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We came to Port Germein on the coast of the Spencer Gulf hoping for some cooler weather. Not so. It's 41°! No roll-up for us! We're staying at the Port Germein Caravan Park. It's adjacent to the club. Our caravan is 70 steps from the clubhouse. It looks like a bowling club! They tell us Neville Leue is the best bowler around. His father was just as good. Akky was watering the grass when we arrived. He told us to come back at 3:30 for Friday drinks. They are very proud of their grass patch that used to be gravel. There's a nice outdoor area. Bob and chef Tony came for Friday drinks. Bob is very proud of his advertisement. Mal sat inside and chatted with John, Bob, Steve and Tony. They had some local grapes. We got some. Kevin and his daughter Faye arrived. Kevin was President for many years. Kevin is 90. He showed Jean a photo of him with his wife Maureen. There's one green. It's plastic synthetic. There are various shades with some good permanent ones. It was still 38° so we weren't going to roll up but Norma and John were out there so we had a go. They were practising for tomorrow's Pennants against Port Pirie. 6pm - the sun was still scorching. Mal went out. He did ok. Jean stepped into the heat. She raced down to take a photo before Norma took her shot. It was hot so we only did a few ends. We had a last drink the walked to the pub for a nice dinner. Another swelter in Port Germein!

We're staying a night in Murray Bridge. There are a couple of clubs within a short distance so we thought we'd visit them all. The first was Jervois. The town is pronounced "Jervoice". They were playing Thursday Ladies Pennants against nemesis Tailem Bend. We visited there earlier today. Neil and Derek looked after the Jervois bar. We had a good chat with them. It's a nice, modern clubhouse. The wheel is decorated in Jervois colours. They've had lots of Pennant successes. It's an extra-long green with nine rinks. Plastic synthetic. Spectators have good permanent shades. Outside is a great mural of a trucking company. MURRAY BRIDGE We stopped in at the two Murray Bridge clubs. First Murray Bridge BC. There's a nice bowls mural painted on a column. With three nice greens. Unusual around here. Next we came to Murray Bridge RSL Bowling Club. It has a nice memorial garden . With a lovely, big green. Four clubs was enough for us - besides, we had shopping to do! Jervois et al - four is enough!

So we're on our way back to WA! We've done regional Victoria (we'll nearly) and started our long western trek in Serviceton. Actually there was some confusion about whether Serviceton is in Vic or SA but we were proudly told by the locals it's in Victoria so its really our last in Regional Victoria!. They did say though the territory is disputed. It's a pretty little clubhouse . With lots of good memories on the wall. Members who have passed Jean's been chatting on Messenger with Jack for about two years. He told her we can park our caravan there. Jeff, President Leon and Jack were waiting for us when we arrived. The clubhouse was opened in 2004 with help from the Victorian Government, the Council and the Serviceton community. They got a Bowls Australia plaque for their 75th birthday. Jack told us they deliberately flood the green every year. The pretty garden is decorated with old bowls . There's one grass green. It looks nice. With nice fabric shades. Jack got us a mat and Jacks for a roll-up. Mal had a go. We were both a bit all over the place but he scored a resting toucher. Jean went out. Still all over the place but she got a couple. We weren't sure so Jean claimed shot! Mal scored again. It was a pretty hot day so we found some shade out the side of the clubhouse. We had no power in the van so Jean had to cook dinner on a chair under the patio. Dinner was nice - we're sure it tasted a bit rustic :-) So good to us at Serviceton!

We're staying eleven days in Charlton (by mistake). We'd met Mark Hamley at Kerang Golf last year and he told us to look him up when we're here. He invited us to the Harness races. FRIDAY It looks like most bowls clubhouses we go to with bowls paraphernalia everywhere. It was opened in 1965. Mal enjoyed the long verandah out front. The Croquet green is at the end. There are two nice-looking grass greens. The lights overhang. It's the G.H. Parish Green. TUESDAY Mark invited us to the Trots on Monday and we had a drink with him there. Charlton is 'The home of Harness Racing'. Mark told us about Tuesday night Krakajak barefoot bowls. He told us it's usual for teams to be missing players so we might get a long-awaited game. Mal got a game with Mark and Wayne. Two games of eight ends. First game was against Zac. Brad and Carol. Jean played with Greg and Mark.. Against Grandad, grandson and son John. Jake and Ozzie. Mal scored early. Jean followed up. Mal's next opponents were Duck. Caroline and John. Jean played Bluey, Chutney and Doug. We played under lights. Jean managed to take the kitty. Mal won two and Jean won one. We came in for drinks. They did presentations and Mal and Mark's team won. Charlton - grateful for a great game.

