John Gordon remembers the late Graeme Watson, who was a big early influence during his teenage years in Perth.
Almanac Life – Paying Homage to the great DK Lillee
May 5, 2020 by 26 Comments
‘Smokie’ Dawson takes us on a tour of the statues of his adolescent heroes, DK Lillee and Malcolm Blight, and relates a close encounter with the great fast bowler.
Almanac Book Review – Roy Hay’s Aboriginal People and Australian Football in the Nineteenth Century: They Did Not Come from Nowhere
May 3, 2020 by 1 Comment
We bring you two highly respected thinker-writers in the field of sport and sports history: Braham Dabscheck reviews Roy Hay’s recent book Aboriginal People and Australian Football in the Nineteenth Century: They Did Not Come from Nowhere.
Almanac Book Review: Phil Dimitriadis on Damian Balassone’s ‘Strange Game in a Strange Land’
May 1, 2020 by 6 Comments
Phil Dimitriadis has followed the emergence of Damian Balassone as a poet since 2008. They have a fair bit in common, as this review essay suggests. ‘Strange Game in a Strange Land’ will resonate with those who love words and the game.
Almanac Cricket Obituary: Brendan McArdle remembers Graeme Watson
May 1, 2020 by 10 Comments
Former Australian Test cricketer all-rounder Graeme ‘Beatle’ Watson passed away last weekend. He is remembered here by his teammate Brendan McArdle.
Almanac Life – From the Arctic to Brisvegas: Richard is finally home
April 30, 2020 by 2 Comments
After a month of travelling, including two periods of self-isolation, Richard Marlow is finally back at home in Brisbane. He discovered that the old saying is true – ‘There’s no place like home’! – Australia, that is.
How Corona Virus Has Divided A Country
April 29, 2020 by 2 Comments
With the selfishness and ‘every person for them selves’ attitude displayed during Covid 19, Shannon Cole wonders what happened to the concern and generosity displayed by Australians during the recent bushfires.
Wantok Musik April Newsletter
April 28, 2020 by Leave a Comment
The Wantok Musik Foundation have just released their April newsletter.
The Furphy Literary Award – an opportunity for all writers.
April 28, 2020 by 2 Comments
Entries can now be lodged in the Furphy Literary Award (worth $15,000). Almanac writers please note. [Have a crack – Ed]
Round 5, 2017 – Essendon v Collingwood: The meaning of ANZAC Day (Floreat Pica Society)
April 27, 2020 by 12 Comments
An Anzac Day article in two parts: the first, an engaging and challenging discussion of the meaning of Anzac Day; the second, a description, from a Pies perspective, of the Essendon-Collingwood match from 2017.
Almanac Life: The Weekend
April 25, 2020 by 1 Comment
Glen! reflects on the concept of the ‘weekend’, its relationship to work and sport, and working hours.
Almanac Life: Horses and Mini-bikes
April 24, 2020 by 4 Comments
Smokie rides neither horses nor motor-bikes. In this memoir, he explains why.
The anxious look of a ruckman – the true story of ‘Bub’ Smith
April 24, 2020 by 18 Comments
For Anzac Day, Michael Sexton brings us the story of Stan ‘Bub’ Smith – West Torrens footballer, soldier, club administrator. ‘Smith had every reason to be sour on life and football, but he acted against the darkness and embraced the light the game could provide.’
Creeping Anzacism
April 24, 2020 by 9 Comments
Bernard Whimpress’s book on Australian cricket captain Joe Darling has just been released. It’s timely to return to an essay written by Bernard which offers his thoughts on the influence of the ANZAC phenomenon. [This paper was first published here in 2012 – Ed]
Almanac Obituary: Vale Michael Bowden
April 23, 2020 by 4 Comments
Michael Bowden was a wonderful man. John Harms shares a few thoughts in introducing the obituary which appeared in the Fairfax papers. [We are thinking of The Bowdens at this sad time – JTH]
‘The man behind the story of the Saints’ 1970 glory……’ by KB Hill
April 23, 2020 by 2 Comments
KB Hill loves promoting anything positive about country sport, especially in Victoria’s north-east. Today he puts in a good word for David Johnston’s recently released book, ‘1970 – the Year of the Saints’.
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