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After our little visit to Loch we drove 20 minutes on to Lang Lang to check it out. It's a nice little country clubhouse with loads of stuff on the walls. They have a bunch of Pennants flags and other great and moving memorabilia. They've been here over 60 years. There was a nice memorial painting in the ladies toilet of a fund-raising dance. Jean remembers her parents' stories of 'The Younger Set'! We were surprised to see people here on a Monday. We met Jenny and Marianne. They were watching Colin and Don play a competition of 100-Up. David marked. Don won. The memorial seat is a lovely touch. It's an old plastic synthetic green. After his success at Loch Mal was keen. It was a bad head but Mal got shot. Jean wasn't deterred. Mal said " You're lucky you got that one. I had two!. " Jean scoffed. Mal really struggled with his grass. It was very, very gusty. Both hands were wide. The slower green suited Jean a bit better. Dave and Jenny kindly hung around so we could finish our rollup before they locked up. Lang Lang - very friendly and helpful people!

We came to Toora on Saturday for their last Pennant match of the season (before finals). We arrived at 11 so we could have a rollup. TUESDAY We came first on Tuesday on our way to Port Welshpool. The club was closed. We met Joe as he rolled up. There's a nice little memorial garden for Florence Vines. Their story is interesting. Started 1960. SATURDAY We came back on Saturday for their last Pennants game of the season. It's a nice light clubhouse. Bowls memorabilia adorns the walls. President Ian said we were welcome to roll up. He said he read our post on Foster yesterday. Bart and Pam were organising things. Beth and Wil were making sandwiches for the Pennants players. Bart called Ken over. He used to live near our Wanniassa home. He lived in Kambah. Toora will play Phillip Island today in Division One. We met Russ and Lois. She's been following our blog. There's just one flat carpet synthetic green. Mal was resolute. We both did ok. Mal got shot. Jean took her turn. She got shot - just! Mal got a full count! Jean did a couple of heavy bowls then she worked it out. We came inside. Norm said something about barflies so mal had to show him The Ipswich United Barflies shirt. We bought a couple of club pins. They all sat around for drinks ( tea and beer) before the game. The San Remo players arrived for Division Six. San Remo James and his assistance dog Jack were ready for Pennants. There was a light drizzle so we weren't sure they'd play. Russ told us neither of the Ones are in the top Four so it doesn't matter. We left to see if we could make Port Welshpool. Toora - a cup of tea, Pennants players and drizzle.

None of the clubs around here have social bowls while Pennants is on so we have to do a rollup at Foster. We popped in on Tuesday on our way to Port Welshpool hoping they had Pennants on to find out about social bowls. There are none. Pennants was on though. They played two divisions against Meeniyan and Toora. FRIDAY We arrived for our rollup early Friday arvo. There are two carpet synthetic greens. We rolled on the older green. It's Green 1. The permanent shades are two-sided. Jean took her turn. First end she scored two. Mal went out. He knows how to bowl! Good grass Mal. Not a great head for Mal's shot bowl. Jean did it too. Mal finished with style. We had to go shopping so we just made it a quick one. Fostering good bowls in our rollup.

We met Vice-president Nick on Tuesday at Pennants in Foster. He told us they have a tournament here Thursday and he might be able to squeeze us in. It's another little country clubhouse. We caught up with Nick again. He'd told us we can play in the Thursday tournament. Secretary Dawn looked after the money. Dawn introduced us to oldest member Barbie who can only play one game. She'll play with us, do first game then Jean will step up. They were a noisy bunch but very friendly. We loved the clock. Apparently. Meeniyan means " Moon rising over water." There's just one carpet synthetic green. It's been down eight years. With great permanent shades. Named after Keith Pocklington. It was three games of two-bowl triples with lunch in between. Our team was Spocka, Jean and Mal - Barbie played our first game. First game was against Charlie, Dave and Ian. It took Mal nearly the whole first game to get the weight. He just snuck in. They drew first game. Jean played next. Our second opponents were Marg, Bob and Les. Jean couldn't work the grass out. It was like 1 1/4 greens on the forehand and a full green backhand coming back. It was a pretty ordinary head. Mal took an ordinary shot. Jean had had shot before but they got taken out. She ran down to get a photo of her shot bowl before more bowls came down. Last game was against Roger, Robyn and Robert. First end Mal did a spectacular shot. Dawn came around to cool us off. It was 30°. A 90 year old man collapsed so they rang the bell end seven. We won 7 to 4. They gave us some Meeniyan pens. They called the results. We didn't win! Meeniyan - use the pens for a good write-up.

