🌄 No Bluff News #50

G'day {{first_name | Friend}}! We're back with edition 50 of No Bluff News. A few old favourites are getting a second go this week, from a passenger train to Perth to an 1858 house on Stirling Terrace, and there's plenty on for Halloween weekend.

Fifty editions in, more than 5,300 of you get No Bluff News every Tuesday. Thanks for reading, and for passing it on!

What you can look forward to today:

Now, onto the good stuff!

The State has given in-principle support to bringing back a Perth to Albany passenger train. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti's office confirmed it on Sunday, and it'd be the first passenger service on the line since 1978.

A regular train would get people in Mount Barker, Katanning and Narrogin to appointments and classes in Albany or Perth without needing a car. Farms and the Katanning abattoir could bring workers in by train too.

First, the State has to buy back WA's freight rail network, which it says is its top priority. After that, rail advocates want a feasibility study to put a price on it.

The Albany Historical Society shared plans this month to bring Norman House on Stirling Terrace back as Bellevue, the name George Cheyne gave it in 1858. Once restored, you'll be able to tour it, see the Society's collections and hire a room.

It's been empty for about 11 years, and volunteers have pulled fake shutters and security grilles off windows hidden since the 1950s. By Christmas, it should be burgundy and white, with rose beds out the front.

You can look inside at the Society's garage sale on Saturday 21 November from 10am. Every dollar goes to the restoration.

Albany, Denmark and Mount Barker have projects in the finals of WA's Tidy Towns awards, named last Thursday. Albany's also one of six towns up for the State title.

In Denmark, Kwoorabup Nature School is in for its coastline clean-up, and Horsepower Denmark for turning bottles and cans into bridles. Mount Barker's Tip Shop made it for giving tip finds a second life, and Albany's Green Fair on the Square leads three Keep Albany Beautiful entries.

Winners are named on 27 November. Denmark won the State title three years running in the 1990s, and Albany last took it out in 2015.

About 50 women named Glenda put on evening wear and feather boas at Albany's Motel Le Grande on 17 October, for the Glenda Gaggle's 20th year. Some came from as far as New Zealand.

It started in 2007, when a Glenda walked into the cafe where Glenda Gaspari worked, never having met another one. They agreed to do it again the next year. "Next year turned into 20 years," Gaspari says.

Three local kitchens have given you a reason to eat out. Barrel Farm in Albany launched its summer menu last week, and Three Anchors at Middleton Beach brought back dinner on Tuesdays and Saturdays until 8pm.

Out at the Elleker Store & Tavern, Hugh did his whole apprenticeship in the kitchen and has just stepped up as head chef. His new menu arrives when the tavern reopens, so keep an eye out.

Denmark could have a farmers market every weekend, with two weekly markets put out for comment last Thursday. Rockcliffe Winery wants a local growers' market on Saturday mornings, and a Sunday market at the old railway station would have up to 30 stalls and live music.

You can have your say until 6 November. And for anyone thinking of starting a market, State grants of up to $50k are open again.

The country's biggest gathering of Model As drove through the Great Southern last week, stopping in Mount Barker and Denmark before rolling into Albany's historic precinct on Friday.

The cars, all built between 1928 and 1931, came from nearly every state. One owner drove about 5,000km from Queensland across the Nullarbor, and some fans flew in from England, New Zealand and Slovenia without cars just to be part of it.

Bunnings Albany handed the Disabled Surfers Association Great Southern a new barbecue last Wednesday, ready for its ninth summer of free surf mornings at Middleton Beach.

"There is nothing quite like sharing a sausage sizzle and a few stories about the morning's adventures," says the group's Janet McArtney. It runs on volunteers and donations, and you can sign up a surfer or lend a hand from 16 January.

