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Hillston is our last club in Western NSW. Jean's Dad's Aunty Doey used to own a pub here, where she stayed as a kid, so we're very pleased to come to Hillston Exies for a bowl. There are two bars: The Workers' Bar and the Sports Bar where the bowlers go. There's a proud Honour Board. Their Fives and Sixes won Pennants in 2005 and 1011. We met Rip the greenkeeper who said the back green just got refurbished. He does all the gardens and the beer taps. We sat for a chat with the boys: Greg, Mick, Roger, Noel, Ade, Mal and Darryl. There's a relaxing outdoor area. Right next door is the tennis courts. And the footy oval is behind. There are two grass greens. The back green is still out of action. We bowled on the side green. Normally they go out and just bowl but there are enough for two games of pairs today. Bowls was supposed to start at 1pm. They started to wander out at 1:30. Ade and Jean Played Mal and Darryl. Jean struggled. Her bowls went everywhere! Mal sorted it ot quickly. They have a rule: After four ends they come in for a beer, get another one to take out, then do the last four ends. Jean said " That doesn't work for me. I only come good after six ends! " Greg said " We're very social here! " After the game we went to The Clubhouse Hotel to ask about Jean's Aunty. He said she likely owned the other pub - Tattersals. Hillston - a little game and lots of beers!

We're stopping a couple of days in Griffith. Initially we stayed at Lake Wyangan but then we came into town to the caravan park so we could play bowls at Griffith Exies Sports today - Thursday. It's a decent sized clubhouse - though the parent club - the Griffith Exies is huge! The ladies from the bar unlocked the gate on Wednesday so we could check out the green. We met Rod the greenkeeper and LT. There are two synthetic greens. It's a plastic synthetic. The Les Foote Green. The sign changes to say which direction to play in. The first people we met were Laurie and his wife Debbie. Rob looked after the money. They put out nice food for after the game. With mini sausage rolls. We played three-bowl triples but after each seven ends we swapped positions. It was Rob, Jean and Ollie. Against Tony Macaroni. Angelo and Kevin. They were Italian so Jean practised her lingo with them. " Io parlo Italiano un po! " They said she was good though broken! Bruna, Mal and Ros Played John, Ben and Robert. Jean was right over on the other green so had to run to get a shot of Mal's good bowl. Jean waited a few ends to do a good bowl. Jean had a Resting Toucher but it got touched out (really truly!) Lots of running for Jean to get Mal's bowls. Jean's game was close. Mal won his game. We didn't win the money or the raffle but we had a great time! Mal wanted a photo with John because he's the Vice-president. Griffith - we loved the format.

We've parked the caravan at Whitton Bowls Club . It's only 20 minutes from Leeton so we drove back to check out the two Leeton clubs. LEETON SERVICES We dropped in at the Leeton bowls club but they close on Monday so our first stop in Leeton was the Services Club for a little rollup. Lyn signed us in and showed us where to get mat and jacks. Summer served us at the bar. We decided to have a drink before our rollup. There are two impressive grass greens. We rolled up on the front green. The Les Bonham Green. Jean had her go. She was happy with her weight. Mal stepped out. He scored two. Mal's weight improved. Last end Jean called to Mal he had to improve on his photo-worthy bowls. He did but Jean knocked him out! LEETON BOWLS CLUB We came back after 12 on Tuesday as the sign said that's when the club opens. We came in and asked Bartender David if we could have a rollup. Bowler Pat showed Jean where the mats are. The clubhouse was rebuilt in 1973. There are nice permanent shades next to both the greens. The club has two greens. Peter Eurell up top. We rolled up on the bottom green. The Neville Bush Green. Jean was first as usual. It was perfect weather. 23° and no wind. The green was lovely. Nevertheless it took Jean quite a few ends. Mal had no problems. Jean tried to take Mal out but took her own bowl instead. It was fast! We had a few in the ditch. Jean was happy she pipped Mal. Jean said to Mal " I don't have a photo of a really good bowl from you yet. " He heard her! We came in, sat and had a drink and chat with Tadpole, Middo, David, Pat and Andy (who used to live in Canberra). Two nice rollups over two days in Leeton.

