Search Results

We were supposed to go to Moranbah yesterday but had to stop in Mackay for an ill-fated caravan check-in. We rolled up here today. When we arrived we got a friendly greeting from Joe the Assistant Greenkeeper. We went inside and met bartender Brooke at the long bar. There's quite a nice barbecue and outdoor area adjacent to the clubhouse. We liked the club's Kookaburra on their welcome sign. Inside on the wall is a wooden carving of the kookaburra done by a member. Brook went and found a shirt for us to photograph - with the kookaburra. There are two grass greens. One out the front. With a roll out cover. And some really old shades we've never seen before. Joe said the back green is the best to roll up on at the moment. He told us they just got a grant to replace the gutters as the wood has rotted. Joe started to mark the green while we rolled up. Jean started the rollup. She did ok with two distant shots. Mal had a go. He had similar results. After a while we both worked out the weight. Jean was very happy with her bowls. Mal had the last laugh on the final end. We said goodbye to Joe and Brooke. Mal had to get a Moranbah shirt (Parramatta Colours!) A nice rollup, friendly people and a new shirt for Mal at Moranbah!

We accidentally drove to Mackay because we had to get an urgent repair to our caravan. We were going to come and play Scroungers but took too long at the caravan place. It's a little clubhouse. Pretty old and quaint. Inside there are some old photos of the clubhouse painted on the wall. There's one nice grass green. It was pretty quick! When we were at Suburban in Townsville the other day, Jean saw the ladies from Mackay in their nice orange shirts . " I need an orange shirt to wear on Wednesdays! " she said. Mary the bartender looked after us, organised our rollup and for Mick to sell Jean a shirt. Mick came off the green to help out. He went into the office and found Jean a shirt. Mal declared: " 20 bucks for a bowls shirt -that's a bargain! " Nice! We went out for our rollup on rink one. Jean stepped up first. She had second shot then, with his last bowl Mal knocked her up for shot. Mal had his go. Of course he was all over it! We met Glenda on the rink next to us. Their Bowls kept straying onto our rink. Jean almost got a toucher. Last end Mal just snuck in! We hardly ever see orange shirts at bowls clubs so this was a bonus! Mackay - at last an orange club shirt for Jean!

We drove three hours from Townsville to Collinsville. We know there's no bowls on a Wednesday but came to stay and roll up. Hoppy (Bruce) from Herberton was wearing a Collinsville shirt when we were there. Jean told him we'd be there in a couple of days. He said he came from there and that we should ring the President Barry who would let us stay there. We did and he did! Barry met us at the club just after we arrived. He took us on a tour. He's a carpenter by trade and is doing a lot of work there. There's a big verandah with a kids' play area at the back. They want to try to encourage young families to come to the club. One of the things Barry is doing is creating a new barbecue area - decorated with old bowls. He hopes to put in a pizza oven where people can come and cook their own. He showed us how he puts in the bowls. He carves a groove in them so they sit nicely in the structure. Out the back on the shed is a bowls paining. And on the tank. When we arrived in town we saw a sign that said Collinsville is the 'Pit Pony Capital'. It's a mining town and we guess pit ponies are an important part of their history. The bowls club has a beautiful paining of a pit pony out the front. The club has one grass green. It's a bit patchy in parts as they've had some moss. It's quite slow. Mal was in the van fixing a power plug. Jean decided to roll up by herself. After about six ends she started to get the weight right. It was tough on the slow green. Mal joined her. Of course he got shot first bowl! Jean gave him a run for his money! But Mal had the last laugh (as usual!). Collinsville - thanks for the hospitality.

We're stopping overnight in Townsville on our way to Keppel Sands to catch up with Jean's sister Susan and her daughter. We wanted to do one club here so chose Suburban. We'd phoned a few clubs to find out if there was social bowls on. We found out the Women's Northern Challenge was on here today so came to take a look.. The club has one synthetic green under a good, solid cover. The clubhouse is a good size with a nice bar. We met Robyn and Chris (the bartender). Robyn showed us the six flood markers on the column from back as far as 1946. Wanda is another ex-Navy person from Nowra who liked Mal's Bomaderry shirt. The wall has nice decorations. A collage/quilt. And a picture of their Kookaburra. There were lots of ladies there from clubs we've visited like South Johnstone , Tully , Ingham and Innisfail . On our way out we ran into Lee from Silkwood. Suburban Townsville - we watched the ladies for a while.