Bushfire Ready Weekend: Free sundowner (Fri 4:30–6pm), the Fire Truck Trail (Sat 9am–1pm) and the Brigade Games (Sun 9am–12:30pm) | Denmark | Fri, 30 Oct to Sun, 1 Nov

Quilt and craft show: Albany Inner Wheel's show, with a patchwork shop, a dolls house, and locally made teddy bears, 10am | RSL, Stirling Terrace | Sat, 31 Oct and Sun, 1 Nov

Spring Market Day: Local stalls, crafts, books, produce, with a coffee cart, sausage sizzle, croquet and pickleball, 8:30am–1pm | Lower King Community Hall | Saturday, 31 Oct

Children's Week afternoon: Face painting, a cultural passport journey, a sensory station, bubbles and an ice cream van, 3–5pm | Conroy Street, Katanning | Saturday, 31 Oct

Halloween at Boston: Nikki C & The Flight Risk from 4pm, with face painting and trick-or-treat lolly bags. Costumes encouraged | Boston Brewing Co. | Saturday, 31 Oct

Narrikup Halloween disco: With DJ MacAttack, spooky games and a free sausage sizzle for each child, 6–9pm. $10 for kids, adults free | Narrikup Hall | Saturday, 31 Oct

Melbourne Cup at the Premier: The race on the Sports Bar screens, with sweeps, raffles and grazing boards to pre-order. From 11am | Premier Hotel Albany | Tuesday, 3 Nov

AntiCup quiz night: thrift-shop formal, with an all-you-can-eat two-course buffet and a pint on arrival, $80 a head. Doors 5pm | Wilson's Brewery Bar | Tuesday, 3 Nov

Steve Dougherty: A night of tunes at the historic inn, 7–10pm | The Earl of Spencer | Friday, 30 Oct

Dig The Dust: Loud three-piece rock as part of Six Degrees' Oktoberfest program, free entry, 8:30–11pm | Six Degrees | Friday, 30 Oct

Face to Face: Greg Andrew and Anthony Mara recreate Elton John and Billy Joel's 1998 tour, from Rocket Man to Piano Man, 7:30pm, from $75 | AEC | Saturday, 31 Oct

Halloween Night at the Tav: A 7-piece party band playing Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna and Earth, Wind & Fire, 8pm | Denmark Tavern | Saturday, 31 Oct

Finn Pearson: Fremantle folk-rock with a full band on Halloween night, free entry, 8:30–11pm | Six Degrees | Saturday, 31 Oct

Deon Utber: A Sunday arvo set at WA's oldest country retreat, at the foot of the Porongurups, 1–4pm | Karribank, Porongurup | Sunday, 1 Nov

Ange Boxall: The Tasmanian Americana singer-songwriter has recorded in Nashville and played SXSW, 4pm | Wilson Brewing Company | Sunday, 1 Nov

Tuesday Curatorial: Malcolm Traill on three women who dressed as men to sail on French voyages of exploration, 10:30–11:30am, gold coin | GS Museum | Tuesday, 27 Oct

Tess Woods: The author talks about her new novel, The Cairo Bridal Shop, at Paperbark's book club, 6pm | Six Degrees, Albany | Wednesday, 28 Oct

YUCK Circus: Naughties: Y2K show of acrobatics, comedy, Britney and flip phones. Albany 7:30pm, $40; Denmark 7pm, $25–$30 | AEC and Denmark Civic Centre | Wednesday, 28 and Thursday, 29 Oct

Botanical Bouquet Workshop: Make a native flower arrangement in the wildflower garden and take it home, with entry to the garden and wildlife park included, 16+, 10–11:30am, $125 | Historic Whaling Station | Saturday, 31 Oct

Albany Sinfonia: Beethoven's Second Symphony, plus Mozart's Violin Concerto in D with soloist Iris Miller, 3pm, $10–$42 | Free Reformed Church | Saturday, 31 Oct

Albany basketball – Round 3: Men's A Grade and Women's Open games, from 6pm | Full fixtures | Tuesday, 27 Oct

ADCA A Grade – Round 3: Railways v Mount Barker Bulls and Collingwood Park v Royals at Centennial Park, 12:15pm | Full fixtures | Saturday, 31 Oct

Bendigo Bank Shield – Round 4: Kendenup, Australs Norths Lions and Kojonup among the sides in action, from 12:45pm | Full fixtures and venues | Saturday, 31 Oct

Albany Racing Club: Opening day, the first of 15 race days this season, gates open 11am | Albany Racing Club | Sunday, 1 Nov

Snap Brand!: Free evening session for small businesses, 5:30–7:30pm | Mount Barker CRC | Wednesday, 28 Oct

Castle Rock Estate is pouring 12 rieslings from four decades at a long table in the Porongurups on Saturday 14 November, including rare museum releases from its private cellar. Winemakers Rob Diletti and Sam Palmer talk you through them over food from Sapid Catering, 3:30pm to 7pm. It's $170 with a bottle of the 2026 Estate Riesling to take home, and there are only 50 seats. Book a seat.