Jean's been in touch with Kayla at Whitton Bowling Club for months. Kayla said we could park our caravan at the club if we are self-contained. Jean messaged to say we'd arrive today. She said we'd only stay one night because we need power for Tuesday cooking. Kayla sorted that out so we'll stay for two nights. We arrived midday then Kayla (who lives next door) and Jason turned up. Jason opened the clubhouse then the shed so we could get power. He directed us to water. We peaked inside. It's a quaint little clubhouse. They're proud of the 1989 Fours Pennant win! Kayla had told Jean to contact her or Suzie if we need anything. Suzie came in the arvo. We're told Suzie does everything here. She tends bar, cooks the food She organises entertainment and sometimes she IS the entertainment! Jean loved the roses! By the clubhouse is a great slab wooden table Out the front is an old wooden seat. There's one grass green. It hasn't been mown because they lost power for the mower. Jason promised us it would be done for our Tuesday rollup! The Viv Aylett Green. Kayla said the club isn't open Monday but Suzie opened up (maybe because we're here!). Word got around and the regulars came out of the woodwork! We drank and played pool! One of them was John who keeps the green. He told us the mower power still isn't fixed so tomorrow we have to roll up on the strip. Mal stayed with the boys 'till after dark. We're not usually at Bowling clubs at night so we don't get to see things like pretty lights. Tuesday morning Jean braved the strip while Mal took a shower. It was very patchy. Jean was nervous. The bowls bumped around all over the place. They'd come in then go out again! She was shocked she actually got one near the kitty! After showering Mal came out for his turn. " You sure you want to roll on this? " He asked. " It's fun! " Jean replied. Mal wasn't so sure. A few swearwords! In the end Mal said " This is doing my head in! " Last bowl Jean nearly got him. " You need to practise all surfaces! " She said. Our second night we came in again and had drinks and chatted with the locals. What fun we had! Lots of fun at Whitton - we'll remember it always.

We don't usually write a blog post about a club more than once but Mal playing comp at home with Tuggeranong Vikings is special. We've made an exception! When we arrived back last Friday one of the guys asked Mal if he wanted to play in the next comp. He leapt at the chance! We got there early Saturday. All the boys, Mal's mates, were there to play in the Open Singles. Mal didn't know his opponent Steve. He asked around about him and found out he came from Canberra or North Canberra. They're not mates but Mal said " We will be! " Darrin was their Marker. Alan, Michael and Umpire Scotty sat and watched the game. Starting off well Mal won the first three ends. He was five-zip up then Steve got a full count. The game was on! It was great to watch. Mal would get shot then Steve would get closer. Then Mal would take him out. It went on like that. Mal was doing fine then Steve got the jump on him - 8 to 14. He fought back with a three! He caught up! Then Steve got ahead of him. He came up and won. Even so, Mal still wants to be mates! Mal's happy to see his boys again!

We're free-camping at the fantastic Marrar Royal Hotel ten minutes away from Coolamon Bowls Club. We only know there's bowls on Sunday - not the time - so had to turn up early. It's a sports club and when we arrived at 9 there were golfers everywhere for an Ambrose comp. We asked about bowls. One of the golfing ladies rang a bowler to find out what time they play. She said 1pm but today they are all at Cootamundra. We decided to come back later. If noone turns up we'll roll up. Outside we saw a beautiful memorial for Lorraine Chant. There's just one synthetic green. GANMAIN In the meantime we drove out to Ganmain to check out the club and green. There was nobody around yet so we didn't think we should roll up. Jean took a photo of the dark clubhouse through the glass. The green is quite new - 2023. It's a plastic synthetic. It seems to have two names. It has groovy permanent shades. BACK TO COOLAMON Since we'd already driven through it twice today we decided to just stop in again in the morning and roll up at Coolamon. John came out to open up the green for us. He said " I'm not a golfer or a bowler - just a volunteer. " We were grateful for his help. Jean took her turn. It was really fast. She found it hard to get the weight. Plus her feet were hot. Mal took to the mat. Jean struggled. Mal got it. The golfers tee'd off next door. Hmm. Too small for a jack! Mal bowled consistently. Jean hadn't put a good bowl down. Her last bowl of the rollup was short. She said " I'm having that back! " Good job she did! Jean thinks Mal won the rollup but was ecstatic about her final bowl! Bowling Ganmain and Coolamon - a little fun in tiny towns!

