Search Results

We had no idea what to expect from Paraburdoo Bowling Club. It's out in the middle of nowhere in the WA Pilbara. It's in the middle of a Rio Tinto mining town. We have no idea whether it's a working bowling club. The sign said 'Closed'. We saw some fantastic landscapes on the way in. The view from our caravan park (Rio Tinto) is also amazing. It's a tiny little clubhouse. There's heaps of space outside under cover. It has a children's playground. In the middle of The Pilbara Labor plays a big role. There's one grass green. Mal said " Nobody plays on that!" It's about an inch long. No rollup for us at Paraburdoo! There are a few weeds though it seems it gets watered. We are not sure of the in-joke. Paraburdoo - no rollup but lots of mining!

We're in Karratha for just a day but there are two bowls clubs here. We popped in to Dampier then had an evening game at Karratha Country Club. Mal's brother Michael joined us at Karratha. DAMPIER First we drove 21 km to Dampier. It's Friday afternoon so we assumed it would be open. Not so. It was all locked up. Like a lot of clubs up here, most of the action takes place in outdoor shady areas. All the chairs were up because it's closed. When you go out the front you can see a lovely view of the inlet. We couldn't get to the green to get our usual photo. It looks like plastic synthetic. KARRATHA Our caravan is parked at the Country Club so it's just a tiny walk for Friday dinner and bowls. It costs $16 for fully-self-contained vans at the Information Centre (no power/water). It's a tiny little clubhouse adjacent to the main club. It has its own bar though. It was just on sunset when we arrived. Outside is a nice barbecue area. We met John the President. He said they have 42 members and 12 of them are bowlers. He said the bowls season is officially over now so it's possible no other bowlers would turn up tonight. He was happy though because he doesn't often get to play. Chelsea served us at the bar. There is a bell adjacent to the bar and a plaque for the recent upgrade. Like Dampier it's a plastic synthetic green about eight years old. It runs well. There are two kinds of permanent shades John told us they used to have a cover but but it got destroyed by a cyclone twice. The council said " enough is enough! " Jean decided she would play with Mal's brother Michael. Mal and John played together. Jean had it then Mal came in and stole shot. That was the start of it. Jean was bowling ok but most often it didn't end up that way. Unusually each rink has its own sponsor. Mal stole again for two. Michael tried so hard. He finally stole one and gave himself shot and Jean second. In the end Mal and John were too good. We didn't really take note of the score. When we got back to Michael's car he handed Mal a stubby of beer. Mal said "That's my trophy. I f****'n flogged him! After the last game at Barn Hill he was happy again. Mal gets revenge at Karratha!

Everywhere we go people tell us about the bowling Green at Barn Hill Station. We had to stop in and check it out and maybe have a long-awaited roll-up. We were a bit worried about the 10 km of dirt to get here off the highway. We finally arrived and checked in to the caravan park. Mal's brother Michael has been travelling around WA as well so met us here. It's a very touristy place. Not really our thing but people seem to be enjoying it. It's not what we expected. It's just a little two-rink plastic synthetic. It didn't live up to the hype. The shades are pretty basic. Our caravan was parked way off to billyo. Mal wasn't keen on the walk to the green. Jean enquired about roll-up and was told it's $7 each. Jean said " No way! " But Michael wanted to roll up with Mal so shouted him. Jean came up to see Mal get two then Michael stole it. Michael took his turn. He was bowling well. Jean asked the score. Michael smiled " 14 to 2. He is playing against a runner up in the ACT Fours! ". Mal was not happy. " I'll give him runner up! " Michael had the last laugh. He won 27 to 15 after Mal caught up. Barn Hill Station - a little too touristy for us!

It's been 9 days and 1,842 km since our last game of bowls in Humpty Doo . We passed Kunnanurra on our way and finally arrived at the West Coast - to Broome. We were told bowls is on Monday and Wednesday but we are here on Tuesday. We drove past to get our photo. It was all locked up but we discovered that there's Fours on tonight. We wondered if we could get a game. It's an ongoing competition. We came back at 5:30 and it was open. There's a fantastic painting they paid for to put on their shirts. Daren the President was on the bar. Daren made us honorary members. They had some trouble with the artist's catalogue so put a cartoon version on the shirts instead. Petal didn't want her photo taken so we just got her legs! People started to arrive and it really livened up. We met Ray who came from Traralgon to WA about 30 years ago and lives in Bunbury. He still got excited when he saw Jean's Trafalgar shirt . There's a very old grass green next door. Unused now. The main green is a carpet synthetic. It's a late start - just on sunset. Bowls starts at 6:30. Daren tried to convince us to stay for the game and a burger but we haven't had our dinner and it's Mal's favourite steak and spuds night. Brett's team has their own shirt. We said goodbye and came home for dinner. No game for us but lovely company at Broome.