RAVENSHOE We met some people from Ravenshoe a couple of weeks ago when we were at Yungaburra . We drove over to Ravenshoe from Heberton today. They are both towns in the mountains. Ravenshoe is the highest green in Queensland. When we arrived we met Tony the President. He told us the club has suffered over the last few years with dwindling membership. Recently though they got a few more and now have 30 members. Tony said they hold dinners there once a month on Friday to raise money. We told Tony about our trip and he gave us a Ravenshoe cloth and pens. We heard all about the Ravenshoe possum at Yungaburra. It's a nice old-fashioned clubhouse. We liked the wall-hanging. There's a nice commemorative plaque for the 50th anniversary in 1998. There's a nice outdoor verandah. There was a working bee and they were re-painting it. We learnt at other clubs that Ravenshoe green has been out about eight weeks due to the storms. We couldn't roll up as they'd sprayed for moss. They are also putting nutrients in to recover the green. They said they'd be back up and running tomorrow. In fact, they have planned a 75th anniversary tournament on 28th July. Any bowlers wishing to come and support the club can register by email at: Rmbc@live.com.au . The guys explained that they have a permanent survey marker on the bar to record the highest peak around. There's a plan on the wall that explains it (kinda!). It's a grass green that was being sprayed while we were there. The highest green in Queensland! With nice old permanent shades. Ravenshoe - nearly brand new again! MALANDA After Ravenshoe we drove to Malanda. Dennis from Herberton told us it's unlikely we could bowl there as their green was out. He said their greenkeeper had other things to do. The club was closed up. Jean got a photo through the window. According to the big sign out the front they have social bowls on Sunday. Not today! Mal said " There's nobody bowling on that!" It has insect holes and weeds all over it. Nevertheless it's called the Alf Morris Green. Malanda - we hope they can get back and play!

Yesterday when we were at Atherton we met Bruce again. He invited us to play and stay at Herberton for Saturday. It's a tiny, cute little clubhouse with a long bar. When we arrived we met Dennis who we'd met at Yungaburra when we met Bruce the first time. Dennis was with his lovely wife Joi. Dennis proudly declared " 58 years! " Apparently the bowls club is also daycare 😅. The club has history. It was created after WWII on the site of a doctor's surgery and three shops. There's a long poem about ' The Bowls Club in the Hills' on the wall which pleased Jean! It has a pleasant verandah by the green. We found a good spot for our caravan. Ken and Harry organised the draw. They have an old roller against the shed. There's one grass green. Bruce was mowing it when we arrived. He said it's pretty heavy. Bruce finished mowing and came inside. There were enough people for two games of Three-bowl Triples. It was Dennis, Jean and Harry. Against Cindy, Lloyd and Bruce. Harry is Bruce's older brother and Cindy is their niece. Norm, Mal and Kay played Ken, Steve and Jim. Mal seemed to have nailed Bruce's slow green. Mal had done two good bowls. Jean hadn't done any by end six - well none that stayed for a photo! They were 13-zip! Jean said " No way I'm doing a nudie run! " Finally - on the last end - she did it! We have another game though so there's a chance! We both lost then came in for Smoko. The boys put on the barbie for a sausage sizzle. That hit the spot! Second game we swapped opponents. There was good music in the background. Jean definitely played better. " All I needed was a sausage! " She cried. It wasn't fantastic but she did ok! Jean had finished taking photos of our bowls then Mal put in a beauty. Jean lost 8 to 12. Mal lost 7 to 16. We went back inside for celebrations and commiserations. We really loved the club, the people, the conversation and the game. Shame we got beaten. Herberton - we both got killed but loved it!

