Almanac Life: Betty Croker (nee Cashill )– Part 1: A Country Life

Keiran Croker’s mum, Betty, turns 100 on the 29 April. Keiran provides the first of two parts about his mother’s long and fruitful life.

Almanac Humanitarian Life: Highlights in the history of international sport – Australia v India

A few years ago, Verity Sanders was part of a ‘Habitat for Humanity’ program to provide upgraded sewerage systems in a small village in Rajasthan, India. At the end of the project they were challenged to a game of cricket against the School XI.

Almanac Life: Dad, the Drought and the Dried-Up Dam

Stan Kluzek remembers the drought of ’67 at Corriemungle in the Heytesbury Settlement and his dad’s efforts to bore for water on the family farm .

Almanac Footy Memoir: Last of the Royboys

Paul Harman makes quite a splash with his debut piece. Settle down with a quiet one as you ready yourself for the start of the season and enjoy this memoir in which he explains how he came to barrack for the Roys.

Almanac People: Old Friends

Old friends, and the flourishing of those friendships over the years, are something special as Andy Thurlow warmly reflects.

Almanac Footy: Coorparoo FC’s finest 1984-1986

As a 20 year old in the army at Oakey, Ian Wilson played footy for the Coorparoo FC. He fondly remembers his time at the club and living in Queensland. Ian names his ten best players from the club during his time there.

Almanac Opinion: The Demonising of Dermie

Paul Spinks has long taken issue with Dermott Brereton’s criticism of Cats skipper Joel Selwood.

Sausage Roll Review: The Goolwa Bakery

Mickey Randall recently spent time in Goolwa. Naturally, he called in to the bakery to sample a sausage roll

Stalking David Parkin Part 2

Ian Wilson continues the tale of his interactions with legendary AFL player and coach David Parkin.

Stalking David Parkin Part 1

AFL Hall of Fame member David Parkin celebrated his 80th birthday earlier this week. In this classic semi-insiders yarn, Ian Wilson recalls his handful of interactions with ‘Parko’ over the years.

Almanac Memoir: A Whole Sheep or a Half-Sheep (Cut and Packed)

In this Friday’s column, KD tells of the time he planned to transport a whole or half-sheep (cut and packed) in the hold of a V-Line bus, while on the way home from work in Ballarat, Victoria. [Note: a couple of names have been changed to protect the innocent!]

Almanac Life: How Johnny Famechon Saved Me

Last week’s passing of boxing legend and World Featherweight Champion Johnny Famechon reminds Peter Baulderstone of lessons learned watching Fammo and how they saved him from a delicate situation in high school.

Almanac Boxing: Famechon – A Time and a Place.

Johnny Famechon, Australian boxing world champion has died aged 77. Dips O’Donnell remembers ‘Fammo’ in this fine tribute to him.

Almanac Travel: Midnight Distress

Rob Spurr, like many before him, and since, donned his backpack for a rites of passage grand tour of Europe. Along the way he encountered many adventures and escapades as he recounts in his story.

Almanac Life: The Last Payphone

An icon of the 20th Century, the public payphone booths have now been eradicated from the streets of Manhattan. One of the few technologies that were of popular use to the common person is now slowly fading away and memory-holed as time progresses. Smokie shares his fond memories over the years of how the payphone played an essential role in his day-to-day life and routine.

Almanac Footy: The Loneliness of the Sacked Coaches Club

The end of David Noble’s coaching tenure brought back painful memories for Ian Wilson. He tells the story of his ill-fated coaching stint in Hobart.

Almanac (Family) Life: The Redemptive Powers of Red Rooster

Growing up with a parent whose life was blighted by wartime service is never easy. Ian Wilson shares his experiences as a child when a particularly traumatic episode was resolved via a most unusual medium.

Almanac Life: The Muse is musing on teachers

The Muse was educated by the Sisters of No Mercy at Wycheproof where the nuns concentrated on lessons (and discipline) and every winter’s night was a three-dogger. He has had a change of mind about teachers and their profession.

Almanac Life: The Williamstown Walkers

Today marks twelve months since Smokie’s mate Netto was taken far too early. But the Williamstown walking group that he started endures.

Almanac Footy: Can the Saints Break the 56-Year Drought?

Ian Wilson is a Saints tragic! He’s stayed faithful to the Saints for 50 years and awaits the end of their 56-year premiership drought.