Geelong’s sluggish and deflating performance in the Opening Round against the Suns drove Dips O’Donnell around the bend, reminding him of traversing a particularly bumpy bend on the road to Yarrawonga when he was a kid. Concrete slabs, both the bend and the Cats.
‘Jolly Nuisance’: This O’Donnell Life – with an introduction by John Harms
December 13, 2025 by 1 Comment
Dips O’Donnell’s ‘Jolly Nuisance’ is a delightful collection of observational writing about everyday life. Read more about it in this post, which includes John Harms’s introduction to the book. A delightful Christmas gift for those who’ve followed Dips over the years on this site, and for those who appreciate insightful observational writing]
‘Old Ungarie boy finds his niche in Yarra…’ by KB Hill
February 29, 2024 by 1 Comment
Kyle Archibald is a bit of an ‘everywhere man’ when it comes to his playing career. But Ungarie and Yarrawonga have been central to it all. KB Hill caught up with Kyle recently.
‘Old Pigeon rues those painful Grand Final losses…’ by KB Hill
September 28, 2023 by 1 Comment
KB Hill chats with Yarrawonga Pigeon’s legend John White. They mulled over a couple of hotly contested O & M League Grand Finals from back in the day.
Up the Mighty Murray! – Episode 19: Going back to Yarrawonga
August 23, 2023 by 3 Comments
Peter Clark has reached Howlong in his journey up the Murray River. This week he reports on the Yarrawonga Pigeons v Wangaratta Rovers match.
Almanac Life: Yarrawonga Rhythm
January 27, 2023 by 18 Comments
It’s summer, and for Dips O’Donnell that means Yarrawonga, days on the lake, water skiing, a good book, and a quiet beer as the sun slowly sets.
‘The legend from Pelluebla South…’ by KB Hill
January 26, 2023 by Leave a Comment
KB Hill has a unique way of catching up with the legends of local sport up Wangaratta way. This time he catches up with nonagenarian Bruce Wright.
’84 years on – is history about to repeat itself…?’ by KB Hill
September 29, 2022 by 2 Comments
Last weekend’s OMFNL Grand Final between Wangaratta and Yarrawonga got KB Hill thinking back to when these clubs clashed in the 1938 decider.
‘Hawks swoop on Pigeons in dramatic fashion…’ by KB Hill
May 19, 2022 by Leave a Comment
KB Hill recounts the thrilling finish to the recent Wang Rovers v Yarrawonga Pigeons clash in the Ovens and Murray League.
‘Oh!…me name is McNamara…’ by KB Hill
December 16, 2021 by 1 Comment
KB Hill recounts the decades-long contribution of the McNamara family to cricket and footy in Victoria’s north-east.
‘Pigeon Bert reflects on a lifetime career in football…’ by KB Hill
June 17, 2021 by Leave a Comment
‘His is a familiar tale, replicated by countless volunteers throughout the state ……. Of the old champ, having hung up his boots after a storied career, rolling up his sleeves and devoting decades of service to his beloved Club.’ KB Hill talks with Yarrawonga icon, Robert Tait.
“Flag Flames Again Flicker At The ‘Showies’……… ” by KB Hill
September 27, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Grand Final week has KB Hill casting his mind back over some of the classic encounters in the annals of Ovens & Murray League Grand Finals.
‘A Hard-Man……On And Off The Field’ – KB Hill
July 18, 2019 by Leave a Comment
KB Hill knows his local characters! This week he recounts the colourful life of Ray Burns, policeman, hotelier and football hard man. And no-one does it like KB!
‘Far from the madding crowd…..’ – KB Hill
April 3, 2019 by Leave a Comment
KB Hill reprises his tribute to Lance Oswald, Strathmerton legend, St Kilda star of the early 60s and a member of both their Hall of Fame and Team of the Century. According to many local experts, he was Wangaratta’s finest football product. Lance passed away recently.
Almanac Synchronised Yobbo Diving: Yarrawonga
January 24, 2019 by 8 Comments
The O’Donnells and water sports: Phyllis as a world champion surfer and Dips the team man playing his role.
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
Tennis and Eternity
January 31, 2017 by 5 Comments
Under the glorious elms at Yarrawonga, Dips ponders the essentials of life; generational change and mortality, tennis, music, and realising, as Shakespeare wrote, that “life is but a walking shadow.”
Good Things Happen in Yarrawonga
January 28, 2014 by 11 Comments
Dips loves Yarrawonga. In this evocative piece he hints at why. [Could be a tennis piece; could be a water-skiing piece; could be an exercise in describing sunsets and other serenities piece – Ed]
General Footy Writing: Watch out for the termite mound!
September 24, 2009 by 1 Comment
I’ve recently moved to Galiwinku, which is the second largest Aboriginal community in Australia. It is based in a place called Elcho Island, which is a part of Arnhem land and situated about 500 kilometres east of Darwin. There are only 3,000 people in the community, but surprisingly there are eight football sides that make […]
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