🌄 No Bluff News #44

G'day {{first_name | Friend}}! We're back with edition 44 of No Bluff News. If it feels like half the region has been collecting a trophy lately, you're not wrong. Here's the good news, the weekend, and the bits worth knowing.

What you can look forward to today:

Now, onto the good stuff!

Albany SES team leader Ben Whittle took the Peter Keillor Award at the WA Fire and Emergency Services Awards on 5 September. It's the top honour an SES volunteer can get. No Albany volunteer had taken it in 27 years.

It was for a 36-hour rescue on Bluff Knoll, after a climber fell 180 metres and was left hanging on his rope with a broken ankle.

Denmark's Paul Beazley also won the firefighting equivalent that night, for getting a trapped driver out of a truck that rolled on the Muir Highway.

Southern Ports announced the first $140,000 round of its Community Investment Program on Friday, and 12 of the 42 projects are right here in the Great Southern.

Pickleball courts at Lower King. Turtle rescue and rehab at the Mt Barker Wildlife Hospital. The rest run from a Munda Biddi trail crew to Book Week at Albany Primary.

Round two opens mid-October, so there's another round coming if you missed this one

Ginger Gleeson took female individual athlete of the year at the Great Southern Academy of Sport awards at Retravision Stadium on 4 September. The Denmark High student holds national under-18 titles in the 400m and the 400m hurdles.

Henri Bellanger took the male individual award for sailing after winning the national Nacra 15 title in April. Stella Cuthbert picked up two for soccer, Ben Blechynden the male team award, Zoe Bascombe the coaches' gong.

The Academy backs 13 to 18 year olds from across the region. Applications for next year close 7am Monday 21 September.

Rustlers Steakhouse, Hybla Tavern and Wild West Bowling are finalists in this year's AHA hospitality awards, across seven categories between them. They're the only Great Southern venues on the list.

Wild West Bowling's Daniel Tonkin is also up for bar manager of the year. Winners are announced at Crown on 12 October.

Mount Barker Memorial won Watch Around Water facility of the year for the regions, the award for keeping eyes on kids in the water. Second time the pool has taken it.

Albany's leisure centre was highly commended for Long Live You, its over-50s program. That's 650 members and 37 classes a week, with its own gym and pool hours.

She took it at the first Great Southern Farmers Awards at The Dam in Denmark last month, for a beekeeping hobby that turned into a business.

The Little Hive runs off the family farm at Wellstead. Creamed honey, beeswax candles and a fair bit more besides. Worth a look if you've never had creamed honey.

Albany's Tracy Ryan left the professional gear at home, shot three frames in a Norwegian fjord on an iPhone 14, and took an honourable mention at the International Photography Awards.

In a separate contest, WA photographer Trent Slatter's shot of The Right, the slab off our south coast, made the last 750 from more than 15,000 entries.

Stratton Goodall set out 50 logs with two saws on each at Sunnydale Vintage Day, going for the most chainsaws running at the same time. All 100 fired together.

The auction afterwards raised $17,000, split between the Royal Flying Doctors and Toby for Childhood Cancer.

Albany's Annual Spin In: Bring a wheel or a project, or just come and watch, 10am onwards, $10 | Middleton Beach Bowling Club | Thursday, 17 Sep

Denmark Community Garden: Afternoon in the garden with other locals, 4–6pm | 2 Strickland Street, Denmark | Saturday, 19 Sep

Albany Farmers Market: Produce, baked goods and breakfast straight from the growers, 8am–12pm | Collie Street, Albany | Saturday, 19 Sep

Katanning Farmers Markets: Fruit, veg, preserves and crafts, third Saturday of the month, 8am–12pm | Pemble Street, Katanning | Saturday, 19 Sep

Scout Hall Markets: Local stalls in the middle of town, 8am–12pm | Denmark Scout Hall | Saturday, 19 Sep

Albany Boatshed Markets: Local produce, gourmet food, Great Southern wines and live music, 9am–1pm | Albany Boatshed | Sunday, 20 Sep

