Some interesting stuff on Brisbane and floods: Just in case you didn’t know that Queensland was a flood-province here is the Bureau of Meteorology’s history of flooding on the Bremer and the Brisbane Rivers. Have a look at how many floods and especially at the 1893 flood – and the extracts from the papers/journals/diaries. http://www.bom.gov.au/hydro/flood/qld/fld_history/brisbane_history.shtml [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Tough times in Goodna
January 12, 2011 by 28 Comments
John Harms wrote this piece about Goodna at the time of the major floods in 2011.
COMMENT: What has happened to the world?
January 10, 2011 by 59 Comments
Fair dinkum, I’m going nuts. And if it wasn’t so sad, it would be funny. It’s sad because this is the world my kids are growing up in. It’s a world where the disingenuous thrive, where mendacity is trumps, and truth is the currency of fools. Well call me a fool. And take me to [Read more]
And the Australian disappointment continues
January 6, 2011 by 19 Comments
Sydney Test – Day 3 The big thing about this Test series is how disappointed cricket-lovers across Australia feel. Not the sort of disappointment that has you lamenting the half a metre of water that is rushing under your Queensland house, but disappointment of a sporting time. This was a series set up for cricket-lovers, [Read more]
The commentary year that was
December 30, 2010 by 21 Comments
Each year throws up some memorable commentary: what springs to your mind? Wendell Sailor: “There may be no I in TEAM but there’s five in INDIVIDUAL BRILLIANCE” Danny Frawley, on Liam Jurrah’s mark: …laughter…”Oh my Lord!”
Australia flogged
December 29, 2010 by 14 Comments
I spent the last few overs of the Australian debacle that was the third day of the Melbourne Test Match standing at the southern end behind the rampant Barmy Army. They were loving it. Next to me was a solemn man in a heavy metal T-shirt. I didn’t recognize the name of the band but [Read more]
Happy Christmas from footyalmanac.com.au
December 24, 2010 by 14 Comments
Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year, unless, of course, you are a Collingwood supporter. Just a few things for your diary: Lunches will continue throughout 2011. – last Friday of each month in Melbourne – stay tuned for functions (including book launches) in other states The Almanac Open – coming to a [Read more]
Third Test – Day 1: Shocking, Australia
December 17, 2010 by 6 Comments
Sadly, we have all played in sports team like the current Australian Test cricket side: really, really bad ones. I remember the summer of 1979-80, my first in men’s cricket. Big cricket, where the ball whistled, and slips catches knocked you over, and blokes (like Metropolitans skipper Alan Ward, a former English Test quick) sledged [Read more]
Adelaide Test – Day 3: whatever.
December 6, 2010 by 10 Comments
Heavy skies greeted the heavy hearts of the Australian fans as they came to (half) life this Sunday morning. The cathedral bells rang out across the parklands as we trudged, lemming-like, down the hill, dodging the Moreton Bay figs, towards the light of the tents and bars which had drained our wallets (at $7 for [Read more]
Almanac Racing: an offer you can’t refuse?
December 1, 2010 by 6 Comments
Bars at Roma St Station – the Spencer St of Brisbane – are filled with reputable dodgy types and other ratbags and reprobates who haven’t noticed that the second at Kyneton is suddenly the third at the Warrnambool dishlickas and by then there is absolutely no point in going back to work and little point in going [Read more]
Gabba Test: Day 2
November 27, 2010 by 2 Comments
Australia took the points on Day 2 of the First Test at the Gabba. But in the tight struggle which took place in showers-always-possible conditions England would have had her arm raised had it had a knockout blow, and had Michael Hussey not been such a counter-puncher. He played one of his finest innings. When [Read more]
Punters argue the toss and come up with the goods (hopefully)
November 2, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Terrific lunch at the Clyde Hotel yesterday. Fine form analysis from the 40 revellers has led to two trifecta being placed, the winnings to go to a Salvation Army charity: Bet 1: Flexi-trifecta for $200 1 and 3 roved with the field. gives us 158% of the dividend Bet 2: the roughies flexi-trifecta for $200 [Read more]
Derby Day fills the rain gauge and the punting stash
November 1, 2010 by 3 Comments
I live in a wonderful neighbourhood. There may well be a few too many Pies supporters who have ostentatiously positioned Collingwood garden gnomes in their Westgarth yards. But I like how they have applied the black and white paint themselves. (Some probably got a grant to do it.) I don’t like that Theo said, “Go [Read more]
Melbourne Cup Lunch
October 28, 2010 by Leave a Comment
G’day All Melbourne Cup lunch Clyde Hotel, Carlton Monday, November 1 12.30 for 1pm $40 plus drinks at bar prices Come along and help us nail the Cup trifecta. We are unsuccessful in seven attempts, so we are due. All welcome. RSVP to [email protected]
The Mug’s Cox Plate Review
October 25, 2010 by 6 Comments
Let me just distract you from the major betting sites for a moment or two while sitting there at your desk wondering whether Moment of Clarity can win the Coonabarrabran Cup this arvo and how you’re going to sneak out of the office to get to the Trans-Australian Bank to see it. And get on. [Read more]
The Mug’s Cox Plate Preview
October 22, 2010 by 2 Comments
Not sure where to start it’s been so long since I put pen to racing paper. Not too many wins to report either which is about to change, now that Cox Plate Day has become one of mine: thanks to Gallic and El Segundo and Wally F. Beaver about a decade ago. I spotted [Read more]
Melbourne Cup lunch at the Clyde
October 18, 2010 by 4 Comments
You are invited to the Loose Men Charities/Almanac Melbourne Cup Lunch: Monday, November 1 from 12.30pm at The Clyde Hotel, Carlton $40 drinks at bar prices RSVP essential – [email protected] Traditionally, and very noisily, at this lunch we raise some cash through a raffle (the prizes for which are world class). We invest the proceedings in [Read more]
Harms Election Watch: Rd-8 The Final Word
August 20, 2010 by 8 Comments
I reckon I’ve said enough. Disappointing campaign, despite the opportunity. Thought that the independents shone a light on a few issues which weren’t taking up.
Harms Election Watch: Rd 7- ALP Launch
August 19, 2010 by 6 Comments
And so finally the ALP have their launch in Brisbane. It is a low-key affair. So low-key in the torpor of the Queensland winter that the faithful forget they are at a political rally and that they are supposed to respond spontaneously, like a Baptist congregation in Mississippi. Even the Silver Bodgie has to wait, [Read more]
Harms election watch – Round 6: Rooty Hill RSL
August 17, 2010 by 11 Comments
by John Harms Those of us who spent too much time in the Trans-Australian Banks (pre-Betfair, of course) in the 1990s will recall waiting nervously through Rooty Hill RSL ads on SKY until the result of the photo finish came through. I think it was their only advertiser. So, as we were hanging out to [Read more]
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