Mount Gambier

Featured Image By: Me

“The best things around that I have ever seen came from small towns and big dreams.” ~ Paul Brandt

Mount Gambier is ranked second to Adelaide in most populous city in South Australia with an estimated population of 28,929. Yes, South Australia has a very low population, but Mount Gambier is considered what they call a “country town” here. In comparison, the city of Adelaide has just over a million people. I’d like to say Adelaide definitely still has that country town feel, but after visiting Mount Gambier, I now know there’s a difference.

The 2019 Basketball South Australia’s Premier League Competition consisted of 11 teams, including The Mount Gambier Pioneers and the Woodville Warriors. I was playing for the Woodville Warriors at the time, and my husband, David, was our assistant coach. Although the drive to Mount Gambier is about a five-hour drive, we were thoroughly looking forward to not only seeing another part of South Australia, but also getting to meet more of my mom’s family! This time it was my mom’s cousin, Margie, and her family.

We loaded the bus early that Saturday morning and headed down from Woodville to Mount Gambier. The country, or “bush” here is beautifully unique and we loved the journey.

The game was later that night at the Mount Gambier Basketball Stadium, affectionately known as the “Icehouse”. Despite the small population, their basketball stadium is one of the largest in South Australia and they absolutely pack it every single game. Their fans are wild. As far as basketball fans go, it’s like Australia’s version of small-town Indiana basketball. And let me tell you why it’s called the “Icehouse.”

Australia’s weather in general is hardly that cold, but what makes it feel much worse is the lack of insulation within the buildings. Many of our basketball stadiums are played in tin sheds which result in playing in whatever the temperature is outside – sometimes it even seems like it’s colder inside the stadium than it is outside! Needless to say, for the game in cold-weather-Mount-Gambier’s Icehouse, we were popsicles; warming up in full on jumpers (American Translation: hoodies) and sweat pants. During the game, the bench was even stocked with blankets and hand warmers.

We ended up losing that game, although I’m sure the crowd was pleased with the performance as it was a very close-fought game. Afterward, David and I were able to go to dinner with my family. Margie, her husband, John, and their son, David, took us from the game to meet up with their second daughter, Julia, at a quaint, downtown restaurant. It was a lovely evening with live music, delicious food, great company, and fascinating conversation. We were told we had to see one of Mount Gambier’s main attractions – a big hole in the middle of the city – just a few blocks away. So, after dinner, we walked over, incapable of imagining what we would find.

Mount Gambier is a volcano, thus, although not a big city, its natural features prove very attractive; including the intriguing sinkholes. The one we saw that night is called Cave Gardens and it was spectacular! I’m sure it’s much easier to see the manicured garden in the day light (we were told the roses in Springtime are the best part), but at night, the colorful waterfall stole the show.

A staircase winds its way around the side of the cave and brings you to one of the suspended lookout platforms where you get swept up watching the changing colored lights magically showcase the glistening falls. I was captivated and could have stayed there in the peaceful setting all night, but with an early morning and more family to meet for breakfast, we said goodnight and dreamed of shimmering colored water.

John came to pick us up the next day in time for a little more sightseeing before breakfast and before the team took off back for Adelaide without us. He knew we couldn’t come all the way to Mount Gambier without seeing The Blue Lake!

The Blue Lake is a beautiful sight to enjoy and take in the magnificence of God’s creation. It’s no wonder it’s one of the most-visited extinct volcanic craters of Mount Gambier. John explained that a major spectacle of The Blue Lake is its mysterious change of color throughout the year. We were fortunate enough to see why it got its name – the water was the clearest reflection of the beautiful big blue sky.

We completed our visit with a family breakfast and by meeting, Margie and John’s older daughter, Christine, and her family: husband, Ryan; and two kids, Judah and Isla. Those two baby cousins of mine were the most beautiful sight of the whole trip!

Mount Gambier may be a small country town, but it holds a huge place in my heart being that it’s home to some of the best people around!

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Cheers,

Joyful Jot