We free-camped at Adelong showground last night . We dropped in to the parent RSL Club last night to ask about Friday night bowls. Kathy at RSL told us Friday night hadn't started yet but the there's bowls Saturday 1pm. Kathy texted President David to tell him we'll be there. It's a nice old clubhouse. There's a great bowls painting on the wall. President David was expecting us. We were impressed with the wind vane. One of the members Graham painted it. There's just one grass green. It looks OK, if a bit rough around the edges. It's the Ross Whiting Green. There's an old sign that says it used to be called The Wal Hasset Green. There were seven of us so we played three-bowl Fours with swinging lead David. It was Peter, Midge, Jean and David. Against David, Andrew, Mal and Peter. They call the bowls gatherer 'Rover The Sheepdog'! " That's a good muster! "" It took Jean quite a few ends but she finally got a couple. Jean really enjoyed the boys' conversation about bowls, farms, rock-n-roll and bee stings. They tried to claim she didn't have shot but she did! The Magpies came to clean up the scarabs. On end 17, after much egging on from Jean, Mal finally did a photo-worthy bowl. Second-last end he did a beauty. Anne, who we met before the game left us a great afternoon tea. Jean won and Mal lost. She was very happy about that! Adelong - worth the wait.

BATLOW We started at Batlow where our caravan is (great caravan park). We stayed there to support the town due to the trouble the town had in the fires. It's a nice old-fashioned clubhouse. With a nice verandah overlooking the green. There's a very nice memorial. We met John who told us all about the troubles they've had with controlling officers. John looks after the bar and Sunday bowls. John told us a couple of the guys volunteered to trim the shrub but they drank too much and gave up. They put in eyes and a mouth and they call it Bart Simpson. There are two grass greens. We rolled up on the front green. It's the Ben Atkinson Green. Jean stepped out in her socks. She did better going back to the clubhouse. Mal had a turn. It was touch and go but he just pipped Jean. TUMBARUMBA We drove half an hour straight from Batlow to Tumbarumba. We'd heard good things about the people there from both Tumut and John at Batlow. It's a nice clubhouse. It was very busy with a wake when we arrived. Jill from the bar, who told us she was born in Batlow, found mat and jacks for us. There are two grass greens. Jill told usthe back green is only maintained when they hold their tournaments. Front Green is named after Halwyn Weston and unveiled by the RBNSW President in 1985. Jean had first go as usual. The green suited her. Mal was anxious to get on the mat. He struggled for a while then the green changed so he had to take more grass. He was much happier with his results. Batlow and Tumbarumba - bowling fun in country NSW!

Yesterday we left our home in Canberra to get back on the road after a month away. Today we drove to Tumut for a Wednesday afternoon game. We had waited in Canberra for the birth of our second grandson Zacharia. He finally arrived eleven days late. We were sad to leave them but we needed to get back on the road for our bowls trip. We arrived early at Club Tumut. Jim from North Albury showed us where to put our names down. It's a nice sized club. We're told the parent club got into some trouble and closed down. The bowling club runs it now. The bar is the Sir Francis Drake Bar. It's a bit of a theme with the famous story. There are lots of trophies on display. It has a great old wooden seat outside. With a nice outdoor area by the green. The bowlers all sat around before the game. Graeme sorted the money. The club has a pretty garden in full bloom. There are two greens. The grass has seen better days. It looks out. The other is a synthetic that's been down for quite a while by the looks. There were enough players for one game of triples and one of pairs. Matt, Jean and Ron Played Graeme Gus and Peter. Mal skipped for Ken Against Jim and Larry. Jean said to Mal "Get your camera so you can get photos of your good bowls!" He replied "I haven't done any yet!" End four he scored. Jean followed him. After 11 ends Mal's score was one up. Then he scored a beauty. Jean's team was two down when Second Jean stole shot. We both lost though but enjoyed the company immensely. We sat around afterwards and told bowls stories. Tumut - a loss but great company!

