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The only place to stay in Miriam Vale is a free camp at the Lions Park with no power and water. We parked the van there and walked our bowls 800m up the road to the Miriam Vale Bowling Club for a rollup. Jean took a photo of the inside of the club through the window. Then the outdoor area out the back which looks pretty new. We started to roll up, Mal was doing well. Then Kieran turned up to do some work. He saw Mal's Tuggeranong shirt and told us he used to play Hockey for Tuggeranong. He told us President Bill would turn up soon to prepare the green for District Pairs on the weekend. Bill arrived then and told us the club only has eight members and everything is voluntary. There's one green, it's very nice - particularly since the members maintain it. It was really nice to roll on - though a little slow. We reckon about ten seconds. Bill told us we are welcome to park the van at the club. We can use their toilet, power and water - especially since they have many solar panels on the roof. They just had a grant to put them in. We put a $10 donation in the kitty box. We finished our rollup and raced back to move the van to the club. Bill asked Mal if he had a measuring tape (not a bowls one). Mal brought it back for them to use. While we were there, Sandra and Denny arrived to do some work on her computer. Jean took that moment to take a better photo of the inside of the club. After they finished marking the green, Mal and the boys had a rollup together. Jean sat in the outdoor area and worked on her blog. Mal definitely worked out the weight. Miriam Vale - thanks so much for your hospitality!

We stayed an extra night in Childers as we knew there was bowls in Gin Gin on Wednesday. We came for that. There's some discrepancy about the name Gin Gin. Some say it's named after a place with the same name in WA. Other's say it's from the Indigenous word chin chin meaning “thick scrub”. When we arrived we met Ann - selector - at the desk. It's a nice little club. Quite modern inside. There's a painting of the old clubhouse. There are some good historical pictures. The boys sat at the bar. One man, Doug, reminded Jean of her Dad who left us in December. She couldn't stop staring. Lesley served us at the bar. The club has two really nice-looking grass greens. The greenkeeper is the only paid person. The club shirts are nice. We played out the side On the George Sellers Memorial Green. It was a triples game. Phil, Jean and skip Allan Against Barb, Mal and skip Richie. Allan's team lost the first few ends then scored a four. End six Jean worked out the weight. One shot each team member. Jean bowled another toucher. Mal said of his bowls "They nearly went in the creek!" It was a close game. Mal finally got it! It ended up 18 all on 18 ends. Doug and Mal sat at the bar for a drink. Gin Gin - a close game with nice people.

The lady at the varavan park told us why everything in Childers is called 'Isis'. It's because the soil is volcanic and Isis is the Greek God of fertility. We went to Isis Club for a rollup. We met the barman who was friendly. He said it costs $10 each for a rollup but, because we have our own bowls, he said not to worry about it. He opened up the box for us. There's only one green. It's a synthetic - the carpet Jean likes. It has a bird hovering over the top - perhaps to keep other birds away. There was some bird poop on the green. It has that good moveable cloth shade. It's the home of the 'Isis Bowlers' We started the rollup. The carpet was good for Jean. She won the first five ends - one shot per end to be five - zip. Mal said "My radar is out. I can't get it!" Jean suggested he do a two practice ends while she took some photos. That's all he needed. He kept winning then. Jean had had enough, she called five all. She thought Mal had one shot. Mal had to measure. He reckons he got two for a win. A bloke at the bar said to Jean "You did really well out there!" Jean explained what happened and he said "Then don't let him practice!" Club Isis - Mal's not allowed to practice his shots any more! POST SCRIPT: We decided to stay another night in Childers so we could arrive in Gin Gin to play bowls tomorrow. Because we are here on a bowls day we elected to break our golden rule and visit Club Isis again for a game. Jean took a photo inside the club. It's quite sizeable for a little town. We met Bill at the table. Bill told us some great stories about his time as a Methodist Parson. He told us the club turned 100 last year, but members tend to play at Woodgate now. Bill introduced us to Richard. Bill further explained 'Isis'. He said there's a natural pine forest scrub that the town was built around. Isis is a suburb on The Thames and the Poms who came over said it reminded them of home. That's why it's they called it the 'Isis Scrub'. Childers' primary industries are now Avocado and Macadamia. There were just two games today - one pairs and one triples. Under cover. Mal skipped triples together Jean with Bill. Against Steve, skip Peter and Marilyn. It took us a while to get the weight. The opposition won the first three ends. Rex, who usually runs Tuesday dropped in. (Bill and Rex) Jean finally worked it out and we won lots of ends in a row - including a four. After smoko, like the other day at Biggenden, we went off the boil and lost a few ends. Still, we won by six. We came inside for drinks. Our game at Childers (Isis) was fun!

