🌄 No Bluff News #25: Albany Classic turns 90, Greens Pool abalone are back & a packed Mother's Day weekend

G'day {{first_name | Friend}}! We're back with edition 25 of No Bluff News – your weekly wrap of positive local news, weekend plans, and all the community highlights you actually care about.

Mother's Day this Sunday, and the Great Southern's making it count. In today's edition:

Now, onto the good stuff!

The Albany Classic turns 90 this year. John Barnesby's father helped found it in 1936, and Barnesby himself brought it back in 1954. Now 93, he'll be trackside when the 90th edition runs through Albany's streets on Sunday 31 May.

It's a time-trial, not a race. Drivers nominate their own lap time and lose points for every second they deviate. Go faster or slower and it costs you. Albany and Northam are the only two places in Australia where multiple cars run the course at the same time.

Club president Glenn Badger is bringing out his orange XW GT Falcon this year after a three-year break. Pre-paid tickets are new in 2026, available at Albany Classic 26: $20 adults, $5 seniors and students, free under 12.

Ainsley Maclean has been making abstract art for more than 30 years. Next month, he's sharing it publicly for the first time.

Maclean has lived with ME/CFS throughout that time. "Like the fractured, tense forms in these works," he says, "life with ME is full of disruption, imbalance and exhaustion."

"Echoes of a Tension: Art and Endurance" opens at the Vancouver Arts Centre from 25 to 29 May, Monday to Friday, 10am–4pm. Free entry, works priced accessibly, and resources from Emerge Australia on display.

Abalone are back at Greens Pool. Seven years after the fishing ban came in, locals who swim there daily say the difference is impossible to miss.

Bernard Wong, Tim Gamblin and Susie Hawson have been quietly documenting what's below the surface for years. New species keep appearing. "It's much more biodiverse in here, even compared to just five hundred metres away," Tim says. Bernard calls it the Green Temple for good reason.

The group is pushing for the zone to be expanded and better ranger resourcing across William Bay National Park. Anyone can get involved and add their own observations at heartlandjourneys.com.au.

The State Government has committed $10.8 million to support Albany's 8,000 gas customers through ATCO's network shutdown, with $9M for social housing conversions and $1.8M for transition planning.

Mayor Greg Stocks is pushing for more: full compensation for households switching to gas bottles, a 75% electrification subsidy and a 2027 start date to give residents and businesses proper time to plan.

Albany has already beaten its all-time building record, with $170 million in approvals issued in nine months to March, surpassing the previous full-year record of $135 million set in 2021.

March alone delivered 94 permits worth $33.3 million, led by a new school at Lockheed Road ($7M) and stage two of CJD's Chester Pass Road facility ($8M). Deputy Mayor Terry says there's "a lot more in the wings."

A rare chunk of ambergris has washed up at Ocean Beach in Denmark. The waxy sperm whale by-product is prized in perfumery, and only two finds like it have ever been recorded in WA.

Local fisher Ryan Clarke confirmed it on the spot and offered it to the community rather than keeping it. The Museum of the Great Southern and WA Museum are now deciding where it ends up.

Albany's Tricia Heberle picked up a hockey stick at Spencer Park Primary at age seven. By 24, she was at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Albany's first female Olympian.

Her coaching career matched it: Olympic gold with the Hockeyroos in Atlanta and Sydney, head coach of England and Ireland, and Chef de Mission at two more Games. "I'm an Albany girl," she says, "and have always stayed true to that."

On Friday 5 June, the Albany Historic Whaling Station hosts an 18+ evening of contemporary dance, sculptor Lizzie Riley's "Turbulence" exhibition and a curated dinner, all part of Albany 2026.

Limited tickets at discoverybay.com.au.

Free Screening – The Deb: Free CinefestOz community screening, rated M, 6–8pm | Plantagenet District Hall | Wednesday, 6 May

Mother's Day Raffle: Orchid display, sales and cultivation advice with a Mother's Day raffle draw, 8am–5pm | Bayonet Head Shopping Centre | Thursday, 7 and Friday, 8 May

Sir Dave Day: Celebrate Sir David Attenborough's 100th with BYO drinks and a community catch-up, 4–6pm | Denmark Environment Centre | Friday, 8 May

Green Fair on the Square: Free eco fair with sustainability stalls, kids' activities, clothing swap and native plant giveaway, 9am–1pm | Albany Town Square | Saturday, 9 May

Scrubby Creek BlackFella/WhiteFella Music Day: All-ages event with First Nations and local bands, 10am–10pm | Scrubby Creek Bushcamp | Saturday, 9 May

Mother's Day High Tea: Lavender scones, almond financier, pavlova and dainty sandwiches. Two sittings, bookings essential, 10am and 2pm | Karribank | Sunday, 10 May

Mothers Day Marquee 2026: Ticketed celebration for mums and mother figures with raffle entry, two drink coupons, grazing spread, 1:30–5pm | Sprigg Bar | Sunday, 10 May

Mother's Day at The Earl: Classic English lunch and dinner for mum, 1–7:30pm | The Earl of Spencer | Sunday, 10 May

Gnowangerup Early Years Expo: Free expo for expectant parents and families with children 0–4, 9am–2pm | Gnowangerup Sporting Complex | Monday, 11 May

Little Sports Star: Six-week intro program for 3–4-year-olds covering footy, cricket and soccer, 9:30–10am | Albany Indoor Centre | Wednesdays from 6 May

