🌄 No Bluff News #14: Mount Barker scores $860k skatepark, Charlie Colbung wraps new Health Nut mural & Albany Pride turns 10

G'day {{first_name | Friend}}! We are now well into February as we land edition 14 of No Bluff News – your weekly wrap of positive local news, weekend plans, and all the community highlights you actually care about.

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Mount Barker's locked in an $860k Lotterywest grant to build a skatepark, pump track and family rec zone at Wilson Park. The project also includes upgraded lighting, carpark and path networks.

It's the first stage of the Wilson Park Recreational Masterplan, with Plantagenet Council backing it with $1.6 million and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries adding $506k. Tenders close 5 March.

Shire President Len Handasyde says the zone will boost skateboarding, BMX, scooter and mountain biking opportunities as the shire grows.

Local artist Charlie Colbung just wrapped a three-day mural of native blue-banded and European bees on the rust-coloured wall outside The Health Nut in Peels Place. The commission came after his work at Emu Point's Squid Shack caught the owner's eye.

Colbung, originally from Mount Barker, has been busy around the region. He recently painted doors at the Plantagenet Hotel and is locked in for another Albany mural at Albany Senior High School in April.

Albany's support keeps him coming back. "When I come to Albany, I feel so supported, it's wonderful."

Rio Tinto's bumped its annual youth funding to Albany from $60k to $70k. The three-year deal worth $210,000 runs 2025–27 and backs an all-ages music festival, Great Southern Noongar Festival, Youth Week, NAIDOC events and school holiday programs.

The extra cash also funds new all-abilities programs, age-integration initiatives and a review of the Youth Friendly Albany Plan. The Youth Advisory Council continues under the deal.

City of Albany CEO Andrew Sharpe says the partnership lets the city invest directly in young people and respond to emerging needs. "It means Albany remains a great place to grow up," he says.

Denmark Council has backed relocating the library to the Visitors Centre and moving Denmark Arts into the vacated library site, creating a consolidated arts and cultural precinct in the town centre. The Denmark Arts move responds to urgent structural and safety concerns at its current premises.

Timeframes and final designs aren't locked in yet. Shire President Aaron Wiggins says the moves will take time and need close collaboration to minimise disruption.

Albany Senior High School maths teacher Greg Cook retired at 71 after 50 years in teaching, including 42 years at ASHS. He finished up at the end of the 2025 school year after coaching footy, hockey and soccer across the decades.

Seven of his former students have since returned to ASHS as teachers. Principal Melissa Walker calls it a tidy legacy.

A Kendenup farmer donated 60 bales of hay to help a Warradarge farm family recover from December fires that killed hundreds of livestock and burnt thousands of hectares.

Farmers Across Borders coordinated the delivery by a Bunbury truck driver and has written to agricultural minister Jackie Jarvis seeking transport subsidies.

A UWA researcher diving off Albany spotted the extremely rare Braun's wrasse, a tiny endemic fish not seen since 2009 and feared extinct after recent marine heatwaves. The species has been officially recorded only once since its 1996 discovery.

WA Museum curators and the researcher who last spotted it in 2009 confirmed the sighting. It highlights the Great Southern Reef's rich biodiversity.

Albany seamstress Sally Pell has collected nearly 200 blankets from the old Albany Woollen Mills and teamed up with historian Malcolm Traill to document the mill's 101-year history. She's secured funding to turn the collection into a book.

Pell hopes to lock in a permanent museum venue so the Great Southern can celebrate the mill, which ran from 1925 to 2002 and once employed more than 400 people.

ALBANY COMMUNITY DISABILITY EXPO: linking people with disability and carers with NDIS providers (first 100 get free coffee) 10am–1pm | Retravision Stadium | Wed, 18 Feb

Welcome to Country: led by Menang Elder Aunty Vern Gillies marking Albany Pride's 10th anniversary, 5:30pm | Mokare Statue, 221 York Street | Thursday, 19 Feb

Bi+ Picnic: celebrating the Bi+ community and friends, bring a plate, family-friendly with dogs on leads welcome, 1pm | Binalup (Middleton Beach) | Saturday, 21 Feb

Katanning Farmer's Market: Monthly market with local veg, fruit, preserves and handmade crafts, 8–12pm | 4 Pemble Street, Katanning | Saturday, 21 Feb

Mt Barker Markets & Volunteer Fire & Rescue Open Day: local stalls plus open day to meet the volunteer brigade, 9am–1pm | Wilson Park, Lowood Road | Saturday, 21 Feb

Twilight Skate: Social 9km twilight skate along coastal trail from Albany Surf Club to Emu Point and back, 6–7pm | Albany Surf Club | Sunday, 22 Feb

6th Annual Tambellup Family Fun Day: afternoon with wet and dry inflatables, Great Southern Reptiles, face painting, food vans, art, 2–5pm | Tambellup Oval | Sunday, 22 Feb

Sk8er's Ally: All-ages skate session, $6pp, 2.30–3.30pm | Mount Barker Rec Centre | Wednesday, 18 Feb

Freestyle Now Skatepark Jam: All-ages, all-skills open BMX, skateboard and scooter session with coaches, mini-challenges and prizes | Clive St, Katanning | Friday, 20 Feb

Albany Sound Original Night: Monthly night of live local original music with Jeanie May, Julia Penn and Kris Nelson, 5–8pm | Wilson's Brewery Bar | Friday, 20 Feb