Humpty Doo Sunday morning breakfast bowls will likely be our last game for a couple of weeks as we explore the bowling clubs in the far reaches of Western Australia. There's not really a clubhouse as such. There's a bar and a busy outdoor area. The NT-shaped trophies all hung outside. And the memorial bell. Everyone was having breakfast when we arrived. We decided to join them. $15 for brekky and bowls. Carol, Marilyn and Ronnie looked after the draw. The magpie goose is their emblem. Not sure about the pig! There's just one carpet synthetic green. They said it's bad. We'll see! It was a lovely 20°. Coolest we've been in weeks. There were 34 players so the green was full. The format was fourteen ends of Pairs for Jean. Jean played with Anne Her opponents were Grant and Helen. Grant is 10 meters from us in the caravan park. Mal was in a Triples game with Annie and Liz against John, Marilyn and Matt Our bowls got carpet dust on them. Jean ran over just in time to see Mal do a pearler. It was a bit tough. Not as bad as they made out. On end six Jean managed a shot. Jean wasn't at the end when Mal did well. She missed out on photos. Jean managed a Resting Toucher. Anne bowled with the tiniest bowls Jean has ever seen. Size 0000. They were too small for Jean to pick them up with her bowling arm. Jean thought she got shellacked. She only lost by 5. Mal won by 3. We came in for presentations. We didn't win. At bowling clubs, Jean always says when they ask what size wine she wants " Not bowling club size! ". Today she forgot. One win and one loss at Humpty Doo

We're in Darwin for a week to do the three clubs here. On Thursday we had to put the caravan in for service so we popped in to the city to visit Darwin and Nightcliff clubs. Darwin was first. It is a small but friendly-looking clubhouse. We remember when we came here on a cruise years ago. Mal bought all their stuff - even a shirt pinned up over the bar. There's a good shade area by the green - the 'Last End Bar. Much needed up here (the shade and the bar)! It seems they have The Crocs. Unsurprising that! There's a carnival on from tonight and it's peak bowls season so there are lots of caravans here. We wish we'd known that. We'd have joined them. We met Barry the caretaker. He's also been corresponding with Jean by email about the clubs in The NT. He told us there's Seniors Bowls early Friday morning. Thanks Barry! These are the shirts for the 2025 Carnival. Nice. Jean bought one. There are two plastic synthetic greens. One is under cover. Again needed. Even in the winter months! Most of the seats are In Memorium. FRIDAY We came Friday morning for Seniors Bowls. Carl and Sonya looked after the draw. We sat before the game and chatted with Kerry and Deidre from Howrah in Tassie. We'll catch up with them when we're down there. It's 2,700km since our last game at Quorn . We were hanging out! There were 58 seniors that were playing today. It's Triples under cover (thank goodness!). Us Canberrans sweated like pigs! Helen, Jean and Monika played Chris, Deidre and Elaine. Mal, Alby and Wendy We're against Wayne, Rose and Tony. First end Jean did two wild bowls then scored shot and Monika consolidated. Mal was struggling with the very wide grass. Jean had to wait until end eight to get a shot of his good bowl. Jean was bowling ok. Mal wasn't but occasionally he put in a beauty. Jean lost by 2. Mal lost by, well a lot. We came to the outdoor bar for drinks and commiserations. Beth and Alby invited us to dinner tomorrow night. New friends at Darwin! PS: We went to the pub at our caravan park - The Virginia Tavern - where we met Paul who used to be the Deputy Manager at Darwin Bowls Club.

We came to Nightcliff and Darwin on Thursday to check them out. Nightcliff had a tournament on. The clubhouse wasn't really open but we managed to get a shot of it. We were told by the players that it was a medley. Teams of four play different formats over three days. We came across Keith who we met in Kyabram in Gippsland Victoria. Long way to come for bowls! We had Jerome our cat with us. He wasn't happy being on the lead but he got lots of pats. There are a couple of nice shady places. There are two plastic synthetic greens. They were both in full swing. We loved the Nightcliff shirt but didn't buy one. Our story Nightcliff - always a day early or late to play!

