Almanac Lunches: Footy season launch get together.
The All Nations Hotel Richmond
As always, it was another cracking gathering of the Footy Almanac faithful and true believers of the spoken word, the written word, conviviality, and a good story.
Our spiritual home at the All Nations Hotel in Richmond once again provided the backdrop and atmosphere for soaking up the soul and spirit garnered and exuded by this wonderful community.
Swish, Flynny, and Dips
ER, Keiran Croker, and Smokie
Flynny, Dips, John Harms, and Kevan Carroll
John Zito and David Clerehan
Citrus Bob Utber
ER (David Wilson) celebrated his 50th birthday with the Almanac faithful – and the youngest attendee on the day!
The faithful and the well-known were there – Dips, Swish, Smokie, Willo, Flynny, Citrus Bob, ER (celebrating his 50th birthday, and with a show of hands proved to be the youngest Knacker in attendence!), and Harmsy plus many more crowded into the upstairs function room to share the craic. Although nicknames are not mandatory most Knackers have a moniker of sorts they are known by.
John Zito, Keiran Croker, Alan Stewart, Mike Sewell and Ian Wilson
David Clerehan, Alan Stewart, Mike Sewell, Ian Wilson, and Col Ritchie
Dips, Kevan Carroll, JTH, Citrus Bob, Swish, and Smokie
Kevan Carroll, Citrus Bob, Swish, Smokie, Matt O’Connor, ER, Dips
More happy lunchers including Allan Barden
John Harms, of course leads the way drawing from his wide and varied range of sporting knowledge setting up discussion starters in an entertaining and informative manner bringing smiles and nods of acknowledgement from the Almanackers.
John brought along an old school exercise book with detailed recorded information and research about the oldest surviving player at each VFL/AFL club at the time of the interviews he conducted with them. Some fab stories about both well known and not so well known players were highlighted, each with a special story to tell and told in John’s inimitable fashion which enthralled us all. As is so often said in Footy Almanac circles, there are so many stories just waiting to be told, all is needed is a storyteller.
John Harms interviewing Ian Wilson
John interviewed Almanacker Ian Wilson (Willo, IW) about his well travelled footy career and his full and substantial life experiences, and his motivation for writing. I love learning where people have come from, their life’s journey, and in particular, the influences behind their creativity, their expertise in specific fields, and other contributing factors making them the person they are.
A few Almanackers at the bar
Once again there is never enough hours in the day especially when you need to catch a train back to Colac so unfortunately I left before proceedings ended. Undoubtably many lingered much longer and continued the conviviality and story telling.
Another fantastic Footy Almanac function.
Thanks everyone for a fab time and great company.
More from Col Ritchie can be read Here
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About Colin Ritchie
Retired teacher who enjoys following the Bombers, listening to music especially Bob Dylan, reading, and swimming.
Good stuff Col. Outstanding lunch. As always.
Harms has been selected as skipper of Australian lunching side.
Great stuff. The quality of the Almanac lunches and the golf courses are the main reasons for visiting Bleak City.
Super pics, Col !!
Great report Col. Always appreciate your efforts with the reports and photos. Sorry about the Bombers, Nahh not really,
It was an intimate setting or as JTH said, Tell your friends it was “packed.” The JR Thompson interview as told by JTH was something to behold – The amount of swear words in one interview has to be submitted to the Guinness Book of Records. Thank you to ER, the junior of the group who explained to us that the day was the Equinox. I’ve still got a quizzical look on my face.
Great stories from the humble Willo who told us about his time at Coorparoo with Hall of Famer Jason Dunstall. Of course Dips and his experience at the Stawell Gift, Dad winning in 1955 and his 3rd in ‘84. Names like Ravelo in 75 and Edmomson in 77 and his views on where the Stawell Gift sits in the Australian Sporting Landscape today. Thanks again for a wonderful afternoon.
Awesome photos – Col looks like a great day
Excellent work, Col. Thanks Knackers.
How very lucky to have such a lovely, funny, warm place to spend the middle part of my 50th.
Where, just like in 1975, I was the youngest in the room.
Incredible.
Thanks JTH very much.
J Zito – I’ll see you after class.
You won’t be seeing me after class ER, Truancy is my middle name.
Well played Col.
A packed room full of superannuants harked back to their youth when JTH related the story of the Barossa grapes and their shooting twice this year.
I’m still none the wiser about the equinox.
Great photos Col, disappointed I couldn’t be there, looks like it was an awesome lunch.