Search Results

On our way to Darwin we've stopped in at Port Augusta Bowling Club for a quick peek. It's just a short little post today. It's an old-fashioned clubhouse we saw through the window. It has a long under cover area by the green. It's a really large green - the sign says which rinks to roll up on. We met John who was doing that. We didn't roll up because we couldn't remember if we'd locked our caravan. We had to get back. Port Augusta - quick - back to the caravan!

On our way to Northern Territory we've stopped overnight at Moree. Luckily we're here on a Wednesday and they have bowls this arvo. We came inside. It's a nice, big RSL Club. There's some bowls memorabilia. They are the Magpies. Outside is an under cover outdoor area with a little playground. We met Mick who organises Wednesdays. There were a few travellers there. We met Dave from Tea Gardens. Outside is a 1971 commemorative plaque for the old greens. There are now new synthetics. There are two new, blue, plastic synthetic greens. Like 'The Blue Lagoon at Trafalgar. Brian said they've been in about a year. They are both under cover. The metal seats are new and impressive. Scoreboards and seats are donated in memorium. The front green is the open one. Today it's three-bowl pairs. Jean and Dot Played Brian and Mal. Jean struggled with weight. She finally got shot Then Mal came in and stole it! Then he stole one from Dot. Dot said " I think I'm playing against a champion! ". Mal could do no wrong! Jean finally got shot with a Toucher then Mal put her in the ditch. It ended up 28 to six. Jean told Mal " You're walking home! ". (Across the road to the showground.) Moree - Mal's cooking dinner!

We're staying at Delungra so drove over to Inverell to visit the two clubs there. The first was the ex-servos - Inverell RSM Bowling Club. The bowling club is separate from the main club - down the side. We got a shot through the window. Barry rolled up with us. There's just one plastic synthetic green. Jean's turn. Barry was just too good for us. Jean could only manage second! Mal did his best. He was close but Barry was closer! Jean jumped up and down when she finally got herself a shot. Mal got one too! Inverell RSM - thanks for the lesson Barry!

We came to Tingha for just one night and visited it's little Bowling Club.  Actually it's The Tingha Sport and Recreation Club.  Very evident today! It's a small town - about 800 people. When we arrived the place was packed!  There was a footy game on.  Seniors Tingha vs Inverell. Most of the spectators were Indigenous which pleased us. Out the front is a shrine of Remembrance. It's a nice little clubhouse. With great murals on the wall And bowls info proudly displayed. We met Graeme who runs things.  He told us the club is no longer affiliated as they only have a few members now. Tammy is a bowler and works the bar. Tammy introduced us to Peter the ex-President. One of the spectators showed us his Tingha social club shirt. Jean got a badge for her hat. The green was opened in 1988. There's a painting out the back of the green. The Green is pretty good for a tiny little club. It's the Selby Dean Green. With sturdy permanent shades. Mal rolled up  Jean thought she had shot but Mal pipped her. Then Jean  had her go. She was surprised she managed three. Mal was not to be outdone! Jean finished with a Resting Toucher!  One of the guys told us Tingha had the footy wrapped up. 25 to 10. Tingha - great for footy and bowls!

THE SUMMIT We got confused about which Stanthorpe club has bowls on which day. We went to The Summit to see if they had Ladies bowls on Wednesday. Turns out it's Thursday and it was all locked up. We saw the nice bar from the front door window. It's all about apples round here! There's a funny painting on the wall. There are two nice grass greens. We couldn't have a rollup so just took photos. STANTHORPE When we turned up to Stanthorpe Golf and Bowls we discovered bowls is actually today. It's a nice little golf focused club. Sharon at the bar helped us out with information. It was opened in 1976. Even though it's a golf club there are a few bowls flags up. Colin looks after social bowls today. It's very cold so it's possible nobody will turn up. There's one grass green. There used to be two but one's left fallow. The shades are permanent. Because there are only a few of us we didn't have to pay $10. We played together Against Robyn and John. Colin swung. Stanthorpe is the coldest place in Qld. It was freezing. 11° but felt like 9° with the wind. First end, opposition Colin had a toucher. Mal directed Jean to come forehand onto it. She did just that for shot. Then Mal took it. It happened again. Jean touched Then Mal took it again. Jean did another for good measure. Mal decided this time to join her. With the cold we elected to do only ten ends. Nobody stayed for drinks. We came home. Stanthorpe and The Summit - a cold, cold day for bowls.

