More cricket history from David Turpin with Part 3 of ‘A History of Cricket in Woomera 1948 – 2014’ featuring the seasons 1958/59 – 1962/63.
Almanac Cricket: A History of Cricket in Woomera 1948 – 2014, Part 3: 1958/59 – 1962/63
November 26, 2025 by 2 Comments
Almanac Lunches: The Geelong Almanackers and friends invite you to lunch
November 25, 2025 by 8 Comments
The Geelong Almanackers and friends are having an informal gathering and lunch on Friday 28 November and we invite you to join us.
The Ashes – First Test, Day 2: England needs a Plan B
November 23, 2025 by 9 Comments
Sports commentator and lecturer Dan Lonergan joins our cricket writing group to cover Day 2 of the first Ashes Test in Perth. Dan thinks that the Englishmen need to rethink their Bazball or bust approach. (Welcome aboard, Dan – Ed.)
Almanac Cricket – Ashes Tests in Perth: the record to date
November 20, 2025 by 1 Comment
The Ashes begin tomorrow in Perth. What sort of record does Australia have in Ashes Tests in the West since the first game there in 1970/71 series?
Almanac Cricket: A History of Cricket in Woomera 1947 – 2014, Part 2: 1951/52 – 1957/58
November 19, 2025 by 2 Comments
David Turpin recalls cricket played in Woomera in his ‘A History of Cricket in Woomera 1947 – 2014. Part 2 revisits the cricket seasons 1951/52 to 1957/58, and incredibly includes a murder on the playing field.
Book Launch: The Furphy Anthology 2025 – Nov 20 in Melbourne
November 15, 2025 by 1 Comment
You are invited to the launch of The Furphy Anthology 2025 on the evening of November 20. Read more here.
Almanac Footy Comment: Gather Round is the solution
November 14, 2025 by 2 Comments
Miles Wilks thinks that the recently announced Wildcard Round is an answer to the wrong question. By drawing on overseas examples, he offers an alternative framework which may well provide the answer to what he believes to be the right question.
‘A century of stars at Merriwa Park…’ by KB Hill
November 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Anyone for tennis? KB Hill set himself the task of choosing the Top 20 male and female tennis players in the history of Wangaratta’s Merriwa Park. In Part 1 today, KB covers Nos. 20-10.
Almanac Cricket: A History of Cricket in Woomera 1947 – 2014, Part 1: 1947 – 1951
November 12, 2025 by 1 Comment
After his extensive account of football in Woomera, David Turpin turns his attention to the history of cricket in Woomera from 1947 – 2014.
Almanac Literary: An extract from Kelvin Templeton’s ‘Collision’
November 12, 2025 by Leave a Comment
In this extract from Kelvin Templeton’s debut novel ‘Collision’- the Prologue and the first two chapters – we are introduced to a gifted and determined young footballer, Joshua Shamrock, whose talent and interest in the game (and its complexities) make him the hope of the Footscray side in 1975. We also meet Faye. But what of the flashback to 1957?
Almanac History – The Dismissal: 50 Years On
November 11, 2025 by 18 Comments
Today marks the 50th anniversary of The Dismissal, a watershed moment in Australian political history. Where were you? When did you hear about it? Who were you with? How did you feel? What were your reactions?
Almanac Footy: Rookie Me Central 2025 AFL Draft Guide available here
November 6, 2025 by Leave a Comment
If you want every piece of information about the top candidates for the 2025 AFL Draft on Nov 19 and 20, download Rookie Me Central’s Draft Guide here. Compiled by Almanac member Murray Bird and Peter Williams with much of the text by Michael Alvaro, it gives a clear and concise look at the talent.
Almanac Books – Extracts: ‘The Hugamug Club’ by Andy Thurlow
November 6, 2025 by Leave a Comment
In the lead up to the launch of his book ‘The Hugamug Club’ later this month, Andy Thurlow provides a few extracts to whet our appetites.
Almanac Poetry: ‘The Race That Stopped A Nation’ by Patrick Smith
November 4, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Today is the running of one of the world’s greatest horse races, The Melbourne Cup. Patrick Smith recalls in verse the circumstances surrounding Damien Oliver’s win on Media Puzzle in 2002, ‘The Race That Stopped A Nation’.
The 2025 Melbourne Cup Field and an invitation to Monday evening’s digital (Teams) meeting of the tipping minds
November 3, 2025 by 4 Comments
Join the annual Almanac Melbourne Cup tipping round table, via Microsoft Teams, Monday night from 8pm EDST. Sweeps and form analysis to decide on the Almanac Trifecta.
Kelvin Templeton: On Writing ‘Collision’
October 31, 2025 by 3 Comments
We’ll be publishing a number of pieces on Kelvin Templeton and his debut novel ‘Collision’ over the coming weeks. We start today with a few words from Kelvin on his early life as a reader and his progress along the (sometimes rocky) path towards becoming a writer. [Congratulations Kelvin – from your fellow members at The Footy Almanac]
‘The day the Poms arrived in town…’ by KB Hill
October 30, 2025 by Leave a Comment
As the 2025/26 Ashes series approaches, KB Hill takes us back to the 1958/59 Tour when the Poms came to Wangaratta to play the Victoria Country XI.
Almanac Footy Tipping – 2025: Results
October 29, 2025 by Leave a Comment
And the winners for 2025 are…
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