Almanac Book Review: ‘On the Premiership Trail – More Travels in Victorian Country Football’ by Paul Daffey

Rod Gillett reviews Paul Daffey’s latest book, ‘On the Premiership Trail: More Travels in Victorian Country Football’ which will be launched tonight at the Nathalia Football Club.

Almanac (Test) Cricket: Two significant Test cricket anniversaries

This weekend marks two great anniversaries in the history of Australian Test cricket – the Brisbane Tied Test from the 1960/61 series against the West Indies and Greg Chappell’s 1970 Test debut in Perth. The Almanac looks back fondly.

Almanac Food: KD’s Kitchen – Worcestershire Sauce – My Favourite Condiment (What’s Yours?)

In this instalment of KD’s Kitchen, he extols the virtues of Worcestershire Sauce and invites Almanackers to respond with their own favourite condiment.

Almanac Cricket: My Australian XI for the First Test

Sean Mortell picks his Australian line-up for next week’s First Test against India in Adelaide. He has a surprise or two for you to consider.

” ‘Peabo’…….The Poor Man’s Warner…….” by KB Hill

KB Hill profiles Darren “Peabo’ Petersen, the ‘poor man’s David Warner of country cricket’. You’ll see what an apt choice that phrase is!

Almanac Poetry: Note of thanks to an Old Gum Tree

E.regnans shares more of his insights into the time of Covid, recognising and thanking an old gum tree for its stability in a time of uncertainty.

Almanac Footy: The Best Fullback of All Time

Matt Zurbo presents his thoughts on the best fullbacks of all time; those he has seen, and those from a historical perspective.

Almanac Music: Gerry Humphrys -The Loved One

Gerry Humphrys and his band The Loved Ones created some of Australia’s greatest pop songs during their short career in the 60s. A documentary of Humphrys’ career was made and is well worth a look.

Almanac Book Review: ‘George Giffen – A Biography’: A sumptuous story of a cricketing life

Roy Hay reviews ‘George Giffen: A Biography’ by Bernard Whimpress; a sumptuous story of a cricketing life.

Almanac Rugby League: Vale Gary Parcell (1933-2020)

Gary Parcell, a member of that famous 1960 Kangaroo all-Ipswich front row of Beattie, Kelly and Parcell, passed away last week. The Almanac pays tribute to a Queensland and Australian rugby league icon.

Almanac Poetry: The Other Side of Bradman (A Response to Geoff Page’s ‘On the Death of a Famous Cricketer’)

Kevin Densley has written a response to Geoff Page’s poem about Don Bradman, ‘On the Death of a Famous Cricketer’.

Almanac Rugby Union: The 2020 Tri Nations Series – Australia 16 drew with Argentina 16

Brian the Ruminator took in Saturday night’s rugby union clash between the Wallabies and Los Pumas. The highlight of the night had nothing to do with the football!

Almanac Literary: The shifty shadow of a lifetime with ‘Cloudstreet’

Tim Winton’s ‘Cloudstreet’ is a classic of Australian literature and has been a part of Shane Reid’s life for many years as he explains.

Almanac Teams: In Two Minds (1980-)

We’ve had his top side in Number 2s, now Rodney Boyd shares his cult heroes and generally interesting names who played wearing the number in the past 40 years.

Almanac (Local) Cricket: Pomborneit Cricket Club 2020/21 Season- November Review

November was a busy month at the Pomborneit Cricket Club, especially with the debut of the club’s inaugural senior women’s teams. Catch up with all that’s happening at the Bulls in their monthly review.

Almanac Footy: The Ian Brown Memorial Fund Match – Ballarat FL v Bendigo FL 1953

Historian Roger Spaull recounts a classic (and tragic) piece of country football history, ‘The Ian Brown Memorial Fund Match – Ballarat FL v Bendigo FL 1953’.

Leading from the front: Neil Thompson’s journey

Neil ‘Thommo’ Thompson has a remarkable life story, ranging from over 20 footy clubs (12 of them being guided to flags by Neil) and a few harrowing tales of the Bali bombings and UN involvements. Rob Spurr has been lucky enough to know ‘Thommo’, and has produced a wonderful recount of ‘Thommo’s’ many tribulations [a must-read, this is an amazing story – Ed].

Almanac Baseball: ‘Legends of South Australian Baseball Book 5 – Neil Philip Page aka ‘Supee’’

In an extract from his book, ‘Legends of South Australian Baseball Book 5 – Neil Philip Page aka ‘Supee’’, Gary Bennett provides an introduction to one of his all-time favourite pitchers.

Book Launch: ‘George Giffen – a biography’ by Bernard Whimpress

Join author Bernard Whimpress on December 8 to celebrate the launch of his latest biography on Australian sporting wonder George Giffen.

FEARLESS 2020: North Melbourne – all is not what it seems

After a tough season for Shinboners, Fearless reviews North Melbourne’s year and looks ahead to the imminent rebuild under new coach David Noble.