Power of Play: Free interactive session for parents and carers of 3–10-year-olds, featuring play and movement activities, 4–5:15pm | Denmark Dance Company | Saturday, 9 May

After School Art Classes (Ages 6–8): Six-session program exploring drawing, painting and mixed media, 4–6pm | Vancouver Arts Centre | Mondays from 11 May

Dig The Dust: High-energy covers from the 70s to the 2010s, free entry (18+ from 8:30pm), 8:30pm | Six Degrees | Friday, 8 May

Celebrating Life in Community: Psychedelic blues-rock from EXP, donations welcome, 5:30–8:30pm | Denmark ArtsHouse | Saturday, 9 May

Tre Amici: Full-throttle covers party with timeless classics and modern crowd-pleasers, 8:30pm | Six Degrees | Saturday, 9 May

Mother's Day Women in Blues: Every mum gets a complimentary glass of bubbles, $20 at the door, 3-6pm. River Room Jam Night from 6pm | King River Tavern | Sun, 10 May

Nature Poetry Evening: WA Tree Festival readings from local poets, refreshments on arrival, 5:30–7pm | Albany Public Library | Wednesday, 6 May

Banff Mountain Film Festival: Three hours of award-winning mountain and adventure short films, 7pm | Albany Entertainment Centre | Friday, 8 May

Fleassy Malay: Spoken-word showcase closing their Denmark Arts residency, 6:30–8pm | Denmark ArtsHouse | Friday, 8 May

Celebrating Porongurup: Porongurup Range art from Mountain Country Art, open daily 8am–5pm through 24 May | Porongurup Art Studio | Opens Saturday, 9 May

Back from the Ashes: Dr Tony Friend on the conservation and recovery of Gilbert's potoroo, free, 10:30–11:30am | Museum of the Great Southern | Tuesday, 12 May

Bushcarers Busy Bee: Help restore Albany's native bushland with the City reserves team, free and all ages welcome, 9–11am | City of Albany reserves | Friday, 8 May

Amcal Albany Women's GSFL – Grand Final: Railways Women v Albany Women, 6:45pm | Retravision Stadium | Friday, 8 May

Reels Made Real: Hands-on workshop for small business owners on planning, filming and editing Reels on your phone, 5:30–7:30pm | Katanning Hub CRC | Thursday, 7 May

Parenting Your Child with ADHD: Free series for parents of children with ADHD. Morning tea and lunch provided (9:30am–2pm) | Rainbow Coast Centre | Sat, 9 May

Powering Up Our Communities: Free practical workshop from Electrify Everything WA covering home energy upgrades, 9:15–10:15am | Albany Public Library | Sat, 9 May

Hospice Guided Tours: Small-group tours during National Palliative Care Week. Three sessions: 9:30am, 12:15pm and 5:30pm | Community Hospice | Monday, 11 May

Albany's Botanic Walkway tender locked in: Council approved the contract for the long-planned walking path from Ellen Cove to Convoy Lookout. See the full report.

Albany lands 26 new homes for frontline workers: teachers, police and health workers get 26 new homes under the Seven Cities regional program. Read the announcement.

Gift of Truthtelling: Hear stories from Albany's Aboriginal elders at Albany Town Hall on the second and fourth Thursday each month. Next session Thursday, 14 May.

Little IGA Denmark: Council vote to make Murphy Lane one-way clears the path for the IGA's move to the former Tyrepower site on South Coast Highway. Read the decision.

Foodbank WA Mobile Van: now rolling through Albany and surrounding communities, delivering frozen and perishable food. See how the service works.

Denmark EV Fast Charger: Denmark's CRC carpark is getting a 150kW DC fast charger. Check the full charging details.

Associate lecturer: full-time, 18-month teaching role in primary teacher education, mentoring students on placements, $83,499–$112,371 p.a. plus 17% super | UWA | Albany

Casual bus driver: Transregional and school bus runs, morning and afternoon shifts, 15–25 hrs/week, $47.02/hr Mon–Fri, paid training provided | Swan Transit | Albany

Permanent receival point operator: grain receival, sampling and storage across Area 15 sites, optional 7:7 roster, on-site accommodation included | CBH Group | Katanning

10/161 Middleton Road, Mount Clarence: 2-bed, 1-bath on 60m². Elevated, King glimpses, tenanted to March 2027, one car space, on bus route | Offers above $485,000

109 Rufus Street, Milpara: 4-bed, 1-bath on 2,150m². Built-in robes, AC, internal laundry, fully fenced, single car space, 6.5km to Albany CBD | Offers above $799,999

469 Bevan Road, Mount Barker: 4-bed, 2-bath on 101.17ha. Double-brick, Stirling Ranges and Porongurup views, 2 car spaces | Offers above $1,450,000

Women's GSFL Preliminary Final: Albany are into the Grand Final after dominating Denmark Walpole Women 4.4 (28) to 0.4 (4) at Retravision Stadium on Friday night.

OFA Anzac Round: Reigning premiers Gnowangerup held off Boxwood Hill by 20 points, 10.18 (78) to 9.4 (58), with Timm House booting seven goals. Lake Grace-Pingrup notched their first win with a 60-point thumping of Newdegate, 14.13 (97) to 5.7 (37).

And that's a wrap!

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Catch you next Tuesday!