We met some guys from Wycheproof on Tuesday when they played Mid-week Pennants at Donald . They invited us our to see the State Singles there on Sunday. Wycheproof has a nice little clubhouse with bowls photos everywhere. Polly's Palace is a nice shady outdoor area with a barbecue. They remember passed members with their badges. The framing is donated by Audrey in memory of Jack Taylor. That's nice. They made a seat from old bowls. The club flag unfurls. There were players participating from all over: Boort, St Arnaud, Donald and Wedderburn. It being a State competition there were great bowls put down. We met Tony from St Arnaud and Steve from Wycheproof. There are two very nice grass greens. Aussie flags show wind direction. It's full on today. This is the first green. With some old but sturdy shades. Someone's put great effort into the garden. The President's gone to Ballarat today but Mal got a photo with Secretary Peter Coles who was also umpiring. We loved their shirts. Another one with a train like at Beachport. They turned 100 in 2021! So we bought them! Mal was glued to the games. Eric had just finished his game with a win and came over for a chat. Joan, Jeannie and Lorraine were riveted watching the games. Jean had a great chat with them about our trip and all the clubs we've been to. We watched some great bowls until the second games of three were finished. We left happy and entertained. Great bowls played at Wycheproof.

We had a ball in Quambatook then dejectedly left to come to Donald via Birchip to see the two Donald clubs. Donald Golf and Bowls Club BIRCHIP We stopped in at Birchip on our way. It was all closed up. DONALD BOWLING CLUB Then we popped in to Donald Bowling Club where they were playing Pennants against Wycheproof - one of the two regional Victorian clubs we haven't yet done. We'll be there on Sunday. They have a great welcome sign out the front. It's one of the few grass greens we've seen around. With an old, small, fallow green. DONALD GOLF AND BOWLS We came for a look at Donald Golf and Bowls Club. They were playing Mid-week Pennants against Boort where we've been. There is bowls memorabilia everywhere in the clubhouse. Everyone was here to watch Pennants. Brian and Mal had a good chat. The Victorian Government and the Shire Council assisted to get the facility up and running. Stewart has been the Greenkeeper for 26 years. There are two nice grass greens. For Stewart Hollis and Henry Nicholls. It's another well-kept grass green. We came back on Wednesday for a roll-up. There was a Ladies Singles match on and the people watching were enthralled. Jean stepped out. She had shot but Mal moved her closer. Mal was having a tough time on the grass after playing so brilliantly on synthetic recently. He couldn't get line or weight. He decided to play a game over four ends. Jean won seven-zip. Poor Mal. He'll get his own back next time no doubt! Jean had a chat with the spectating ladies. They liked her hat with all the badges. They don't have a badge so they found her a Donald Golf and Bowls Club pen! We went early because it's going to get to 34° today. We finished up just before it heated up. Pennants, pens and play outs at Donald!

We stayed a couple of nights at Sea Lake then drove to Quambatook to see the bowling club. On our way we stopped at Culgoa And Berriwillock but there didn't seem to be much going on there. We're told by Quambatook people there is a green in Berriwillock so we'll have to go back and find it. It's a very bowlsy clubhouse. With nice old success photos. Meryl and Sandra were busy making lunch. They invited us to join in. Out the side is a nice concrete outdoor area. Today is Singles Semi-finals and finals. The whole club turned up to support the players. Mal called Jean over to get a photo with President Wayne. There's one ageing plastic synthetic green. Russel runs the caravan Park committee so he phoned Julie the Manager to expect us. We drove around the corner and set up. We came back for lovely sandwiches for lunch. We sat with Wayne, his partner Amber and Meryl. We loved their shirts and had to buy them. They proudly told us Quambatook is famous for three things: 1. A world famous Easter Tractor Pull ; 2. John Williamson was born here ; 3. Molly Meldrum went to school here . Also St Kilda player Jim Wallis came from Quambatook. We sat to watch the Men's Singles final it was an exciting game won by China. Peter and Dale (China) Quambatook - we headed home happy and entertained.

We've been in the town of Sea Lake for three days but we've been sweltering in 45° heat. Today, Saturday it's back down to 20° so we ventured out to the Sea Lake Bowling Club for a look. It's a nice old clubhouse run by volunteers. With lots of nice photos, pennants and trophies. Club Secretary Jennifer was here cleaning the clubhouse. We had a great chat about all things bowls. She asked us to take a photo of her late husband Ralph who was the World Blind Bowls Champion. Outside are nice shades. They would have been good yesterday in 45 degree heat! There are two grass greens. Jennifer told us this is the only club in the district that still has grass. We didn't roll up because both greens were being watered in preparation for a state singles game here in a few days. We said goodbye and went back to our cooled caravan. Sea Lake - good luck with the States!