Jean's been in touch with President Lyn from Biggenden via Messenger. Lyn assured her there'd be bowls at 1pm Sunday. We arrived in town this morning just for that. We arrived at twelve - we were eager! We met Bevan at the bar. Daryl was the barman. It's a nice little clubhouse. Everyone hangs out at the bar. They were all really friendly and chatty. Marina and Spiro sat at the bar. Spiro used to work at Snowy Hydro when Jean's Uncle Arthur ran the scheme. There's a little old, traditional tankstand out the back. And a nice outdoor area by the green. We had to wait to see how many arrived to find out the format is Triples. The club has two greens but Bevan told us the one far from the bar hasn't been used for years because they don't have enough members to warrant upkeep. They still mow it though. There's a nice view of the bluff from the green. The green looks nice - a little ragged around the edges - but good. It was being rolled as we got there. Jean play second for Jeff with Graham (Jean, Jeff and Graham) Against Earl, skip Lindsay and Rick. Mal played skip with Spiro and Jenny (Jenny, Mal and Spiro) Against Jenni, Kalala and Sharon. (Kalala, Sharon and Jenni) There were three games in all. By the fourth end Jean started to get it. Her team had five - 3 for Jean. Mal was having trouble with weight. He also found it hard to cope with good draw bowlers. Out the back is the railway line. Earl said it's been closed 25 years. And the old butter factory. Mal Started to work it out. After 11 ends we came in for 'Smoko'. There was food! Back out and, after leading by up to ten all game, Jean's team lost the plot. They lost 5 out of 6 ends and were down by five. Still, they fought back and got three. Went down 7. As Spiro said - "Came second!" Mal on the other hand got a five and jumped ahead for the first time. He won by a point from 11 down. We came inside for drinks at the bar. A nice, relaxed time. Biggenden, they're now our mates!

We discovered yesterday we'd missed Kingaroy's social bowls day so decided to drive out late Friday arvo, just in case they have organised Friday rollups like other clubs. They didn't. Still, we can'texpect people to show up just for us - especially since they didn't know we were coming! It was all locked up. No mats and jacks to be found. Mal checked out the bowler on the wall. We couldn't work out what the insects were on the front sign. Lyn from the club told us on Messenger they are Red Amts that the club is known by. And there's an old roller. Wonder if they still use it. There are three greens. Only two seem to be in use. We bowled on the front one. Mal forgot his bowls shoes so Jean bowled in socks for solidarity. We used Jean's yellow synthetic jack And a Bourke Bowling Club cloth for a mat. The grass was hard. The bowls sounded like they were on sand. It wasn't a very exciting rollup. We had some good heads (except Jean's in the ditch). Mal bowled in socks And so did Jean. It was pretty close. It got to five all. Then Mal ran away with it. It was 9 to 5 and Jean called last end. Mal got the ten. Kingaroy - some people would have been nice.

Our trip seems to be one day out! Goomeri had their social bowls last night - when we were at Nanango. We watched the club all day but no movement. We came for a late afternoon rollup. When we arrived at the Showground, we asked the caretaker how far away the bowls club was. He smiled and pointed across the road. We were able to walk our bowls over. Apparently on Friday night they have 'Bowls and Burgers'. That would have been fun! The club has a sign that says it has it's silver jubilee in 1973. That makes it 75 years old! There's only one green. It looks nice. Again there were no mats and jacks to be found. We used Jean's synthetic jack and, this time, a Golden Square cloth (from Bendigo) as a mat. We started our rollup. Jean was going well. She won every end up until it was 9 to 4. Then she felt sorry for Mal. The bowls were going bumpety bump down the green. He was getting frustrated on the short ends (and swearing). She suggested we do a long end. That worked. Mal caught up. It was nine to six then, suddenly Mal got a full count and won the game. Jean said "I have to let you win so you don't get cranky!" Goomeri - 'Bowls and Burgers' would have been lovely - shame!

