The little town of Tongala (Pop. 2,000) is on the way to Kyabram from Echuca. We decided to stop for a rollup on our way.
We met Possum the green keeper who got us a mat and jacks then rolled rink 10 for us. He says he's been bowling 43 years.
Possum said it's been tough keeping the greens this last year.
He told us the greens have black beetles and the birds can hear them. They come and pull up the grass and ruin it. They have things up on the lights to scare them off but they don't work very well.
At Echuca they told us the greens here were terrible. We disagree. They aren't in fantastic shape but are good enough. We struggled a little to get the right weight but did have a few tight heads.
Possum sat and watched us and told us stories about the club's success. We got a sense of the rivalry between Tonnie and Moama. Apparently there's a bit between Kye (Kyabram) and Tonnie as well.
Mal was in his usual form and won ten to six. Jean needed six on the last end (fat chance with only four bowls). She scored one. Mal decided early in the game the winner would win the dead frog. "What are you going to name it Mal?"
Tongala, sad birds still sing!
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