🌄 No Bluff News #39

G'day {{first_name | Friend}}! We're back with edition 39 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 we've got for you today:

Alright, let's crack on!

Albany's Ocean & Paddock just beat every fish and chip shop in the country. It took out Australia's Best Takeaway Fish and Chips at the National Seafood Industry Awards in Sydney.

Owner Trenton Brennan trained as a chef and worked kitchens in Aspen, the Maldives and Malaysia. He pitched the idea to Great Southern Seafoods by phone from the US, back in 2016.

Even winning nationally hasn't changed much at home. One of Trenton's kids brought the WA trophy to school for show and tell. This one's staying home, too big a risk for a school bag.

Albany's surf reef started with kids floating old car tyres off Middleton Beach, hoping a wave might grow around them. Three decades and $13 million later, the real thing has just turned one.

It was designed to produce a surfable wave about 41 per cent of the time. A year in, Albany Boardriders say it's already closer to 65 to 70 per cent.

Longtime advocate Peter Bolt says the best bit is pulling up to a reef loaded with kids riding nice, shaped waves. It's a surfing childhood his own generation never had.

Mount Barker's new skatepark and pump track are officially funded. $2.84 million is locked into the Shire of Plantagenet's 2026/27 budget for Stage 1 of the Wilson Park Youth Precinct redevelopment.

The design came straight from the kids who'll use it, with local skaters and parents shaping the layout at a dedicated workshop, backed by a $1 million council loan on top of state grant funding.

Shire President Len Handasyde says it's overdue. Mount Barker's population is up 7 per cent since 2019, with more families choosing to put down roots.

Albany's bakers walked away with a swag of medals at this year's Baking Industry Awards. Free Range Chef, a gluten-free bakery, took at least two golds and six silvers going toe-to-toe with WA's conventional bakers.

Albany Bakehouse wasn't far behind, winning gold for its Dubai chocolate donuts and first for white long hot dog rolls in its first year entering.

Denmark's council locked in three wins in one meeting: a lease for the long-empty Ocean Beach kiosk, a new home for Denmark Arts in the old library, and a 10-year lease for Denmark FM.

Locals could be grabbing coffee at the kiosk again by summer, empty since it was built, while Denmark Arts now has secure, long-term funding instead of short-term renewals.

A documentary about Mackenzie Burgoyne's 1000km Bibbulmun Track run, Fastest Known Try, lands in September. He ran the entire trail, Perth Hills to Albany, in under nine days.

At one point he kept moving for 22 hours straight before stopping to sleep, for about two hours flat. "I'm just a regular person taking small steps every day," he says.

Nearly 8 million containers passed through Albany, Denmark and Mount Barker's Containers for Change points last year. That sent almost half a million dollars straight to local charities and community groups.

Wine and spirit bottles are newly eligible too, so that empty bottle from Friday night just became worth something.

A Mt Barker mum walked into Mt Barker Newsagency, bought a $3 Scratch'n'Win ticket, and walked out $50,000 richer.

First on the list: a car big enough for the whole family's bikes, so they can get out to the beach and bush more often. Not bad for a $3 ticket.

Cancer Council Daffodil Day Morning Tea: Wear yellow and bring a mate to this $10 fundraiser for cancer research, 10am–12pm | Denmark Surf Club | Wednesday, 12 Aug

Albany Farmers Market: Fresh local produce, breakfast, coffee, hot food and live music every Saturday morning, 8am–12pm | Collie Street, Albany | Saturday, 15 Aug

Scout Hall Markets: Community market morning with stalls and plenty to browse, 8am–12pm | Denmark Scout Hall | Saturday, 15 Aug

Community Safety & Preparedness Expo: emergency service talks, kids' activities and a bushfire VR experience, free entry, 10am–4pm | Frost Oval, Mt Barker | Saturday, 15 Aug

Big Splash Fundraiser: Footy club fundraiser for Parkinson's WA with dunkings, raffle prizes and community spirit, 12–3pm | Denmark Walpole FC | Saturday, 15 Aug

Albany Boatshed Markets: Weekly market with fresh produce, gourmet foods, GS wines, local artisans and live music, 9am–1pm | Albany Boatshed | Sunday, 16 Aug

Denmark Dance Collective: Weekly dance session for all ages and abilities, 9:30–10:45am | Denmark Scout Hall | Friday, 14 Aug

Hype Engine Presents: Low End Vol. 002: New UKG, bass and drum & bass night, $10 before 11pm, 10pm–late | Eve Late Night Bar | Friday, 14 Aug

DWFC Honky Tonk Ladies Day: Country-themed afternoon with live footy, cocktails, music and dancing, 2:15pm | McLean Oval, Denmark | Saturday, 15 Aug

Devils Burlesque Presents – Operation Tease: Burlesque show, $25 tickets at Paperbark Merchants, doors 7:30pm | Spectrum Theatre | Saturday, 15 Aug

Matty Coull Live: Raw, soulful blues and psychedelic rock, 6–9pm | The Earl of Spencer, Albany | Friday, 14 Aug

Lo-Fi Lenny: One-man jukebox spinning 50s, 60s and 70s tunes with a bluesy country edge, 5–8pm | Wilson's Brewery Bar | Saturday, 15 Aug

