Launceston Country Club

November 2022 and our first holiday for three years. This was the fourth attempt to stage the National Over 70s Cricket Championships in Launceston and it was finally happening. It was good to be able to travel to a cricket championship again after all those years.

When we arrived in Launceston at 3.30 it was a lovely sunny day. We had been driven to Tullamarine from home in style in a very smart and comfortable car. When we  boarded the plane we noticed dark clouds  approaching the airport. At Launceston a taxi took us from the airport to the Country Club Villas where we were to spend the next week. Later in the day we saw Ron who had arrived on a later flight from Melbourne that had been delayed 40 minutes because of thunderstorms.

The complex contains a number of villas with one, two or three bedroom apartments. We stayed in a one bedroom apartment with a spacious sitting room as well as bathroom and kitchenette. During the afternoon and evening there was a shuttle bus which took guests between the Country Club Villas and the main Country Club and Casino.

 

After we had unpacked we walked to the Country Club where had dinner at the Terrace Kitchen. On the way back we saw about ten kangaroos as well as lots of Tasmanian native-hens and ducks. We enjoyed our walk in the country! In the evening we watched the total eclipse of the moon. Unfortunately there was too much light to really appreciate the blood moon. 

In the morning we again walked to the main hotel, a distance of 1 km - a 15 minutes leisurely stroll. We had breakfast at the Links Restaurant overlooking the golf course. Very pleasant. 

After breakfast we walked to the shops to purchase food for future breakfasts, lunch at the games for me etc. The distance from the Country Club to the shops in Westbury Road is 2.2 km along Country Club Avenue and then into Las Vagas Drive and Jardine Crescent to the back of the shopping centre. The shopping centre has a Woolworths supermarket, a bakery, a pharmacy, two tobacconists and a couple of other shops. We also purchased sausage rolls from Banjo's Bakery and Cafe to take back to our rooms for lunch. It was a beautiful morning for a walk.

There is a lake in front of the hotel which we walked around after lunch on one of the rest days. As you approach the hotel you are greeted by dozens of birds including many varieties of ducks and Tasmanian native-hens. They come running to greet you hoping for food.

We saw Tasmanian native-hens not just at the hotel but also near many of the sports grounds we visited when there was a river close by.

Being spring, there were often families of birds prowling the grounds.

At the Country Club hotel we had meals at the Terrace Kitchen, Links Restaurant and Water Gardens Cafe. At the Country Club Villas there is Bolters Pizzeria on one side of the building and Bolters Bistro. Bookings are usually required for meals at the bistro. We had dinner there one evening - Robin had fish and chips while I had pumpkin fetticini. Pizzas are cooked in a wood fired oven and can be eaten in the restaurant or as take-away. On different occasions we had take-away BBQ chicken pizza (BBQ base, chicken, caramelised onion, mushroom, mozzarella and bacon) and Aussie pizza (BBQ Base, ham, caramelised onion, mushroom, egg and mozzarella) - both delicious.

Both the hotel and the villas are surrounded by the golf course. At the back of the hotel carpark there is a track through the bush leading to a lookout over Launceston but unfortunately on our free days the weather was wet and cold so we did not do this walk.

The complex is certainly a restful place to visit, especially when the weather is good.

Launceston - Cricket

 

Launceston - Cricket Social Events

Launceston - Cricket

The National Over 70s Cricket Carnival in 2022 had three divisions with 26 teams from all parts of Australia plus New Zealand. Seven teams were from Victoria. 

In the first division there were two teams from Victoria (blue and white). The Victorian White team was in Pool One with Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.The Victorian Blue team was in Pool Two with New Zealand, ACT and New South Wales. On the fourth day the top team from each pool was to play each other to determine first and second place, the next two teams to play each other to determine third and fourth place etc. There were similar arrangements in the two other divisions.

On Thursday morning John Costello drove Robin, Ron and me to the NTCA ground for the first game of the carnival against Queensland. The sunny morning turned into a cloudy afternoon. Queensland won the toss and put Victoria in to bat on a sticky wicket. Victoria made 109 runs. Queensland then batted and won the game by one run in the final over. A very tight game. Robin and the other Victorian bowlers bowled really well. Robin opened the bowling and bowled six overs for 15 runs.

The second game was at Windsor Park at Riverside. It was an idesal setting with views of the river and nearby hills. The facilities for cricket and other sports were excellent.

Photo of members of the the Victorian White team before the game. 

back row: John Thomas, John Costello, Greg Lott, Jim Geltch, Ian Gibson, Ian pritchard, Neil King.

front row: Carl Muscat, Ian Rowland, Phil Mayne, Arthur Pritchard, Ron Lovel, Robin Court.

