🌄 No Bluff News #34

G'day {{first_name | Friend}}! We're back with edition 34 of No Bluff News – your weekly wrap of positive local news, weekend plans, and all the community highlights you actually care about.

In today's edition:

Okay, time to get stuck in!

Albany's worst-kept secret is finally confirmed. North Road Shopping Centre has sold to WA grocery boss Tony Galati, with the old IGA space being renovated to make way for Spudshed.

Owner Russell Poliwka, who's held the centre for 30 years, calls Galati one of the best operators in the state: hands-on, homegrown, and still growing. Renovations are already under way, with the new store tipped to open in a couple of months as Spudshed's 20th outlet statewide.

The centre's foot traffic had been sliding for months, but leasing inquiries have already picked up since the news broke. North Road's about to get a lot busier.

The heritage-listed building's been pouring drinks since 1836, and from next month it'll answer to a name Albany hasn't used since 1852. New owner Adam, who's clocked up nearly 30 years in hospitality, is bringing back the Horse and Groom Inn, complete with a reopened kitchen and an upgraded beer garden.

He was picked ahead of several other buyers for one thing above all: the drive to do it properly. Old signage's already stripped back, original floorboards are showing through, and Adam's aiming to bring families back into the mix alongside the regulars.

Works will take at least four weeks. By September, he reckons the place will be busy enough that you'll need to book a table.

Albany's biggest annual event has its future sorted through to 2030, with council signing off on a fresh five-year sponsorship deal worth about $50,800 a year. That's $30,000 in cash plus close to $20,800 in support like traffic management, waste bins and marquees.

The Show pulls in around 18,000 people and more than 170 trade stalls each year, and council modelling points to a solid flow-on boost for local business and jobs.

This year's Show kicks off 13 November, folding straight into Albany's 2026 Bicentenary celebrations. Long may it run.

Ausgold's eyeing about 140,000 ounces of gold a year and roughly 250 local jobs once the Katanning Gold Project fires up later this year.

Main street café owner Alep Mydie can't wait for the extra customers, while Shire president Kristy D'Aprile is pushing for Ausgold's investment to leave a lasting legacy for the town.

Fancy a drive down to Pemberton? The famous karri tree is climbable again after nearly three years closed, trimmed by 24 metres and fitted with a new $3 million, 37-metre viewing platform built to protect the 300-year-old tree.

Locals reckon it'll bring visitors straight back through town, pairing a climb with a bakery lunch. Worth the drive if you can handle the heights.

Denmark's Dellendale Creamery has scooped six medals at the Perth Royal Food Awards: gold for its Torndirrup Appenzelle, plus three silvers and a bronze.

Judges blind-tasted 199 products from 22 WA producers, with only 15 champion trophies handed out. Their Churchill Rd Raclette's no stranger to the podium, crowned best cheese in Australia back in 2024.

Tambellup locals are pushing to reinstate the old Tambellup-Gnowangerup rail line, a $100 million idea riding on the back of State freight lease negotiations.

It's very early days, with no council decision needed yet, but the pitch promises better grain freight capacity and maybe even a tourism rail experience down the track.

Tetrafide Productions is staging Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance at Albany Town Hall this month, its debut show since forming.

The cast of almost 30 includes international baritone James Clayton, backed live by the Albany Chamber Orchestra, plus a run of locals making their stage debut. Founder Neville Talbot built the company to fill a gap the region's other groups couldn't.

Tootanellup NAIDOC Week: Community celebration with Green Skills Inc marking NAIDOC Week, 9:45am–3pm | Tootanellup Visitor Centre | Wednesday, 8 Jul

Folk 'n' Shanty Fayre: Pirate-themed markets with food vans, handmade goods and a tune or two from the pirate minstrels, 9am–2pm | Albany Town Square | Saturday, 11 Jul

Boatshed Markets: Weekly Sunday market with local produce, gourmet foods, Great Southern wines and artisan stalls, 9am–1pm | Albany Boatshed | Sunday, 12 Jul

Denmark Markets: Local winter market with handmade goodies, fresh produce and hot food, weekly again from September, 9am–1pm | Denmark SHS | Sunday, 12 Jul

NAIDOC Family Fun Day: Free family celebration with face painting, crafts, food, music, local stalls and prizes, 11am–2pm | Katanning L&FC | Wednesday, 8 Jul

Andy Griffiths – Reading is an Adventure: Free interactive session for young readers and families with the bestselling author, 1:30pm | AEC | Sunday, 12 Jul

School Holiday Team Puzzle Challenge: Team puzzle challenges, mystery puzzle, giant Connect Four and Jenga. Ages 5–12, 10am–2:30pm | Walpole S&RC | Wednesday, 8 Jul

Dinosaur Discovery: Hands-on dino activities and crafts for all ages, 2–3:30pm | Mount Barker Library and CRC | Wednesday, 8 Jul

Drip Drop Play: Sensory play session with ice, water and sound for kids aged 3 to 12, sessions from 9:30am | AEC | Saturday, 11 Jul

Laserscape at ALAC: School holiday laser-tag session where kids dodge, hide and strategise on the courts, 9:30am or 12pm | ALAC | Monday, 13 Jul

Karaoke @ King River Tavern: Open mic karaoke night, sing your heart out, 7:30pm | King River Tavern | Saturday, 11 Jul

Resin Beach Art Workshop: Afternoon creating a resin beach artwork, materials and guidance supplied, 2–4:30pm | Juniper Community Centre | Sunday, 12 Jul

Jeanie May: Free live set mixing covers and originals, 5–6pm | The Earl of Spencer | Thursday, 9 Jul

