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Chocconutz founders Katrin Hoffman and Silvie Miczkova with their range of artisan nut butters. The Albany Business Centre hosted their annual WA Small Business Day expo on October 25. Jenny Feast Photography

small businessIN PICTURES: Albany small business expo draws bumper crowd

The Albany Business Centre hosted a small business expo last month to mark WA Small Business Day, with more than 50 small business owners setting up stalls for the day.

Jacki Elezovich

Mt Barker RSL president Bob Lynn at Centenary Park, which will be upgraded before Anzac Day in 2026.

Memorial upgrades PremiumNew memorial and upgrades set for Mt Barker’s Centenary Park

A new memorial recognising all conflicts since the 1901 Federation will be ready in Mt Barker in time for the 2026 Anzac Day service.

Claire Middleton

An apprentice farming mechanic who was allegedly found by police with more than 250g of methylamphetamine has been granted bail.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
COURTPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Young mechanic accused of drug trafficking, granted bail

An apprentice farming mechanic from the Great Southern who was allegedly discovered with more than 250g of methylamphetamine during a police search has been granted bail.

Hannah Whitehead

The LGSTA girls won their third WIT Foundation Cup in a row. Back: Tea Zizek, Indi Pieper and Ella North. Front: Zuri Ochieng and Anneliese Slade

TennisPremiumClean sweep as juniors serve up titles in singles and teams

The Lower Great Southern teams defended their D’Arcy Slater and Women in Tennis Foundation Cup titles in style after three days of competition on the grass at Bunbury Tennis Club last week.

Claire Middleton

Former Katanning Tennis Club presidents Josh Stade, Peter Rundle and Eric Rae cutting the ribbon to officially unveil the Katanning Tennis Club refurbished courts.

New Courts New SeasonPremiumKatanning Tennis Club unveils restored courts for new season

A Great Southern tennis club has unveiled its freshly restored courts after playing on two-decade-old surfacing to ensure a game-ready start to the 2025-26 season.

Hannah Whitehead

The crowd and 11th/28th Battalion at the Katanning Fallen Soldier Memorial Rededication Ceremony.

FALLEN SOLDIERS CEREMONYPremiumRefurbished century-old fallen soldier memorial unveiled

Descendants of Great Southern war heroes witnessed the unveiling and rededication of Katanning’s century-old soldier memorial on Saturday after an 18-month site refurbishment

Hannah Whitehead

Neil Foreman and Naomi Hall were elected onto the Shire of Jerramungup council.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION 2025Two of three open Shire of Jerramungup council seats filled

The Shire of Jerramungup failed to fill its three open seats at the recent local government election, with two candidates elected unopposed but one seat still open.

Jacki Elezovich

A $320 million business case to expand the Albany Health Campus over a six-year period has been in the works since 2021.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
BED STATE BLACKPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Nurse sounds alarm on hospital’s ‘dangerous’ shift cuts

A whistleblower nurse has lifted the lid on the crisis faced by the Great Southern’s largest hospital, warning it’s a ‘matter of time’ before cuts to nursing shifts and a lack of beds result in death.

Melissa Sheil

The winners from the 2025 Great Southern Business Awards.

Excellence awards Excellence recognised at 2025 Great Southern Business Awards

A host of businesses and employees were recognised at the 2025 Great Southern Business Awards in front of a packed crowd at Retravision Stadium on Saturday night.

Cameron Newbold

Kim Drew signs Tony Harrison’s petition at Albany Waterfront Marina.

Salty issuePremiumCampaigner gets signatures on desalination plant fears

Environmental campaigner Tony Harrison has gathered nearly 400 signatures for his petition asking Water Corporation to recycle the brine produced by its proposed new desalination plant.

Claire Middleton

Railways' Mitch T'Hart and Jordan Draper-Gibbs in the B-grade contest that was eventually abandoned due to rain.

Rained off PremiumRain wreaks havoc again as A-grade games abandoned

For the second straight week senior games was effectively washed out with Albany and Districts Cricket Association to discuss the possibility of replaying fixtures after a frustrating start to the new season.

