Accountants Phillip Mortimer and Sabina Moir caught up for a coffee with Jonathan Bilton, the current license holder and manager of the Albany Shellfish Hatchery.

Robert Prior recently took some time out with Merv and Judy Lange, founders of Alkoomi Wines.  If you think owning a winery is glamorous, think again.  Merv and Judy are self-taught and built their winery from the ground up.  Here is their fascinating story.

Dot Ruck and Diana Currie recently caught up with Rod Grieve an Agricultural Consultant at The Store in Albany for a coffee and a chat.

Craig Anderson and Pam Kloosterman recently caught up with Bob Whittingstall from Camtrans to discover his interesting story in the transport industry..

Brendan Taylor and Gavin Hard recently caught up with Phil Shilcock from Best Office Systems (BOS). BOS are suppliers and service agents of office machines and technological needs in the Great Southern with offices in Albany and Narrogin.

Graeme Castlehow is the owner and director of J & S Castlehow Electrical Services, a business he has been involved in for over 40 years. It is today the only electrical business in the state that can do everything from construction, installation, underground drilling and switchboard manufacturing inhouse.

I met Norm and Edith White about two years ago. While in my office, I asked a few questions about their history. After about an hour I said “you should write a book”. Norm said ‘no one is interested in our story’. There is something special about the humble nature of our pioneers that inspires me. So last week, I went to their house in Albany with Kelly to learn more. Here is a very brief version of their story.

David and Gaynor Clarke of Cape Howe Cottages knew that they loved the cooler climate, nature, dark night skies and needed to be near the sea. They also loved travelling and exploring so came up with the idea of providing somewhere for people just like us to holiday to. After a lot of searching they found a piece of paradise near Lowlands Beach and Cape Howe Cottages was born.

Amy Sims caught up with Brooke Pearson and Nicole Forgione from Just Move Just Eat who operate a women’s only studio situated on Middleton Loop in Albany. Our studio is not a place you come just to work out. We offer a range of classes, personal training, nutritional coaching, body composition analysis, workshops and much more. The majority of our clientele are aged between 30 and 60 so our class timetable is custom-designed to suit both stay at home mothers and working women.

We chatted last with Neil just over 12 months ago where we discovered that a striving and successful strawberry farm was on its way into the world of organic produce. Twelve months on and we are pleased to say that this is taking place and exciting developments are on the way. In part 2 we wanted to know more about Neil the person. How he came into strawberry farming, why organics and just how he finds time to give back to the community.

Craig caught up with Darrell Panizza of WFI. He seized an opportunity in Albany then arose to get into Wesfarmers Insurance (now WFI) in January 1999. This was a complete new start at the age of 38!

A Farmer’s son from Ongerup who now runs a successful podiatry practice in Albany, how did he get there?

Paul Meaton met with Mark Ireland from Advanced Family & Sports Podiatry over lunch to ask him about his journey.