After our nice rollup yesterday at Mossman , we decided to come back to The Tablelands to finish the clubs we missed when we were here. First was Atherton. We were hoping for a game of Pairs. Alas, when we got there we found out that, because it's just a single green and it's Pairs, they have to close the game at fourteen teams. We had to settle for a rollup. We checked out the clubhouse. It's small and airy with a nice big bar. There are cool cartoons of the players on the wall. Out the front there's a limestone statue by Elaine Kruck called 'Jack High'. Bruce from Herberton who we met at Yungaburra was there. He invited us to come to Herberton for a game Saturday afternoon. We'll be there! Jean met 94 year old Barry. He entertained her with stories of his ten years in the Navy. He was posted at Albatross near Nowra and was interested in Mal's Bomaderry shirt. Barry has been bowling for forty years and has been a member of thirteen clubs! Two people arrived. (The computer deleted all the words Jean wrote so can't remember the names). It was a selector (perhaps his name was Ian) and the Ladies President Kay. It's a very nice black and green carpet under a fine cover. The cover has been up for 22 years. It's mighty impressive! Around the green are these little plaques for people who support the club. There's a nice view of the mountain range from the green. Jean got out there. She wasn't that happy with her bowls - given the fast green - but she got three. Mal threw a short end and Jean got stroppy again. (To save himself from a cranky wife) Mal moved the mat back for her. She liked that much better! It was Mal's turn. He did OK but it was difficult. Last end Jean put in a bowl she was happy with. After that she said to Mal " I'm going to throw your bowls back until you can do a bowl as close as mine ." After about eight bowls we gave up! After our rollup we met Beth. Jean asked her if we could park our caravan at the club. She wasn't sure so got on the phone to Julie who said we could park there over the weekend. We were grateful. It's nice staying so close to the green! We stayed for a while and watched the game. Mal was impressed with how good they were. Atherton, whatever you do, don't roll a short end!

We drove up to Mossman this morning after our nice game yesterday at Cooktown. We thought the ladies would still be playing but that we might be able to get a rollup. It was hard to see the clubhouse from the green due to the refurbishment. It will be finished in August. It's a nice little clubhouse. With an outdoor seating area to the side of the green. It's Ladies day. We did our best to get here for Jean to play but Cooktown is a long. We came out and met Pam who showed us the mats and Jacks. Trish and Joan were playing. They were interested in Jean's Weipa shirt. There is just one synthetic green under a big cover. It's that kind of black and green carpet. Mal stepped out. He did OK. Then it was Jean's turn. The green was very fast. About 18 seconds. We had trouble controlling our weight. Every now and then Jean put one or two in. Lots of times she went in the ditch. Mal took the opportunity. Last end Mal threw a short end. Jean walked off in a huff. " You bowl my bowls. I've had enough trouble doing long ends! " Mossman - whatever you do, don't roll a short end!

We got back to Lakeland yesterday after our eight-hour drive from Weipa . This morning we drove up to Cooktown. We had no idea if there was bowls on but it was a good bet being Wednesday. We came in and looked lost. Dave the Club Manager called out and we asked him about social bowls. He said " 1pm for a 1:30 start ." The clubhouse looks small from the outside but it's nice and roomy inside. There's no carpet. Dave told us they got flooded in the cyclone last year and await a replacement. It has a nice under cover outdoor area. The toilets are 'Jacks' and 'Kittys'. Some seats are commercially sponsored. It's a synthetic green under permanent cover. It's the Col Grant Memorial Green. From the green we could see the beautiful Mt Saunders. They told us Captain Cook named it after his Navigator. We played Fours. There were just two games. It was Mick, Errol, Jean and Ian. Against Rob, Glenn, Stephen and Mal. Jean was shocked to find out they made her Skip. Mal played second. It was end nine before we got any photos. Jean said " They're lucky they have a draw bowler as Skip! " Jean waited for Mal to do a photo-worthy bowl. Finally on end fifteen he did it. Mal was generally good at consolidating for his team. Last end Jean's team needed 13 to win. Nevertheless Jean put in a pearler for two! After the game Jean met organiser Carol who told her all about the cyclone flood damage. Apparently there was so much water the pipes burst and flooded the green. Mal and the boys looked at the two cards. The scores were both 23 to 12. Not only that but end ten Jean's game was ten all. On the other card it was end 11. We came in for drinks and chats. Mal's Team won the day for a drink voucher . We got phone numbers for Stephen and Glenn so we can contact them when we get to WA. Cooktown - wonder if Captain Cook played bowls!

