Almanac Book Extract: ‘The Golf Courses of Vern Morcom’ – Toby Cumming

Toby Cumming’s latest book ‘The golf courses of Vern Morcom’ is an insightful look into the many different holes and greens shaped by the course architect. Enjoy an excerpt from the book, where Toby discusses a course comprised of Morcom’s best holes.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Men of `Fifty-Four’

With today the anniversary of The Eureka Stockade, Kevin Densley’s poem reflects upon the thoughts of that by-gone struggle.

Almanac Soccer: The Dockerty Cup – outside of Melbourne?

Almanac historian Roy Hay takes us back to 1931 to recount the only time the Dockerty Cup was held outside of Melbourne.

Almanac Life: The Yachts

Smokie fondly remembers some of his teenage exploits as a budding yachtsman on Hobsons Bay.

Balcony Banter: Fifty years on

John Harms recalls the first summer of Test cricket he can remember properly. (This piece is from the MCC’s Balcony Banter blog)

Almanac Footy: What’s what with the WAFL by Les Everett

Les Everett highlights the WAFL players that have, or should have, attracted the attention of AFL recruiters.

Almanac (Footy) Life: Pepsi and Suntan and a first game of footy

Jamie Simmons tells the story of how he was drafted into playing his first ever game of footy for the Murri Mavericks. [Ripper read Jamie! – Ed]

Almanac Music: Elton John – on the road to the Highlands 1974

A Rolls Royce, a Mini, Elton John and the road to the Highlands are fondly remembered by Col Ritchie.

Almanac Surfing: Summer is here and Dips is up

Evidence of Dips O’Donnell as a genuine surfer has landed at Almanac HQ.

Almanac Poetry: The Day I Broke Billy

Many Almanackers will recall running their guts out as kids in Little Athletics. Kevin Densley does, and in this week’s poem he describes his most memorable race.

Sports Archaeology? What lies beneath the pitch…

When did the English start their climb to the top of the limited-overs rankings in cricket? According to this photo, it could have been much earlier than you think!

Almanac Teams: The Terrific 2s (1980-)

The schoolyard refrain ‘First is the worst, second is the best’ might not be entirely scientific in its reasoning, but Rodney Boyd has put forward another team based on the best players he’s seen in the Number 2 which could very well take it up to his Number 1s.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Sacredly Profane’ – a new collection by Kevin Densley

Congratulations to Kevin Densley on his new collection of poems ‘Sacredly Profane’. Read more in this post.

Almanac Footy: A decade on – was I Nostradamus?

Sam Steele reflects and comments on the thought provoking predications he made about the future of AFL footy in a piece he published on The Footy Almanac in 2009.

Almanac Cricket: First game of cricket

Watching his grandson play his first game of cricket brought back memories for Col Ritchie of his first match 57 years ago.

Almanac Book Review: ‘The Golf Courses of Vern Morcom’ – Toby Cumming

Peter Baulderstone reviews Toby Cumming’s book, ‘The golf courses of Vern Morcom’, the story of one of Australia’s most influential golf course architects.

FEARLESS 2020 – The Grand Final Edition…and the silly season that follows.

The dust has finally settled after the Grand Final and the silly season has began as FEARLESS explains in his footy report.

The Nuns of Naples 1984-91

With his usual rapier wit, Damian Balassone cuts to the chase in addressing the death of Diego Maradona.

Almanac Football (Soccer): Diego Maradona dies at 60

Soccer great Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60 – a sublime talent, a hero to many, a villain to some. A name that conjures a multitude of responses.

Almanac Cricket: The Art of Afternoon Tea

Henry Ballard elucidates on the etiquette of cricket’s afternoon tea spread, from the horrors of multiple pull-apart scrolls to the delights now provided regularly by the Wantirna South Thirds.