We're only in Nanango two nights at the showground so we miss out on their social day. So we came for a rollup. We arrived and walked all around the grounds to find mats and jacks. Alas there were none. In a happy coincidence President Dave pulled up just as we walked around the front. (Dave and Mal) We chatted for a while and found out we'd just missed Kingaroy social Day. A few minutes later greenkeeper Rod turned up. He was here for a rollup. The club has two nice grass greens - one on the left. We played on the right hand side. Dave got us mats and jacks and we started our rollup. We told Rod we were impressed with the greens. Jean took first blood with two. Mal then got one, Jean then got four, one and three to win the ten we played up to. Two ladies, mother and daughter Kathy and Sharon came to watch. Jean asked if they were bowlers. They said no but Kathy said she was interested in joining and learning to play. . Rod suggested she turn up at 12 on Tuesday to ask for coaching. Jean and Mal gave Kathy a bit of coaching. She did two ends and got it on the last bowl. Nanango - we missed the social game but had a nice rollup.

Mal rang Yarraman yesterday to find out there's bowls this morning and put our names down. It's about 50 minutes from Kilcoy where we're staying. It started at 9 and we had a long way to drive so we got up at 6:30 and arrived before everyone else. We liked the statue out the front. It's really in the country. There are cows next door. And an old sulky in the grounds. The little clubhouse is nice. And the outdoor area looks well-used. Robyn turned up around 8:45 and opened up. Mal walked to the pool to find a loo. Jean sat and chatted with Robyn, Rod, Nancy and Ailsa. The shirts have pine trees and horses. Yarraman is the Indigenous name for horse and the region is famous for Hoop Pine forests. Jean played lead in a triples game for Robyn with Jenny (Jenny, Jean and Robyn) Against Ailsa, John and Eunice. Mal played lead for Ron. Against Nev and Glenn. Only two rinks played. By end three Mal started to work it out. The triples game swapped places after six ends. Jean went Skip. Jean drove and took out their shot for five. She went down to take a photo of her good bowls but John deliberately stood in front then kicked the bowls away. Only the second rude person we've met on the trip! A couple of ends later, after swapsies, John got the mat and made a long end because they were down 16 to 5. Jean and Robyn nailed it. John had a shot on the kitty and Jean really wanted to take him out. She missed. Mal had to measure for shot. Down. Jean's team won by nine, Mal's lost by five. We came inside for sandwiches and drinks. We stopped at the Yarraman pub on the way home for Mal to get some beer. We saw the woodmen. Yarraman - great hospitality!

We arrived yesterday in Kilcoy. Jean drove to the bowls club to find out they have bowls this morning. She put our names down for 9am. The first people we met were Trudy and Pattie who took the money. Then we met Lyn, Pauline and Ann who did the draw. They were trying to work out what Mal's name was. The club is nice and quaint. It has nice pics. Some history And a collection of club badges. Jean had a chat with Michael (Grumpy) about some NSW clubs - including many in Wollongong, where he lived - 5 k from Jean's parent's place. We've played at many of them. There was a singles championship on when we arrived. We arrived late because Jean couldn't find her phone. She ran back to the caravan three times. Mal rang it and Jean could see it on her watch but couldn't find it. She said "We have to go. You'll have to take photos and I'll write notes on paper" Jean chatted with the ladies and told them why we were late. Mal walked in with Jean's phone. He said "It was in the fridge in the car!" All the ladies kept saying to Jean "Have you looked in the fridge lately?" Trudy introduced us and told everyone she'd read about us and our trip in 'The Bowler '. It's fours. Mal played skip for Bill, Neil and Lyn. (Bill, Lyn, Neil and Mal) Against skip Jenny, Sharon and Janis with Jean as Third. (Janis, Jenny, Jean and Sharon) There's only one grass green. It's quite nice. There were three games played. First three ends Jean's team drew well and we're up 3 to 5 shots each end. Mal came in each time and took kitty. His team ended up 7 - zip after three ends. He said "Nothin' like playing against a bunch of draw bowlers!" He had to work hard. Later Jean's team had two then Mal came in and took second. Still, Jean was in there. Jean kept drawing and Mal tried to take her out. The girls did their drawing best and it was too much for Mal. Jean's team won the money. We got our green fees back. It was Pam's and Joe's birthday this week so we came inside for birthday cake after the game. Patty presented us with club badges. They said the main industries in Kilcoy are logging and dairy. Hence on the badge are a cow and a log. Kilcoy - Mal played valiantly but alas, to no end!