We're on our way to South Australia then the NT. We're still in Queensland so slowly heading back to NSW. Today we've visited two little Qld clubs - Killarney and Tanneymorel. KILLARNEY We stopped at Killarney for a look on our way to stay at Tanneymorel. We just stayed for a few minutes to get some photos. We looked inside the window at a nice bar area. There's a long verandah by the green. There is one grass green. It's a little brown at present. TANNEYMOREL Then we made it to Tanneymorel. It's a cute little club. Kearna the Club Secretary was there to do some work. She looked after us. The bar is great. Outside we see there were lights switched on in 1987. The green looks quite nice - though a little brown. The town has 150 people. Jean went for a walk and met two of them. A lady said " There's not much in Tanney. But check out the mural on that shed there!" Peter came later for the committee meeting. It was too dark to roll up so we waited until morning. Jean had a go. It was reeeaaallly slow. We had trouble with weight until Jean scored two. Mal was determined to do better. He got two as well. Still weight issues. Mal just pipped Jean's shot. Jean somehow managed to get two together. We liked our little visit to Killarney and Tanneymorel.

We've been quiet the last few days. We stopped at Nimbin on our wat to Jean's niece Mel's place at Tyalgum where we stayed two nights. No bowling club! Last night we stayed at Beaudesert Bowls Club as we promised in 2023. Today we've stopped at Rathdowney for a rollup. It's really quiet here. It's warm with zero wind. Next door though there's a camp draft to raise funds for a boy who had a farm accident. There are caravans and horses everywhere! When we arrived we met Greg who helps 80 year old Bob to manage the green. It's quite brown because they've had frosts. The scoreboards remember successes of their members. Mal went first. First end he nailed it for three. Jean took her turn. She managed four! Mal was all over it. Even with a Resting Toucher Jean couldn't catch him. After our rollup Jean went to the little shop across the road for some snacks. There were ALOT of chips! Rathdowney - nice little Qld town!

We drove 42 min from Lismore to Kyogle. They play this arvo but we don't want to be on the pot-holed road after dark so we'll just have a rollup. It's a little club. The bar is the centre. There are lots of anniversaries. The ladies won Pennants in 1960. There are a few more wins up. We met Liz from the bar. She took our photo out the front. inside we met Noel and Herb. There are three grass greens. One has been partially used for entertainment. The front green is where we rolled up. It's called the Shirley Green. When we went out for our rollup we met Margaret and her husband President Greg. Margaret gave us some momentos. They are The Bush Turkeys. She introduced us to Gwen who showed us her Bush Turkeys shirt. Jean took the mat. It was a little slow. She struggled a bit for shot. Mal had a go. He did better. Jean had consistent weight. Just not good enough to beat Mal. Last end Jean said we had to do two more ends because she thought Mal had shot and she needed another photo. Not so! When we came inside the bowlers were waiting to go out. Jean sat and chatted. She told them her memory of Kyogle was from high school. Her Deputy Principal was Mr Hickson who came from Kyogle. Steve said " I remember Kevin Hickson. He taught me!" Jean said "We used to call him Coogee Bear." They said "We did too!" We were very happy that Greg introduced us to all the members and wished us well. We left them playing social. Kyogle - very friendly people and great memories!

