Write. From the Heart.
On the tenth anniversary if the 2011 floods, we reprise John Harms’s story about his Uncle Stan and Aunty June who survived the Grantham devastation.
“My wonderful, wonderful uncle, Stan Schulz, died in 2015. He was a great man – a truly great man. He and Aunty June survived the catastrophic Grantham flood in January 2011. At the time, I wrote this story about him.”
Better late than never! Ben Fenton-Smith regales with a tale of being a Tiger fan in unfriendly (or simply uncaring) territory for most of his life, before the pandemic relocated the team into his own backyard. [Worth the wait – Ed.]
Some nights in footy are etched into your brain, whether it be for the good or the bad. John Harms recounts a memorable night – the Geelong/ Collingwood 2007 Preliminary Final, and his experience of watching it from the bowels of the ‘G.
In light of Fathers’ Day this weekend, we’ve reprised this wonderful writing from Damian Balassone, who takes us on a beautiful familial journey of joining the Collingwood faithful via Abruzzo, Dights Falls and Victoria Park with thanks to his late father, Donato.
We reprise John Harms’ George Lovejoy Memorial Lecture to provide a context to our rugby league feature piece on Thursday. Enjoy this insight for its own intrinsic value and then, on Thursday, see how the theory plays out in regional Queensland.
Having stumbled home from the 2018 Caulfield Cup, the fertile mind of The Muse (Hayden Kelly) turns to the characters of his youth up the bush. [There’s a bit of Garrison Keillor about this – JTH]
To coincide with Ian Stewart’s appearance on ‘Open Mike’ we reprise Tony De Bolfo’s in depth profile of his family’s Italian heritage.
First published in 2010.
After he finished high school, and before he headed off to uni, Frank Taylor worked on the Eltham Council. He had a stint as a garbo. These are his recollections of life as a runner. [Superb – JTH]
John Milton had never heard of Australian Football until he was asked to fix an antenna on a ship off the New South Wales coast. Here’s how his footy life has unfolded. [A wonderful memoir of life and love and the places they take you – JTH]
Following Dips O’Donnell’s excellent Queen’s Birthday weekend surfing piece, we thought we’d let you know where it all started. Here’s Dips’ first crack at the caper, a piece which was published in Long Bombs to Snake I.
Fox Footy showed the 2011 Geelong-Collingwood Grand Final yesterday. John Harms thought it deserved a match report.
The rugby league faction within The Almanac community is joining in the nostalgia focus emerging on the site this week. We go back to a classic by John Harms to set the scene for what will be a series of pieces over the coming months which will offer insights into the code.
Remember this? Anson Cameron may have shot the Cisco Kid but he knocked everyone over with this classic speech to launch The Footy Almanac in 2009 (A Geelong year).
Here is a fabulous Footy Almanac Flashback from Matt Zurbo about his good mate Bruce Pascoe. Ripper read!
A ripping ‘Boys on Tour’ yarn from the self-depracating Kieran Fernandez as he and his posse lob at the Edgbaston Test. [I feel hungover just reading this – JTH]
Given the West Coast’s victory, we’re thinking the state of WA should celebrate with a choreographed and coordinated Down Trou. Or a whole year of it – every time the opening riff is heard. This is something about its elusive origins written by an ardent Pies fan Lord Malcaster:
The Down Trou has become world famous. Lord Mulcaster remembers its Union College origins. He was reminded of those grand days recently when he was at a Union College re-Union Ball at City Hall in Brisbane. When that riff plays, there is only one thing to do…
After feeling the pressure to find a job, Bridget Schwerdt is employed at the MCG as a Pie-Girl. Here’s the story of the process and of her first sessions on the job when, possibly because of her mathematical skills, she is sent to become a Wiener Girl. [Very funny Bridget. We’ll be looking for you – Ed] [first published in 2015 when our Pie-Girl was in Grade 10]
A memory of Swansea Swans/Bulldogs: Gone, but not forgotten
Every country footy club is someone’s footy club. The recently out of commission Swansea is Allan Barden’s. A story at once unique yet wholy familiar from the East Coast of Tasmania. [Exceptional – Ed.]