G'day {{first_name | Friend}}! We're back with edition 31 of No Bluff News – your weekly wrap of positive local news, weekend plans, and all the community highlights you actually care about.
What you can look forward to today:
Baker Boy has never played the Great Southern before. That changes this August.
A nine-year-old from Katanning just earned Cub Scouting's top honour.
Showcase 2026, a Limeburners whisky dinner and 10+ live acts across the Great Southern this weekend.
Is the Great Southern becoming a destination for big touring acts?
Right, let's get into it!
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
🎵 Live @ the Town Hall locks in Baker Boy for his Albany debut
Source: Live @ the Town Hall via Facebook
Baker Boy has never played the Great Southern before. Live @ the Town Hall is changing that on Saturday, 22 August, with the five-time ARIA winner headlining Albany Town Hall and Miss Kaninna on support.
Backed by Revive Live, the series has been bringing major touring names to the Great Southern while keeping local talent on the same bill. Baker Boy is the biggest pull yet.
Tickets are on sale now via Live @ the Town Hall.
🏆 Katanning's Quade Potter just earned Scouts' highest cub honour. He's nine years old.
Source: Ella Maesepp via the Great Southern Herald
Katanning's Quade Potter just earned the Grey Wolf Award, Cub Scouting's highest honour.
To get there, Quade completed more than 60 activities and led 16 of them: three overnight hikes on the Bibbulmun Track, a self-led group journey through Dryandra, 20 nights of camping, and special interest badges in sailing, archery, knitting for the Red Cross trauma teddies program, baking, bird-watching and piano.
"It was hard work but I learned lots and I'm very proud," Quade says. "Not many cubs get it."
🌾 Manypeaks community auction raises $20k for two local schools
Source: Laurie Benson via the Albany Advertiser
A couple of weeks back, truckie Alan Ettridge was gunning for $14,000 at a Manypeaks community auction. He ended up with $20,000.
More than 40 farming businesses donated the goods and around 100 bidders filled the hall on 7 June. Straw bales fetched more than $1,000 and six champagne bottles sold for three times their asking price. Proceeds are split between Manypeaks and South Stirling primary schools, with a BMX track and playground upgrades first in line.
"I am stoked, absolutely stoked," Ettridge says. P&C secretary Fiona Denney reckons the money will free them up to get plenty done.
COMMUNITY DIGEST
🌊 Great Southern surf clubs sweep the SLSWA Awards
Albany SLSC took out the Lavan Club of the Year at the SLSWA Awards of Excellence in Perth on Saturday, claiming the $10,000 top prize at the state's surf lifesaving gala.
Denmark SLSC's Robyn McMeikan was named Surf Lifesaver of the Year the same night, with Albany's Paul Bairstow winning Age Manager of the Year. Three Great Southern gongs in one evening.
🎬 Gairdner farmer Brianna Jones takes her paddock skills to the film set
Gairdner farmer Brianna Jones helped crew Tim Winton's Blueback in Bremer Bay, skippering the main boat on set and running drone patrols to watch for sharks between takes.
Jones says farm skills like driving machinery, handling boats and heavy lifting are exactly what film sets need. She's 29, still based in Gairdner, and doing both.
🎨 Three Great Southern artists land $65,800 in Regional Arts Fund grants
Three Great Southern artists are among just ten nationally to land Regional Arts Fund grants, sharing $65,800. Albany's Emily O'Brien gets $30,000 for The Girl with the Colourful Mind, a solo dance work on her experience with autism and mental health. Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation lands $30,000 for Every Stitch Holds Country, a community quilt for truth-telling of Stolen Generation children at Carrolup. Conductor Neville Talbot picks up $5,800 for a conductor training pilot.
🍳 Albany's Shanae Meldrum cooks her way into the Taste of the Future finals
Albany Year 11 student Shanae Meldrum made the finals of the Hospitality Group Training Taste of the Future in Perth, serving creamy Tuscan chicken with garlic naan, broccolini and crispy chicken skin against 11 WA finalists.
She stayed composed when others struggled, finished early and earned glowing judge feedback. "The kitchen has always been my happy place," she says.
🦅 Dennis the eagle is back in the skies above Denmark
A Denmark farming family found wedge-tailed eagle Dennis tangled in a fence. Five wildlife organisations rallied: Cornerstone Veterinary Hospital, Born Free Wildlife Carers, Mt Barker Wildlife Hospital, Healing Hands Wildlife Care and Perth Wildlife Hospital got him to surgery and months of rehab.
After all of it, Dennis was released back in Denmark. Nurse Alice Chandler called it "a textbook release."