Sharks Soccer Quiz Night: Prizes, raffles and silent auctions for the club, BYO snacks, 18-plus, 6pm, $70 a table | Albany Bowls Club | Friday, 18 Sep

The Map: One-day session with Nerida Mills on reading the patterns in your own life, 10am–4pm. Free | 34 Strickland Street, Denmark | Saturday, 19 Sep

Primary Schools Music Festival: kids on the big stage across dance, choral singing, instruments and musical theatre, 6:30pm | AEC | Wednesday, 16 and Thursday, 17 Sep

Kayps: Indigenous hip-hop on his first national headline tour, 8pm. Free | Six Degrees Albany | Friday, 18 Sep

Lazy Haze: Perth indie rock on the Coast 2 Coast tour, 9pm, $23.50 | Eve Late Night Bar | Friday, 18 Sep

Lo-Fi Lenny: One-man jukebox running 50s, 60s and 70s tunes with a blues and country edge, 5–8pm | Wilson's Brewery Bar | Saturday, 19 Sep

Gear Jammers and The Soulheart Blues Band: Albany Blues Club night, BYO nibbles, 7:30pm, $20 | King River Tavern | Saturday, 19 Sep

The Red Tails: Vikki Thorn, Simon London and Tammy London, one night only, 8:30pm, $45 | Six Degrees | Saturday, 19 Sep

Bjorn Again: The ABBA Forever tour, 7:30pm, from $64 concession | Albany Entertainment Centre | Sunday, 20 Sep

Friday-night Texas Smokehouse Feast: Brisket, pulled pork, Diablo chicken and Southern sides, seats limited so RSVP, 5:15–9:30pm | Rock Salt | Friday, 18 Sep

Saturday Big Seafood Bash: Seafood buffet the night after the smokehouse, same kitchen, 5:15–9:30pm | Rock Salt | Saturday, 19 Sep

Afternoon Tea with Liz Harfull: The food historian on community cookbooks and her new one, 2pm | Albany Public Library | Thursday, 17 Sep

De Vine Wreaths: Make a wreath from vine cane and foliage, lunch and a bush walk included, 9:30am–4pm | Bremer Bay Community Hall | Friday, 18 Sep

Made in Italy: Screening of the Tuscan comedy with refreshments, 1:30–3pm. Free | Albany Public Library | Friday, 18 Sep

Blooming Creativity Exhibition: Opening night of the school's Bloom exhibition, with a People's Choice vote, 6–8pm | Gnowangerup CRC | Friday, 18 Sep

Mapping Menang: Menang-led artworks and oral histories about Strawberry Hill at Barmup, free but ticketed | Strawberry Hill | Saturday, 19 Sep

Kalyagul Conversations: Guided tour of the exhibition with Aboriginal presenters, then morning tea and a yarn, 10am–12pm | Museum of the GS | Tuesday, 22 Sep

Exploring Ngow Walks: Aviary and gardens tour then an 800m wildflower walk with eucalypt expert Malcolm French, 10am–12pm | Yongergnow, Ongerup | Friday, 18 Sep

Albany Netball Grand Finals: Kangas 2 v Magpies 2 at 1:30pm, then Narrikup 1 v Royals 1 at 3:15pm | ALAC | Saturday, 19 Sep

Social Sundowner with Veterans Assist: ACCI after-hours catch-up with the hosts, a bit of networking and a door prize, 5:30pm | The Albany Club | Wednesday, 16 Sep

Artisan beer, bratwurst, oven-fired pizza and Rockcliffe's own wine, with live music going all day and a prize for best dressed. Free to get in and family friendly, so the lederhosen are optional but encouraged. Saturday 3 October at the winery in Denmark. Details here.

🎪 BORNHOLM FAMILY FUN DAY

Jamie the Clown, a bouncy castle, face painting, fairy hair braiding and a sausage sizzle, with Bunnings and the Lockyer Child and Parent Centre running activities alongside. Free, 10am to 2pm, Friday 2 October at Bornholm Hall on Lower Denmark Road. Parking is tight, so car pool if you can. Details here.