Jean's been in touch with Lowood club via Messenger. They told her they have Barefoot Bowls on Sunday with a sausage sizzle. We drove out from Marburg where we're staying and arrived two hours early. When we Got there there was a semi-final on. the boys told us it was Dad and Grandad against grandson - and a ring-in. It's a quaint little country clubhouse. We went to the bakery for some food. When we came back we met Di (Grandma) and Secretary Peter who used to live in Charnwood ACT. We found out the older generation won the semi. The club is the Lowood Plovers. Jean just told a lady at South Tweed that she loves Plovers. They have one grass green the Ron Krause Green. Ron was a greenkeeper who kept the grass long - like a lawn. The current greenkeeper is a young player who was unemployed. He works a couple of days a week and the green is lovely. The boys had a little rollup beforehand. There were two games - one triples and one pairs. We skipped triples. Jean was with young Corbin and his Grandfather Peter. And Mal skipped young Callum and his Dad Allan. It was pretty clear from the start that Peter's purple bowls would be the stars of the show. We came inside at half time for a sausage. Peter gave us some stubby holders with the plover on them. When we came back out Mal's team caught up a little. It was a bit lopsided. Peter was a good bowler who coached grandson Corbin. Callum and Allan were both novices. Many, many times Mal's team was down 5 or 6. Mal would come in and cut it down to one. Jean won 23 to 7. They drew player numbers out of a hat. Jean won some chocolates. Lowood - a lopsided win for Jean.

We're only in Beaudesert one night. We're on our way to Jean's sister Roslyn's 50th birthday party on Heron Island end of June. Jean's been in touch with the club via Messenger and was told there's no bowls on Friday so we decided to go for a rollup. We arrived 1:30 and met Mick and Shannon. They told us lots of members come around 3pm Friday for a rollup. We said we'd wait for that. Mick introduced us to Brian who's the President of Gold Coast Bowls. We sat and chatted with him about his work and the live-streaming they do. Brian said he read about our trip in 'The Bowler'. Who knew someone wrote about us! The clubhouse is nice. Mick said it's "an old-fashioned club". We sat and waited for arrivals and had drinks with the boys - including the greenkeeper. Mick tended the bar. Club Chairman Doug popped in for a chat. The back green was out So we played on the front green. It's the Ron Newton Green. Not many people came. Mal couldn't wait any longer. Jean took out Mal's bowl for shot then Mal took kitty for two. We did a few ends then came back inside for one last drink. Brian told us we can park the caravan here with power and water and a toilet. We said we'd do that on our way back down and come on a Saturday to watch them play Pennants. Beaudesert - nice club, nice people, nice greens.

We're only in Ipswich one day, especially so we can play at Goodna, which we missed when we came through a couple of weeks ago. We rang and left two messages yesterday but took off from Beaudesert very early to arrive with enough time to park the caravan and hang out the washing. We arrived at 8am for a nine o'clock start. We met Tim, Kathy and Dave in the office. Chairperson Thelma came and introduced herself. She said she'd been President for twelve of the nineteen years she's bowled and now was elected Chairperson. The clubhouse is nice, and small inside. Jan told Jean the club has been damaged by floods twice. The first was in January 2011 when they lost the clubhouse when the flood came in from the north. A new clubhouse was built but February 2022 it went underwater with a flood from the south. The concrete floor bears witness. The club has two greens. One looks like it's being refurbished. We played on the side green. Mal played with Brad (Brad and Mal) Against Brian and Jan in a Pairs game. Tony, Jean and Clive (Tony, Jean and Clive) Played three-bowl triples against Tim, 96 year old Brian and Tony. Thelma told Jean Brian is one of the founding members of the club. We sat on seats, like other clubs we've been to, donated by members. Tony told Jean that, because of the flood , they haven't been able to do anything with the green. It's a bumpy old thing. Don't know where bowls will end up. Jean managed to put one on the kitty but the other two ran over the bumps and stayed out wide. Clive's team was bowling really well. We had the mat nearly every end. Thelma said "I should have had my photo taken with my uniform instead of my jacket!" Jean was happy to oblige. Mal said "This green is doing my head in! That's the closest I've been all game!" There were two games - one pairs and one triples. There were also two championship games on. Jean asked Mal if he won. He laughed "No! We came back from the dead though! It was 17 to 20. We came inside for drinks and presentations. One of the guys Barry Butler gave Mal a photo he took outside on the green. He doesn't know how to spell Mynah! Goodna - Jean had a good win