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We've been wanting to come to Marlin Coast Bowls Club for a while. We'd been given the number for Crackers the Caretaker when we were somewhere in Australia. We wanted to meet him. We rang Crackers to find out when they have social bowls. We had a great chat. He told us to turn up for Friday afternoon rollups. It's a great social occasion. Crackers told us it was probablyTerry from Port Fairy who gave us his number. It's a nice little clubhouse. Crackers told us it's been renovated recently. First person we met was Chairman Dave. Then Crackers turned up. Outside is the Marlin Bar. There's a nice long, under cover area by the green. The green is Tiger Turf under cover. The Nev Sellwood Green. The sign is impressive. We had a rollup. Mal went first. He got one. Crackers joined us. Jean took her turn. She was happy with her bowls. And again Crackers was nearby. We came inside for drinks and trivia questions. Dave welcomed us and hosted trivia. We left after Trivia. Crackers walked us out. Marlin Coast- a special time!

We did a little tour of Cairns and visited two clubs. Stratford and West Cairns. SRATFORD We went first to check out Stratford. We thought we wouldn't get a game there. They were putting up a new shade out front. It's very nice. We met Darren (Dusty) who told us they were devastated by floods and are just rebuilding. There's a separate bar. A local artist painted the toilet doors. It's only the second club we've seen that has a photo of the King. The green is still recovering. The Les Adcock Green. The little shelters are pretty. WEST CAIRNS We drove around a couple of clubs to find West Cairns has Thursday afternoon Bowls. There's a nice mural inside. We sat at the bar and had a great chat with Canberra-born John. There's a nice memorial to a past TPI President Bill Hannan. Pete, Jean and Chris played together. Against Wayne, Dave and Locky. Mal didn't take any details or photos of his game. Jean's team got three first end then lost the next four. Skip Jean broke the drought with her last bowl of the end. Jean waited and waited for Mal to do a photo-worthy bowl. He finally scored two. That's all the photos we got. Mal won by 6. Jean's team was way behind all game. They only won four ends but second-last end they caught to be one behind. Then they lost by 5. Jean drove and missed the kitty by centimetres. We came in and had drinks outside. All the benches are named. West Cairns - we had lots of fun.

While we're at Proserpine we decided to drive the 50 minutes to Bowen to get a Sunday game and to see the other club Wangaratta. We got our map photo. The bowlers all hung at the bar. It's a very old clubhouse - 1923. It was donated by Mr and Mrs Ezzy. There's a nice trophy case. Carol and Col came for a chat. They've just moved here from Tamworth. There's just one green. It's Tiger Turf - Jean's favourite - under cover. They are the Bowen Bandits. It's triples today. They drew sticks. We drew the same rink - opposites. Wazza, Col and Mal. Played Alex, Jean and Carol. Jean started really well. She likes the surface but every time she drew a good shot Col drew better. She got a couple later but can't claim them. She was just positioned well! These two she claims! Mal did good bowls but they were always just out of the action. It's harder when he skips as he often plays weight. Good drawing here though - second and third. Mal did a beauty and took shot from Jean. We went in for smoko and bought shirts 👕. After smoko Mal did better. Jean's team had four and he drew a perfect shot. First half Jean's team was killing Mal's. Wha did they take in the break because they came up and won by 3. We all enjoyed it though. We came in for drinks. WANGARATTA No it's not Wangaratta in Victoria it's Wangaratta Qld. We stopped on our way to Bowen for a look. We got our map photo. We saw the clubhouse through the window. Some ladies were playing a Pairs championship. Bowen - what a great time we had.

Yet again we didn't plan to do more than take a photo at Proserpine but our caravan park was just next door and the members were very friendly. The bar is separate from the main clubhouse. Mike was the first person we met. He came out when we arrived and gave us the rundown on everything abut the club. He gave us a Proserpine scorecard as a keepsake. Ken came over for a chat. There is just one grass green. It's the Brian Cooke Green. There's an old fallow green. The plovers and doves enjoy it. The guys were playing club Fours. They are the Barracudas. AIRLIE BEACH We remember we came to Airlie Beach Bowling Club many years ago when we stopped here on a cruise. We walked about 30 minutes from the terminal on a Friday only to find the club closed. Today we came back more hopeful on a Saturday. Alas, still closed. Since we were here they've renovated and have a cover. Proserpine and Airlie - some good things.