This game was against South Australia who batted first making 108 runs. The Victorian team once again bowled well. Robin opened the bowling again and bowled eight overs taking two wickts (LBW) for 24 runs. He was also involved in a run-out. Victoria passed the South Australian score with six overs to spare. It was another good game.

As it was Remembrance Day play stopped just before 11 o'clock so the players and officials could pause for a minutes silence. The game then continued.

 

In the afternoon I went for a walk. Behind the cricket ground were large clumps of reeds inhabited by Tasmanian native-hens. On the other side of the Tamar River was a view of the mountains, green country side plus some houses.

The Saturday and Sunday were rest days with Day Three of cricket due to be played on the Monday. We drove to Westbury, west of Launceston, for the game against Western Australia.

The covers remained on the ground. At 11 o'clock the game was abandoned.

A feature of the ground at Westerbury is the set of large stumps on the side of the ground.

The finals in the First Division were moved to Invermay Park. A familiar sight greeted us on arrival. The game was due to begin at 10 o'clock but the start was postponed until 12 noon. The weather was extremely cold with a southerly wind. There was snow on the mountains between Hobart and Launceston.

The final was between Queensland and Victoria (blue). Victoria batted first scoring 8 for133 runs. Queensland won the game in the second last over with a score of 9 for 134. It was another close game. Victorian teams won the Second and Third Division finals.

Ricky Ponting started his cricket career playing for Mowbray Cricket Club at Invermay Park. He won the club batting averages in the 1993-1994 season.

 

Among the memorabilia in the clubroom is a cricket top once worn by Ricky Ponting.

I went for a walk on the path near the North Esk River. On the other side of the river, cattle grazed in green paddocks.

Another view from the path near Invermay Park.

Launceston Country Club

 

Launceston Cricket Social Events

Launceston - Cricket Championship Social Events

The Meet and Greet was at the County Club main hotel on the Wednesday evening. We used the shuttle bus between the two locations. The event, held on the Terrace, was very crowded and food was minimal but it was good to catch up with people we had met on other tours. The players collected their cricket shirts and last minute information for the championships. The restaurants were crowded at the hotel so we returned to the Country Club Villas for a take away pizza from Bolters Pizzeria.

On the Saturday evening we attended a reunion of the members of the Australian over 70s team that toured England in 2018. Above is the magnificent view from the home of Ann and Roger Edmonds at Sidmouth were the reunion was held.

There was plenty of opportunity for catching up with friends in this beautiful setting.

A great selection of food was provided - a variety of sea food including salmon, cold meat, vegetables and curries. Desert comprised of scrumptious fresh raspberries and ice cream. A wonderful spread.

As the it became cooler, the wood fires became popular places for further conversation. It was a great evening.

Sporties Hotel in Launceston was the location of our team dinner on the Sunday evening. Robin had a chicken schnitzel while I had chicken parmigiana - traditional pub food.

The final social function was the Championship Dinner which was held at the Country Club Hotel. Unfortunately by the end of the championships a number of the players had contracted COVID-19 so Robin and I decided not to attend the dinner as a precaution. I am sure that those who did attend  enjoyed the evening.

The championship organisers also ran a series of four day trips and seven excursions on match for partners of players who did not want to go to the games. Some of the experiences, as well as sight seeing included visits to museums, galleries, garden and historic homes as well as food tasting expeditions. From all reports these were a great success and well appreciated by those who took part.

Launceston Country Club

Launceston - Cricket

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!

Over 70s National Cricket Championships - Albury Wodonga - Trip to Albury

The 8th National Over 70s Cricket Championships were held at Albury Wodonga from 19 November to 25 November 2019. However this was the third stand alone Over 70s National Cricket Championships. Earlier championships had been held in conjunction with the Over 60s National Cricket Championships.

We decided to travel to Albury a couple of days before the carnival so we had time to explore the Albury and Wodonga area, so we left on the Sunday morning travelling via Healesville along the back road joining the main highway to Wodonga near  Euroa. We stopped at Swanpool and purchased sandwiches for lunch.

We then had a walk down the street of this small community before continuing our journey.

The Swanpool and District Memorial Hall, with cinema, was on the other side of the road.

This tree, a lima stringybark, was fenced off and had a sign providing information about its significance.

Click image to enlarge to read sign

We passed a memorial cairn with a plaque stating that the explorers, Hume and Hovell, had been in the area in November and again in December 1824.

Click image to enlarge to read sign

We passed a property with advertising signs for Pest Control and Rabbit Control.

Our car was  parked the car near this fence portraying scenes of Swanpool's past.

We then travelled to the Mercure Hotel in Olive Street, Albury where we were staying during the carnival.

View from our bedroom window.

After we had unpacked we went for a walk to familiarise ourselves with the area before having dinner at The Bended Elbow in Dean Street. Robin had barramundi while I had chicken parmigiana.