WHAT’S ON
🌿 NAIDOC WEEK 2026: 50 YEARS OF DEADLY
NAIDOC Week is here. Albany's official opening is this Friday at 11:30am at Albany Town Hall, kicking off a full week of exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, kids' activities and community gatherings celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, leadership and community. Opening alongside it: Binalup Menang | First Light, First People, a Menang-led portrait exhibition at Albany Town Hall featuring stories from Elders and emerging leaders. Full program here.
🕯️ COMMUNITY
20-20 Swim for Jim: MND fundraiser dinner with auction and live music from Southern Right Blues Band, 5pm | Henderson & Hwang Function Centre | Saturday, 27 Jun
🎵 MUSIC
Nikki C & The Flight Risk: Harmony-rich covers of Powderfinger, Crowded House, Missy Higgins and The Waifs, 5–8pm | Wilson's Brewery Bar | Friday, 26 Jun
Jeff Morts LIVE: Country bar set, 6–9pm | Premier Mill Hotel | Friday, 26 Jun
Dig the Dust: Free live set, 8:30–11pm | Six Degrees Goldroom | Friday, 26 Jun
Albany Cover Band Night – Tre Amici: Live covers from the three-piece, 7:30–10:30pm | Six Degrees Goldroom | Saturday, 27 Jun
Jonelle Grochowski Duo: Acoustic set from Jonelle Grochowski and co., 12–3pm | Karribank Country Retreat | Sunday, 28 Jun
Wilson's Brewery Lighthouse Sessions: Live music from Carly Maree, 12–3pm | Wilson's Brewery | Sunday, 28 Jun
Three Fifths: Live jazz afternoon, 4–7pm | The Earl of Spencer | Sunday, 28 Jun
Julia Anwar: Great Southern singer-songwriter live, 7pm | Uptown Music | Tuesday, 30 Jun
🍝 FOOD AND CUISINE
Majuba x Limeburners Single Malt Whisky Dinner: Four-course European dinner paired with curated Limeburners single malts, 6–9pm | Majuba Bistro | Friday, 26 Jun
Nilla's Italian Kitchen – Ravioli Workshop: Hands-on ravioli-making class, 10am–12pm, $90 | Nilla's Italian Kitchen | Saturday, 27 Jun
Sunday Roasts: Hands-on class covering garlic mushrooms, scotch fillet, crispy potatoes, honey-glazed carrots and gravy, 2–5pm, $95 | Kirby's Atelier de Cuisine | Sun, 28 Jun
🎨 ARTS AND CULTURE
Paperbark Book Club – Holly Craig: In-conversation session on Holly Craig's novel Find Me, 6pm | Six Degrees | Wednesday, 24 Jun
Wild Waves Forever Film Night: Surf doco with panel Q&A, free Gage Roads beer on arrival and prizes, 6pm | The Denmark Hotel Thu 25 Jun | Premier Hotel Fri 26 Jun
Djilba: A Moment in Time: Floeur Alder's solo contemporary dance explores the Noongar season of Djilba. Doors 7pm, tickets $20–$25 | Albany Town Hall | Fri, 26 Jun
POINTE: Dancing on a Knife's Edge: Documentary film screening with Q&A, 3pm, $10 | Albany Town Hall | Saturday, 27 Jun
Sanctuary: newly composed contemporary music production in four movements. Silent auction and supper follow, 5–7:30pm | Denmark Civic Centre | Saturday, 27 Jun
Showcase 2026: 100+ young people take the stage with trapeze, silks, acrobatics, original theatre and live music, 5:30pm, from $20 | Albany Entertainment Centre | Sat, 27 Jun
Nurse Georgie Carroll: Infectious: Sharp new show from the nurse-turned-comedian, 1hr 20min, 15+, 7:30pm, from $59.90 | Albany Entertainment Centre | Tuesday, 30 Jun
🏕️ OUTDOORS
Wild Waves Ocean Survival Workshop: Covering rescue, CPR, drowning response, bites and stings, 11am–1pm | Albany SLSC Sat 27 Jun | Denmark SLSC Sun 28 Jun
💼 BUSINESS
ACCI June Sundowner: Networking at Phillips Brook Estate with In Control Bookkeeping hosting a Q&A on the side. 5:30–7:30pm | Phillips Brook Estate | Wednesday, 24 Jun
WAFarmers 2026 Grains and Livestock Conference: Farm tours Thursday, full conference Friday, incl. the CBH Group Gala Dinner | Albany | Thursday 25 – Friday, 26 Jun
Koodjal Business Support: One-on-one sessions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business owners, 10am–4pm | Kwoorabup-Denmark CRC | Friday, 26 Jun
ON YOUR RADAR
🛝 JULY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: 4–20 JULY
Albany and Denmark both have school holiday programs running 4 to 20 July, packed with activities for all ages: Maritime Festival tie-ins, workshops, sport, aquatic fun and library events across Albany, and a full local lineup from Denmark. Some events book fast. Check out the Albany program and Denmark program.
