, 07 Feb

Great Southern Radio Sailing Series: radio-yacht regatta with the International One Metre class, 10am | Pond, corner of Sanford and North Roads | Saturday, 07 Feb

Mount Barker Cup: the $35K Mount Barker Cup and a Racing WA Provincial Cship heat, plus Pink Ladies Fashions | Mount Barker Racecourse | Sunday, 09 Feb

Denmark Business After Hours: drinks, catering, live music and meeting local business support organisations, 5:30pm | Denmark Visitor Centre | Thursday, 05 Feb

Homegrown Hospitality - Live Like a Local: customer service and local-knowledge workshop for tourism and hospitality staff, 12–6pm | Hilton Garden Inn | Monday, 09 Feb

Best Foot Forward: Interview Prep and Practice: Free workshop to build confidence, polish resumes, practice interviews, 3:30–4:30pm | Rustler's Steakhouse | Tues, 10 Feb

Committee Meeting - Community and Corporate Services: City committee meeting open to the public, 5:30–7:30pm | City of Albany event page | Tuesday, 10 Feb

Albany Town Hall Opens 'The Mirror' Exhibition: a new show by Melbourne artist Jarrad Martyn. The exhibition reworks archival photos of Albany's whaling past.

Gnowangerup Election: Nominations Open: nominations for the local government extraordinary election on 26 March 2026. Check the official call for nominations page.

Benang Koondarm: Tomorrow's Dream: Food trucks and mobile vendors wanted at Albany's Historic Whaling Station. Submit your EOI | Albany | Saturday, 18 Apr

ACE Camera Club: Looking for volunteers to help run outings, admin, socials and a community storytelling project in 2026 | Albany | Apply by 28 Feb

Casual barista / front of house: make espresso and serve guests in a heritage cafe. Training provided; one year's experience preferred | Mrs Jones Denmark | Denmark

Reporter, regional news: create compelling news stories, produce bulletins and live coverage, and work with local communities to surface regional issues | ABC | Albany

Deputy principal: lead K-6 student services in a 3-month fixed-term role starting Term 2, 2026 (possible extension) | Department of Education | Katanning

9 Alfred Street, McKail: 4-bed, 2-bath on 1,381m². 1970s brick and tile home with big backyard, shed, wood fire and split-system A/C | Offers above $689,000

13 Adams Road, Denmark: 4-bed, 2-bath on 1,164m². Weedon Hill home with filtered inlet views, spacious timber deck, and under-house storage/workshop | From $850,000

21 Lowood Road, Mount Barker: 3-bed, 3-bath on 1,193m². Heritage-listed 1934 former bank, now a family home with retail space and four car spaces | $860,000

🏏 Southern Scorpions compete at CSBP Senior Women's Country Week

The Great Southern's Southern Scorpions competed at CSBP Senior Women's Country Week, beating West Pilbara (3/127 vs 7/121) across the tournament at Stan Twight Reserve.

Peel Blue claimed the title, chasing down Bunbury Red's 104 by 10 wickets in the grand final. Openers Olivia McSweeney (60no) and Emily Jacobs (22no) guided them home.

🏊‍♂️ Close finishes highlight Albany's Bicentenary Swim

More than 200 swimmers hit Middleton Beach for Albany Surf Life Saving Club's Bicentenary Swim, with Hale's Max Kryachok (14) edging Albany's Christine Murray by just five seconds in the 3km event (40:39 vs 40:44).

Other tight finishes included Oliver Kuhn pipping Sam Butler by one second in the senior male 3km, while Mitchell Tuckey beat Owen Wright by three seconds in the 1.5km.

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!