Jazztrix Miles Davis Tribute: Live tribute marking 100 years since Miles Davis was born, featuring Kind of Blue and more, 6:30pm | Denmark ArtsHouse | Saturday, 15 Aug

Jonelle Grochowski Duo: Soulful blues, Motown and easy-listening classics for a slow winter Sunday, 1–4pm | Karribank, Porongurup | Sunday, 16 Aug

Albany Chamber Orchestra: Live concert with special guests Adam Cook, Shamara de Tissera and Kathryn MacNeil, 3pm | Denmark Civic Centre | Sunday, 16 Aug

Friday at the Club: Bar and restaurant open to the public every Friday with good-value food and drinks, family-friendly, 11:30am–7pm | Albany Golf Club | Friday, 14 Aug

A Wine Journey with Shepherd's Hut: Long table wine dinner with a four-course menu and guided tastings from the winemaker, 6–9pm | Hilton Garden Inn | Saturday, 15 Aug

Woman is Vessel | Demi Skye: Exploring the rawness of becoming a mother through ceramics, lino print, and poetry, 10am–4pm | Vancouver Arts Centre | Thursday, 13 Aug

Voices of the South: Reflections 2026 Book Launch: Readings from contributors, music and copies of the anthology for sale, 7:30pm | Albany Town Hall | Thursday, 13 Aug

Tuesday Curatorial: Native Land Snails: National Science Week talk on Bothriembryon snails, DNA discoveries and how you can help, 10:30am | GS Museum | Tues, 18 Aug

Run 4 Resilience: Community run and walk with 3km, 7km, 14km and half marathon options, from 7:30am | Great Southern Highway, Katanning | Sunday, 16 Aug

Snail Snap Fieldtrip with WA Museum: Join museum scientists searching for endemic Bothriembryon land snails, 1:30–3:30pm | Marbelup Nature Reserve | Tuesday, 18 Aug

Plantagenet Business After Hours: Networking night for local businesses with a door prize draw, 5:30pm | Mount Barker Tyre & Exhaust | Wednesday, 12 Aug

Two of WA's fastest-rising young hip-hop acts, INKABEE and JJ Vacant, are taking over the Vancouver Arts Centre for one free, all-ages pop-up gig. Capacity's limited and it's first come, first served. Free, from 2pm, Friday, 21 Aug. Check it out.

Grab a glass, pick up a brush and let local artist Kristen Sivyer walk you through a relaxed paint-and-sip session at the Vancouver Arts Centre. No experience needed, you'll walk away with your own finished canvas. Tickets are $20, from 5pm, Friday, 21 Aug. Get your tickets.

If you've never made the drive out to Ravensthorpe, its Wildflower Show is worth the trip: a proper celebration of the region's floral diversity, with displays and a full Spring Festival program running alongside it. It's on from Monday, 7 September through to Saturday, 19 September. Find out more.

Wild Gravel rolls into Stirling Range National Park for a day of gravel riding through some of WA's most spectacular scenery, open to all ages and abilities. It runs 6am to 8pm, Saturday, 24 October. Find out more.

Fresh off sell-out comedy festival runs, Nat's What I Reckon brings his loud, chaotic stand-up to Albany Town Hall for one night only. Expect the same high-energy mayhem that's made him one of Australia's most-followed comedians, musicians and authors. Tickets from $44.90, 8pm, Saturday, 14 Nov. Book your tickets now.

Mt Barker's wildflower photo comp has $3,000 up for grabs: Five categories, entries close 13 September. Enter here.

Up to $5,000 up for grabs from Southern Ports: Backs local community, education and environment projects, three rounds a year. Apply here.

Albany's handing out up to $5,000 for community events: Round 2 is open now. Apply by 31 August.

Marjit/Wilson Inlet has opened for the season: Expect strong currents and more marine activity, so take care. See the opening in action.

The Short End: Denmark's newest bistro opens at Denmark Riverside Club, Saturday 15 August from midday. See opening day details.

New venue at the old Wignalls Winery site: Opening later this year, seeking a food operator plus rotating trucks. DM Paul Nelson if you're interested.

Qualified electrician: deliver residential, commercial, solar and rural work, with strong pay and good conditions | Ganzer Electrical | Albany

Agricultural service technician: diagnose, repair and maintain farm machinery, with on-site support across the region | Farmers Centre 1978 | Great Southern

Dental assistant / receptionist: support chairside care, reception and patient bookings at a friendly family clinic | Sage Dental | Mount Barker

42 Brazier Street, Denmark: 3-bed, 2-bath on 1,012m². Level town block, rear lane access, subdivision potential (STCA) | From $875,000

10 Barambah Circuit, Bayonet Head: 3-bed, 2-bath on 360m². 2020 build, 10 solar panels, media room, double garage | Offers Above $720,000

20 Cleave Close, McKail: 3-bed, 2-bath on 633m². Cul-de-sac home, games room, theatre, four-car parking | $795,000

Tate Whalley heads to the US on a basketball scholarship: The Albany guard has signed with Casper College in Wyoming, capping six years in the WA state program that included a Gold Division win in Louisville and a fourth-place finish against some of the best prep teams in the US.

Katanning gears up for the WA Sand Greens Championship: Defending champion Tim Gilotti returns to defend his title against a field of 180, including local hope Ryan Flugge, over the August 15-16 weekend.

And that's a wrap!

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Catch you next Tuesday!