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We're on our way to Emerald to meet one of Jean's High School best friends Louanne who is gem hunting at Rubyvale We stopped at Esk on our way to Crows Nest for a rollup. It was closed. Jean took a pic through glass. There's a nice outdoor area. Angela drove past and stopped to check us out. She said the club was closed for 6 months and members went elsewhere. There's one grass green. It felt spongy under foot. Mal reckoned it was about ten seconds. Mal went out. Jean followed him. It was a super-slow green. We worked it out. Esk - not too long but OK.

We're staying a few nights at Noorla Bowling Club in Ingham. When we were at Macknade yesterday Brett told us Ingham men play Friday so Jean rang to get Mal's name down. It's a nice old clubhouse. Jean thinks the painting is of the famed original Sir Francis Drake bowls game! There are lots of great old photos Like 1949 Dunn Cup Winners. The club was established in 1931. There's a commemoration of the installation of the green and the shade. When we arrived Pat was expecting Mal. He told Jean the club has 30 men and 20 women. Mal chatted with the boys. It was Tim, Mal and Graeme There's one synthetic green under a shade. The Ren Cantatore Green Est. 2017. The sign says it's Polyester Needle Punch. It was Pairs. Four games - 16 blokes in all. Peter and Mal Played Rob and Terry. Mal and Peter were doing ok. They were up 5 - nil after two ends. Jean went away to go shopping at Woollies next door. When she returned she asked Peter if Mal had done any good bowls while she was gone. He said "Well, we're doin' alright. It's 25 to 5!" After Mal's beautiful shot Terry took kitty then Mal got it back. They won 35 to seven. They won the day! Mal got a six pack. He was over the moon about that. Better than money. A six-pack for Mal at Ingham.

After our disappointing rollup at Mystic Sands we were so excited to drive an hour to Macknade Bowls Club out of Ingham for a game this afternoon. Jean got in touch via Messenger and spoke with Brett who put our names down. He also told us we could park our van there for which we are very grateful. Just after we arrived Bruce and Helen from Victor Harbor SA arrived. They want to play and stay as well. It's such a lovely place. The guys from Jubilee told us we must play here! It's on sugar mill property. There are no trespassing signs everywhere. It's a nice little clubhouse - floral tablecloths. With a nice bar area. There's a good shady verandah which overlooks the green. With a gorgeous and very old tree out the front. Near the bowls shed is what seems to be an old piece of sugar machinery. The seats on the deck are donated in memorium. After a couple of hours a few people turned up and introduced themselves. It was David, Mal, Len and Mario. Lydia looked after the money. There's one plastic synthetic green. It was a bit damp when we rolled up from the heavy dew. It's the Marbelli Green. It's named after Lif Member Luciano Marbelli. There's a scoreboard donated by his family. The green has a pull-over shade provided by the Qld Government. It looked good when it came over. We got some give-away mandarins and passionfruit. It was a great turnout. Everyone seemed very excited to be here. Apparently they're mostly caravan bowlers like us. Linda, Louie and Jean Played against Keith, Carla and Carmen. Carla played in the Multi-Disability Bowls last year and won Silver and Bronze. On Mal's rink it was Fours. Kerryn, John, Brett and Mal. Against Bruce , Tom, Sue and Peter. Icon Water phoned Jean while she was bowling. She had no idea she got shot! Jean was really happy with her bowling. She Took out shot and the kitty. At 3pm we came inside for Smoko. What a spread! When we were at Jubilee we learnt about the Dunn Cup which is a big thing in the district. At Macknade they have the 'UN Done Cup' on the same day! During Smoko we met Pop who says he knows Jean's sister Sue from Weipa. Mal reckoned he didn't do any good bowls. Jean was at the other end so couldn't see. Mal managed to take a few photos. He did better than he thought. Mal kept contributing to his team's score. Mal won. Jean's team was neck and neck until the last couple of ends. We came inside for presentations. Jean's team got $5 each for losing rink. Jean remarked about the game "It's unusual to see so many people just having lots of fun.". Macknade - fun game, fun people, fun stories. Definitely worth the visit!

