Almanac Poetry: Picture at an Exhibition: ‘Solo Man’ (homo softdrinkus) c. 1975, Australia

March 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Kevin Densley on today’s poem: “In ‘Solo Man’, I indicate my answer to the following question: how misogynistic was Australia in the 1970s, my formative teenage years?”

Almanac Horseracing – Confessions of a teenage racegoer of the 1970s Part II: ‘Ton’ Currie and the Yobboes

October 17, 2025 by 3 Comments

In the second in a series of abstracts from the chapter ‘Confessions of a Teenage Racegoer’ from the book ‘Sydney Racing in the 1970s: an Illustrated Companion’, Wayne Peake introduces us to The Yobboes which included blokes like Ton Currie, Pretty Boy and Bad Ronald. [You may recognise a former life here – Ed]

Almanac Horseracing (Memoir): Confessions of a teenage racegoer of the 1970s

October 10, 2025 by 6 Comments

Wayne Peake takes us on a journey recalling his initial attraction to, and later fascination and obsession with, the punt! It’s a slippery slope… (Welcome aboard, Wayne, some superb stories here – Ed.)

Almanac Memoir: Swish Agonistes – A 70s Tribute to Sandy Stone

February 20, 2024 by 28 Comments

Attention: men (and women) ‘of a certain age’. Mark ‘Swish’ Schwerdt has drilled into your collective unconscious and found memories you thought you’d forgotten. [A classic from ten years ago reprised. – Ed]

The Day I Met Dick

February 18, 2021 by 8 Comments

In the hustle and bustle of life, it’s amazing who you might bump into. Warren Tapner picked out someone significant – to say the least!

Almanac Flashback – Bowled (Canna) Lily: Park Cricket in 1970s Elizabeth

November 15, 2019 by 27 Comments

Mark ‘Swish’ Schwerdt revisits the battlefields of childhood, and the characters that made those informal test matches forever memorable in a story from 2014 reprised from the Footy Almanac archives.

A star from the VFA’s halcyon days by KB Hill

July 4, 2018 by Leave a Comment

This week’s KB Hill features Rod Cobain, who played in the VFL & VFA before heading up to Yarrawonga

Round 6 – Collingwood v Richmond: Just like the good old days

April 30, 2018 by 7 Comments

When the Pies and Tiges are on, games don’t get much bigger or passionate. Cheryl Critchley was on hand to witness a revival (of sorts) of the memorable clashes of the 1970-80s

There Goes The Charabanc – The CDFC Bulldogs Supporters Bus (1970-1976)

March 25, 2014 by 10 Comments

Part travelogue, part snapshot in time: take the trip with Swish Schwerdt on the supporter bus as he travels around the SANFL as a keen teen. Bound to strike a nostalgic chord even with those who were nowhere near.

Ashes Dreaming

January 23, 2012 by 3 Comments

by Barry Nicholls Chapter One: The beginning the 1970s   The year is 1975 or thereaboust. Life is full of big smiles sunburnt faces, freckles and crooked teeth. Television is transforming from black and white to colour. Suddenly studio sets and sporting fields are alive with a rainbow of colours. Sprinklers click away each morning, [Read more]