Mal phoned President Darryl yesterday to find out about social bowls. Daryl said it's Harvest time so there's no bowls on but we were welcome to come for a rollup.. We saw the tiny little clubhouse through the window. We met Matt and Neil who were looking for a rollup as well. They didn't have their bowls with them so once the found out where the mats and jacks were they left. The clubhouse was opened in 1986. There's a nice under cover outdoor area. We found the mats and jacks in a little room off to the side. There's one old plastic synthetic. The Les Casey Memorial Green. With impressive shades. Jean had a go. It was getting hot. Expecting 34 degrees today. Mal had his go. We had to finish up before it got unbearable. Hopetoun - not many bowls for us!

So it being Chrissy we haven't had much bowls lately but today we're at Warracknabeal for a Wednesday morning game. It's usually afternoon but today will be hot. The clubhouse is lovely. It's full of great history. Lots of Pennant wins and old memories. Outside is an outdoor area There's a lady bowler on the wall. Jean's been chatting with President Edna. There are two plastic synthetic greens. This is the Number One Green. It's newer. There were only four of us so Edna and Jean Played Mal and Ken. First end Edna put in a beauty for shot then Mal put the kitty in the ditch for two. By end three Jean worked it out. We were playing on Green Two which made our bowls dusty. Jean got happier with her bowling. It evened the scores. Truly, to use a Malism, he " played like a man repossessed ." Every bowl he wanted to take out he did! In the end Mal and Ken won. Edna found Jean a badge for her hat. Warracknabeal Bowls badge Warracknabeal - full of memories.

We missed Colbinabbin when we came to Bendigo in 2023 so today we've come back to check it out. It's a quiet little clubhouse With proud memories of success. The clubhouse is shared it seems with the Colbinabbin Netball Club. There's a welcome sign that says they are 'The Grasshopppers'! Outside we see that all the seats are donated. There's one grass green, somewhat under repair it seems. It's the Fin Rathjen Green. The Pennant scoreboard says they refer to themselves as 'Colbo'! We sent a message to President Wayne to ask about social bowls. He kindly rang Mal to say there's no social bowls today but they have Thursday afternoon practice. We said we'd turn up for that. Though with the green under repair we might not get a roll-up. Wayne told us we could park the caravan there overnight. That made us happy. Mal chatted with Wayne when he arrived. He's in a Singles championship game tonight and doesn't have a Marker. Mal volunteered. Jean had a nice chat with Bernie, Rosemary and Darlene all about our trip. She showed them our trip map . They told us the Bowls club uses the clubhouse in summer and the Footy and Tennis clubs take it over in Winter. We're on a Sports reserve here so they're all close. Shane and Mal had a great discussion. After the game Mal, Shane and Green keeper Ramon had a roll-up. Mal found it tough after the synthetic at Castlemaine but managed a shot. Wayne gave us some nice mugs. We'll definitely use them! We'll remember Colbinabbin when we drink our cups of tea!

We've come to Nhill for Christmas week and dropped in to the Bowling Club for some Christmas Eve drinks. Of course the only thing we really know about Nhill is from the (reportedly bad) movie ' The Road to Nhill ' about four lady bowlers who have a car accident on the way to Nhill from Pyramid Hill . We had a stop at Mitre 10 for some supplies and met former President Allan. Allan told us the club is open for drinks at 5pm. We arrived and met President Tezza. It's a nice little clubhouse. With loads of great memories. Everyone hung around outside in the nice outdoor area. Jean made some preserves to give to caravaners but everyone was out so she took plum jam, mango chutney, tomato relish and lemon and lime butter to give to the bowlers. There are two plastic synthetic greens. Allan told us the bottom Green is the best. Mal tried it first. Peter joined our roll-up. He did ok. He improved as he went on. It was super fast. Jean took to the mat nervously. Everyone else was heavy. She just pipped Mal for shot. CHRISTMAS LUNCH AT THE PUB We found out the Farmers Arms pub will do Christmas lunch. We booked for that. Christmas day the publican cooked us a beautiful home-cooked meal which filled our tummies. We arrived around 11 for pre-lunch drinks with Trish and John (left) who we met at the caravan Park. We had lunch with them and with Peter (next to Mal) who we rolled up with at Nhill bowling club. With full bellies we staggered home - happy. Happy Christmas at Nhill!