We drove from Townsville 60k north to Mystic Sands Golf Resort. It's a golf club with a bowling green. We will roll up here. It costs $3 per person to roll up. It doesn't seem like there's a bowling club here. It seems to be just a facility for barefoot bowlers. Perhaps visiting caravanners. The staff are very friendly and we can camp there with power and fill up with water. We pulled up in our caravan. We were lucky to get a spot with power. Wednesday night Jean needs power for cooking! We took a look at the bowling green. It's a grass green in poor condition. We're always amazed when there's a bowling green at a golf club how beautiful the golf greens are and how ordinary the bowling green is. It's not always the case but often is. Here it was no exception - we weren't impressed. There are patches and weeds all over it. Some plovers came to laugh at us. Jean tentatively ventured out. She put all her effort in and managed about 22 metres. Eventually we worked out the weight Mal had a go. He got a couple. Jean had a go at Mal's bowls. Her bowl was supposed to go into the ditch but was stopped at the edge. We didn't enjoy our rollup. We stopped after four ends and went back to the caravan! Mystic Sands - Ok if you're a barefoot bowler!

We drove over to Townsville from our temporary home in Giru for a Tuesday afternoon game at Jubilee Bowls Club. Jean's been chatting over Messenger. They said we could park our caravan here. Mal loved the unusual tree in the carpark. After we set up people started to arrive. We met Glenda and Glenn who looked after everything. Glenda knew exactly who we were. She'd heard about our arrival but she'd already come across us in Cobram Victoria. It's a light, airy clubhouse. They have an impressive trophy case. There's a nice outdoor area under the shade. and a barbecue area next door to an additional indoor entertainment area. The seats are donated. Mal chatted with the boys. They were interested in from where our shirts came. There were Joffa, Tommy, Peter, Mal and Andre. Jean sat with Gwen and loved her earrings. There are two carpet synthetic greens. Both have pull-over shades. It's an interesting surface. The green looks good. It was Triples. Sam, Mal and Smally Against Ken, Tommy and Andre. Glenda and Jean played Three-bowl Pairs. Against Joffa and Barry. By the third end Jean worked it out for three! Jean got shot then Joffa stole it! Naughty boy! We came inside for Smoko and raffles. Delicious sandwiches made by Sam. When we came out Jean did better. She kept running over to Mal but kept missing his good shots. She nearly got one! Then she managed to catch a good'n! Jean and Glenda managed a win. 24 to 12. Mal lost 12-15. When we came in Glenda presented us some goodies. Including a badge for Jean's hat. Glenda told Jean she used to be a member at Jean's club Weston Creek. She asked Jean to send her regards to Renee, Elaine and Carol there. She told us some of the club's history - starting in 1951. Glenda introduced us to Dale the Chair. Dale told Jean he's in the Army but he was a chef for seven years. He looks after all the cooking at the club and is planning to open a cafe there. He has big plans for the club with new greens and shady areas and also to refurb the extra indoor space. Jean asked if she could plug in power to cook her potatoes. She did but the power kept tripping. Dale said (since the boys were there doing some work) she could cook dinner in the kitchen. "We're a very friendly club!" he said. It worked brilliantly. Cooked our dinner in the clubhouse at Jubilee!

We popped over from our cosy spot at Giru Bowls Club to Alligator Creek for a rollup. They have social bowls on Sunday arvo so we missed out by a day. It's a nice clubhouse with a separate bar area. The club is surrounded by mountains on all sides. There's a respectful Services Memorial by the green. The outdoor area is quite large with a playground up the end. We met Val who said she's here every Monday! She got a mat and jacks for us. Val told us the club only has 12 bowling members - just enough for a Pennants side! It's a nice carpet synthetic green. The kind Jean usually likes. It was first opened in 1998 then refurbished in 2021. Jean stepped out. She had some trouble because the green was quick.. A bit ho hum she thought. Others wouldn't! Mal took his turn. He did a little better. Jean wanted to get a good shot of her bowls so she took Mal's shot bowl out! We both struggled to get our weight right. Our rollup was short because it was getting hot. (For Canberrans - not for North Queenslanders!). We came inside and met John who didn't want his photo taken. Alligator Creek - the tiny little bowling club!