Terry Mackintosh @ Rockcliffe: All-originals set with a few covers thrown in, 5:30–7:30pm | Rockcliffe Winery | Friday, 10 Jul

Rob V Live at Karribank: Genre-spanning acoustic set from the Great Southern favourite, 1–4pm | Karribank | Sunday, 12 Jul

Christmas in July at Rock Salt: Texas smokehouse buffet Friday and a big seafood bash Saturday, both from 5:15pm | Rock Salt | Friday, 10 Jul

Ngoolak, Karrak Black Cockatoo Art Workshop: Full-day First Nations art workshop with Jen Wilson and Aunty Carol Pettersen, 9:45am–3pm | Tootanellup | Wednesday, 8 Jul

Art Conversations 2026 – Nic Duncan: Free talk on the Menang Portrait Project and photographic portraiture, 2:30pm | Albany Town Hall | Wednesday, 8 Jul

The Six Noongar Seasons: Live music work inspired by Vivaldi and Noongar season cycles, 7pm | AEC | Thursday, 9 Jul

Fremantle to Freedom: Evening of storytelling with author Peter Murphy and singer-songwriter Fred Rea, 6:30pm | Denmark ArtsHouse | Friday, 10 Jul

2 Day Bud Vase Workshop: Hands-on clay weekend for all skill levels, 10am–2pm Sat and 10am–1pm Sun | Nicci Daniele Pottery Workshop | Saturday, 11 Jul

Youth Surfing Lessons: Beginner-friendly surf sessions for ages 10 to 17, board and wetsuit provided, 10am–12pm or 1–3pm | Middleton Beach | Wednesday, 8 Jul

Come Try Pickleball: Fun intro to pickleball for beginners aged 6 and over, 12:30pm | ALAC | Wednesday, 8 Jul

Albany's getting a proper taste of Sri Lanka, with chef Randika Alagiyawanna leading a winter dining night at the Hilton Garden Inn on Friday, 24 July. Expect authentic dishes and warm hospitality across three sittings from 5pm, with adults $65 and kids $25. Reserve your seat.

A four-course dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn on Saturday, 15 August pairs Shepherd's Hut wines with guided tastings straight from the winemaker himself. Tickets are limited, so get in early. Book your spot.

Denmark's landing a big night of laughs, with touring comedians Anthony Lamond, Dave O'Neil and Sian Choyce headlining at the Denmark Civic Centre on Sunday, 30 August, doors from 6:30pm. It's an early save-the-date, but worth getting into the calendar now. Watch for ticket details.

The ABBA-endorsed tribute show hits Albany's Princess Royal Theatre on Sunday, 20 September, 7:30pm, bringing the glitter, costumes and every singalong classic from Dancing Queen to Mamma Mia. Tickets run from $64 concession up to $89 premium. Grab your tickets.

Cafes, wineries, galleries, home studios and pop-up spaces across the region throw their doors open for the Southern Art and Craft Trail, running Saturday, 26 September to Sunday, 11 October. Expect sculpture, painting, photography, glasswork, textiles, jewellery and pottery from Walpole and Albany through to Mt Barker and Kojonup. Plan your trail.

Albany Airport banks a $456k windfall: A federal grant has covered the unpaid Rex debt in full, straight into the airport reserve. See how the numbers stack up.

Katanning's tackling its housing squeeze: The Shire's commissioned a Housing Master Plan to map land supply and development options. See what's driving the plan.

Winter's Hollow: Denmark's newest hospitality spot is open, with the team keen for locals to help it thrive through bookings and word of mouth | Reserve a table

Jollof on Wheels: Ghanaian street food (jollof rice, peanut soup, donut balls) from Albany pharmacist Nana Yeboah's van on Sanford Road | Follow for trading days

Taste Great Southern: The region's flagship food and wine festival returns 4-7 March 2027 | Apply to get involved

Karribank Winter Escape: Two nights for two at WA's oldest country retreat in the Porongurups, running through July and August | Book your escape

Registered nurse: provide tailored aged care, oversee care plans and mentor staff in a small, community-focused home | Juniper | Katanning and Albany

Restaurant manager: oversee day-to-day restaurant operations, staff, stock, service and compliance at a busy venue | The Dam Denmark | Denmark

Qualified electrician: join an award-winning team handling residential, commercial, solar and rural work | Ganzer Electrical | Albany

155 Ulster Road, Yakamia: 5-bed, 2-bath on 3,018m². Spacious 291sqm home with a self-contained tenanted unit and bushland outlook | $950,000

10 Morley Place, Middleton Beach: 3-bed, 2-bath on 370m². Solar-passive two-level home with 180-degree coastal views, just 750m from the beach | High $1M range

704 Kordabup Road, Denmark: 3-bed, 2-bath on 96.67ha. Stone entrance, mature gardens, permanent dam and established pasture with native bushland | From $3M+

Denmark's Mia Schwarzbach scores a spot in the Under-16 nationals: The 15-year-old has been picked for WA Country's squad at the Foot Locker Under-16 National Championships in Bendigo, the only Great Southern player in the travelling side, with three more Denmark girls named as reserves.

Albany Short Course Carnival celebrates Albany Swim Club's 40th year: More than 150 swimmers from 26 clubs across WA turned out at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre for the club's 37th short course carnival, with competitors ranging from eight-year-olds to national-level athletes.

Record turnout for Albany's MX & ATV State Championship round: A huge 176 riders raced across two big days at the local track last month, with locals Kobi Rochester and Coby Ravenhill both landing podium finishes in front of big crowds.

And that's a wrap!

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Catch you next Tuesday!