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Albany Sharks celebrate their 2026 league grand final triumph.

GSFL 2026PremiumAlbany win landmark third flag after Royals demolition

Albany won their third Great Southern Football League premiership in five years after a thumping 63-point victory over Royals in the league grand final at Denmark on Saturday.

Claire Middleton, Cameron Newbold and Melissa Sheil

Denmark-Walpole are warm favourites to win the colts grand final.

Grand finals All on the line for GSFL premierships

Denmark-Walpole will chase a cherished colts and 16s flag double, when their talented youngsters vie for premiership glory in front of a huge home crowd on Saturday.

Cameron Newbold

Kathleen Hannig will run her 500th park run on Saturday.

Park RunPremiumKathleen Hannig celebrates 500th parkrun at the age of 86

Albany runner Kathleen Hannig will celebrate a remarkable milestone on Saturday when she completes her 500th parkrun at Middleton Beach

Amy Towers

Dr Thomas Brough made comments about the LGBTQIA+ community in the council chambers in his capacity as an elected member.

SATPremiumWA doctor cautioned for misconduct after LGBTQIA+ remarks

The SAT has cautioned an Albany doctor after finding he engaged in professional misconduct when he made allegedly homophobic comments about the LGBTQIA+ community in his capacity as a councillor.

Melissa Sheil

Golden Eight Ball grand finalists Kim Michael and Justin Campbell.

Eight ballGolden Eight Ball tournament draws big talent

The talent of Great Southern eight-ball players was on full show at the prestigious Golden Eight Ball tournament at the weekend as players travelled from across the region to compete for the coveted title.

Dallas Durrant

Albany Caledonian men won their fourth GSSA senior title in a row with a 6-0 triumph over Rovers on Saturday.

SoccerCalies men and women secure league titles after easy wins

Albany Caledonian won their fourth Great Southern Soccer Association senior men’s title on the trot, clinching matters in style with a 6-0 win over Rovers on Saturday.

Claire Middleton

Great Southern Academy of Sport award winners Henri Ballinger, Ben Blechynden, Stella Cuthbert, Zoe Bascombe and Ginger Gleeson.

Sport awardsPremiumGleeson is female athlete of the year after stellar season

The Great Southern Academy of Sport had its night of nights last Friday, honouring those young athletes who have made significant strides in the last year.

Claire Middleton

Albany author Amy Ullrich with her Heroes of Wessex trilogy.

Great expectationPremiumAmong the Valiant by Amy Ullrich about to hit the shelves

Amy Ullrich is launching the final book in her Heroes of Wessex series this month, wrapping up in one last adventure the fiction she has woven around the life of Alfred the Great.

Claire Middleton

North Albany's Bodhi Gregory has won the Rod Gillies Medal.

GSFL medallistsPremiumKangas star takes home Rod Gillies Medal

North Albany’s Bodhi Gregory has won the 2026 Rod Gillies Medal for the Great Southern Football League Colts competition’s fairest and best after a consistent season for the Kangas. 

Jacki Elezovich

Letters to the editor must contain the author’s full name, address and daytime contact number.

Letter to the EditorPremiumLetter to the Editor: Bike trails offer fresh challenge

The new mountain bike trails on Mt Clarence offer a new challenge for Albany’s young people to take on, writes Big Grove resident Ian Spurgeon.

Ian Spurgeon

St John Great Southern District Office will host a community open day.

open daySub-branch to open its doors for behind-the-scenes look

A rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the inner workings of the operation that keeps the Great Southern safe is available on Saturday as the St John WA office on Sanford Road opens its doors to the community.

Melissa Sheil

Royals have their eyes on premiership glory after a strong finals series.

Grand finalPremiumCulleton is loving life as Royals seek that winning feeling

Royals coach James Culleton has a major job on his hands as the Lions prepare to tackle Albany in the Great Southern Football League’s grand final on Saturday.

Claire Middleton

Albany will chase a third league flag on Saturday.

