Our next activation for Thursday, the 6th day of November 2025, was the Tresco West Bushland Reserve VKFF-5961. The reserve is about 22 km south of Swan Hill in Victoria.
Above: Map showing the location of Tresco West Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps
Before heading to the reserve, we had a bit of a walk around Lake Boga, next to the town of the same name. The lake is about 940 hectares (2,300 acres) in size and has a capacity of 37,794 megalitres. (Wikipedia 2024)
The Tresco district takes its name from the Tresco Estate, owned by William Cornish. He purchased Murrabit Station in 1897 and renamed it Tresco. His father resided in Trescowe, near Penzance in Cornwall, England, and he named his property and homestead in honour of his father’s town.. Tresco homestead overlooked Lake Boga. (Victorianplaces.com 2026)
In 1912, Australian Farms Limited commenced to draw water from Long Lake at Tresco for irrigation. One of the Australian Farms Limited ventures was John Rose Gorton, the father of future Australian Prime Minister John Grey Gorton. He managed an orchard at nearby Mystic Park prior to the First World War. (Victorianplaces.com 2026)
Above: John Gorton. Image c/o Wikipedia
In 1914, a school was opened, and this was followed by a post and railway station in 1915. Severe drought in the district at this time caused severe losses for farmers. However, by the 1920s, there was a boom in the district with a store being established, an Anglican church, a fruit packing shed, a Masonic Lodge, a hall, and the Baptist church. Tresco’s population was about 318 people. Sadly, by the end of the 1980s, most of these had closed. The school continued, but it also closed in 1992. (Victorianplaces.com 2026)
The Tresco West Bushland Reserve comprises three separate areas surrounding Golf Course Lake.
Above: the boundaries of Tresco West Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth
Marija and I accessed the park via Lake View Track, which runs off Wilson Road on the eastern side of the reserve.
The reserve is about 90 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (Dcceew.gov.au 2026)
Marija and I parked the 4WD on Lake View Track and set up our station, comprising the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole, supported by the 7 metre heavy-duty telescopic squid pole.
The band conditions were absolutely awful, and it was a struggle to get contacts. There was also some sort of pulsing signal across the 40m band, which made it difficult to hear the low-down stations that were calling.
Our first activation for Thursday, 6th November 2025, was the Lake Boga silo VK-LKA3, for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program. Lake Boga is located about 17 km south of Swan Hill, and about 323 km north of Melbourne.
Above: Map showing the location of Lake Boga, Victoria. Map c/o Google Maps
The Lake Boga silo is located on the western side of the Murray Valley Highway, opposite Lake Boga. The silos are operated by GrainCorp.
The Lake Boga silos are part of the Australian Silo Art Trail and feature magnificent art, the work of Tim Bowtell. They were completed in October 2023 and feature a Pelican, a speedboat on Lake Boga, a Catalina Flying Boat and its commanding officer, George ‘Scotty’ Urquhart Allan. (Australiansiloarttrail.com 2023)
George Urquhart Allan was born on the 2nd day of February 1900 in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland, to James John Allan and Elspet Elsie Allan, nee Aitken. In 1917, when aged just 17 years old, he joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). During the First World War, he served on the Western Front. This included service with the 71 Squadron RFC. He later served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in several squadrons, including 11, 47, and 58 Squadrons. At the conclusion of the war, he continued to serve with the RAF and was stationed in the Middle East. (ancestry 2016) (Australiansiloarttrail.com 2023)
Above: George Allan. Image c/o ancestry.com.au
In 1929, he emigrated to Australia and commenced work for Charles Ulm and Charles Kingsford Smith at Australian National Airways. He soon gained a reputation for his exceptional piloting skills, particularly in the Avro X aircraft. He was involved in the first airmail flights from Sydney to Brisbane with Kingsford-Smith and from Sydney to Melbourne with Pat Hall. He acted as a co-pilot for Kingsford-Smith and Ulm on several long-distance flights. In 1933, he flew aboard the aircraft ‘Faith in Australia’, with Charles Ulm and Sir Patrick Gordon Taylor on the record-breaking flight from England to Australia. The following year, in 1934, he joined QANTAS, where he flew aircraft between Brisbane and Singapore. (Australiansiloarttrail.com 2023)
Above: article from the Murrumbidgee Irrigator, Fri 3 Nov 1933. Image c/o Trove