We're on our way to Cairns. There are lots of clubs we didn't do last time we were up here. One club, on our way, is Marian. We popped in to get a photo there and discovered a tournament so we decided to write a little blog post about it. We got our obligatory photo for the trip map. Jean went in to get a photo of the bar. The bar lady ducked because she doesn't like photos. There are long lines of photos of the ladies' and men's past Presidents. We asked one of the blokes about the tournament. He said it's the annual 'Diggers' Day'. There were some players there from Sarina where we were yesterday. The ladies were in the kitchen getting ready for luncheon. It's a little country club. There's just one grass green. The Jim and Maureen Connor Green. There's an impressive pullover shade. Marian - we just stopped in for a bit. Bless the Diggers.

Yes we've been silent for a while. We came home for six weeks after our WA trip to see the kids and grandkids. Since then we've travelled 2,000km. We're on our way to Cairns. We've stopped along the way to photograph some clubs but today we'll finally get a game at Sarina in Nth Qld. It's a good-sized clubhouse. When we say "We'll get a game." We mean Mal. Jean has a cold and injured her rib in a coughing fit so is in too much pain to play. She'll take photos for the blog. The lady at the bar said "I'm only looking for one so that works!" Jan and Tom looked after the draw. All the bowlers sat together inside while they waited to play. Community spirit is alive and well here. The Maddern Family sponsored the fence. There are two nice-looking grass greens. We had a little rollup on the front green to see if Jean was up to playing (she wasn't). Mal reckons it is running at about ten seconds. One of the guys Jamie told us they've had lots and lots of rain. It was the Bill Crichton Green. Both greens have roll-over covers. They had the club Fours semi-final on the other green. The social bowlers joined them. It's the K & R Peterson Green. It's three-bowl pairs. Jason skipped for Mal. Against Mossy and Tony. Mal was glad he rolled up before as it was just as slow on this green. He got close- ish. He said "I've got muscle memory from bowling on synthetic!" He was short. Then he remembered how to bowl on grass. He got three. End ten Mal and Jason had five then Mossy drew a beauty and they went down one. End eleven Mal had a Resting Toucher then Mossy knocked kitty over. Mal kept shot though! After a close game Mal and Jason skipped ahead and won by nine shots. We certainly inside and had a very friendly drink. Sarina - nice people- good win for Mal

The Labor Club is evicting Jean's club - Weston Creek Bowling Club from of its premises. The club is to leave at the end of June - just one month away. The members are hoping to re-home at Canberra Bowling Club until they can get a new home. We came for our final game in Stirling. Everyone waited in the clubhouse for the card calling. Mal's brother Michael (in the middle) is a member of Weston Creek with Jean. Multiple pennant flags adorn the greens. There are three greens. Two grass and one old synthetic. We played on the synthetic. Nobody likes to play on it. It's an old crappy carpet - about twenty years old. The Labor Club has done nothing with it. It was Keith, Jean and Vidas. Vidas was supposed to be a swinger but got a reprieve two ends in. Vidas and Mal played together in the Major Pairs years ago when Mal was a member at Weston Creek. Vidas said "If we win, you have to dye your hair blonde." They did so Mal's sister made him a blonde. He's never forgiven Vidas! It was Brian, Greenkeeper Sam and Mal. Sam stepped in to save Vidas from swinging Lead. Jean's club is the Wildcats. Mal started out well. Jean said "That's one good shot I've done!" It was a really close game. Mal's team was one shot up through the whole game. Even our bowls were close but Mal just pipped Jean. Jean pushed Mal's toucher into the ditch and stole shot. That's when the game changed. Jean's team ended up winning by two shots. It was down to the last end. We got news towards the end of the game that the Labor Club is giving the Weston Creek Bowling Club a reprieve. It's extended the deadline until September with a month to month arrangement after that. Everybody cheered. Weston Creek Bowling Club - maybe not the end!

So we made it across The Nullarbor, through SA and Victoria. We stopped in Ararat Victoria for Jean's sister Ellen's birthday then made it home to Canberra. No sooner had we turned up at Mal's club Tuggeranong Vikings when our mate Hughey asked Mal to take his place in the Major Singles. Mal jumped at that. We'd had a nice time in Ararat with Ellen for her birthday. The Vikings club is doing renovations for the next year so there's no access to the clubhouse. The boys were sitting under a Marquis when we arrived. Two of the greens are out for the renovation. They're putting in an under cover green in the current car park. The only one left is the plastic synthetic. It was Marker Shane, Mal and Steve. Steve is a number one Pennant player. Mal was a little nervous. It took him ages to work out the green. He wasn't scoring. In the end Steve won. Mal only scored one shot. They had a great chat afterwards. It was a round-robin so Mal got to play again against Marker Shane. He lost again (by much less) so marked Shane and Steve. Though he had no wins today, Mal had a great time with the Tuggeranong boys. Tuggeranong Vikings - no win but lots of fun for Mal.