We've started our trek north to Weipa. This morning we took the short drive to Giru. Jean's been in touch with President Ian via Messenger. Ian told her they have a championship on later today we can watch. We arrived early. Nobody there yet. Jean gave Ian a call and he was happy for us to park our caravan at the club. It's a good little clubhouse but no EFTPOS! The ladies had a win in 1992! There are a few plaques. Two for the 1967 opening and the lights ten years later. Then there's the 50th Anniversary and club extensions unveiled. The under-cover verandah is pleasant. The club has one eight-rink grass green. It's a little patchy in parts but runs ok. There are nice, old permanent shades. Jean went out. She took blood first end. It was Mal's turn. Second end Jean tried to drive Mal off but she was unsuccessful. Jean usually likes 👍 a slow green but Mal was all over it today! Jean was in there too. Since we were staying, we wandered over at 2:30 to meet the folks and watch the game. It's the Open Singles final. It has an impressive trophy. Ian is also the Greenkeeper. Earlier we watched him roll the green. Con turned up with his sandwiches. We met Jeff who's playing today. He saw us at Home Hill the other day. He explained the name of the town is pronounced "Girroo". He said it's named after a type of sugar cane. He showed us the back of his 👕. It has a Barramundi on it. The boys told Jean "Here we're all about sugar cane and Barramundi - oh, and mozzies!". We watched Bradley and Jeff play for a while. There's a sugar crushing plant next door. Ian told us when the sugar crush starts (which is now) the Giru club goes dead. We had a crush on at Giru! PS: By the way on the last end it was 23 all. Bradley came in and got three for a win!

It's our last day staying at Home Hill. Jean contacted nearby Ayr Bowling Club to get our names down for a Saturday afternoon game. There's a big logo on the wall. We met Joe, Pam and Arthur at the table. Pam was the one who Jean spoke to on Messenger. We're blown away by all the sugar cane around here and saw it burning 🔥 last night. We were told at Home Hill BC that this is one of the last places where they burn cane as the local mills can't handle raw cane. It's a pleasant little clubhouse with a big bar. There's an impressive framed photo array of the original club. The ladies seem to have done well in Pennant. There are two greens. The original synthetic Which was installed with the shade in 2005. There's another synthetic green . Not sure what surface. It's the Tapiolas Green. With a pull-over shade. It was installed 2019. It's triples today. We selected tiles again to get our teams. It was Jean, Henry and Wayne (visiting from Woodgate Beach near Bundaberg). Against Rob, Arthur and Paul Then Mal, Elaine and Sam. Against Margaret, Alec and Dot. It was a full green. Popular event! Everyone was friendly - joking around. We felt welcome. First end Jean put two in then Wayne and Henry consolidated for five! Skip Mal put in a beauty second end. Even with the super fast green Jean was happy with how she bowled. We had smoko at 3pm then came back out. Jean'steam was ahead the whole first half. With three to go Jean's team was down three. They got two initially the went down two. They got killed second half! Mal was frustrated. He said he couldn't get the grass. He missed a lot - just! But he won by five shots! We came inside and Sam found Jean a badge for her hat. A nice welcome at Ayr.

We're staying at the Home Hill Showground so we took the 19 minute drive to Brandon. The folks at Home Hill told us yesterday they have social bowls on Sunday. We'll be gone. Noone had responded to Jean on Messenger. It's our usual experience when we roll up in a small place like this, someone always drives past and curiously checks us out. Not so at Brandon. Hardly a car drove by. Jean took a photo of the clubhouse through the glass. The shady outdoor area is nice. Like Home Hill It's a plastic synthetic. Mal ventured out. Jean thought she had shot but was disappointed when she got up there. Jean had her go. She did it. She was happy with her weight. That was enough for Mal. He took it back! Jean just managed shot on the last end. Noone for us to meet at Brandon.

After our great game at Gold City Charters Towers yesterday we arrived this morning at Home Hill in time to play this arvo. We came a bit early and met Trevor and Judy who put our names down. It's a pretty little clubhouse. With a lovely old painting of the clubhouse. At the bar we met Yogi who's the Caretaker. Yogi lives on-site. When we were at Gold City they told us the club had been de-affiliated. We don't know why but Judy told us they're back! Mick, Bob and Bob (the Vice-president) are the selectors. They make up the teams. The boys sat for a quick beer before the game. There's just one plastic synthetic green. The Rummeny Green. It's named after a current player Karl Rummeny who's over 100. Karl is here today. He only plays one direction. Another bloke fills in for him. The green was opened originally in 2009. Then replaced last year. It cost $12 each to play but that includes the 3pm smoko Judy puts on. It's three-bowl triples today. We took tiles from an ice-cream carton. We had Wayne and Jean Against Ray and Garry. Then Helena, Mal and Yogi Against Mick, Henry and Saul Jean's game bowled all four at once. First end Jean got three then took kitty back for one. In fact, Jean was loving the slower green. Jean asked where 'Home Hill' comes from. The guys told her it's a place from the Crimean War. One of them came and gave Jean a badge for her hat. He said "Rare as hen's teeth!" Jean tried to get photos of Mal's bowls but he was Skip so his good bowls didn't really show in the head. Smoko tea was delicious. Lovely sandwiches. After smoko we kept the same teams. Last end Jean got a Resting Toucher but Ray took it out. Next bowl she got it back. Wayne and Jean won 24 to 12. Mal lost 13-17. Jean finally got a shot of his bowls! We came inside for celebrations and commiserations. Jean and Wayne won the money. Wayne said "Only because I had a good lead!" Jean was over the moon to have played well! To top it off Mal won the meat tray in the raffle! Home Hill - best Smoko around!