🏄 YOUTH SURFING LESSONS
Part of the Albany Maritime Festival, these beginner-friendly surf lessons at Binalup/Middleton Beach run on Wednesday, 8 July in two sessions (10am–12pm and 1pm–3pm), open to ages 10–17 with boards and wetsuits included. Book your session.
🎨 ART AFTER DARK: MARITIME FESTIVAL EDITION
A free networking night at the Vancouver Arts Centre on Thursday, 9 July, 5–7pm featuring artists from the Maritime Festival exhibition. Meet the makers, get an early preview of the program and enjoy light refreshments. RSVP here.
⚓ SHAMROCKS & SHANTIES
The Albany International Folk 'n' Shanty Festival kicks off on Friday, 10 July at Albany Town Hall, 7:30pm, with Irish-punk outfit The Rogues and Fremantle nautical a cappella group The Lost Quays sharing a stage. Expect Celtic energy, singalongs and boot-stomping shanties. Get your tickets.
🏺 2-DAY BUD VASE POTTERY WORKSHOP
A two-day hands-on pottery workshop with Nicci Daniele across Saturday, 11 July and Sunday, 12 July, where you'll hand-build and decorate your own bud vase with all materials, two firings and a grazing board included. $229 per person, with finished pieces ready in about 8 weeks. Book now.
COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD
📢 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Denmark's Christmas Tree Trail opens for entries: Town-wide December trail with $1.25k in Denmark Dollars. Registrations close 30 Oct. Register through Denmark CRC.
Binalup Aboriginal Corp lands new ranger funding: Rd 9 Aboriginal Ranger Program funding secured, keeping local rangers employed and on Country. Read more.
Regional Arts Fund Project Grants now open: Up to $30,000 for regional arts projects. Applications open 6 July, close 17 August. Apply now.
WA Education Awards 2026 open for nominations: Outstanding WA public school teachers, leaders and schools eligible, with winners receiving $20k. Nominate now.
📣 BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENTS
🌿 BUSINESS OF THE WEEK
A women's naturopath in Albany is now taking in-person appointments
Gemma Knaap has spent nearly a decade focused on women's health: fertility, perimenopause, and gut issues. She works in particular with women who've been told their symptoms are normal when they know they're not.
In-person appointments are now available at her Albany clinic, with Telehealth still running for women across the Great Southern and further afield.
One client had been trying to conceive for years. Her message to Gemma: "After so many years of trying and heartbreak, I am finally pregnant. We know this wouldn't have happened without your help."
Wild Gravel 2026 returns to the Stirling Range: Cycling, running and walking for all levels at the Stirling Range, Saturday, 24 October. Register now.
IGA Katanning – Home Delivery Coming Soon: Fresh produce and essentials delivered within 30km of the store. Follow for launch details.
🛠️ JOBS
Chef / cook: hot savouries, sandwiches and fresh bakery items for an early-start casual role, 4–5 days a week | Bred Co | Albany
Early childhood teacher: play-based learning for children aged 0–5 at Katanning Early Learning Centre | Uplyft | Katanning
Chief executive officer: lead strategy, governance and community outcomes across the Great Southern | Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corp | Albany
🏡 REAL ESTATE
61 Katoomba Street, Orana: 3-bed, 1-bath on 622m². Renovated 1940s character home with jarrah floors, high ceilings, updated kitchen and rear deck | Offers above $620,000.
164B Middleton Road, Mira Mar: 4-bed, 2-bath on 550m². Brand new build with double garage, covered verandah and quality kitchen | Offers above $1.1M.
33 Diamond Street, Little Grove: 3-bed, 1-bath on 1.97ha. Octagonal home with hinterland views, 140sqm shed, electric gate and a new bore | Offers above $1,999,000.
🏅 SPORTS
Dumbleyung's Megan Henry wins back-to-back coaching excellence award: Megan Henry from Dumbleyung Tennis Club took home the Arthur Marshall coaching excellence award at Tennis West's gala night on 29 May, becoming the first woman to win the honour back-to-back.
WA State Country vs PFL double-header: Nine Great Southern Football League players pulled on the Country jumper for Friday night's double-header in Joondalup, seven in the women's squad and two in the men's. PFL won both, by 29 points in the women's game and 45 in the men's.
Did today’s news feel just right, or was it a tad rocky?
And that's a wrap!
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Catch you next Tuesday!
