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!

Mount Gambier - February 2017

14 February 2017 and we were off  to Mount Gambier to play another Victoria versus South Australia cricket match, this time with the over 70s team. We drove to Mount Gambier via Ballarat and stayed at the Quality Inn Presidential on Jubilee Highway.

While the men went to practise on the ground in readiness for the match the following day, I went for a walk and found a small park containing the entrance to the Engelbrecht Cave.

The limestone cave, beneath part of Mount Gambier, contains a lake and a number of chambers. Two of the chambers can be visited, however when we were at Mount Gambier the cave was closed for maintenance. Something to put on the list for another visit.

Entrance to Engelbrecht Cave

On the way back to the hotel I noticed a tower on the hill. This is the Centenary Tower, opened to the public in 1904. The foundation stone was laid on December 3 1900 to commemorate one hundred years since the sighting and naming of Mount Gambier by Lt Grant when sailing to Sydney on the ship, Lady Nelson.

Centenary Tower

The Meet and Greet was held at Jens Hotel in Commercial Street East. The hotel, built on the site of the first hotel in Mount Gambier, dates back to 1884 and was built by Johannes Jens. On the way back to the car we stopped to view the Cave Garden which is lit up at night. The roof of the cave collapsed thousands of years ago leaving this sinkhole which was used as the main water supply for the first European settlement in 1847. It is now a picturesque garden in the middle of town.

Cave Garden

Next day was the match at McDonald Park.

Victoria Over 70s Cricket Team

Victoria Over 70s batted first and were 4 for 165 at the end of the innings. Ian Gibson(ACS) 33, Arthur Pritchard 23, Ian Longmuir 18, with Ian Hammett rtno 35 and Wavell McPherson rtno 40. In reply South Australia could only manage 54 runs. Ron Kasputtis 2/11, Robin Court 2/11, David Hopper 2/0, Bruce Pooley 1/13, Phil Forsyth 1/14 and Dick Stumbles 1/3 - all bowlers with wickets. Wavell McPherson man of the match - 40 not out and 3 stumpings. Gary Paget was Umpire and Scorer (not at the same time). This was a great team effort.

At the Frew Oval the South Australia Over 60s defeated the Victoria Over 60s team. In the evening members of all the teams met at the Linksview Restaurant for dinner and presentations.

A short walk from the cricket ground is the information centre with a replica of the Lady Nelson at the front. Inside is an interpretive centre providing information about the development and history of the local area.

The Blue Lake

Next day we decided to explore part of Mount Gambier before driving home. We started at the Blue Lake which is a short drive from town. There is walking circuit from which you can view the lake whose water turn blue in the summer months.

The Blue Lake

After walking part way around the lake we found steps leading to a tunnel under the road to the Adam Lindsay Gordon Lookout. We then went for bushwalk into the crater where the Leg of Mutton Lake once existed until the water table dropped.

Leg of Mutton Lake

It was a pleasant walk with lots of birds singing in the trees. In the 1800s a nursery was located in this area to propagate many of the trees, including pine trees, now growing in the region. In the distance there were views of water towers looking out over the trees.

Water tower from Leg of Mutton Lake

On the way back to the car we passed a monument to the pioneer farmers in the district.

Our final stop, back on the Jubilee Highway, was the Umpherston Sinkhole.

Umpherston Sinkhole

This former cave was landscaped in 1886 by James Umpherston.

Umpherston Sinkhole

In some sections it is possible to imagine how this was once a giant cave thousands of years ago.

Umpherston Sinkhole

At night the area is floodlit and apparently the local possums move into the area to feed.

Umpherston Sinkhole

Mount Gambier is a great place to visit. On another visit we would further explore the parklands near the lakes, particularly around Valley Lake and Centenary Tower. There are also a variety of locations a little further from town to explore if time allows.