The beauty of a tall dead tree rising through the fog is a welcome distraction from the hard slog of tree planting Tommy Mallet’s poem ‘Piece Rates’ points out.
Almanac Poetry: Triptych
August 2, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Kevin Densley’s poem reworks a classic 19th century French painting into an imagined three-part contemporary picture that critiques today’s consumerist society.
Almanac (Footy) Life: Kid-wrangling and Coach-wrangling
July 31, 2021 by 3 Comments
Collingwood put their fans out of their misery early this season but the footy joy is still there to be experienced – at Auskick, writes Nicole Kelly. Even if it did feel like -2.2 degrees in Beaufort.
Almanac Books: ‘Half a Chicken & Chips’ – a new book from the Coodabeen Champions
July 30, 2021 by 1 Comment
The Coodabeen Champions have a new book coming out, ‘Half a Chicken & Chips’. Fifty yarns ‘tumble out of the pages as a cavalcade of characters share their 15 minutes of fame with the wireless wags’. A book not to be missed! Ian Cover introduces the collection of footy yarns.
Almanac Life: Pre-Marital Counselling
July 30, 2021 by 17 Comments
The things you have to do to get married during the cricket season! Smokie fondly remembers the lead up to his marriage to Margaret.
Almanac Music: Australian Winter Songs – Name a Personal Favourite.
July 30, 2021 by 28 Comments
Summer and music go so well together, as everyone knows. What about winter and music? In this piece, KD asks Almanackers to nominate a favourite winter song, and provides one of his own.
Almanac Book Review: Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’ reviewed by Ben Kirkby
July 29, 2021 by 9 Comments
Deakin Uni Creative Writing student Ben Kirkby had never read a Stephen King novel, and still hasn’t. But he was drawn to King’s ‘On Writing’. So engaged, Ben felt compelled to take notes. He eventually turned those notes into this review. [Lots of good tips here, as you would expect – JTH]
Almanac Music: ‘My Brown Yarra’ – Whirling Furphies
July 27, 2021 by 5 Comments
The Whirling Furphies are one of those great inner city Melbourne bands well-known for their acoustic, roots based folky music. ‘My Brown Yarra’ is one of their classic songs, check it out.
Almanac Poetry: ‘Statues’ – Tommy Mallet
July 27, 2021 by 1 Comment
Tommy Mallet’s poem ‘Statues’ tells of a precious moment when everything is out of reach, except for love.
Almanac Life and Footy: Do it for Frank
July 26, 2021 by 4 Comments
John Gordon shares the poignant life of Frank Temple, from a stint for the Saints’ Thirds cut down by a shoulder injury to a life cut short by the scourge of asbestos, Frank was St Kilda to the core, but family came first.
Almanac Poetry: A Change in the Atmosphere
July 26, 2021 by 1 Comment
Kevin Densley describes this week’s poem as “full-on Gothic horror”; eat your heart out, Poe!
Almanac Life: From the Arctic to Far North Queensland
July 23, 2021 by 1 Comment
After his Arctic exploits a couple of years ago, Richard Marlow now hangs about at Charters Towers in Far North Queensland. Here’s an update on his meanderings.
Almanac Life: Vale John ‘Strop’ Cornell
July 23, 2021 by 6 Comments
John ‘Strop’ Cornell has died at the age of 80. The Footy Almanac pays tribute to an iconic figure in Australian television and sport.
Almanac History: Almanacs Through The Ages
July 23, 2021 by 2 Comments
In this Friday’s column, KD presents a very short history of almanacs in words and images.
Almanac Music: More of Procol Harum
July 23, 2021 by 3 Comments
Inspired by Col Ritchie’s recent homage to the Procol Harum classic, ‘A whiter shade of pale’, Ian Hauser recalls two other songs from the same album which he deems worthy of recognition.
Tokyo Summer Olympics – will history repeat?
July 21, 2021 by 7 Comments
This piece was published originally in March 2020, with the Olympics to be cancelled. We’re now on the precipice of the Games finally taking place, albeit behind closed doors. Glen! gave us the background on the Tokyo Olympics and previous cancellations of the Games, as significant now as then.
Almanac Music: ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’
July 20, 2021 by 6 Comments
‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ is one of the greatest songs ever written according to Col Ritchie. Gary Brooker performs in concert the song he wrote with Keith Reid, and recorded by Procol Harum in 1967.
Almanac Poetry: ‘Scratchy Greys’
July 20, 2021 by 1 Comment
Awaking from the stupor of deep sleep can leave the mind with the fear of dread as Tommy Mallet’s poem ‘Scratchy Greys’ implies.
Almanac History: Old Grandstands
July 19, 2021 by 9 Comments
Grandstands come in all shapes and sizes. Col Ritchie has come across one incorporating a huge tree trunk at Beech Forest in the Otways long ago. It’s a ripper!
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