Almanac Horseracing: Dunkeld Cup Day – Saturday, 15 November

Dandy Andy presents his thoughts and tips for the Western District time honoured Dunkeld Cup running on Saturday 15 November.

Almanac Rugby League – One more thing: Key dates for 2026 – Updated!

Just before we completely sign off from the rugby league season, here are some key dates for 2026, including the full season draw for both the NRL and the NRLW.

Sal’s Preview 2025: Orr Stakes Day Preview – The FIXture is in – and it makes me wild!

In his final preview for the year Sal Ciardulli takes us to Caulfield for Orr Stakes Day. Sal also comments on the AFL’s Wildcard Round. [Thank you Sal for the considerable time and effort you have taken throughout the year presenting your racing and footy tips, it has been very much appreciated. – ED]

Almanac Poetry: Backyard Internationals

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

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 Footy Comment: Gather Round is the solution

Miles Wilks thinks that the recently announced Wildcard Round is an answer to the wrong question. By drawing on overseas examples, he offers an alternative framework which may well provide the answer to what he believes to be the right question.

RITV Summer Series – Book Review: ‘Bare Knuckles’ by Michael Blucher and John Connolly

John ‘Knuckles’ Connolly was one of the great rugby union coaches both here in Australia and internationally. RITV reviews his biography of ‘Bare Knuckles’ written by Michael Blucher and John Connolly.

Almanac Rugby League – The Ashes and The Pacific Championships: The season finally comes to an end

The 2025 rugby league season finally reached its conclusion with the third Ashes Test in Leeds and the Pacific Championships finals in Sydney. Ian Hauser provides the Almanac’s coverage.

‘A century of stars at Merriwa Park…’ by KB Hill

Anyone for tennis? KB Hill set himself the task of choosing the Top 20 male and female tennis players in the history of Wangaratta’s Merriwa Park. In Part 1 today, KB covers Nos. 20-10.

Almanac Poetry: Gough

‘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

Smokie was fortunate to be part of the crowd as Paul Kelly showcased his new album “Seventy” at the Corner Hotel

Almanac Cricket: A History of Cricket in Woomera 1947 – 2014, Part 1: 1947 – 1951

After his extensive account of football in Woomera, David Turpin turns his attention to the history of cricket in Woomera from 1947 – 2014.

Almanac Literary: An extract from Kelvin Templeton’s ‘Collision’

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 Local Footy: The Kat Trick

It was a thrilling day of grand final football in the North Pilbara Football League. John Gordon recounts what was an historic day for the Karratha Kats

Almanac Cricket: Tassie’s own

Jake Weatherald’s likely selection for the First Test in Perth has Dan Hoban looking at Tasmanian cricket since the Islanders entered the first class scene in the late 1970s.

Almanac History – The Dismissal: 50 Years On

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

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.

Almanac Life: A quiet fade – a friend’s quiet battle with dementia and how exercise can help

Allan Barden witnesses the journey an old mate is taking after the early on-set of dementia was recently diagnosed.

Almanac Life: Jacko & Lenny

Tom Cranitch tells the poignant story of a moment at Lang Park, involving his brother Lenny and Australian rugby league star, the late Peter Jackson. Unbeknownst to each other, they shared a terrible background of abuse at the hands of trusted figures in their lives. (Editorial alert – This piece contains accounts of sexual abuse, drug abuse and depression.)

The Bishop, the Nun and the Matador

A poem from Damian Ballasone about a bishop, a nun, and a matador.