For those about to rock (well, perhaps those who have recently rocked at the MCG) this week we’re giving an encore to Kevin Densley’s poem on Bach v Angus and if AC/DC furthered the cultural impact of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein…Guillermo Del Toro eat your heart out.
The Furphy Literary Award presentation in Shepparton
November 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
The night the winners of The Furphy Literary Award 2025 were announced, back in July, was a cracker.
Don’t forget, The Furphy Anthology 2025 will be launched at the All Nations Hotel in Richmond this Thursday, November 20. Always an excellent celebration.
Almanac Poetry (and Cricket): Wide long on
November 17, 2025 by 1 Comment
John Gordon recalls the changes that mark the passing cricket seasons of a players years – from the full-on investment of youth to a fading presence in the later years until a time beyond the boundary line calls.
Book Launch: The Furphy Anthology 2025 – Nov 20 in Melbourne
November 15, 2025 by 1 Comment
You are invited to the launch of The Furphy Anthology 2025 on the evening of November 20. Read more here.
Almanac Poetry: Backyard Internationals
November 14, 2025 by 2 Comments
Glenn Butcher re-produces a poem he wrote before the Ashes series of 2010-11 reflecting the ‘backyard internationals’ he played with his brother..
Almanac Books: Books in my life – A reluctance to read
November 14, 2025 by 14 Comments
Barry Nicholls was invited to speak to The Friends of the State Library of South Australia to talk about influential books in his life. Here is the speech he gave on Tuesday November 4 at the Hetzel Lecture Theatre.
Almanac Poetry: Gough
November 12, 2025 by 4 Comments
‘He was a tall man, he was a very tall man’, states Michael Pardy with one of his thoughts in his poem, ‘Gough’.
Almanac Music Review: Paul Kelly – Seventy and Superb
November 12, 2025 by 4 Comments
Smokie was fortunate to be part of the crowd as Paul Kelly showcased his new album “Seventy” at the Corner Hotel
Almanac Literary: An extract from Kelvin Templeton’s ‘Collision’
November 12, 2025 by Leave a Comment
In this extract from Kelvin Templeton’s debut novel ‘Collision’- the Prologue and the first two chapters – we are introduced to a gifted and determined young footballer, Joshua Shamrock, whose talent and interest in the game (and its complexities) make him the hope of the Footscray side in 1975. We also meet Faye. But what of the flashback to 1957?
Almanac History – The Dismissal: 50 Years On
November 11, 2025 by 18 Comments
Today marks the 50th anniversary of The Dismissal, a watershed moment in Australian political history. Where were you? When did you hear about it? Who were you with? How did you feel? What were your reactions?
Almanac Reviews: A cracker and a dud to kick off The British Film Festival
November 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Ian Wilson reviews three films he recently viewed at the cinema; one dud and one cracker featured at The British Film Festival; and, Jennifer Lawrences’s latest film.
The Bishop, the Nun and the Matador
November 11, 2025 by 2 Comments
A poem from Damian Ballasone about a bishop, a nun, and a matador.
Almanac (Book) Review: ‘The Hugamug Club’ by Andy Thurlow
November 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment
In his retirement years, Andy Thurlow initiated a couple of community-based groups in Tanunda. The Sprocket Rockets is, not surprisingly, a cycling group. The Hugamug Club is more about coffee, cake and caring. This book features the stories of five of its members, all very different from each other but all bound by a common thread – their faith.
Almanac Travel: Watch out. There’s a snake right there.
November 10, 2025 by 7 Comments
Not quite a dance with the devil in the pale moonlight, but the bright lush tropics of Indonesia introduced Mickey Randall and Claire to some of the more dangerous members of the animal kingdom during their travels.
Almanac Life: The Poppy Guy
November 10, 2025 by Leave a Comment
It was an ordinary Saturday morning for John Gordon until he walked past The Poppy Guy en route to his car. Something demanded he go back.
Almanac Poetry: Ann Arbor, Michigan
November 10, 2025 by 4 Comments
What’s in a name? Sometimes everything. Some place names are beautiful in themselves, this week’s poem by Kevin Densley concerns one of them.
Almanac (Irish) Life: My day at Páirc MacUílín, Ballycastle
November 7, 2025 by 20 Comments
Murray Bird recently had a couple of weeks in Ireland. He was so taken and moved by the people, their sport and their music, their friendliness and their likability, that he just had to get his thoughts on the page. This is an Almanac classic. It’s travel, observation and understated commentary. It’s wholehearted participation and engagement. Please, pour yourself a Guinness or a whisky, and immerse yourself in a superb account of a hurling game and what happened along the way in getting there. This is the story of a grand people and their rich history and culture.
Almanac Road Trips: ‘The Long Ride to Esperance’ – a charity ride.
November 7, 2025 by 10 Comments
What a cracking road trip experienced by Stan and Marlene Kluzek on their motor bikes as they made a return trip from Colac to Esperance WA to participate in a charity bike ride.
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