This morning Mal rang and spoke to Ray at The Heights for a chat and to get our names down for a Tuesday afternoon game. It's a small clubhouse up on the hill. Jean stood and chatted with the ladies. Dale and Ray looked after the money. Mal chatted with Paul outside. There's a bicentennial plaque from 1956. The sign on the hill used to be marigolds. There are three grass greens. The top green looks unused. It will be used for Pickleball. We played on the bottom green. Green 1 - The Platypus. With a beautiful native garden out the back. Probably due to the cold weather there were only eight players today. Jean and 7 blokes. It's Three-bowl Pairs . Jean was with Dale Against Ray and Mario. Mal was with Dave Their opponents were John and Fred. It was sunny with a brilliant blu sky. 17° thatvfelt like 14°. Jean scored shot with a Toucher then Dale consolidated with three. Peter the Bowls Coordinator came to watch. Jean was always up the other end when Mal bowled so she ran up to get a pic of his shot. The Pennants stickers are nice. Jean put the kitty in the ditch then got a second shot. Jean raced up the other end for Mal's two. Ray told Jean they put Mal against the club's gun bowler John because they're sick of losing to him. Mal started to catch up but lost 16-26. Dale and Jean won 35-19. It was nice and warm inside. We met President Barry. Barry called it. Dale and Jean won the day. The Heights - Lismore good times with the boys.

We dropped in to Casino RSM Club on Thursday on our way to Lismore. They had bowls on so we spoke to a member who said they have bowls on Monday arvo. We came back for a Monday game. It's a pretty big club. RSM is Returned Services Memorial. We were told by phone bowls started at 1pm. We arrived early and found out it's 2pm. We chatted with Bob and Peter who told us today it's the Travelling Bowlers - The Blue Heelers. Bob introduced us to Shirley and her husband Trevor who is the Blue Heelers President There's one carpet synthetic green. The Bob Ellis Green. The first green was opened on 1969 by the Bowls NSW Vice-president. Col, Jean and Trevor Played Mal, Shirley and Dick. It was cool. 17° that felt like 12°. The wind was outrageous! Bowls went everywhere! Mal managed to get two. Jean's two were the closest. Mal was bowling very well. Jean managed to get one near. Mal won by ten shots. We came inside to the warmth for drinks. Trevor gave us Casino pens. Braved the chill at Casino!

We'd been told East Lismore has social bowls nearly every day but we didn't know what time. We drove over to find out. We wanted to play here on Tuesday but found out they now only have Thursday and Saturday. We decided to roll up instead. It's a smallish clubhouse with a modern feel. The front entrance is nice. There are three good grass greens. We rolled up on the front green. It's simply called Green 2. The Travelling Bowlers support a scoreboard. Murray was rolling up. He told us he's the Grounsdkeeper two days a week. It was fantastic weather after all the rain and cold we've had. Warm with zero wind on the green. Mal took a turn at the mat. Jean was all over the place. He scored three. It was Jean's turn. She did a little better for two. Grass was pretty good. Not so much weight. Last end Mal was heavy. Jean got four. We came inside to spend a little money. East Lismore - thanks for the weather!

Our second club in Lismore is South Lismore. Jean's been in touch with Greg on Messenger and he invited us to play on Saturday arvo. We came for a yummy dinner on Friday night. It's a nice little clubhouse - like a big barn. Greg knew who we were and came to say hi. Greg introduced us to Chairman Blake. They are The River Rats 🐀. Outside is Tom's garden. With the river behind. Greg showed us the 2022 flood mark. One of the guys at the bar showed us the club book with flood photos. It came up to the eaves. They had to gut the place. They recovered proudly. We came back for bowls on Saturday. Greg looked after the money in the office. Jean sat and chatted with Reg, Tony and David about all our and their travels. Out the front are two grass greens. With one out the back. We played out front. It's Pairs today. Reg and Jean Played Mal and Maureen. It was a gorgeous sunny day. 23° and not much wind to speak of. First end Jean had shot then Mal stole it! Jean and Reg scored. It was a very close game! Mal got a beautiful toucher. Then Jean again! Reg and Jean had a little surge the last three ends and won 21 to 13. We came inside for celebrations, commiserations and talk about the footy. Greg gave Mal a fly-stopper. Greg called the winners. Reg and Jean got Runners Up. What a good time at South Lismore!