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We arrived in Gympie yesterday but were too tired to go around the clubs. There's only two here but a few others within 30 minutes. Jean checked out her map and saw that Gympie Bowls Club has bowls Thursday morning with names in by 8:30. We set the alarm for seven. Mal rang and asked Peter to put our names down. We arrived at 8:30 to meet Peter and Robyn in the office. They charged $15 for the game. We thought that was expensive compared with what we've paid at other clubs. We sat and chatted with Heather and Dale who were visiting from Ulverstone in Tasmania. Ross Davies came and introduced himself and wished us a good time. The club has two very nice grass greens. We played on the outside green. There was a cute little trolley with all the green markings. Mal played second with skip Judy and Les against Logan, Heather and Geoff. (Geoff, Heather and Logan) Jean played lead for Jenny with Daphne. (Jenny, Jean and Daphne) against Keith, Dale and Geoff. There were four games of three-bowl triples. Jean handled the grass green pretty well and scored shot most ends (except for a wrong bias). After a rough start Mal started to work it out. Jean's game was close. Only a couple of shots in it the whole game. On end 14 Jenny's team was three down. Dale rolled T-to-T. Jean surprised herself and got shot. Daphne did one better for two. Alas though the end was lost to a lucky wick. They won end after end after end. Last end Jean and Daphne did well but it wasn't enough. Lost by nine. Mal's team got a six, a five and a three but lost by five. The players didn't sit together - they all took off. They are short for The President's Cup on Sunday so Mal volunteered to play. Gympie - not much to report really.

We arrived in Maryborough Sunday morning. We set up the van and drove around to the three clubs. We went first to Doon Villa. A bloke was just locking up. We went then to Maryborough Bowls Club. They had lots of young people playing pool and Barefoot Bowls so we left there. We came to Maryborough Services Memorial Bowls Club. We walked in and Selina from Mundubbera came up to say gidday and invite us to her table. Selina was there for a carnival with Barry two foot. We arrived just in time for presentations. We saw shirts there from about 20 different clubs. We went outside for a rollup on the grass. They have two greens - one grass and one synthetic. We rolled up on the grass. After three ends Jean had Mal 3 to 1. Then he got a full count. Jean gave up after that. We liked the low headroom to the bowls area. Maryborough Services Memorial Bowls Club - good to see some friends.

When we arrived in Hervey Bay last Thursday we drove around all the clubs nearby and put our names down the following week for Burrum Heads. We arrived at the club at 11:30 for 12:30. Max rang us while we were on our way to tell us we had a game. We met him in the office when we arrived. The renovation was opened by a politician. The club is nice and modern. The club has a lovely outdoor area. We sat for a while and chatted with Barry and Dave. Terry came and sold Mal some raffle tickets. There's an interesting sculpture garden at the caretaker's cottage. The club has two oldish synthetic greens. One is closed for maintenance. It has a bit of wear and tear. They have those roll out covers. We played on the far green It's the John & Sylvia Redman Green. It's pairs. Weplayed together against Bill and Frank. There were 5 rinks. It was a tough green. Really fast like Weston Creek. Jean worked out the backhand was best on the wide side and got three. Then she pushed the kitty over. Mal disregarded her good work and got cross. We still had two! Mal called Jean to take out one of their two shots. She took out both for shot then drew another. He was happy then. It was a close game all the way through. We had three with most of the opposition on the bank. Then Frank drew a pearler for shot to make it 12 to seven our way on the tenth end. Bill put a bowl on the kitty and said to Jean "Take a photo of that. It's the best I've done all day. Frank drew one better. Then Mal gave them three. Jackie the Ladies' Secretary came and introduced herself. It was 19 all on the eighteenth end. Mal got three and Jean got one. We won 23 to 21. We came inside for drinks. Frank told us we must go to Bribie Island. We'll do that. Graham introduced us and told everyone about our trip. Burrum Heads - We only just won.