We're finally on our way back home after 2 months in WA. We've done every bowling club in WA but one - Scaddan. It's the last one on Highway One before we get to the Nullarbor. We've been welcomed to stay the night. Quite fitting we think! We peeked through the window. The clubhouse looks cosy. There are nice gardens. Roses out the back and Hibiscus out the front. Jean's been talking with Trudi via Messenger. Trudi said we could park here overnight. Mal rang her and she was in Esperance so couldn't meet us. The had a nice chat though! We parked the van near the clubhouse. It was very dark overnight.. The sign says they got their synthetic green in 2012. It looks nice - if a little worn. The permanent shades are cloth. Around the green are high nets - we guess to catch golf balls! Jean took a turn. It was late in the day so we only used two bowls each. The whole rollup Jean did one good shot. It was hard to get used to in a short time. Mal stepped up. He did a little better. We only did a few ends because Jean wanted to get in and make the dough to cook our pizza! Scaddan - bye bye WA!

We're on our way back home. We only have five more WA clubs left to do. Jean's been in touch with Albany Bowling Club via Messenger. Secretary Mark told us there's a game on Wednesday and that we could park our caravan there overnight. We've done our best to get here for that! When we were in Denmark (35 minutes away) we called to find out what time they started. We spoke with Kevin who took our names. We got there too late to play social. They were already on the grren but Kevin organised a game of Triples for us. It's a nice clubhouse. We didn't realise there was a bar. It was hidden until they opened it up. There are lot of successes on display. There's a great donated bell. The club's synthetic greens were aided by the WA Government. Outside is a lovely memorial garden. The ramp is decorated with old bowls. All the seats are donated. Mental health is important. It would be good to know what happen in Ted and Austin's Bullshit Barn! There are three plastic synthetic greens. We played alone on the middle one. It's the E.W. (Ted) Daniels Memorial Green. The players were Kevin Jean and new bowler Teresa Who played against Gwenda, novice Tracey and Mal Jean got shot on a lousy end. Mal scored two on an even worse end. We came inside and Kevin introduced us to Vice Captain Fred. As we were driving the 5.5 hours to get here our caravan battery didn't charge. All the members were really helpful finding us an auto electrician for a late afternoon visit. We had to leave to go to AutoSpark auto electrician but before we did Kevin introduced us to President David. When we got back they were still all here - there was a farewell happening. We had to go back to the auto electrician in the morning. Our battery was low so they found us a power point and hooked us up. We were so grateful for that. The battery went back to 99%. Fun and helpful people at Albany!

We rang Ellenbrook's President Robbie to find out if there's social bowls. He said no so we asked if we could roll up on Thursday. He said yes - after midday. We turned up. Robbie was the first person we met and he said "Actually we've got a game on today if you want to join us!". We jumped at the chance. It's a nice clubhouse with a friendly bar. We liked the plaques under the bar for founding and other members. They are the Black Swans. The bowlers all sat outside. They were very friendly with us and liked to rib each other (and us). President Robbie noticed us as we arrived. He said " You people must be from Canberra!" . It was three-bowl pairs. Two games of 13 ends. Jean teamed with Glenn (Double N). Against Mal and Vicky. Jean felt she didn't bowl well and was very happy to photograph her good shots. Mal just pipped Jean. He did that all day! A major sponsor was Little Things Pest Control. They were everywhere. Mal won. Second game Jean played Brian and Jillda. Mal's opponents were Alan and Mal but he forgot to take a photo. He also didn't take photos of his good shots. Jean wanted to get a photo of her good bowls before her opponents came in and took them back. Mal won two games but wasn't in the money. Jean won the 'Not a Bowlers Arsehole' award and got her $5 back. The crew gave Jean some ribbing about Anthony Albanese - her being from Canberra. She took it on the chin and told them she got him elected first time. Robbie gave us two bucket hats. A nice unexpected game at Ellenbrook!

We popped in to Willeton while we whizzed around country WA visiting all the clubs. We met some lovely people there so decided to write a blog. The ladies were all sitting having a nice chat when we arrived. Jean had a great conversation with them all about our trip. There is an impressive array of Pennant flags. Marg went and found an old over-sized Swan shirt for Jean. They have new dragon shirts now! There are two synthetic greens. The sky was stormy over the green. They have electronic scoreboards. We haven't seen many of those. Mal wanted a rollup. As usual he started out very well. Jean not so much! Jean was determined to do better. She managed a shot among errant bowls. Still errant but two shots for Jean. After our Willeton rollup we visited many more clubs that day.