Grand finalPremiumAlbany odds-on for third flag with Davies in the front line

The trickiest time for any coach is picking the team for a big game and it’s going to be a headache for Albany’s Morgan Davies heading into Saturday’s GSFL grand final against Royals.

Claire Middleton

Ready for action ... GSFL league grand final captains, Royals' Declan McNamara and Albany's Taj Williams.

Grand finalPremiumRivalry resumes as Albany, Royals prepare for final flourish

Grand final appearances are nothing new for the captains of Albany and Royals but there seems to be something special in the air as the 2026 Great Southern Football League showpiece looms.

Claire Middleton

Albany's Teasjaun Woods has been suspended after a high hit in the qualifying final.

Rubbed out PremiumSharks young gun to miss grand final through suspension

In a huge blow to Albany’s premiership chances, the Sharks will be without star youngster Teasjaun Woods in the grand final after he was suspended in the fallout from the qualifying final.

Cameron Newbold

Paul Beazley accepts the volunteer fire and rescue service individual achievement award at the 2026 WAFES awards.

WAFES awardsBeazley wins ‘bittersweet’ gong for individual service

Denmark Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service lieutenant Paul Beazley took home a major individual award at the WA Fire and Emergency Services Awards last Saturday, but he said winning the gong was bittersweet. 

Jacki Elezovich

Kim Webb won first prize for her piece Safe Harbour.

inspirePremiumViewpoint open final show to bid farewell after 40 years

One of the Great Southern’s longest running art groups is calling time after 40 years with one last exhibition, with Viewpoint 3D art group taking to the high seas for a maritime-themed finale.

Jacki Elezovich

Spencer Park will face Manypeaks on Saturday, with a place in the grand final on the line.

Hockey wrapSpencer Park men’s & women’s teams go to preliminary finals

Spencer Park have scraped into the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association women’s A-grade preliminary final after holding North Albany to a scoreless draw in a tense final round on Saturday.

Amy Towers

A victorious Williams team continued their rich legacy in the reserves competition, claiming the 2026 premiership.

Grand final PremiumCats purr to third UGSFL reserves premiership in six years

Williams have claimed their third Upper Great Southern Football League reserves premiership in six years, outlasting Wagin in a feisty grand final at Boddington on Sunday.

Cameron Newbold

City of Albany staff Carmen Kinsella, Andrew Sharpe, Graham Macaulay, Jess Prideaux, Nathan Watson, Trish McCleery, Hayden Parker and John Pouwelsen. ALAC was highly commended at the WA Aquatic and Recreation Industry Awards for its Long Live You program.

Pool awardsPraise for over-50s program as Macaulay celebrates 40 years

The team at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre celebrated recognition in several categories at the recent WA Aquatic and Recreation Industry Awards.

Claire Middleton

An electrician has been fined for completing electrical work she admitted she was not trained for.

courtsPremiumSparky fined for dodgy switchboard rewiring job in Mt Barker

An electrician has been fined after dangerous defects that could have caused electric shocks were found in a main switchboard she installed at a Mt Barker property.

Melissa Sheil

Woodanilling's Woody in Bloom event will officially launch the 2026 Bloom Festival.

Bloom FestivalWoodanilling hosts first Bloom Festival event for 2026

The month-long 2026 Bloom Festival will officially spring into life in Woodanilling with the Woody in Bloom event on Saturday. 

Amy Towers

Letters to the editor must contain the author’s full name, address and daytime contact number.

Letter to the EditorLetter to the Editor: Bicentenary snubs farmers, settlers

Early settlers and farmers who shaped Albany after European colonisation should be recognised in Albany’s bicentenary, writes a Green Valley resident.

R. B. Lamont

Kea Mumford and David Beckwith set off.

gravel gauntletSecond year of gravel gauntlet draws competitive field

The first edition of the Gravel Gauntlet might have had the purists muttering darkly under their breath about the purity of gravel, but second time around there was no such grizzling.

David Beckwith