On our way down to Welshpool from Boolara today we visited all four bowling clubs on the way. We wanted to find out about their social bowls and take a peek at mid-week Pennants. After we settled in at the caravan park we took a little drive to Fish Creek. It's funny. As you drive through the town to the bowling club all the shop names have something to do with fish. Despite all the cars in the carpark the clubhouse was shut and nobody was around. We saw a piece of paper on the window that said Pennants was at Lang Lang today. That's 90 minutes away. We thought if we had a rollup someone might turn up. It's a nice little clubhouse upstairs. The Memorial Wall was impressive. There is one plastic green. With great permanent shades. A bird watches over the green. Jean had her go. She did ok. We were both happy with weight. Mal concentrated. Jean said " Good grouping! " It was surprisingly slow. Jean was happy with her bowls though. Mal's was pretty consistent as well. It was 37° so our rollup was short. As we were about to leave the first carload of Pennant players arrived back. 30 seconds beforehand though the bird fell down. Mal said " The Eagle has landed! " Above where we rolled up - we think it was keeping an eye on us. Colin, Bronwyn and Peter came inside. Colin said they started really well in Pennant but ended up losing by five shots. We said goodbye and left them to commiserate with each other. Goodbye and thanks for all the Fish!

We left Traralgon this morning and took the 25 minute drive to stay in Boolara. It's expected to be 40° today so we did two clubs in a day - Boolara and Mirboo North. BOOLARA Boolara is a little town of just under 1,000 people. We're free-camping at the pub. We dropped into the bowing club on our way. It's a small but pleasant clubhouse. With many Pennants flags on the wall. There's a lovely board in memory of members who have passed. The verandah is long, wide and shady. Mick arrived just as we did and opened up. He's the barman and reckons he's the oldest member. He said the club is in transition with mostly younger members now. Mick introduced us to fellow committee member Jack. There's just one grass green. It was being watered when we got there. There's a row of permanent shades. It has a beautiful hillside view from the green. We couldn't roll up as they had a sixteenth birthday party on this arvo. MIRBOO NORTH Because it will be hotter tomorrow we wanted a rest. We decided to kill two birds with one stone and visit Mirboo North as well. We were sad as it was all locked up with high fences so we couldn't take many photos. The sign did say " Welcome! " In the distance we saw the Gordon Wilkins Memorial Bar. The green looks synthetic - we couldn't get close enough to see but the surrounds made it seem so. Boolara and Mirboo North - to hot to do anything!

We came to Yinnar to watch them play Pennants against Drouin where we played last year. While there we met Terry and Don the guys we played when we visited Droin. It's a tiny Clubhouse. Comfy and nice. It was opened in 1985. There's a display of old wooden bowls. And a long array of Pennants successes. In the Ladies is a funny cartoon. The bar fridge was donated by Traralgon Bowling Club . The verandah is wide, long and shady. Tables are made from old bowls. Out front is a bowlers painting with a Magpie. They are the Magpies - 38 members. The whole town is Magpies. The Maggie surveys. One of the bowlers is a lead lighter and created a magpie mirror. Chris at Churchill told us yesterday that Yinnar plays at home today 10am. We arrived at 11 and the place was deserted. We took some photos and were about to get in the car when Peter turned up. " We start at 1. " He said. Then Secretary Jenny arrived. Jenny introduced us us to Board Chair (and Greenkeeper) Gavin and President Russ. Ray came and chatted with us for ages. There's one synthetic green. The Lindsay Stirling Green. When it was grass there were two but the other was too hard to maintain so got dug up. They have really good, solid permanent shades built by Gavin. Pennants started a few minutes early. It was going to be 32°. They have four teams - 16. We saw great bowls played by both teams. One of the ladies gave Jean a current badge and an old koala badge for her hat. It got to 31° so we thought it time to go. Yinnar was 8 shots up. We wished them well. Lovely people and good bowls at Yinnar!