🌿 EXPLORING NGOW WALKS, CULTURE AND KAMBARANG

The Gnowangerup Aboriginal Corporation walks you through the aviary, gardens and centre at Yongergnow, then out into the Kambarang season and what it means on Country. Two hours, 10am to 12pm, Friday 9 October at Ongerup. It's $6 adults, $5 concession, $2.50 children or $15 for a family, paid on the day. Register now.

💃 LET'S SHINE ALL-ABILITY DANCE SHOWCASE

Let's Shine has been going since 1998, and the all-ability dance group is putting on two new performances plus footage from previous years, with afternoon tea and a chance to meet the dancers afterwards. Albany Port Theatre, 1:30pm to 3:30pm, Friday 16 October. RSVP here.

🌙 NOCTURNAL WILDLIFE TOUR

An hour after dark with the keepers at the Whaling Station, meeting the squirrel gliders and the rest of the animals that only come out at night. Four nights across the spring school holidays from Monday 29 September, 6pm starts. Adults $25, concession $20, kids 4 to 17 $15, and bookings are essential. Book now.

Both school holiday programs are out: Denmark's from 26 September, Albany's from 29 September, most of it free or under $20.

100 Years, 100 Stories needs 100 Great Southern seniors: A recorded chat and a portrait at home, heading for a book and a Town Hall exhibition. Put your hand up.

Survey crews start on the Nanarup desal pipeline routes this month: Some Nanarup and Kalgan landholders will get a Notice of Entry. See the areas.

Katanning students can train as sparkies without leaving town: Year 11 and 12s can now do a Certificate II in Electrotechnology at the campus. See what else is on.

Bay Merchants has rebuilt the Bays: Two weeks of work with local tradies, final touches going in before summer. See the rebuild.

Stiller's Rest has opened next to Nullaki Distillery: Breakfast, lunch and cake with the best views in Denmark, Wednesday to Sunday from 7am. Find them.

Customer service 2IC: help lead the front end at Spudshed's new Albany store, full time with weekend work | Spudshed | Albany

Pop-up store crew: roles across the team for Kathmandu's four-month Albany pop-up | Kathmandu | Albany

Chief executive officer: lead the region's hospitality peak body, $160,000 to $175,000 plus super, closes 10 October | AHA Great Southern | Albany

100 Bayonet Head Road, Bayonet Head: 5-bed, 1-bath on 809m². Views over King George Sound, 35m² rear deck | $850,000

34 Adelaide Crescent, Middleton Beach: 3-bed, 2-bath on 802m². R60/80 development potential, dual living and side access | Offers above $1,650,000

58 Annie Street, Katanning: 3-bed, 1-bath on 1,145m². An 8m by 9m powered workshop and a short-stay history turning over $30,000 a year | $549,000

Albany Sharks 99, Royals 36: Harry Hordacre kicked a bag and player-coach Morgan Davies took the Alan Barnett Medal as the Sharks won their third GSFL flag at McLean Oval. Royals were carrying injuries and had no bench by the last term, and the margin finished at 63.

Five in a row for Katanning's Allstars: Melita Davey and Lara Rodney put 16 on the board in the opening quarter and Allstars never let go, beating Kojonup 66-46 for a fifth straight A-grade flag. Ava Latter took fairest and best, and Kojonup's Sheridan Kowald shot 43 of her side's 46.

Caledonian's fourth title on the trot: Doug Grant opened with a sixth-minute penalty and four more came after the break as Calies put six past Rovers without reply. The women took their league as well, Holly Froehnelt scoring five in a 10-0 win over Sharks, and both sides have cup finals to come.

And that's a wrap!

If you know someone who'd love the good stuff from the Great Southern, forward this their way or get them to sign up at noblufflocal.com.

Congratulations to everyone who brought home an award this fortnight.

Catch you next Tuesday!