We drove around Hervey Bay when we got here on Thursday and put our names down for Tuesday at Urangan. Urangan has two nice carpet greens under solid cover. It's a nice modern clubhouse. Nice inside. It has a special display of all the sponsors. The bar says it's the friendliest club. We met Brownie who organised the game. Jean then sat and chatted for a while with Joe who came from Perth. Apparently he used to bowl there with Peter Wright who Jean met later. Brownie introduced us and told everyone about our trip. It was pairs so we got to play together. There were quite a few players. It was pairs but they had an extra team so one game of triples. We played on the far green. It's the Memorial Green. We played against Peter (black shirt) and his friend whose name Jean forgot. He wasn't very talkative but Jean thought he was nice. Gave her lots of information about the club. Jean (being obsessive compulsive) liked the fact that all the bowls were blue except her red ones. During the game, Jean met Peter Wright and Ted. Peter kept stopping through the game to tell Jean all about the great clubs they have over in WA. He said he'd bowled at all of them. We had a pretty tight game. Mal and Jean both bowled really well. Jean got shot most ends. She would walk up to the head to see her bowl on the kitty. Mal bowled exceptionally well. So many tines down multiple mal played weight to save the day. One end, Jean went to the bar and we were three down. When she got back we had one up. she queried Mal and he said "I did a pinball bowl". The other lead said "It was a heartbreak bowl!" Mal and Jean won twelve ends but it was all ones. We lost 18 to 12. We went inside afterwards for drinks. We had a nice chat with the boys. Urangan - we nearly won!

We went to visit Jean's cousin John Hamilton who lives across the road from Hervey Bay Bowls Club. He wasn't there so we went to the club for a drink. The clubhouse is nice. It has a whale mural on the wall. There were lots of people with uniforms on. The Hervey Bay shirt has a whale on it. There were players here from other clubs around. George said "Are you looking for a game of bowls? We're missing one." Mal jumped at the chance!. The club has three nice synthetic greens, all under cover. They had 78 people so they were on two greens. They charge for a rollup - we guess to pay off the greens and covers. Mal played on the middle green. George said they pulled the covers over at 6am. The sun slows it down so it's quicker in the shade. They were about to start. Mal had to race back to the car to get his bowls. It was three-bowl triples. Mal played second with lead George and skip Terry (Terry, George and Mal) against Skip Col, Graham and Ernie. (George, Mal, Earnie and Graham) (Skips Col and Terry) Jean sat and watched while she waited for John to come home. It took Mal a few ends to get used to the green. It ran about fifteen seconds. Once he worked it out he bowled well. They were a long way behind after the opposition got a six. Mal finally got shot. Mal's team got a five which put them three behind. Then they got a four and won. They went inside after 13 ends for sandwiches. Col said "When we did have shot, a certain Parramattaite took it off us!"⁸ They have seven club badge holders on the wall with badges from everywhere. Second game Mal played Peter, Peter and Nev. Peter 2 is the President of the club. They were only a couple down after seven ends. Mal gave Terry instructions but he had to change hands. It didn't work. They went down that end. Last end the opposition needed four to win. They got one. Mal's team was a two-game winner. We went inside for results and raffles. No wins there but lovely company and good chats. Hervey Bay - a lucky draw for Mal!

We drove around Hervey Bay region to see when they play. We put our names down at Burrum Heads We couldn't find where to put our names down at Burgowan so had a short rollup instead. The parking area took a bit of navigation. It seems to be a Men's club though does have a Ladies Day. The clubhouse looks ok but we had our noses pressed against the door. Nobody home on a Saturday which seems strange becaus it says they have social. The club has just one nice synthetic green under cover. The Roy Rowston and Tiger Pollard Green. A sign said it was new and state-of-the-art. The surface was carpet but very nice. It has wind barriers to the side. The corners have an Aussie flag in an old bowl. The scoreboards look home made. Jean nailed the grass and weight. She seems to be improving on synthetic. Mal bowled short and narrow mostly. Twice he got shot and Jean took him out. On the second last end Mal had two shots. Jean took her last unsuccessful bowl back and drove. She took out the kitty for three. Mal got two on the last end. Jean won but we didn't keep the score because she cheated. Let's call it a draw! As we left we noticed the owls in the outdoor area. We guessed they have trouble with bird droppings. Let's scare the birds at Burgowan.

We're in Hervey Bay for Mal's family reunion. Yesterday we drove by Pialba Bowls Club. We tried to ring Thursday but no answer. Jean suggested Mal ring 8am Friday to see if there's morning bowls. We got our names down for 9am. When we arrived we met Karen and Garry (Gaz & Kaz) who used to live in Banks where Mal lived. Their kids still live in Tuggeranong. Gary gave Mal a cap. He said everything at the club is done by volunteers - except for the paid greenkeeper. Then Jean met Sandra and Ian at the bar. They have two nice grass greens - they say best in the region. They have nice club shirts. We played in front of the clubhouse on the Jack Kramer Green. It was nominated pairs so we got to play together. We had a full green of people for pairs. We played against Garry and Frank who we'd met earlier. We both worked out grass and weight pretty early. It was quite quick. They had great American country rock playing in the background. Then Aussie rock. Was cool. We often had all the back bowls. Mal tried to use them - to no avail. Jean took refuge from the sun on the beautiful wooden seats which Frank said cost $350 each - Donated by members. Jean captured Damon having a rest. They had brilliant clear blue sky. It made Jean a little homesick for Canberra. Mal did his best but Garry and Frank were good. It was tough! They got seven up - we pared them back - then seven up again. After being down the whole game we got one and one and one. We'd have shots and Garry's Orange bowls took them off us. We drew four on the last end to draw. Jean said "If nothing else I've had a lovely time chatting with Frank." Frank used to do maintenance in the club. He organises Friday morning. He told Jean he was on the trains for 30 years. (Frank and Mal) We came inside for drinks. They have a nice welcome sign on the wall. There is nice artwork of fish, A Parrot, Landscape And a bird. There's also a funny cartoon. The club has a lovely feel. We had fun. A nice draw for a change at Pialba.

