Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 16: ‘Cowan At Last’ and Episode 17: ‘A Controversial Disqualification’

February 17, 2026 by 1 Comment

In Dave Goodwin’s continuing series ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, the hits keep coming as Herb Barkle finally meets Archie Cowan in the ring before a controversial refereeing results in a disqualification.

Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 14: ‘Back in Brisbane – Hometown Shocker’ and Episode 15: ‘Excursions to Sydney and Melbourne’

February 13, 2026 by 2 Comments

The next instalments in Dave Goodwin’s ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’ series reveal more inconsistencies in Herb Barkle’s progress in the ring. An unexpected defeat at home is followed by a great win in Sydney.

Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 12: ‘Walker – High Anticipation’ and Episode 13: ‘The Fates Intervene’

February 10, 2026 by 2 Comments

Always looking to move ahead, Herb Barkle took on a highly anticipated fight with the well-credentialed Mickey Walker in Sydney. But what is boxing without a bit of controversy? The result received a mixed response!

Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 10: Two Bouts with Slack, then Green and Episode 11: Making a Splash Down South

February 6, 2026 by Leave a Comment

After a couple more successful bouts in Brisbane, Herb Barkle travels south to take the next steps towards higher honours. He creates quite a splash in the Sydney scene!

Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 8: ‘A Setback’ and Episode 9: ‘Re-consolidation’

February 3, 2026 by 2 Comments

Dave Goodwin continues his coverage of their career of Herb Barkle. To paraphrase Shakespeare, ‘the course of a boxing career never runs smoothly’. Herb’s progress had its fair share of bumps and bruises.

Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 6: ‘On the Up’ and Episode 7: ‘The War with Hill’

January 30, 2026 by 2 Comments

Herb Barkle’s star is ‘on the up’ as his professional career evolves. But will he meet his match when he comes up against the more experienced “Snowy” Hill? It turned into an epic bout!

Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 5: Champion of Queensland

January 27, 2026 by 6 Comments

The big moment comes for Herb Barkle as he fights for the State bantamweight title – exactly 100 years ago today!

Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 4: The Prodigy – Getting Started

January 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Herb Barkle’s career in the ring gets off to a strong start as he works his way through the ranks of fellow bantamweight boxers. Track his progress in Episode 4 of Dave Goodwin’s series ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’.

Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 3: Father Jim

January 20, 2026 by 5 Comments

Dave Goodwin continues to set the background to his tale about Herb Barkle with particular reference to Herb’s father, Jim Barkle.

Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 2: The Fighting Barkles

January 16, 2026 by 1 Comment

In Episode 2 of his series, Dave Goodwin continues to set the background of Herb Barkle.

Almanac Boxing – ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, Episode 1: Introducing Herbie

January 13, 2026 by 5 Comments

Today we begin a new series focusing on Herb Barkle, Bantamweight champion of Queensland 1926-29 and contender for the national title. Almanacker Dave Goodwin, originally from Kingaroy, unfolds the story of the man who, to paraphrase Bob Dylan, ‘one time, could have been the champion of Australia’.

Almanac Boxing – Introducing Dave Goodwin’s new series ‘Diamond in the Dust Heap’, a biography of Herb Barkle.

January 9, 2026 by 5 Comments

Today we introduce a new 26-part series which will focus on boxer Herb Barkle, bantamweight of Queensland from 1926 to 1929. Almanacker David Goodwin has researched Herb’s career from its humble beginnings, through the glory days and on to its sad decline.

Almanac Rugby League: Footy in the South Burnett

September 3, 2020 by 10 Comments

David Goodwin casts his mind back over childhood days of following rugby league in regional Queensland’s South Burnett. And, in doing so, supports the contention raised in John Harms’ recent piece that there is meaning in rugby league.

AFL Round 15 – Hawthorn v Gold Coast: Odyssey to Launceston

July 24, 2014 by 2 Comments

Pure Poetry. From Dave Goodwin. And his Hawks. And Gazza Junior. Pity about the Tassie weather. (Contains some great lines and advice – Ed.)

Rivalry (to the tune of ‘Yesterday’)

March 21, 2014 by 2 Comments

Dave Goodwin suggests his Hawks have plenty of payback waiting for the Swans and Buddy (who’s he? – Ed)

AFL Round 22 – North Melbourne v Hawthorn: Are the Hawks good enough?

August 27, 2013 by 6 Comments

In round 22 the thoughts of those whose team sits atop the ladder can stray to “premiership”. This, as 2012 taught Hawks fan Dave Goodwin, is hubris and folly. Those Hawks do look very good though…

Soccer (My Home)

January 28, 2013 by 2 Comments

Dave Goodwin introduces us to his young nephew Felix who has a couple of unusual skills: poetry and Futsal.

2012 Grand Final: A Hawks fan turns to A.B. Paterson for inspiration

December 10, 2012 by 2 Comments

Hawks fan Dave Goodwin has had a crazy notion for a few years now that 19th Century bush ballads could become a new form of sports reporting. What better game to test his theory than the 2012 Grand Final.

Dave Goodwin’s dreaming

September 18, 2011 by 3 Comments

by Dave Goodwin   I have a dream. An unusual obsession. I want to see Australia play a Test match in each of the ten Test-playing nations. Today I’ve ticked off Sri Lanka.   I’m now six down, four to go. Bangladesh is in my sights. I doubt I’ll make it to South Africa this [Read more]

World Championships: lining up for the long jump

August 30, 2011 by 5 Comments

Dave Goodwin points Almanac readers in the direction of this excellent piece on the World Aths Championships website: http://daegu2011.iaaf.org//newslistdetail.aspx?id=61661   Dave goes on to say:   Today, 30 August, is the 20th anniversary of a magic moment in sport. Carl Lewis’ quest for Bob Beamon’s world record of 8.90 metres and beyond to 9 metres [Read more]