OCTOBER 2022 Jean played on Tuesday at Milton Ulladulla Bowling Club with the women. There were 19 players so we had two games of triples and a game of fours with a swinging lead. Jean played third in the fours game with Nerida (swinging lead), Helena and Kath (skip) against Nerida, Sue, Eve and Bev. Jean described them as quiet and sociable - focused more on playing bowls that chatter. "That's good," said Jean "they all played well - especially our skips!" Jean's team won 19 to 5 and Jean was ecstatic to win the rink prize - $10. Friday 13th September 2024 We're headed back home for a month. We've stopped in at Ulladulla to have a new bracket put on the caravan. We came to the Bowls club for lunch and decided to have a rollup. While we ate lunch we met Cal and Kay who have been bowling for just one month. They said they were going out for a rollup so we joined them. Jean's blog posts have changed a lot since she wrote this post two years ago so she decided to take more photos of the club. There are two nice, quick grass greens. We rolled up on the front green. It's the Fred S Croker Green. Mal took his turn. He worked it out quickly. He could've played less well to make the new bowlers feel better but that's just not in his nature! He was all over it. Jean's been playing well lately but she was a bit nervous about the fast green. She managed two shots on our last end. The caravan place rang to say the van was ready so we said goodbye to Cal and kay. Nice to be back at Ulladulla!

We're staying at Jean's parent's place in Shellharbour and decided to drive down to Berry for a Wednesday afternoon game. It's a pretty little clubhouse, inside And out. The club is owned by Bomaderry Bowling Club. The badge board is impressive. There's a nice outdoor area which appears to be run by the Fishing club. The plaque celebrates 100 years in 2012. Keith looked after the money. He told Jean Kangaroo Valley club closed a few years ago and many of their members play here now. There's a lovely little creek out the back behind the fishing club area. Keith told us it flooded a few months ago. The flood came up half a metre over the wall by the green and knocked it over. A cute little lizard (Jean named Lizzie) sat by the creek. We met and sat with the Kangaroo Valley boys for some laughs before the game. There are two nice-looking grass greens. The Bill Oke Green has just been cored - it's flood repair. We played on the far green which was being rolled as we arrived. Today it was Jean and fifteen blokes. 26 ends of three-bowl pairs. Jean and Mark Played President Tige and Derek. Mal and Daryl (Provan) Were against Rob and Bob. First end Jean did surprisingly well. Mall called out " Hey Jean, get a shot of that! ". Jean was really happy with how she bowled. There was no wind. That made it easier to grab shots. Provan said about Mal " I think we'll keep him! " 21st end of 26 Jean had perfect weight for 3. Despite playing so well, Jean and Mark lost. The barman managed to find a very old badge for Jean's hat. Mal won 33 to 17. All winners got a voucher. Good with zero wind at Berry.

Jean's at her niece's baby shower in Gerroa today so Mal drove down to Worrigee Sports for an Afternoon game. It's a nice big clubhouse. Mal rang yesterday to get his name down. They told him to ask for Bowls Coordinator Wendy. He met Wendy and Dee at the table. The club has a nice outdoor area. The bowlers all waited outside before the game. There are two grass greens. Mal played on the side green. Mal couldn't get the teams together for a photo. He got Dee and Phil from his team with Paul from the opposition. Dee got a photo with the opposing Skip Steve. Paul and Phil got ready to play. Mal didn't get any photos of his good bowls. He reckoned he didn't do many. He lost the game and his opponents won the money. Apparently the jackpot went off last week at $600. They asked Mal to spin the wheel and his team won $26. Worrigee - Mal was in charge. He did OK! n