Allan also worked as a flight instructor and trained Dr Robert Kingsbury Lee Brown, who sadly, was killed in a plane crash in April 1934 at Brighton Le Sands. (Australiansiloarttrail.com 2023)
On the 22nd day of June 1935, Allan married Dr Brown’s widow, Ailsa Lee-Brown, in Binnaway, New South Wales. Ailsa was also a pilot and an artist. (ancestry 2016) (Trove 2026) (Wikitree 2026)
Above: article from The Mail, Sat 22 Jun 1935. Image c/o Trove
In September 1940, Allen was commissioned in the Royal Australian Air Force for service during WWII. He was posted as the commanding officer of the Seaplane Training Flight at Rathmines, N.S.W. In 1941 he was the first pilot to fly a Catalina flying boat from San Diego, California, to Australia. This was only the third time that such a flight had been made, after Kingsford-Smith & Ulm, and Kingsford-Smith and P.G. Taylor. (Wikitree 2026)
In January 1942, at the rank of Flight Lieutenant, he was awarded the Air Force Cross. (Wikitree 2026)
Sadly, Allen’s wife Ailsa died in 1943 in Palm Beach, New South Wales, after being struck by a bicycle rider. Allan was in the United States of America at the time negotiating the purchase of a DC-4 Symaster aircraft. (Wikitree 2026)
Allan attained the rank of Wind Commander and was posted to the No. 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot at Lake Boga. (Wikitree 2026)
In 1945, Allan married Barbara Millbourn in England. (ancestry 2016).
Above: article from The Telegraph, Sat 24 Mar 1945. Image c/o Trove
Following WWII he became Deputy General Manager for QANTAS. In the 1957 New Year’s Honours, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his service to QANTAS. (Wikitree 2026)
George Allan died on the 12th day of August 1996, in Sydney, New South Wales. He is buried in the New South Wales Garden of Remembrance, Rookwood, N.S.W. (ancestry 2016) (Wikitree 2026)
Marija and I parked alongside the silo and operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.
Unfortunately, we found band conditions to be very poor. We called CQ for 5 solid minutes on 40m before getting our first contact in the log.
Above: the activation zone at the Lake Boga silo. Image c/o SiOTA website
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK2IO
VK5NHG
VK7HOB
Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-
VK3PF
VK5LA
VK5KAW
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK2IO
VK5NHG
VK7HOB
I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-
VK3PF
VK5LA
VK5KAW
I worked the following station on 20m SSB:-
VK4LP
References.
ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/. [Accessed 13 Apr. 2026]
Wikitree.com. (2026). George Urquhart Allan CBE AFC (1900-1996) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree. [online] Available at: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Allan-5500. [Accessed 13 Apr. 2026]
Our final activation for Wednesday, 5th November 2025, was the Murray Downs silo VK-MRD2 in New South Wales.
Above: Map showing the location of Murray Downs, N.S.W. Map c/o Google Maps
Marija and I crossed over the Murray River on the historic bridge from Victoria into New South Wales.
Prior to European settlement, it is believed that the largest population of Aboriginal people in what was to become the Colony of Victoria lived in the Swan Hill area. It is estimated that this was about 600 people. The first Europeans in the district were Captain Charles Sturt and his expeditionary team in 1830. This was followed by Major Thomas Mitchell in 1836 during his Australia Felix explorations in Victoria. It was Mitchell who named the district Swan Hill. In 1838, Joseph Hawdon, Charles Bonney, and Edward Eyre had all overlanded the very first cattle and sheep from Albury in New South Wales, along the Murray River, into South Australia. (Flickr 2026)
In 1847, one of the first official leaseholds was granted for Murray Downs. From c. 1862 Murray Downs was owned by Suetonius and Charles Officer. The run was 150,000 acres in size. In 1870, the Murray Downs homestead was built. In 1884, Charles Campbell entered into a partnership with Alfred Felton to purchase Murray Downs. They established the largest irrigated area at that time on the Murray River. In 1889, Murray Downs sent 397 bales of wool downriver to Echuca. (Flickr 2026) (Poynter 2005)
Charles Myles Officer was born on the 14th day of July 1827 in New Norfolk, Tasmania. His brother, Suetonious Henry Officer was born on the 3rd day of October 1800, in New Norfolk, Tasmania. Their parents are Robert Officer and Jamima Officer, nee Patterson. (ancestry 2016)
Above: Charles Myles Officer. Image c/o ancestry.com.au
Charles McLean Campbell was born on the 14th day of January 1840 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. After emigrating to Australia in 1858, he married Mary Helen Smith in 1861. He died on the 13th day of September 1905 at East Melbourne, Victoria.
