For the big kids: Ballarat

We arrived in Ballarat late in the day. After dinner the kids headed for the games room and jumping pillow and immediately made 15 new best friends. We had had a long day so it was not a late night. The next morning we had a pancake breakfast put on by the park owners. At 9am sharp Fiona and Georgia raced out the door at mach2, salivating like a pair of St Bernards with plates and cutlery in hand. But it was very tasty.

Ballarat is a fair size with plenty to do, but as people started leaving for the day’s activities, we seemed to agree that we had been running around quite a bit over the last couple of weeks and it was time to relax, be still and spend a day at the Big 4 resort and sample their amenities. So we started with a game of tennis, a keenly contested set which the boys won 6-5. However, I confess that it was not the most inspiring set of tennis I have participated in. Alas, from my vantage point, as Andrew had another air swing and Georgia hit a ball over the fence on the full, my dream of fathering the next Australian born Australian Open male or female Champion is at long odds and blowing out fast. Still lots of fun.

Next it was swim time. So we headed to the indoor heated pool and spa, and there to my surprise was a wall size plasma tv with the last day of the Adelaide test cricket playing and there was no one in pool complex. Well, let me tell you, going on these trips is all about sacrifice, not doing what you want to do but doing what is best for the family as a whole. This again was such a time and I needed to step up. I was needed in the spa in front the tv watching over the kids as they swam. I did this without complaint or fanfare and would do it again gladly such is my servant spirit.

After lunch it into the games room for pool and the girls scored an upset victory over the boys. But by mid afternoon we started getting restless, so we headed off to the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka or MADE to learn all about the Eureka stockade. Very interesting.

Andrew showed his support for Peter Lalor and the Eureka minors by punching the government forces in the solar plexus

After dinner we headed down to Lake Wendouree, which reminds me a lot of Centennial Park. This is where all Ballarattans head to. It was really lovely and I reckon better than Centennial Park. Great scenery all around the lake. People were out running, walking, rowing, fishing, marrying, playing, etc. We drove around the lake about 5-6k in length and then stopped at a playground with a million other kids and parents to play and enjoy the ambiance. I reckon Lake Wendouree makes Ballarat a great place to live.