Today we drove another 240km from Katherine up to Rum Jungle Bowling Club in Batchelor NT. It's a tiny little club in a shed. The sign says " Welcome to Rumble in the Jungle ". We had to get a pic. It's a tiny little clubhouse - more of a shed really. Jo and Eddie were packing up from a successful day at the local markets. Joe told us all the stories. The club has only ten members at the moment. This is the oldest bowling club in the Northern Territory and now the only grass green left up here. It needs a good mow! Jo said it will be ready for social bowls on Thursday night. Jo said she could sell us a shirt for $60. We both bought one. Beautiful Rum Jungle shirts for us!

We've driven 1,200 since our last bowling club at Alice Springs . We're finally at Katherine and came to the Katherine Country Club in the hope of a rollup. It's a golf club so there were lots of golfers around the place. It's a pretty ordinary, normal clubhouse with golf stuff everywhere. It was reconstructed in 1999 after the flood. The green was all locked up. We had to pay $5 each to unlock it for a look around and a rollup. There's one plastic synthetic green. It was 28 degrees. We haven't been used to that. The green was very, very sandy. Sand followed our bowls. Jean went first. Her bowl had sand all over it. Mal bowled consistently but heavy. Jean got two shots. Mal stepped up. His line was consistent for one shot. Jean thought she had it but Mal just pipped her. Jean did ok on her grass as well. Mal just beat her for second shot. We broke our 'no pay for rollup' rule at Katherine.

We were going to stay in Alice Springs for two nights but a long the way we were warned against it due to crime and vandalism. We came to check out Alice Springs Golf Club, our only bowling club since Port Augusta 1,230 km south. It's a golf club so not much around about bowls. 1:30 and the bar was shut. There are some good paintings of people on the wall. Golfers no doubt. They wanted to charge us $10 each for a roll-up. Forget that! Not spending any money here! But check out the view over the greens. Outside is a covered area and seating in the sun. Pride of place are the golf carts next door. It was 22°>. Warmest we've been for weeks! There's one grass green. Barry from NT Bowls said it runs very well. We didn't get a rollup but the scenery was good! No rollup at Alice Springs.

The lovely people at ETSA Bowling Club invited us to come with them to play Wednesday bowls at Quorn. It was going to be another 1,200 km - 5 days until we saw another bowling club so we jumped at the chance! It's a tiny little clubhouse. There are about fifty members here. There's a painting of the old clubhouse. Their successes are proudly displayed. They have lots of good sponsors. Sam and Sue looked after the draw. Many of the players were at ETSA. There's one old plastic synthetic green. There are permanent shades. It's such a a beautiful day. Zero wind. 13° and full sun. There were sixteen players. We played each other. Max and Jean were against Mal and Chrissy. Mal took first blood. Jean took kitty then she and Max consolidated for three shots. Jean got one close. Mal had a beautiful shot. Jean drove him out for three. Then Chrissy did a pearler and took the kitty for five. Jean and Max won by one shot. They told us at ETSA that they feed you at Quorn. They weren't wrong. Sue spun the wheel for the Jackpot. We didn't win though. We left happy with full tummies. Quorn and ETSA - we enjoyed the company.

We're on our way to Darwin. We stopped in Peterborough overnight Sunday and today we've stopped at Port Augusta and are camped at ETSA Bowling Club. We drove all the way from Broken Hill so we could participate in ETSA Jackpot Tuesday bowls. We're camped at the club. We're locked in at night. It's a cute little club house. We're told that E.T.S.A. is for Electrical Trust of South Australia. Out front is a nice, wide verandah. The stone was laid in 2021 to celebrate 50 years. The synthetic green was opened in 2009. The clubhouse was opened in 2980. Over the bar is a painting of the old clubhouse. They've had some success in competitions. A bowler (made from bowls) stands guard outside. We met Barb when we arrived on Monday. She helped us out. Kath ran the day. They were all very friendly, welcoming and talkative. Jean sat and chatted with Glenn, Cheryl and Mad Max. Max said they are naughty. There are two greens but the back one is now the Croquet green. The one remaining green is plastic synthetic. It's been quite flattened over the years. It's 2-4-2 Pairs today. Jean and Doc Played Paul and Barb. Mal played with Glenn Against Chrissy and Kath. Jean managed one in an ordinary head. Mal did a little better. Jean got shot. Doc had all the back bowls. Mal put in a beauty. Mal won by two, Jean lost by 3. We came inside for drinks and raffle paddles. Moo spun the wheel. First up Jean won some wine. We were going to drive on on Wednesday but they suggested we stay another night and go with them to play social bowls at Quorn. We might just do that1 ETSA - what a lovely game!