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Encore: Helen Garner's love letter to her grandson, and football

Dec 5, 2025
Helen Garner, an acclaimed Australian novelist and memoirist, shares her heartwarming journey of following her grandson Amby's under-16s football team. She reflects on the beauty of community and human connection found in sports while navigating the bittersweet transition of childhood to adolescence. Garner discusses her experiences at games, the rituals of football culture, and the noble moments of camaraderie she witnesses. Through her observations, she captures the essence of grandmotherly love and the stories that emerge from the sidelines.
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ANECDOTE

How The Season Began

  • Helen Garner began visiting her grandson Ambrose's under-16s training because she was burnt out and needed something to write about.
  • She simply turned up, perched on a bench with a hat, and became part of the team's ordinary life.
ANECDOTE

A 50-Cent Letter Sparked Fandom

  • A documentary called The Year of the Dogs turned Helen into a Western Bulldogs fan after a story about a boy's 50-cent letter to Chris Grant.
  • She joined the club moved by the player's loyalty and the story's Dickensian quality.
INSIGHT

Watching For Human Splendour

  • Helen watches football for noble and glorious sporting behaviour rather than tactics or rules.
  • She cares about moments that reveal human splendour and moral character on the field.
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