Southern Soul, the Great Southern's own 12-piece soul band, has packed out shows like The Commitments and a Motown Revue. This year it's the hits of Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder at the Albany Port Theatre, on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November at 7:30pm, with table seating and BYO drinks and nibbles. Tickets are $45, $20 for under-18s and free for kids 11 and under. Get your tickets.

Tom's Oysters is shucking Albany Rock Oysters in the Boston Brewing Co. beer garden in Denmark on Sunday 22 November, 1pm to 4pm, with live music and Willoughby Park's new Kalgan River riesling. Wristbands are sold on the day until they run out: $45 gets you six oysters and two glasses, or $90 a dozen and a bottle. Book a table.

Three free outdoor films screen at Middleton Beach this summer, each with short films made in Albany: Breath on 27 November, Almost With You on 4 December and H is for Happiness on 11 December, all at 7pm. Almost With You follows an Irish singer whose tour ends in Albany. Entry's free, but you need to register. Register for a screening.

Limewired brings back the 2000s bangers you once burned onto CDs, with a night at Eve Late Night Bar on Saturday 28 November, 8pm to midnight. Tickets are on sale now. See the event.

Get up to $1,000 back on a new rainwater tank: Great Southern homes qualify for plumbed-in tanks, and old showerheads swap for free. See what you can claim.

Katanning's airport runway is getting a full rebuild: The $1.6M job starts mid-November and closes the airport for about five weeks. See the meeting.

Help getting to Perth specialist appointments starts here next month: Country PatHS sorts transport and accommodation for patients most in need. See how it works.

Five Great Southern CRCs will each hire a paid trainee: Denmark, Gnowangerup, Jerramungup, Katanning and Bremer Bay each got $50k from the State. See the full list.

Tambellup's community crop has put about $1.2M back into town: Since 2013 it's helped buy a new ambulance and is funding new caravan park rooms. Read the minutes.

Sports clubs can get up to $5,000 to keep teenage girls playing: Girls' sport drops from 83% at age nine to as low as 23% by 15. Apply for your club.

Manager civil operations: $132k plus a Shire vehicle, leading road, drainage and depot crews, five-year contract, closes 20 Nov | Shire of Denmark | Denmark

Chef and kitchen hand: a full-time chef from mid-November and a part-time kitchen hand, $42 to $62 an hour, kitchen usually done by 8pm | Dune Beer Co | Albany

Grain site operator, harvest: building grain bunkers, $33 to $45 an hour plus overtime, with training and machinery tickets | Demeter Grains | Albany and Gnowangerup

81 Allwood Parade, Bayonet Head: 3-bed, 2-bath on 745m². Oyster Harbour water views, a wood fire, powered shed and side access | $790,000

6 Phillip Street, Lockyer: 3-bed, 1-bath on 835m². 1950s character home on an R25 development site, with jarrah floors and side access | Offers above $550,000

89 Burgoyne Road, Port Albany: 3-bed, 1-bath on 737m². Princess Royal Harbour views, a renovated kitchen and a separate workshop | Offers from $929,000

Albany's Sporting Walk of Fame names its first four: Olympian and Hockeyroos coach Tricia Heberle, golfer Wayne Smith, Australian Diamond Diane Martin and 13-time international surfing winner Jodie Cooper now have plaques on the walkway to Retravision Stadium. Martin is still the only Albany Netball Association player to have played for Australia.

Bryce Hinchcliffe's 4-3 wins it for Broomehill: The Bandicoots quick took four wickets in two overs as Katanning Wanderers went from 5-135 to 138 all out chasing 145. At Kojonup, Travis Abbott hit 110 off 111 balls for the Cougars, but Kendenup's 6-255 was too much.

Twenty riders took on Wild Gravel's 420km overnight Ultra: The unmarked loop from Mt Trio ran through eight Great Southern towns, and about 575 more people raced, rode and walked the Stirling Range on Saturday. Elar Kalda won the 150km race in 4:43:48, Serene Lee won the women's, and all the results are up.

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.

Enjoy the Muster and the Halloween weekend, and if you try one of those new menus, let us know how it was.

Catch you next Tuesday!