In isolation in a Sydney hotel, what goes through your mind?

Richard Marlow, the former Arctic warrior, is now in isolation in a Sydney hotel with a further stint in Queensland to follow. He tells us what’s going on in his mind.

‘The Nicolls of Whorouly……..’ by KB Hill

The Nicoll family and cricket in Whorouly are synonymous. KB Hill recounts the epic feats of the various members of this exceptionally talented family.

Poem – Harlequin with Australian Rules Football

Kevin Densley paints a picture with poetic words about our great game of footy.

Tom Harley: Mr Perseverance becomes elite

Malcolm ‘Rulebook’ Ashwood considers the life and career of a tenacious Geelong (and Redlegs, of course) champion

Frank Hyett: Successful sportsman, unionist, politician and victim of the Spanish flu.

The Footy Almanac reprises a story from 2011 about WW1 Spanish flu victim Frank Hyett. Hyett was a successful sportsman, unionist, and politician who Glen! was seeking information about at the time. He received a terrific response as indicated in the comments section.

John Prine – Singer songwriter great dies of Covid-19

The legendary John Prine has died. Such a loss to lovers of great music.

I miss the footy

Like many, John Green is missing footy in this time of Covid-19 but replays and reflections on history past help him through this period of social isolation.

Bruce Dawe RIP – the Larrikin Laureate

Australia’s Everyman poet Bruce Dawe died on April 1st. His words and sensibility live on in thousands of hearts that have laughed, cried and nodded on reading his words over 60 years. His footy poems “Life Cycle” and “High Mark” are embedded in the heart of the game.

Vale Bill Withers

You may not have known the late Bill Withers by name, but you probably knew some of his songs.

“Covid-19 and regional clubs” from The Saturday Paper

An institution in the social livelihoods of everyday Australia, local footy clubs have been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic. The Saturday Paper has the details from the ground by a few from those very clubs.

Should parents get their children into swimming lessons from a young age?

An in-depth look at the merits of teaching swimming at an early age for survival reasons from Shannon Cole.

Almanac Poetry: Two Championship Performances

Kevin Densley compares two spectacular feats from two different eras. [Welcome Kevin – Ed]

The journey home from the Arctic – well almost! An odyssey in itself.

Wow! What an epic journey it has been for Richard Marlow to return to Australia from the wilds of the Arctic before the borders are closed. Read his amazing journey here.

Bruce Dawe: A Poet remembered

Vin Maskell is a huge fan of Bruce Dawe, and shares his previously published stories of the poet as a tribute to celebrate the life that has just passed.

Almanac Poetry: A greeting from Bruce Dawe

This piece was written by John Harms just after he had received a beaut greeting card from Bruce Dawe around Christmas time 2016. Bruce Dawe’s poetry, loved by many, was special to John Harms.

1981 Revisited – Round 1: ‘Just Like Starting Over’

Sam Steele begins his journey through the season that was 1981. Coming off a Tigers premiership, things looked good. Little did he know what the next three decades would bring.

The Wisteria Diary – So we’re all socialists now?

Welcome to the revolution, Liberal/National Party style, comrades.

1966 and all that: Prologue

Peter Clark begins a series on the season that was 1966. Here he sets puts the footy season into its historical and social contexts.

Poetry: ‘Life Cycle’, by Bruce Dawe

Life Cycle by Bruce Dawe captures the significance of footy in Victoria and beyond. Life and footy are so entwined in all those places (and cultures) where footy is meaningful to the people. [This was published to celebrate the birth of Henry Joseph Santamaria – Ed]

All it takes is a smiling Shrek

Teddy bears, and chalk drawings on the footpath not only bring joy to children but also to senior citizens as Jan Courtin explains.