🌄 No Bluff News #7: Gnowangerup IGA reopens after major blaze, Little Larder Co opens Saturday & New Year's celebrations around the Great Southern

G'day {{first_name | Friend}}! Hope you're having a wonderful holiday break. This is edition seven 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's in store:

Now, onto the good stuff!

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

🏬 Gnowangerup IGA reopens Monday after major blaze

Gnowangerup's only supermarket reopens Monday, nine months after a serious blaze started in an electrical box and spread into the roof space.

Manager Tina Nymann emptied two extinguishers on the metre box before smoke forced her out. Firefighters reckon her actions helped save the store. The Shire ran a bus to Katanning and the town rallied with a temporary shop while repairs happened.

Tina and her five staff have worked flat out to get the new store ready. She expects the whole town will be there on Monday. Proper community win.

💰 Albany keeps $71M in town as locals back main streets

Albany kept $71.3 million in town in November, with more than half of all spending staying local.

Spending climbed across dining, clothing, department stores and speciality retail, while online shopping eased. More dollars are flowing through our main streets. CEO Andrew Sharpe says choosing local helps pay wages, backs suppliers and keeps Albany buzzing.

With Christmas holiday trading locked in, residents are encouraged to keep shopping local. Every purchase helps keep money in local pockets and strengthens our community.

🛍️ Little Larder Co opens bricks-and-mortar store Saturday

Albany's getting a brand new bricks-and-mortar bakery. The Little Larder Co opens Saturday 3 January at 9am at 3/326 Middleton Road (the start of The Loop), after years of pop-ups at Lower King Store and the Albany Boatshed Markets.

They serve good mood food, sweet and savoury, plus the coffee to match. Be early. The first 50 customers with any purchase score a free cinnamon scroll.

Doors open 9am. This one's a tasty win for our local food scene.

🎄 Mt Barker couple's Christmas lights raise funds for RFDS

Mt Barker couple Carrie Linster and Ewen Hill have lit up Jackson Street with a spectacular Christmas display that's raising funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

They've supported the cause for 11 years, raised $600 last year, welcomed 43 visitors in one night and guide people through inflatables, a smoke machine and a 200-figure mini village.

🌿 Binalup scores grant for cultural burning project

Binalup Aboriginal Corporation has scored a 2025 NRM Community Stewardship Grant to roll out their cultural burning project, Binalup Karl Kaartdijin, strengthening Noongar fire knowledge and rangers' skills.

Partnering with Firesticks Alliance and Victor Steffensen, the program will see culturally guided burns led by Senior Noongar Elders to boost regional capacity and care for Country.

🌾 Borden rallies to finish Peakall family's final 250ha harvest

Borden locals rallied to finish the Peakall family's final 250ha harvest after the tragic death of farmer Jaxon Peakall, wrapping the job in under five hours with more than 70 helpers and a fleet of headers, chaser bins and trucks.

A great example of the community coming together to support eachother in a time of need.

🎅 Albany's free Christmas lunch welcomes 500+ to the table

Albany's annual Free Community Christmas Luncheon welcomed more than 500 people to the Albany Agricultural Society pavilion on Christmas Day, with hosts Steve and Karen Marshall serving a free buffet and making sure anyone who'd otherwise be alone has a seat at the table.

People were encouraged to register online and all children under 12 received a present from Santa.

🏛️ Plantagenet council backs planning changes and road safety projects

Shire of Plantagenet council approved planning changes to boost tourism and short-term rentals, backed two road-safety projects, locked in community leases at Kendenup and awarded a major bridge contract.

Amendments to Local Planning Scheme No.5 introduce Hosted STRA and Unhosted STRA. The Carbarup-Moorilup-Collins intersection realignment plus the Rocky Gully layby will improve safety for travellers.

WHAT’S ON

🕯️ COMMUNITY

Eclipse Events Summer Market: Summer market with local stalls and community vibes, 9am–2pm | Albany Town Square | Saturday, 3 Jan

Bubsie: Free community event celebrating the replica of the centenary car doing the lap again, 10am | Katanning Town Square | Tuesday, 6 Jan

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY FUN

NYE Concert at The Dam: Family-friendly outdoor concert showcasing local acts Dig The Dust, Synesthesia, Sandon Phillips, 4:30–10pm | The Dam, Denmark | Wednesday, 31 Dec

Kaya 2026 NYE: Free family-friendly celebration showcasing local music, storytelling, food vans, 9pm and midnight fireworks, 5pm | ANZAC Peace Park | Wednesday, 31 Dec

Karribank NYE: Festive NYE party featuring Southern Right Blues Band with VIP meals 5–7pm and canapé service 7–10pm | Karribank, Porongurup | Wednesday, 31 Dec

Countdown to 2026 Buffet Dinner: Family-friendly all-you-can-eat NYE buffet with welcome drink, 5:30–8:30pm | Hilton Garden Inn Albany | Wednesday, 31 Dec

Wilson's Brewery Lighthouse Sessions: NYD with The Numbats: Kick off the first day of the year with The Numbats, 8:30–11:30pm | Wilson's Brewery | Thursday, 1 Jan

