Stunning images snapped by two Albany photographers have won awards in the 2026 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition
Claire Middleton
A skincare balm made by hand on a Denmark property using solar power and rainwater has taken out a top national beauty award beating entries from Australia and New Zealand.
Amy Towers
A Pingelly initiative supporting older residents to remain living in their own community has earned national recognition being named a finalist at the 2026 HESTA Excellence Awards.
Denmark cattle farmer Kevin Hard was named the inaugural Great Southern farmer of the year on Friday night, accepting his award in front of a packed house at the Paul Lionetti Great Southern Farmers Awards.
Jacki Elezovich
Narrogin can boast a world record holder after local powerlifter Tom Beynon set a new best in the Capo Nationals which took place in Fremantle earlier this month.
An electrical business based in Robinson has been named the best small sparky company in the country.
Melissa Sheil
Southern Aboriginal Corporation took home a prestigious national NAIDOC Week award, recognised on the national stage for its commitment to caring for country and sharing culture.
A group of Paul Lionetti’s closest friends have come together to buy the naming rights for this year’s Great Southern Farmer Awards, each chipping in to honour a mate who did so much for the region.
Albany Bakehouse couple Ethan and Jaz Baxter are celebrating after winning a clutch of gongs at the WA Baking Industry Awards on Saturday.
Arts Narrogin has secured its second Pinnacle award, named the presenter of the year at the WA performing arts sector’s night of nights.
The prestigious $100,000 Telstra Art Award has gone to Ryan Presley, while winning works include dilly bags made from maps taken from the British Museum.
Liz Hobday
Albany’s Ocean and Paddock has reeled in a big catch, winning Australia’s best Takeaway Fish and Chips at the 2026 National Seafood Industry Awards.
The shortlisted finalists have been announced for the inaugural Paul Lionetti Great Southern Farmer of the Year Awards, with the winners to be crowned at a gala later this month.
The history and character of two Wheatbelt towns have helped inspire a novel that has earned Rockingham author Rosanne Dingli a place on the shortlist of one of WA’s highest literary honours.
A novel telling the story of Aboriginal women imprisoned on islands off Albany’s coast has earned author Tasma Walton a place on the shortlist for WA’s highest literary honours.
A deeply personal memoir tracing one young woman’s journey through identity, grief and belonging has earned Albany author Mabel Gibson a place on the shortlist for one of WA’s highest literary honours.
Frankland River winery Ferngrove took home a top honour at the Decanter World Wine Awards with their 2023 Dragon shiraz awarded best in show, the first wine from the region to claim the accolade.
The farm manager of a Wheatbelt agricultural school snagged a prestigious Statewide young achiever gong for his passionate and innovative work in the industry, hoping to inspire others to turn to country life.
Great Southern businesses and individuals who have gone above and beyond are being encouraged to put themselves or each other forward for this year’s business awards.
Oscar Colbung, the respected deputy chief executive of the Southern Aboriginal Corporation, has been nominated as male elder of the year in the National NAIDOC awards.
A project keeping old mattresses out of landfill and giving families a cleaner, sustainable option has earned Southern Aboriginal Corporation’s Steve Pinner recognition as a finalist for a major waste award.
For the coming weeks, one of the first faces people arriving in Albany via plane will see is the smiling one of Carol Pettersen OAM.
The return of chocolate to the Perth Royal Food Awards was celebrated in style at Denmark’s Whitfield Estate as it picked up a champion’s gong for a mouth-watering white chocolate entry, Tropical Trio.
A Gnowangerup farmer who revolutionised the way WA farmers accessed crop protection products has been honoured for his service to the industry, decades after the idea first came to him.
