Bowling in 32° at Healesville

This morning we rolled up at Whittlesea, then took the hour-long drive over to Healesville for a very warm rollup.

Jean had been chatting with Ian on Messenger. She'd found out social bowls was on Thursday so we decided to come for a Monday rollup. We asked him if we could park our van at the club (gate was locked). He said he'd have to check with Chairperson Rob about that. We were sweltering in our van up the road when he rang back. We met him at the gate.

He opened the clubhouse so we could take a peek inside.

There's a plaque about when the Mayor opened the new synthetic green ten years ago.

After a while Rob arrived to open the gate for us.

We parked the van near the old green. We were so grateful to find a cool spot for our van.

Ian told us they only use the old grass green once a year for their big Fours tournament. It's full of leaves at the moment.

Rob had been out of contact this morning as he was helping his Mum out in her nursing home. Ian told us about her. Her name is Beryl Ayers and she's 97. They named the original clubhouse after her as she had won over 50 competitions in her time - including state championships. She was still a force to be reckoned with at age 92. The most amazing thing about her is that, in the 1950's, she pulled on a guernsey and played footy for Healesville - unheard of for a woman. It would have been a privilege to meet her.

There are a couple of old machines around. An aerator

and a roller.

The new green is a carpet synthetic. Even though it was 32⸰ crazy Mal and Jean rolled up on it.

Jean was glad she had her bowling arm because the sweaty bowls would have been very slippery.

She did OK despite the heat.

In typical Mal style, he didn't complain.

He managed good bowls in the heat.

The boys told us the big tree over the green is more than 100 years old!

They also told us there's a family of platypus in the creek below the green. We thought we'd go back at dusk and see if we could see them.

Healesville - so friendly and accommodating in the heat!