We've been hearing about Weipa Bowls Club from all the clubs in Tropical Far North Queensland. Apparently the club supports all the other clubs. We're in Weipa for a week to visit Jean's sister Susan and will play bowls here on Sunday. We drove nearly eight hours to get here from Lakeland on the worst road ever! We were so happy to see Susan (who prefers Sue!). Thursday We came down from Sue's to put our names down. It's a nice clubhouse. With a good outdoor area which overlooks the greens. With fans to keep people cool. It's hot up here - even in the middle of winter! There are two pretty good grass greens. With really good permanent shades. The Nev Brown Green has a little damage. We're told it's a tropical fungus. They're thinking of getting a synthetic. The other green looks fine. It's the Jim Martin Green. SATURDAY We came for a rollup on Saturday and to teach Susan how to play bowls. We met President Dwayne (Tas) who knows Guy from Yungaburra. Tas found Jean an old Weipa badge for her hat. Apparently they no longer have them. Susan had a go. All the locals (who she knows) laughed when Jean called her Susan. SUNDAY When we arrived for bowls on Sunday we met Mick outside. Michelle from Harvey Bowls Club in WA, who we met on Thursday, also came for a game. It was Daylen, Jean and Mike Against Ron, Jonty and Will. Mal played with Lara. They played Scott, Michelle and Wayne. There were only 11 players so two games. Three two-bowl triples and Mal was a Pair. We have three games of eight ends then we get to eat lunch for our $15. Jean was playing better than she did in the rollup yesterday then Daylen consolidated. Mal was skipping and did very well. Jean was very happy with her bowls. We both won the first game. Jean was so happy we keep our teams. She loved hers. Second game Jean played Mal's opponents Scott, Michelle and Wayne. Mal played Jonty's team. He won, Jean lost. Third game we played each other. In the end Mal and Lara beat Jean's team by one point and won the prize (which we'll give to Susan). We came inside for our lunch. Yummy pasta! Jean asked the boys what she can say about Weipa Bowls Club. They said "We're legends!" Weipa - we bowled with the legends!

We've had a couple of days off while we contacted every caravan person around Malanda to get our leaking hot water system fixed. We found a great tradie and were on our way! We're headed up to Weipa on the Qld west coast. We stopped in Mareeba to check out the bowling club. Our mate Guy in Yungaburra told us that the council has recently moved the club. It's located with the Library and a community hub. The club was closed so we couldn't get in. We took photos through the window. It looks a little sterile. No doubt it's much nicer with people in it. There's a nice, big covered area out the back overlooking the greens. There are two greens. One is grass and the other a carpet synthetic. The carpet has a pull-over cover. There are also a couple of different permanent shades. There were some guys there working on the synthetic green it appeared they may have been stretching it. Jean looked a little closer. Some parts of the surface have come away from the edge. Other parts have wrinkles in them. Perhaps it's been flooded. We decided not to roll up. We guessed we could have rolled up on the grass but there was nobody there to ask permission. We saw a funny poem on the wall we liked. We were interested in their hot weather policy. Three degrees higher than Victoria! Mareeba - good luck getting the synthetic fixed!

On our way up to Weipa we've skipped Cairns and headed north-west to Yungaburra . Shane from South Johnstone gave us a phone number for Ashley at. Yungaburra. Mal's been chatting with Ashley about social bowls. We met Ashley when we arrived. It's a nice little clubhouse The bar is impressive. They have some cartoons on the wall. Mal met a bloke whose face was familiar. Mal asked " Have you ever been to Canberra? " JD replied " I come from Canberra! " Apparently they lived in Charnwood at the same time. Then we met Jodie and Guy. There'd been some discussion about where we could park our van. Guy offered for us to stay at his. Nearby is the sign for Cookie's Memorial Garden. There's a drawing of Cookie inside. Outside is a nice covered verandah. There are solid permanent shades. Out the front there are two plaques for the 50th and 75th celebrations. The green is synthetic. The Bob Pritchard Memorial Green. They were playing the 'Ken Kitson Cup' which is a Tablelands inter-club social event between Herberton (with other clubs Dimbulah, Ravenshoe, Atherton) and Yungaburra. The boys said " It'sYungaburra against the world! " Mal had also been talking to Dennis from Herberton this morning. He told us he'd be at Yungaburra today. He said " Just ask anybody there where's Dennis! " We did and found him. Guy asked Mal would he play if Guy sat out the second game. Jean walked up to the car to get his bowls. He couldn't say no! He even bought himself a shirt. Parramatta colours! After the first game they came in for Smoko and Sandwiches. Game 2 Mal played Second for Skip Ashley (Bert). It was Lorraine, Mal, Bert and Meryl. Their opponents were Norma, Harry, Alan and Bahl representing Herberton with players from Ravenshoe. Herberton suffers from few members so everyone helps out. Ravenshoe has two shirts. The green one has an endangered Possum on it. The purple 👕 shows what will happen if the Possum isn't protected. It took Mal a couple of ends to work it out Then he did it. A few ends later they were two down and Mal took out the opposition's shot for one. Last end Mal's team was one up on the scoreboard. They all put one in for four. They ended up with two for a win. Bruce from Herberton came and chatted with Jean. He said " Get a photo so I can be in the blog! " They tallied the scores and Herberton won by seven. A fun afternoon with nice people at Yungaburra.