Jeanie May & Lily Bee at The Dam: Live performance, three-hour set starting 5pm | The Dam, Denmark | Friday, 20 Feb

LIVE AT THE EARL - Rob V: Local favourite Rob V returns for a relaxed night of live music, 6–9pm | The Earl of Spencer Historic Inn | Friday, 20 Feb

Light House Live Music (Tony Mango): blending beatbox, guitar, trumpet, didgeridoo and soulful vocals, 5–8pm | Wilson’s Brewery Bar | Saturday, 21 Feb

Live @ the Town Hall (Pride Edition): live-music night showcasing WA artists and headliner Alter Boy, tickets $30-$40, 6pm | Albany Town Hall | Saturday, 21 Feb

Belle Miners at Denmark Arts: International folk-pop trio bringing their 'Now More Than Ever' tour to Denmark, 6:30pm | Denmark Arts | Saturday, 21 Feb

Simon London and The Spirits: Free-entry 18+ rock show with commanding vocals and tight local trio, 8:30–11pm | Six Degrees Albany | Saturday, 21 Feb

Light House Live Music (Lez Karski): Live acoustic set featuring soulful covers from Al Green, Joe Cocker and Otis Redding, 5–8pm | Wilson’s Brewery Bar | Sunday, 22 Feb

Exhibition Opening Night: Albany Pride's invite-only launch of two exhibitions, 6pm | Albany Town Hall | Friday, 20 Feb

Exhibition: The 82 Abettors of the Zeewijk: exploring the 1727 Zeewijk shipwreck and story of two marooned teenagers, 10am | Albany Town Hall | Saturday, 21 Feb

Exhibition: A Decade of Pride: celebrating ten years of Albany Pride Festival with festival posters, artworks and local stories, 10am–5pm | Albany Town Hall | Saturday, 21 Feb

Merrifield Real Estate A Grade: Round 19 fixtures in ADCA A Grade competition, 12:15pm | Centennial Park, Albany | Saturday, 21 Feb

Bendigo Bank Shield (Round 19): featuring matches at Broomehill, Regional Recreation Ground, Kojonup and more, 12:45pm | Broomehill / Kojonup / Katanning | Sat, 21 Feb

Amcal Albany - Women (Round 3): Pride Round triple-header, starting 12pm | Retravision Stadium | Sunday, 22 Feb

ACCI Social Sundowner: Monthly networking sundowner for local businesses, 5:30–7:30pm | Albany GWM | Wednesday, 18 Feb

Business Before Hours: Casual networking with bacon-and-egg roll and 10–15 minute presentation on Albany 2026, 7:30–8:30am | Albany Business Centre | Thursday, 19 Feb

Fields & Fortunes Regional Business Forum: technology for regional businesses with keynote speakers, trade booths and networking, 9am–5pm | Gnowangerup Sporting Complex | Thursday, 19 Feb

Denmark Women in Business: Free networking and skills event featuring speakers and workshops, 9am–4pm | Denmark CRC | Monday, 23 Feb

Aboriginal Ranger Program Opens $62.5 million Round: for new and established Aboriginal ranger groups across regional WA. Apply now.

Amity Health Survey: Great Southern parents, carers and families can help shape Communities for Children; win a $200 grocery voucher by completing the survey.

Katanning Lands New Traineeship Funding: Katanning CRC has locked in Regional Traineeship Program funding for another local traineeship. Apply here.

Middies Festival Food Vans: Beachfront event Saturday 28 Feb (3–11pm) seeking food vans | Middleton Beach, Albany | Apply now

Albany Harbour Swim Volunteers: Albany Surf Life Saving Club needs help with event coordination, registrations, timing and merch lead | Middleton Beach | Sign up now

City of Albany Event Vendor EOIs: open for entertainers, food vendors and stallholders for Events Series | Albany | Apply online (scroll the the bottom)

Chef/cook: cook preparing breakfast and lunch, full- or part-time with early starts and weekends, food-safety cert required | Kate's Place | Albany

Factory manager: manage seafood processing factory staff and operations, 7am–3pm, need mgmt experience, prefer truck licence and forklift ticket | Albany Seafoods | Albany

Spa therapist: deliver treatments, prepare rooms, handle payments, $35–$40/hr plus incentives, need qualifications and weekend availability | Chimes Spa Retreat | Denmark

6 Mawson Street, Mount Melville: 3-bed, 1-bath on 964m². Jarrah floors, high ceilings, renovated wet areas, carport plus 2-bay garage, dual access | From $559,000

8 Webster Street, Mount Barker: 3-bed, 2-bath on 1,351m². Two-car garage, access for workshop or second dwelling | Offers Above $839,000

167 Grey Street West, Albany: 3-bed, 3-bath on 1,012m². Circa 1900 stone home, high ceilings, timber floors, double garage plus workshop | Offers Above $1,350,000

Broomehill sporting clubs raise $2000 for McGrath Foundation: Broomehill's cricket, tennis and bowls clubs raised $2000 for the McGrath Foundation on Pink Stumps Day with about 140 players and supporters, and 80 stayed for a Pink Party with food, raffles and awards. The event started in support of two local mums who were diagnosed.

Albany kicks off Football West Dads and Daughters program: Albany launched Football West's eight-week Dads and Daughters program on 9 February with 10 fathers and 11 daughters, running Mondays at 5.15pm at Centennial Park's east pavilion. The program focuses on soccer skills, father-daughter bonding and empowering girls through a bit of rough and tumble.

And that's a wrap!

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Catch you next Tuesday!