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Three people stand with Mike Stidwell medal winner 2026

Long-serving Great Southern volunteers recognised with prestigious regional awards

May 21, 2026
Great Southern volunteer Darren Berry of the Albany Basketball Association has been awarded the prestigious Mike Stidwell Medal for his outstanding and long-standing service to sport administration in the region.

Tags: Albany award winner Great Southern Mike Stidwell volunteer

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Flood lights on an oval

$12.3 million to boost WA’s community sport and recreation facilities

10 February 2023
The State Government has announced more than $12.3 million will be provided towards upgrading community sport and recreation facilities and lighting throughout the State.
Two performers in a remote location. Text reads, Playing WA Grant Program.

Regional audiences to welcome 5 exciting performances

9 February 2023
The Playing WA program will support 5 performing arts companies to tour their shows to communities in regional WA, sharing in $475,685 as part of the first funding round of 2022-2023.
WA Hiking Participation Grants: $187,810 for 10 projects. Image of hikers walking a bush trail.

Grants help hiking projects reach new heights

8 February 2023
A walking project to help people heal while grieving, a nature-based adaptive hiking program for those who live with disability and a hike project to unite Ukrainians are among 10 recipients getting a total of nearly $188,000 in State Government funding.
Audience participants on stage at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre

Regional funding creates new home-grown performances

6 December 2022
The State Government’s Made in WA funding will support four successful recipients to bring their Western Australian projects to fruition.
An exterior of a theatre lit up early evening.

Boost of almost $740,000 for regional performing arts venues

5 December 2022
Western Australia's regional performing arts sector is getting a boost thanks to the State Government's 'In the House' funding program, with 10 venues or organisations set to receive almost $740,000 between them.
Montage of actor profiles.

Ocean adventure Blueback premieres under the stars

18 November 2022
Australian Director Robert Connolly (The Dry, Paper Planes) brings Tim Winton’s best-selling story BLUEBACK to the big screen for Perth Festival’s Lotterywest films.
An Aboriginal artist performing on stage with a colourful background of illustrated water lillies.

Huge funding boost to deliver exciting new regional Aboriginal arts and cultural projects

21 July 2022
4 projects, ranging from an on-country camp in Wilkinkarra to create large scale visual artworks to a touring yellow bus that will demonstrate the Yindjibarndi people's enduring connection to country, have received a major funding boost from the State Government.
A man and a woman holding framed certificates

Albany Sharks club president wins prestigious volunteer award

17 May 2022
The Great Southern region has kicked off National Volunteer Week by celebrating two of its finest volunteers for their outstanding commitment to the sporting community.
Graphic with text: CenefestOZ Albany Film Festival 28 April to 1 May 2022

Albany audiences take their seats for expanded CinefestOZ

28 April 2022
CinefestOZ Albany will take place from 28 April to 1 May 2022, allowing Great Southern film lovers to experience and celebrate the very best in Australian film.
Internal exhibition space at the Cannery Arts Centre in Esperance

Regional galleries welcome upgrades to support touring visual arts

15 March 2022
11 regional art galleries from Beverley to Port Hedland have been awarded $346,000 through the second round of the State Government's Public Regional Galleries Improvement Fund.
Two female dancers performing in traditional clothing

$700,000 to improve social inclusion and access to arts and culture in regional communities

17 February 2022

Media release

Nine regional arts and cultural organisations have been funded by the Community Participation and Inclusion Program, which is part of the State Government's $20 million four-year Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program (RACIP).
Smoking ceremony

Eight regional festivals to bring together communities across the State

16 February 2022

Media release

The Regional and Remote Festivals Fund offers up to $50,000 for the presentation of arts and cultural activities at regional festivals.
Bibbulmun Track with guide sign, Beedelup National Park, Western Australia

Lotterywest grant funds new tech for Bibbulmun Track

10 November 2021
Hikers and volunteers who use the Bibbulmun Track will soon benefit from new online resources to help make their journey easier.
A group of people with the ocean behind them

A look back at the WA Trails and Recreation Forum 2021

4 November 2021
A record number of people gathered in Albany for the WA Trails and Recreation Forum 2021.
A group of people walking together along a path

Adventurous minds convene to plan the future of WA’s trails

14 October 2021
Western Australia's biggest-ever trails forum is being held in Albany today to discuss how the state can harness the economic potential of some of our fastest growing pastimes — hiking, trail running and mountain biking.
Volunteer trail carers helping to upgrade a trail

Help care for trails

11 October 2021
Do you enjoy walking or cycling on the trails of the Great Southern? Are you interested in meeting new people and spending time outdoors for a good cause?

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Page reviewed 21 January 2026
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