Jean's been communicating for weeks with Selina from Mundubbera Bowls Club. Selina said we can leave our caravan at the club with power and water for two days. We are over the moon about that. We were to rush there on Tuesday morning for bowls but Selina told us they have a wake at the club that day so have moved the social to Wednesday. Selina put our names down. Selina is a gun bowler. She's won many state singles championships. She does all the jobs at the club: President, match, cook, cleaner, marketing etc. (Selina and Mal) When we arrived on Tuesday we had a great chat with Barry and Ann at the bar. We came in about 8:45 on Wednesday for our game. First people we met were Libby and Sue Lederhose who is a local artist. (Libby and Sue) Sue looks like a great artist. Her artwork adorns the club walls. It's an eclectic mix. Then we met Barry who says he is greenkeeper/slave. The club has one grass green. It seems well kept. It's a nice little clubhouse - cosy. It has a weir just behind. It has a nice old clock. Donated by members. The club has two Barrys: Barry One-foot and Barry Two-foot. Barry One-foot lost his foot in a bad motorcycle accident years ago. To pick the team's players choose a bottle cap. There were fourteen people so we had two games of pairs and one triples. Mal played 2-4-2 with Finn against Barry and Alan. (Barry, Mal, Alan and Finn). Jean played lead for Beryl with Barry (Beryl, Jean and Barry) against Christine, Sue and Selina. (Christine, Selina and Sue) Jean often started with shot but was a bit wide. Didn't last long, Sue and Selina (and Barry) were too good. She got one that lasted to the skips' bowls. Kept it. Barry tried Jean's two-backswing approach with his purple bowls and it worked. He might take it on. On the last end Selina's team had shot. On the changeover Beryl said to Sue "You need ten to beat us!" Mal played the greenkeeper Barry who Mal says was "Dead-eye Dick". Mal said he tried to follow Barry's line. Barry worked that out and put bowls in front. Mal said for his partner Finn, it was only his tenth game. He bowled well. Mal said Alan was unsteady as he bowled. Barry told him to put his hand on his knee. After that he nailed it. Mal said "They beat us by a lot!" After the game we all sat around in a group for drinks. The club members all seem like friends - they know each others' business - in a good way! They are like one big family. Selina told us the Club flooded Australia Day 2013. Tradie members from Ferny Grove Bowls Club in Brisbane came and helped them clean up an rebuild. They were able to open up October that year. They have a big carnival every year attended by many clubs. It's already full for next year! Mundubbera - nothing can wash away the enthusiasm here!

We arrived in Chinchilla from Goondiwindi about midday. We set up the van, did the washing and hung it out then followed the instructions from Wazza in reception to the Chinchilla Bowls Club. When we arrived we met Julie who used to be the club Secretary. Julie was a font of information about Chinchilla and the club. She got us a mat and jacks for our rollup. There were some folks on the green when we got there. Jean asked Julie if it was a final. She said "No, just social bowls." Jean queried this because the sign didn't say social on a Monday. Julie said "We play every public holiday." Good to know! Julie introduced us to Annette (who works at our caravan park) and Barry. We told them all about our trip and discussed our heading to Hervey Bay. (Julie, Annette and Barry) Julie's husband Peter left the game and came over and introduced himself. The club has two nice grass greens. We played on the one out the back. It's the Norman Emmerson Green. It has a fancy sign which was donated by past Presidents of Condamine Bowls. It has cute little flags at each corner. We really liked the scoreboards. Jean quizzed Julie about the 'Cactoblasters'. Julie explained that it comes from the Cactoblastus moth which got rid of the prickly pear infestation decades ago .She explained that when they went away to events they liked that other teams had names and nice shirts. The club wanted that. They thought about the Watermelons, because Chinchilla is the watermelon capital of Australia - they didn't like that idea. Julie said what about an insect - the Cactoblaster. She found a design and they put it on their shirt. Now they are the Cactoblasters! The green was really fast. We did OK, we had some tight heads but a few went in the ditch. Jean mostly kept Mal to one shot. Julie took video of Jean's best end. Chinchilla - we had a (cacto) blast!

