You won’t get a chance to see a gig from The Smokers, but Earl O’Neill takes us back to the first, last and only time the band got together.
First Day of School
March 5, 2018 by 15 Comments
Andrew Starkie shares a poignant tale of the disarming, charming and at times, alarming nature of parenthood
Almanac Glassware: Southwark Mugs
March 1, 2018 by 10 Comments
Mickey Randall has enjoyed a 26 year relationship with his Southwark mugs. Here’s why.
The Final Round at the House of Stoush
January 29, 2018 by 13 Comments
There is a part of Smokie that dies just a little when a familiar old building is demolished. It will be even more so when Festival Hall meets the wrecking ball.
70-year old letters come to life!
January 21, 2018 by 9 Comments
Enormous thanks to Jan Courtin who, in this post, shares with us her parents’ letters to each other during the Second World War.
Almanac Music: Welcome to the Working Week
January 20, 2018 by 15 Comments
Workshy Swish had the day off. His idle hands have produced this playlist that draws parallels with his forty-odd years in the workforce.
The ’69 State Schoolboys’ Football Competition – Adidas
November 30, 2017 by 7 Comments
Peter Thomas recently contacted the Footy Almanac in response to a story about Adelaide Sports Stores. We found that he has a wealth of stories gleaned from his days as an Adidas rep.
Here’s his first one, with a Western Australian flavour. Welcome Peter.
Almanac Teams – Super 6s: Standing on the Shoulders of a Giant
November 30, 2017 by 30 Comments
The number 6 has special significance to Phil Dimitriadis, thanks to his beloved brother Tim.
Almanac Book Review – How the West was One: By Lucia Nardo
November 27, 2017 by 1 Comment
Lucia Nardo, who grew up in the West, presents another overview of the terrific new book How the West was One – which is available now.
Almanac Footy Memoir: A Bomber Life
November 23, 2017 by 4 Comments
Keith Richards remembers childhood days barracking for the Bombers.
Almanac Book Review – How the West was One
November 21, 2017 by 2 Comments
Blow-in Vin Maskell (who has only lived in the west since 1986) reviews the wonderful new collection of memoirs about growing up in the Melbourne’s Western Suburbs. How the West was One is a lovable book.
Almanac Book Review – How the West was One: Memoirs of Melbourne’s Western Suburbs
November 15, 2017 by 1 Comment
Kerrie Soraghan, whose father grew up in “the Paris End” of Footscray, sees “How the West was One” as a celebration of many families’ stories, including her own.
Almanac Book Review – How the West was One: Stories of Melbourne’s Western Suburbs.
November 13, 2017 by 5 Comments
Neil Anderson, who spent his early years in The West, reviews the How the West was One, which was launched on Nov 12 at the Yarraville Club.
How the West was One: Memoirs of Melbourne’s Western Suburbs (just released and launched)
November 13, 2017 by 3 Comments
Check out this terrific new collection of stories from people who grew up in the western suburbs. [This is an outline by one of the editors Karyn Howie, includes links to reviews.]
Almanac Footy History: Doth the moustache maketh the man?
October 29, 2017 by 4 Comments
We welcome Angela Vary with this wonderful story of her grandfather Jack Megson who played for Richmond in the early part of the twentieth century. Indeed, Jack was the fourteenth Richmond player in the VFL, after they joined in 1908. [Terrific footy and family history – ripper opening piece, Angela – thanks, JTH]
Dudley Street Doggies – Clem Nips Out To The Shed
October 25, 2017 by 11 Comments
Neil Anderson has nominated this Swish account of Clem’s first visit to Etihad as an Almanac Classic. (send your noms in to [email protected])
Clem makes the trip up Dynon Road to the big shed on Spencer St to see the Doggies for the first time this century. Was it worth the trip to Joe’s of Barkly Street beforehand?
From the good old days when cars were so novel we were photographed alongside them
October 23, 2017 by 4 Comments
A genre of everyday Australian 50s and 60s life was to photograph the kids (and others) next to the family car. Such was the place of the motor vehicle (and the kids). Here’s a couple of classics. Send yours in. [Now includes a 1963 pic from Anne Dillon – Ed]
Almanac Book Review: Back to Broady
October 23, 2017 by 6 Comments
Back to Broady, by Caroline van der Pol, is a tale of tragedy and sadness. A memoir about the Egan and Gleeson families in Broadmeadows, it is at times a challenging account. This review by Tess Pryor first appeared in The Australian in July this year.
Almanac Sports History: John Carlos and Mexico City 1968. (From Democracy Now)
October 20, 2017 by 2 Comments
Recently Democracy Now interviewed John Carlos (1968 Mexico City podium salute) and sports writer Dave Kirin.
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