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Melissa SheilChief of Staff

Melissa is the chief of staff at the Albany Advertiser, Great Southern Herald and Narrogin Observer. After graduating from Curtin University in 2020, she cut her teeth at an independent newspaper in Perth's eastern suburbs, before turning to freelance music writing to support her travels. She moved to Albany in 2024 as a reporter, became COS in 2025, and hasn't looked back since.

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Railways' Buddy Robinson positions to take a mark.

Anzac Day PremiumTigers fierce in 61-point Anzac Day win over Kangas

Reigning premiers Railways stuck their teeth into the 2026 Great Southern Football League campaign on Saturday, delivering a 61-point win over a young North Albany side.

Melissa Sheil

The two-storey Kronkup home was gutted by the blaze on April 22.

house firePremiumKronkup home left an ashen shell after towel sparks fire

A two-storey home in Kronkup, west of Albany, has been completely destroyed after a fire, sparked by a towel left on a chimney flue, ripped through the residence last week.

Melissa Sheil

Hidewood Signs and Print in Centennial Park and Pieter Berkelaar (inset) have been fined in the the Federal Circuit and Family Court.

Company fine PremiumAlbany company fined for not paying graphic designer

A “mum-and-dad” Albany business has been fined more than $21,000 for failing to back-pay its long-serving graphic designer, with the judge saying the company and its director “prioritised their own interests”.

Melissa Sheil

A strong crowd was put off by the chilly conditions for the Wellington & Reeves Albany Community Cup day.

Cup fever PremiumIN PICTURES: Colour on show at Albany’s Easter Sunday races

Percy Spencer Racecourse was the place to be on Easter Sunday as hundreds of dolled-up punters flooded the venue for the Wellington & Reeves Albany Community Cup

Melissa Sheil

Jockey Lucy Fiore and co-trainer Grant Williams lap up the Albany Community Cup spoils after victory with True Player.

Cup glory PremiumRising star True Player sprints down an Albany Cup title

Emerging stayer True Player handed an Easter treat to red-hot jockey Lucy Fiore and top city trainers Grant and Alana Williams after a brilliant Albany Cup win on Sunday.

Melissa Sheil

DBCA officers closed off the road to The Gap and Natural Bridge in Torndirrup National Park on Good Friday during the search.

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Tragic end to Albany search for missing Perth woman

A Perth woman has tragically been found dead days after she was last seen at popular Albany tourist spot The Gap, police announced on Monday morning.

Melissa Sheil

Easter bunnies Maddie Ralph and Mantie Stuart enjoy a drink on Good Friday at Due South.

Good Friday PremiumGood Friday frothies galore in Albany as liquor laws ease

Albany punters keen to start their long weekend are relishing in the relinquishment of Good Friday liquor restrictions, for the first time being able to order a pint without a meal to go with it.

Melissa Sheil

The occupants of this wrecked car were lucky to escape without serious injury after hitting a tree near Napier on Friday.

Lucky escape PremiumLucky escape after high-speed Good Friday car crash

The occupants of a wrecked car are lucky to have escaped with only minor scrapes and bruises after their vehicle crashed into a tree at speed on Chester Pass Road near Albany on Good Friday.

Melissa Sheil

ACCI chief executive Tracey Bridges with the Albany Kinjarling Special edition Monopoly board.

SPECIAL EDITIONPremiumAlbany’s own Monopoly board featuring city icons up for sale

Ever thought about buying the big roundabout? Or, perhaps, you’d rather put a hotel near Albany’s beloved chippy, Hooked on Middleton?

Melissa Sheil

Peter Beech and Harvey Gillam won seats on the council.

extraordinary electionsPremiumFarming pair round out Shire of Cranbrook council

Cranbrook residents voted in two new councillors last week, with Harvey Gillam and Peter Beech securing positions in the council chamber.

Melissa Sheil

Police charged a man and woman over an alleged armed robbery of a homeless man in Albany.

crimePair charged after alleged armed robbery of homeless man

Two people have been charged after allegedly committing an armed robbery against a homeless man in Yakamia, threatening him with a knife and a frying pan before taking off with his belongings. 

Melissa Sheil

The code of conduct will be imposed despite the council not voting to approve it.

‘eat my shorts’PremiumAlbany council bins code of conduct over nuances of ‘facts’

Albany council have dismissed a policy governing councillors’ code of conduct after some expressed concerns that a clause asking members to share factual information was a “mechanism for silencing dissent”.

Melissa Sheil