Goondiwindi (pronounced "Gundawindy or Gundy") is our first Qld town on our way to Hervey Bay for Mal's family reunion. Yesterday we drove to find out where the Goondiwindi Bowling and Croquet Club is located. It's easy to find. Just off to the left at the bottom of the main drag. Jean had been in touch with Maree, the Manager on Messenger many months ago to find out when they have social bowls. She arranged the trip so we could be here on a social bowls day. Maree put our names down for today. We arrived really early. Jean asked Maree about the MacIntyre River - her river - which flows behind the club. She gave us some instructions and we went down. The club has one grass green looked after by volunteers. It's nice but when we came yesterday it was covered with storm debris. It's a cute club with a friendly bar. There are heaps of great old photos: There's one of the original clubhouse. We met Greg who owns Foodworks. His shop got broken into last night. Shame, it's a nice shop - local produce. All the bowlers hung out for a drink beforehand. Maree said she'd wait until everyone gets here to decide the format but it's two games of ten ends with a small break in the middle. There were 18 so we played three-bowl triples. Mal played skip with lead Jean and Chris from Southport Gold Coast. (Mal, Jean and Chris) We played against Jill, Gary and Charles. Jeff showed Jean his bowls shirt with the racehorses. She said "I remember Gunsynd - The Goondiwindi Grey!" There is an old fallow bowling green next door. Jill said there are only a few Croquet players. When they play, which is not often, they do it on the bowling green. The green started really slow. Hard to get the weight. We got a seven. Their faces dropped. Mal was having so much fun. When they had shot he'd take the kitty. The club had such a nice, relaxed atmosphere. It's the people. Friendly and welcoming. Four ends to go and we got a six. Jean said to Chris when we go to Southport we'll play triples together. She agreed enthusiastically. Then they got a six which made it 24 to 14 with two to go. They got a four to put them six behind going into the last end. It finished 24 to 19. They scored eleven shots in two ends. With that effort they should have won. Steve called the results. The winners had plus 16 so we didn't win the Easter chocolates. Get relaxed at Gundy!

It's Good Friday and we arrived in Collarenebri at 10am. Checked out the bowling club. It's closed. We decided, out of respect, not to roll up here. It's a cute little club. The website says it's open 7 days - that is except Good Friday and Christmas. It has one grass green. In a tiny town of 650 people one wouldn't expect it to be so nice. Shame we couldn't roll up on it. Apparently Collarenebri is the home of the Cod. We liked the flags - including the Indigenous flag. Because we didn't have a rollup we decided to check out the Tattersal's Pub. There's no caravan park so we are in an RV area with no power and water. We needed to find out if we can get food there tonight. We can. We enjoyed a drink at the bar - an unusual experience. Collarenebri - lovely little club and pub.

Our second stop on our trek to Hervey Bay is Bourke. We went for a rollup and were surprised by the facilities. We went to the front desk and told the guy there about our trip and said we wanted a rollup. He got a mat and a jack for us, we said we wanted two jacks. He said he'd have to go out the back and get one. We said OK, we had to go and get our bowls bags. We looked at the nice fountain on the way out. The club has two nice greens. One is grass, one is synthetic. We met Ernie the synthetic green installer. He's just installed the new synthetic green. No club members have bowled on it yet. He said it was ready but we agreed the club President would likely be annoyed if the first people to bowl on it were visitors. We decided to roll up on the grass. It had lots of ant holes on it. Mal was warned that, because it's Jean's 61st birthday - he's not allowed to take out her bowls! Jean went back inside to get the mat and jacks. Mal waited patiently. She came out with a wide grin on her face. "Mal, they gave me a birthday present!" Mal got a non-birthday present. A nice new bowls cloth. We loved the Bourke Bowling Club jack. The club house is quite big and modern. Jean recalled from her uni Sports Psychology course that when one practices, one should have a purpose. Jean decided today that she would practice taking Mal's bowls out. At first she didn't have any success. Then she got a couple. At one point Mal was on the jack and Jean played weight. She put the kitty in the ditch. A woman walking by called "Great bowl there!" That bucked Jean up. Mal started to give her some instruction on how to play weight. It didn't help much! Still, she feels a little bit more confident now. Bourke Bowling Club - nice birthday present for Jean.