Mount Gambier - Victoria versus South Australia - 2020

Each year Victoria and South Australia senior cricket teams meet for an annual match so on Monday 10 February 2020, shortly after 6.30 am (Melbourne time), we set off for the 468 km drive to Mount Gambier in South Australia for a game of cricket.

 

The forecast was for a fine, sunny but humid day and we left early to try avoiding the peak hour Melbourne traffic. We divided the trip into three stages stopping first at a service centre between the Ballan turnoff and Ballarat and then at Hamilton. In Hamilton we stopped at King's Bakery Cafe where we enjoyed a warm savoury scone with a drink. We also purchased some mixed sandwiches to eat later. After a short walk we continued the drive to Mount Gambier.

We arrived at the Blue Lake Hotel at 1.30 pm (Melbourne time). We then needed to adjust to South Australian time which was 1pm.

As we settled into our accommodation for the next two nights a number of other team members started arriving.

View of Mount Gambier from the motel

While the players from the Victorian over 70s team had a quick practice session - it was rather hot - I went for a brief walk.

In the evening we attended the Meet and Greet at Jens Hotel in Commercial Street. A table had been booked for the Over 70s team to enjoy a team dinner after the Meet and Greet but unfortunately this proved not to be a great move as the hotel was apparently busier than usual for a Monday night. We were informed that this was the reason for the service being slow, but it did not account for the delivery of wrong orders and the food was not great. We had obviously chosen the wrong night to eat at this popular location. The Jens Hotel is close to the Cave Gardens a deep sinkhole in the middle of town.

It would be good to say that the next morning dawned bright and clear however there had been rain overnight and it was overcast with drizzle. The game was due to start at 10 am at McDonald Park, a short distance from the motel.

Players Change Rooms and Toilets

There was lots of time for the players of both teams to warm up as they waited until 11.30 for the rain to ease so the game could begin.

Canteen and Scorers' Tent

Meanwhile there were many inspections of the ground in between, and sometimes during, showers.

View through car window

While we waited some of the wives sat in the car and caught up on some reading. From time to time excursions were made to the canteen for a hot drink.

Shirley

At last it was decided to begin the game. South Australia won the toss and elected to bat. After Ronnie Lovel and Gordon Cowling had each bowled their seven overs the score was 5 for 8. It was a great start by the Victorian team. During the 38th over the final South Australian wicket fell for a total of 67 runs. When Robin bowled he had 2 wickets for 12 runs from his 7 overs. It was a great display of bowling and fielding by the Victorian team.

After lunch the Victorian team batted and passed the South Australian team total shortly after drinks.

After the game the players remembered that in their hast to start the game there had not been time for a team photo so this situation was rectified.

Victorian Over 70s team

Victorian and South Australian team members after the game

Later in the evening members of the Over 50s, Over 60s and Over 70s teams for Victoria and South Australia met for dinner at the Blue Lake Golf Club. On the way we passed the Blue Lake which appeared to be even a deeper blue than when we last saw it three years ago. During the evening the Victorian Over 70s team was presented with the winning shield.

Next morning the weather was still overcast and cool. At 7.30 (S A time) we left Mount Gambier to drive home to Melbourne. There was no time for sight seeing on this visit to Mount Gambier as Robin had to be home in time to coach under 10 cricket. Fortunately we had visited Mount Gambier three years before and had allowed time to explore then.

At Hamilton on the return journey we found this monument erected in 1937 to commemorate the exploration of Major Thomas Mitchell in this area in September 1836.

Nearby was a statue of local soldier, Private Edward Kenna, winner of the Victoria Cross medal during World War II.

Shortly after leaving Ballarat we drove into extemely thick fog which lasted until we cleared the Pentland Hills when we drove out of the fog into brilliant sunshine. We arrived home in time for junior cricket practice.

We enjoyed our expedition to Mount Gambier. It was a great win by the Victorian Over 70s team and we enjoyed catching up with people we knew and making new friends. However as Robin remarked when we arrived home - it was a long way to for a game of cricket!