Free Republic

If you want to see the best football code in the world, you have to visit Australia in April-September. Port Melbourne footballer Maddy “Maddawg” Patterson was a tree planter but now she’s a sparky. (Electrician.) Her focus and concentration on the game and on her team is cool, calm, poised and beautiful. And what is it on the field that drives Maddawg’s commitment to her club and her nation’s native game? It’s wonderful goals like this sublimely skilled evasion of opponents by teammate Kaitlyn O’Keefe.

AUSTRALIAN Journalist Lauren Tomasi has been shot by a rubber bullet fired straight at her by an LAPD officer in Los Angeles. Demands are being made in Australia that Anthony Albanese call Donald Trump to protest. Should The Donald pick up the phone or have any such call redirected to Newsom?

Since I first started following Aussie Rules footy at the age of 9 in 1967, the qualities I have most loved seeing are courage at the contest and skill, speed and flair. Outstanding players I have seen in this regard are Barry Price, Keith Greig, Robbie Flower, Barry Cable, Garry Ablett Senior, Eddie Betts, The Krakouer brothers and the current Number 5 of the North Melbourne Kangaroos AFLW team, Tess Craven. As a human being Tess is modest, kind, friendly and helpful and always puts her team ahead of herself. The strength, skill and determination she shows above in tackling...

The day I took this photo of Melbourne ruckwoman Georgia Campbell being tackled by key forward Tayla Harris, the configuration of elbows, heads and hands caught my eye as something special. Together, the two players looked like a Lotus Flower - the Buddhist symbol of purity, spiritual enlightenment and rebirth. I asked Tay if she'd like a song to be written about it and she said she'd prefer a rap. So I tried (without huge ability in the art form) to make one. (click here) In Melbourne, Aussie Rules football is often called a religion. Could the game become more...

Modern gender bigotry hurts and separates both men and women in oceans of inhumane distrust and fear. A dystopian nightmare. Central Melbourne freedom fighter and life long nurse Pauline explains what we need to understand in order to heal from this disease: "Women are sacred and possess this incredible super power to grow and carry life. Men are important too, and the current BS is making men and women forget how incredibly unique and special we all are, as men and women." God Bless Pauline.

On August 8 in 1967 Vivien Leigh died and in 2011 Betty Ford died. Scarlett O'Hara. Blanche DuBois. Alcoholism overcome. Leigh said: "Sometimes I dread the truth of the lines I say. But the dread must never show." Ford said: "It's always been my feeling that God lends you your children until they're about eighteen years old. If you haven't made your points with them by then, it's too late." She used her freedom.and spoke her mind. God Bless Truth

Lady Godiva and her hubby, Leofric, the Earl Of Mercia were both generous to Christian religious houses. He established a Benedictine monastery in Coventry. She gave gold and silver jewelry to monasteries. One necklace was hung on the neck of the Virgin Mary. The first known Rosary-like string of prayer beads was made by her. That's history. Different times. According to legend, LG was deeply troubled by oppressive taxation of the people by her husband and entreated him again and again to lower taxes but he refused. However she persisted and eventually he gave in on the condition that she...

Lita Grey would have turned 115 years old today. If she had lived long enough. She didn't. But she survived marriage to Charlie Chaplin. Read what this babe said about his sense of humour here ........

Who can make sense of Greta Garbo? She was born Swedish and became a movie star at home before she also found cinematic glory in America? But did she become truly American?

Claire Windsor was born in Phillips County, Kansas, to Scandinavian parents on April 14, 1892 .......... She was married twice and well known for her love affairs ........... “Love” she said, “shouldn’t be about rules ......... When you meet that person, everything will be calm .......

William Shatner is a man who has spoken powerful English in a long acting career. As Captain Kirk, he said, “Sometimes a feeling is all we humans have to go on.” And the actor also said, "I always use a stunt double. Except in love scenes. I insist on doing them myself." He was the oldest man ever to fly in space. God Bless William Shatner. Lets not let manhood die.