🛝 FOR KIDS

Kids & Teens Summer Program 2026: Hands-on art workshops for 5–17 year-olds | Vancouver Arts Centre, Albany | Monday, 5 Jan

Sports Hall Games: Drop-in table tennis, pickleball and casual basketball for all ages and abilities | Denmark Recreation Centre | Monday, 5 Jan; Monday, 12 Jan; Monday, 19 Jan

Full Pool Inflatables (ages 6+ / stage 4+ swimmers): Giant pool inflatables for confident swimmers, 2–4pm | Albany Leisure & Aquatic Centre | Monday, 5 Jan

KIDZFEST JANUARY 2026: Week-long kids festival with fun activities for all ages | Bremer Bay Community Resource Centre | Monday, 5 Jan

Mixed Media Poster Art - Personalities with Julie Tulip (ages 6-11): Expressive mixed-media poster workshop, 10–11.30am | Vancouver Arts Centre, Albany | Tuesday, 6 Jan

Skate Zone (ages 5+): Morning roller-skate session for ages 5+, can borrow skates and no bookings required, 9:30–11am | Albany Leisure & Aquatic Centre | Tuesday, 6 Jan

🎭 ADULTS ONLY

NYE @ THE DENMARK HOTEL: Five-course dinner by resident guest chef Scott Brannigan with matching wines, $185pp, 7pm | The Denmark Hotel | Wednesday, 31 Dec

Albany NYE Warm-Up: Pre-fireworks warm-up with a live DJ, drink specials and a relaxed pre-countdown vibe, 7–9pm | Six Degrees Albany | Wednesday, 31 Dec

RINSE (Drum & Bass Night): High-energy drum and bass night featuring a headline set from Boston Switch, 10pm | EVE Late night bar, Albany | Friday, 2 Jan

🎵 MUSIC

RnB Soul Train: Feel-good acoustic soul, RnB and pop to kick off New Year's Eve, 4:30–7:30pm | Wilson's Brewery | Wednesday, 31 Dec

NEW YEARS EVE: Free live music with Sweet Water, The Primordial Notes and Jonelle & Tony, 5:30pm | Boston Brewing Co. Denmark | Wednesday, 31 Dec

Wilson Brewing Light House Live Music Sessions (Julia Anwar): Soulful originals and well-loved covers, 5–8pm | Wilson's Brewery | Sunday, 4 Jan

🎨 ARTS AND CULTURE

A Sea Change Art Exhibition & Sale: Textile exhibition by Anne Cochrane exploring corals and marine life | Albany's Historic Whaling Station | Thursday, 1 Jan

The Mill Art Group Summer 2025 Exhibition: Summer exhibition showcasing local Mill Art Group artists, 10am–4pm | Denmark CRC gallery | Saturday, 3 Jan

📢 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Year Fire Bans: Katanning has a harvest-only ban from 2pm Wednesday 31 Dec to 6am Friday 2 Jan. Denmark and Albany will apply harvest and vehicle movement bans on New Year's Day (1 Jan) due to heightened bushfire risk and reduced brigade capacity.

Gnowangerup Locks In 2026 Council Meetings: Ordinary Meetings will start at 3:30pm from 25 Feb to 16 Dec (Borden on 27 March and Ongerup on 23 September).

Kendenup Caravan Park Seeks to Expand to 14 Sites: open comment on a planning proposal to increase the nature-based caravan park at 2875 Red Gum Pass Road.

🏪 BUSINESS OPENINGS

Fan Dim Sum: Fresh homemade dim sum served from food trailer, come and support a small local business | IGA North Road, Albany | Trading, 4:30–7pm

AT Electrical: Local team delivering fast response and full coverage across Katanning and nearby towns for electrical and split-system A/C work | Katanning | Available now

🛠️ JOBS

Staff development nurse: lead and deliver tailored education and quality improvement programs to help upskill nursing staff | WA Country Health Service | Mount Barker

Optical assistant: dispense and adjust eyewear, assist with patient pre-testing and manage front-desk tasks in a friendly part-time role | Albany Spectacle Makers | Albany

Lecturer in heavy automotive: teach and mentor students in heavy commercial vehicle technology, delivering hands-on and classroom training | South Regional TAFE | Albany

🏡 REAL ESTATE

5 Bond Street, Katanning: 4-bed, 1-bath on 1,809m². R25 zoning with development potential, open-plan kitchen/living, 12 x 6m shed, close to town and park | $389,000

14 Parsons Street, Mount Barker: 3-bed, 1-bath on 1,922m². Plenty of room for a big shed or granny flat. Sold as is with some furniture included | Offers over $450,000

155 Greenwood Drive, Willyung: 4-bed, 2-bath on 4,345m². Stylish brick family home with chef's kitchen, river access with small jetty, room for 6 cars | Offers $1,450,000+

🏅 SPORTS RESULTS

Ines wins Princess Royal Sailing Club mixed keel harbour race: Alastair Knowlden's crew (Mark McCrae and Lachy Norman) stole the show in a 22 to 25 knot southerly to take victory on corrected time while Brett Hawker's Jessie James clocked fastest time and Flasheart finished third in the Princess Royal Sailing Club harbour race.

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.

Catch you next Tuesday!