When we were at Hughenden the other day Graeme told us that Charters Towers has Pairs on Wednesday. His Dad John plays there. We arrived Monday so stayed three nights so we could play. Our first night we free-camped at a truck stop. We watched the huge four trailer trucks come in and turn right in front of us. Mal loved the Kenworths with all their lights. When we arrived on Wednesday we met Bob in the office. He's from Canberra. The clubhouse is small and cute. There are some great teatowels on the wall. One from Lismore And one funny one on bowls terms. Over 400 clubs we've done. Every one has a photo of the Monarch but we're yet to see a photo of the King. There are some nice Pennants. Some from quite a while ago. The club has a game time bell presented by Innisfail Bowls Club. There's a nice under cover verandah with bowls to help players off the green. They've planted a garden out the back with tomatoes, watermelon and paw paws. One of the guys Terry brought OJ who first growled at Jean then wanted pats from her. It's the first time we've seen a time capsule. We hope there will be a lady President to open it in 2035! The rinks are a memorial to Rhys Davies. It's a nice carpet synthetic. Jean's favourite. The greens came from a grant. It has pull over shades. It came over for us. We met Hughenden Graeme's Dad John. There was an odd number so we played one 3 against 4 and a game of Triples. Jean and twelve blokes. We played opposite. Harry, Dennis, Terry and Mal. Against Jean, Bob and Pop. The green was super fast! Jean's first bowls rolled slowly into the ditch. Mal did better. Next end Jean hardly swung her stick. She picked up the kitty. Next end it was short. Jean slowed it right down. "I think I'm getting the hang of this" she said! We played ten ends. Mal's team shellacked Jean's! We went in for smoko then swapped teams. This time we had different games. It was Bob, Denis, John and Mal Against Ken, John and Terry. Bill, Jean and Harry. Jean was having a ball as the boys were so friendly and encouraging. She played Pop, Tom and Errol. It took Mal until the second game to do a photo-worthy bowl. Three in fact! Mal didn't get shot but he called Jean over to take a photo of his bowls. Jean felt she bowled well but got killed both games. We came inside for the results. They spun the wheel. Errol, Tom and Pop won with Highest winning margin - against Jean! Mal won his game 14 to 9. Jean's not sure she likes paw paw but she got one - and a badge for her hat. Charters Towers - what a friendly game!

We are so excited that after weeks of just boring rollups we turned up at 3pm in the little town of Hughenden, on the edge of Outback Queensland, for an afternoon game. It's a cute little clubhouse. Everyone writes their name on the board and marks down what drinks they have and settle up after the game. There's a great under cover barbecue area. The guys welcomed us as soon as we walked up. They were Glen, Geoffrey, Shane, Graeme and Graham. It's a pretty cool social shirt referring to drinks and music. It's an ageing 2009 carpet green with a pull over cover. There are plaques for rhe green and the cover. We played triples against each other. It was Geoffrey, Jean and Graham. Against Graeme, Emer and Mal. There were a game of Fours and one Triples. First end Jean started with three but Mal took two out! She did it again but they were short and narrow. Mal got in there. Jean was very happy they played country music in the background. It was a very friendly, relaxing country atmosphere. Jean went off the boil a bit then took shot. We all had our grass right. We made a caterpillar. Despite that, the grass was really hard to work out. 😪 Mal struggled a bit. He said "I can't get them there!" Then he put in some magic. We played until 5:30. Jean's team won 24 to 13. Then we came inside to enjoy the company. Jean bought a shirt. Hughenden saved us!