Mooloolaba - part three

 Although the beach is the focal point of Mooloolaba, the Mooloolah River is also worth a visit.

The photos above were taken as the sun was setting. Along the wharf there are a few shops and places where you can met friends for a coffee. The Dock on The Wharf is a bar and restaurant where the Victorian cricketers met after each match. On two occasions we had dinner there with friends.

Most of the shops in Mooloolaba are in the main street opposite the beach. There is also a good selection of restaurants and food shops to visit for a meal or to take food back to the resort.

In Mooloolaba Betty's Burgers is a good place for a quick, light meal in the evening.

A good place to select an ice cream. We can recommend the honeycomb ice cream and the chocolate ice cream.

We visited QuarterDeck, near the resort, several times for a hot drinks. We also had breakfast there one day as well as having dinner at the restaurant.

Augello's Ristorante and Pizzeria is an Italian restaurant well worth visiting.

Another cafe to visit is Craft Espresso and Bar.

The Baycrest is good for sushi.

At night many of the trees in the shopping and restaurant precinct are lit up with lights.

Australia Zoo

On one of our free days we drove to the Australia Zoo at Beerwah, approximately 28 kilometres south west of Mooloolaba.

We spent several hours viewing the variety of animals as well as attending a talk about some of exhibits, particularly the crocodiles.

Crocodiles are a feature of the zoo

Other animals include:

Elephants

Tigers

Giant tortoise

Komodo dragon

Dingoes

Kangaroo and brush turkey

Jabiru

Brolga and ibis

Burdekin duck

And lots more animals and birds to view. Australia Zoo is well worth visiting.

Over 75 National Cricket Championship 2025

The First National Over 75 Cricket Championship was held in Albury / Wodonga at the end of November.

During the three previous years there had been annual over 75 games between Victoria and New South Wales held at Albury/Wodonga but due to other commitments we had been unable to attend. We therefore looked forward to going to this carnival.

We left home on Saturday 22 November and returned home on Saturday 29 November.

The Meet and Greet was held on Sunday 23 November in the Stanley Room at the Commercial Club. Groups of players then met for dinner at the club or at other locations.

Teams in First Division were ACT Devils,  NSW Blues, Queensland and Victoria Blue.

Teams in Second Division were ACT Murrumbidgee, NSW Kangaroos, NSW Waratahs, South Australia, Victoria Grey and Victoria Silver. 

The matches were held on the Monday and Tuesday for the two divisions of the over 75 teams. Victoria and New South Wales also had an over 80s team which played on Monday with a rest day on Tuesday.

The Wednesday was a rest day for the over 75 teams while the over 80s played their second match.

The Carnival Dinner was held at the Commercial Club on the Wednesday evening. 

On Thursday the over 75s played their third match. 

The winners of the carnival was decided on the games won and by percentage.

The Victoria Blue team won Division One.

Another Victorian team also won Division Two.

In the over 80s games both Victoria and New South Wales won matches but Victoria was declared the winner.

Consequently it was a very good carnival for Victoria.  

Robin was a member of the Victoria Blue team in Division One.

As well as playing cricket there was opportunity to meet up with friends and also enjoy the sights of Albury making this an enjoyable cricketing holiday. 

Over 75 National Cricket Championship 2025 - Game One

Game One in the First Division was held Kelly Park Cricket in Wodonga on the Monday with Queensland playing the Victoria Blue team.

When we arrived at the ground there was a coffee cart waiting for customers.

Victoria fielded first.

At the end of the Queensland innings the score was 7 wickets for 109 runs.

After lunch Victoria Blue batted and won the match.

First game to Victoria.

Over 75 National Championship 2025 - Game Two

 The second match played by Victoria Blue against the ACT was at Kiewa in Victoria on the Tuesday.

This was an impressive cricket ground surrounded by countryside.

Memorial gates at the ground.

Across the road is the General Store.

Cattle graze in nearby paddocks.

Magnificent mountain in the background.

Victoria batted first.

The ground at Kiewa is definitely in a rural setting so I enjoyed going for a walk.

The score at the end of the game - a good win for Victoria.

After the game the players relaxed in the clubrooms.

Over 75 National Cricket Championship 2025 - Game Three

On Thursday 27 November, New South Wales Blues played Victoria Blues in the Division One game at Lavington, a suburb of Albury.

This is a most impressive sports ground with copious seating in the stands.

Both teams had a  practise session before the game.

New South Wales batted first.

Each team had its group of supporters.

Les Quarrell with Robin before the game.

Julie and Anne ready to support Victoria.

Victoria won match and the championship.

Albury

 In Albury we stayed at The Quest Hotel.

When there was no cricket there was time to explore. On the Sunday after visiting Schnitz we went for a walk and explored the Botanic Gardens.

We have explored the gardens on other visits to Albury but they are a relaxing place to visit at any time.

There are also some interesting creatures for children to explore.