We've done three clubs today around Traralgon. The second one we visited was the new little club at Churchill. There's not much to it but we had a little rollup. They share the clubhouse with the cricket club and others. We think it might be the youngest bowling club in Australia - just eight years old. We met Chris - husband of Secretary-Treasurer and general job's man. Chris was rolling up. He said most of the 28 members are over eighty years old so he does most things. The green is synthetic - flat carpet. Mal put one down. Jean was envious of his performance. She did her best. Our bowls went everywhere. Jean wasn't happy with her shot bowl. Still everywhere. Chris had to leave and lock up so we finished up after a few ends. Churchill - bowls everywhere!

We've done three clubs again today. We left Morwell Bowling Club to last because we really looked forward to it. We'd met President Brian Kingsley the other day at Newborough. When we got to Morwell on Friday Brian introduced us to Vice President Pauline and committee member John. Brian (and everyone at nearby clubs) told us the club burnt down last year. It's basically a construction site now. Brian said the CEO has done an amazing job getting it done in the interim. The dining and gaming rooms sit on top of the other green. We walked down the Bowlers' Entrance and met Bill who was rolling up. The club is on Green 2 now. Green 1 is great! The Bill Owen Green. This is the temporary dining and bar area built on Green two. They managed to save some memorabilia. Brian offered us a rollup. Mal was determined. A bit of a bowl-repelling-jack but he got three. Jean put hers down. First end she was happy. " I like this green! " John and Colin were rolling up next to us. They are Lead and Second at home tomorrow in Division Five. They use blocks to practise their draw bowls. Jean knocked the kitty off and said to Mal " You like it off-centre! " He does! Jean had the last word. We promised Brian we'd come here for dinner and spend some money in the club. We did that. Greek Lam Shoulder and Rump Steak. We found the staff pleasant and friendly. While we ate dinner Keith, board member, came to ask about Jean's Helensvale shirt. We chatted about the Gold Coast and the fire. A nice time at Morwell Bowling Club.

There are two clubs in Morwell. We'll visit them both today. Morwell Club Bowling Club green is across the road from the actual Morwell Clubhouse. Roger the President (and everything else) -who we met at Traralgon RSL yesterday - came over to say gidday. One of the ladies Jo pwas pruning. They have their own amenities block. Roger invited us to roll up while they marked the green. Jean had a go. She still had trouble releasing her bowls with her new hand splint . She got shot though! Mal took his turn. He's always a gentleman. Mal got a full count. We made a caterpillar. The boys had a special line marker. Mal almost rested. Jean was happy to be a little consistent. There's just one grass green. It's the Keane Barry Green. The only club life member Geoff came down - as he has done every Friday for the last 30 years - to help out. After they finished line marking Alan and Neil came to greet us. Neil told us the green is only two years old. Good lines from the Morwell boys! POST SCRIPT: Roger told us they lost club member last night - a 92 year old man. Someone went to check on him and found the house in disarray. Next minute a young man tore past. She found the man dead. Home invasion. So sad.

We came to Trafalgar on our way from Yarragon back to Traralgon . We were just going to take a few pics but met some nice people. It's a pleasant little clubhouse. With some impressive Pennant wins. It's only the second bowling club we've been to with a picture of the King. Outside is Smokey's Snack Shack. There are two synthetic greens. The green one is called The Swamp. The other one is called Blue Lagoon. When they first got it they put yellow ducks on it. It's the Bob Munro Green. The club's been around since 1915. The snakes sat on the bank ready to protect the green. Chairman Ian told us about the financial troubles they had from a corrupt Treasurer. They did fund-raising, got the money back and put in two synthetic greens. Their shirts have HMS Victory from the battle of Trafalgar. Helen and Shirley were playing the Women's Handicap Singles. Mandy was marking a game. Mal sat and chatted with Shaun and Ben for a while. Glad to see Trafalgar in the black again!

Yarragon was the first of three clubs we visited today. It was closed so we didn't stay long. It's a little clubhouse. With a nice verandah. And the Sam Mazza shed! There's one grass green. It looks a little Mossy. Wonder how it rolls. It's named for Sam King. There are good permanent shades. We loved the bowlers on the fence. We were in a hurry as Jean had to get to her hand therapy session so we didn't stop for a rollup. We wanted to stop off in Trafalgar on our way . Yarragon in a hurry