Cameron Newbold

David William Crossley, 53, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on October 30 on a host of charges.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
courtsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
String of charges see 53-year-old remanded in custody

A Great Southern man is in court on a string of charges including distributing child exploitation material, with his defence lawyer making no application for bail at his first appearance. 

Jacki Elezovich

Cory Graham Hambley, 31, avoided immediate jail time on multiple drug and weapons charges.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
courtsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Albany drug dealer avoids jail time for serious charges

An Albany drug dealer has been handed a suspended prison term after police found extensive evidence of his meth sales and illegal weapons possession, and was also declared a serial family violence offender.

Jacki Elezovich

Amy-Jo Hayes wins with the Ashleigh Woollett-trained Optimal in the Wellington and Reeves Maiden (1000m).

Opening meet PremiumAlbany trainer trio taste success to open new season

Albany trainers Ashleigh Woollett, Indianna Weinert and Samantha Faithfull made strong starts to the new Great Southern racing season at Percy Spencer Racecourse on Sunday.

Cameron Newbold

Kevin Smith with his Triumph on Stirling Terrace.

vintage wheelsPremiumIN PICTURES: Hundreds attend Albany vintage motorbike show

Albany Vintage and Classic Motorcycle Club held its annual motorcycle extravaganza in Albany at the weekend, taking over Stirling Terrace and Marine Drive for the bike show and hill climb races. 

Jacki Elezovich

Skylar Early Learning's new Pioneer Road centre is open for enrolments.

early educationPremiumSkylar Early Learning opens new centre in Centennial Park

Skylar Early Learning opened its new centre in Centennial Park on Thursday morning, with Albany dignitaries and members of the community turning out for a first look inside.

Jacki Elezovich

Keiran Michael Stead, 35, appeared in custody in Albany Magistrates Court on one charge of with intent to cause grievous bodily harm or prevent arrest wounded or caused grievous bodily harm. 

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Courts & JusticePremium
The West Australian exclusive
Man who slit sleeping victim’s neck to the bone learns fate

An Albany man with a shocking criminal record who slit a sleeping man’s neck down to the bone then tried to frame others for the crime has learnt his fate. WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS

Rebecca Le May

Residents in Denmark now have access to fluoridated water.

The whole toothPremiumFluoride in Denmark’s water will ‘promote good oral health’

Residents in Denmark now have fluoride in their drinking water after work was completed at the Great Southern town’s water treatment plant.

Claire Middleton

Sally Vermeulen, Russel Thomson and Morris Trimming were elected onto the Shire of Woodanilling council.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION 2025Shire of Woodanilling elects three new councillors

The Shire of Woodanilling has a mix of new and experienced councillors as three fresh members have been sworn in following the recent local government election. 

Jacki Elezovich

Craig Mitchell, Roger Bilney, Kerryn Mickle and Cherilyn Michael were elected onto the Shire of Kojonup council.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION 2025Two fresh faces voted in after Shire of Kojonup election

Kojonup will welcome some new blood to its leadership team, following the results of the recent local government election where two fresh faces added to the council line-up.

Melissa Sheil

Sauna on the Corner owners Jethro Brittain and Tegan Chambers.

sauna on the cornerAlbany hops on hot-and-cold trend with Sauna on the Corner

Australians are jumping on the trend of saunas and ice baths in growing numbers, with the Finnish health ritual drawing health-conscious users of all ages. 

Jacki Elezovich

Darren Gray, Timothy Borgward, Kate Johnston and Greg Hobley were elected onto the Shire Of Kent council.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION 2025Experienced team lead Shire of Kent after no-vote election

The Shire of Kent will have no inexperienced councillors in its chambers for the next two years after four previously serving members were elected unopposed.

Melissa Sheil

Albany played host to the 19th annual Glenda Gaggle on October 25.

GLENDA GAGGLEGlenda Gaggle sweeps Albany for 19th year

Women named Glenda were in no short supply last weekend, as ladies bearing the endangered name flocked to Albany for their annual event.

Melissa Sheil

Sailing WA volunteer of the year Chris Oldham receives his trophy from Benn Gray.

Sailing opening Full house as members old and new launch PRSC’s new season

There was a full house at Princess Royal Sailing Club for the launch of the new season on October 25.

Des Beeck