Local footy returned this weekend to ovals throughout Australia. Paul Bateman found himself on the boundary at his local ground, a moment he describes in a mere three lines….
Almanac Footy: Heaps of fun at FIDA launch
April 13, 2026 by 1 Comment
Footy’s back all over the place, and Vin Maskell has highlighted one of the standout organisations, FIDA, as they launched 2026 with a game between legends and pollies.
Almanac Poetry: My Portrait by an Artist Friend
April 13, 2026 by 4 Comments
This week’s poem from Kevin Densley is basically KD’s commentary on a recent portrait of him by his artist-friend, Terry Matassoni.
Almanac Poetry: Two Odes to the Joys of Going Racing…55 Years Apart
April 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Wayne Peake suspects that race-goers of the early 70s were closer to their post WW1 counterparts than to the racegoers of 2026
Almanac Music – ’33 1/3 Reasons Why’: Orcutt Shelley Miller
April 10, 2026 by 2 Comments
Greg A is culling his music library. He’s also discovered a new sound he really likes – Orcutt Shelley Miller. ‘Check it out’ is his clear advice.
Almanac Life: Reacquainted after forty-two years
April 10, 2026 by 3 Comments
Ian Wilson and his mate Eddie met decades ago when they were into punk. After 42 years, their divergent life paths crossed. It was 1983 all over again!
Almanac Music: ‘Caught in a trap’ – Songs Referencing Catching.
April 10, 2026 by 67 Comments
In this instalment of KD’s long-running series on popular song themes, the subject is songs referencing catching. As is always the case, readers’ song choices and comments are warmly welcomed.
Almanac Memoir: Teenagers at School 2
April 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Pestwac goes back to his school days in north-western NSW to regale us with a story about a project on an epic scale which was conjured up by one of his teachers.
Almanac Life: Autumn in Melbourne
April 6, 2026 by 1 Comment
It’s arguably the best time of the year to be in Melbourne, according to Ian Wilson. He cites the weather, footy and comedy festival in this piece as evidence.
Almanac Poetry: The New Testament
April 6, 2026 by 8 Comments
‘The New Testament’ is Kevin Densley’s poetic take on the second major division of the Christian Bible – in just thirty-seven lines! This week it gets a second coming in honour of Easter Monday.
Almanac Rugby League: The Dolphins Cry
April 2, 2026 by 4 Comments
Jamie Simmons, once a Victorian, explains the challenges of assimilating into Queensland culture, especially when he can’t hack supporting the Brisbane Broncos (which just happens to be the team of his father-in-law).
Almanac Music: Our Dad banned Ted Mulry Gang, but embraced Skyhooks
April 2, 2026 by 13 Comments
The Goodwin brothers, Dave and Ian, take us on a journey to a different time and place to explain why their father, a State High School Principal, banned the Ted Mulry Gang from performing at Dalby State High School back in 1977. (Fascinating!~ – Ed.)
Almanac Life and Music: The Eighth Caller Through – The Cars, Neil Young, and Goanna
April 2, 2026 by 12 Comments
Mickey Randall’s mate Lukey dropped off some old vinyl albums recently. They took Mickey back to a special time in his life. Is nostalgia ‘right now — the way it found us in the first place?’
Round 3 – Haiku Bob: unnatural things
April 1, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Haiku Bob saw rather more polish in the Magpies’ performance under the dome in Round 3.
Almanac Horseracing: Boo ars only
April 1, 2026 by 7 Comments
Pestwac, as we know, spent a lot of time on the punt where he came into contact with any number of colourful characters. Today it’s Dickie, a man of military bearing – although he probably wasn’t!
Almanac Poetry: ‘High on the low down in Wonthaggi (even though I have to jump), reprise’
March 31, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Except for the personnel involved, play remains much the same on the streets of Wonthaggi as it has for ages recalls James Walton in his poem.
Almanac Poetry: Stone and Darkness
March 30, 2026 by 2 Comments
We reprise Kevin Densley’s seasonal poem in the lead up to Easter, set at dawn in the precinct of St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne.
Almanac Life: A day in the life of a postie
March 27, 2026 by 2 Comments
Nick Kossatch takes readers through a day in the life of a Postal Delivery Officer, and it’s much more than blowing whistles these days.
Almanac Footy: Our Glorious Game!
Good mates, Richard Griffiths and Murray Bird, both once at the heart of AFL footy, have spent much time collaborating around some of the current annoyances attached to this great game of ours, and present their thoughts for readers’ consideration.