Above: article from The Australasian, Sat 24 Jul 1937. Image c/o Trove
The Murray Downs silo is located on Cygnet Lane, on the northern side of Swan Hill Road.
Marija and I parked in Cygnet Lane and operated from the 4WD. We ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.
Above: the activation zone at the Murray Downs silo. Image c/o SiOTA website
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK2YAK
VK4YAK
VK2ZR
VK2AZR
VK3PF
VK4CBT
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK2YAK
VK4YAK
VK2ZR
VK2AZR
VK3PF
VK4CBT
VK5WU
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK5NJ
VK2IO
VK3UZI
VK3WSG
VK2HLM
VK3MCA
VK3KRL
VK5DMO
VK1CHW
VK3TDK
VK3NYC
VK3BVQ
VK2VIC
VK1VIC
VK2GOY
VK3SMW
Marija and I then sat back and admired the Beaver Supermoon. It was the closest, largest, and brightest full moon of 2025.
We then drove back into Swan Hill, stopping briefly to admire the Swan Hill water tower, which was lit up. The water tower was constructed in 1883.
We also admire the Swan Hill Town Hall.
The Swan Hill Town Hall was officially opened on Tuesday, the 17th day of September 1935. A Gala Ball was held that was attended by over 1,000 people. (Trove 2026)
Above: part of an article from The Age, Wed 18 Sept 1935. Image c/o Trove
It was time to head back to the motel room for a good night’s sleep. It had been a long day.
References.
ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/. [Accessed 11 Apr. 2026]
Flickr. (2026). Swan Hill. Across the River Murray is Murray Downs pastoral estate. These are the entrance gates. Murray Downs has an early homestead. [online] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/25320793337 [Accessed 11 Apr. 2026].
We were on the last leg of our trip on Wednesday, 5th November 2025, with our destination being Swan Hill in Victoria.
Above: Map showing the location of Swan Hill. Map c/o Google Maps
We left Wakool, travelling west on Wakool Road, crossing over several irrigation channels.
We then headed northwest on Tulla Road, passing through Tullakool, and then along Noorong Road. Our next stop was the Noorong Pioneer monument, which honours the early settlers of the district and those known to be buried at Noorong Station. Those recorded are:
Henry Robertson died 1859
Edward Phillips from London Died 1867
William McPhee from Scotland Died 1873 aged 40
George Oakly died 1874
James Kelly from Ireland Died 1878
Duncan Campbell from Scotland died 1879 aged 43
James C Steel Died 1879
William Anderson Ellis and his wife Alma Joyce Ellis nee Henderson
Noorong Station is still operational and is located near Barham.
Above: a wagon load of Noorong wool on the way to Koondrook Railway Station. Image c/o Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
William McPhee died on the 8th day of April 1873, at Noorong, after a tree fell on him. (Trove 2026)
Above: article from the Kilmore Free Press, Thu 24 Apr 1873. Image c/o Trove
Duncan Campbell was the Manager at Noorong Run. He died on the 2nd day of March 1879 at Noorong Run, having been thrown from his horse. (Trove 2026)
Above: article from the Evening News, Sydney, Thu 13 Mar 1879. Image c/o Trove
William ‘Bill’ Ellis was born in 1910 at Essendon, Victoria. In 1939, he married Alma Patricia Joyce Henderson. Bill spent time as a grazier on Mooloomoon Station and Gooparie Station, and was the overseer at Noorong Station from 1953 to 1976. Bill died in October 1992. His wife Alma died in 2001. Their ashes are scattered on Noorong Station.
Above: Bill Ellis. Image c/o ancestry.com.au
I found the interesting article below re a mystery that occurred on Noorong. On Saturday, the 22nd day of May 1920, a boundary rider at Noorong discovered a buggy with the seat burnt and the remnants of a policeman’s overcoat. The boundary rider returned to the homestead and raised the alarm. The police at Barham and Koondrook were notified, who then made their way to what was suspected to be a tragedy. (Trove 2026)
It was feared that the Constable from Moulamein and Mr George Oare had met their fate while searching for missing sheep. The horse from the buggy was located tied to a tree between Moulamein and Noorong. After an extensive search, the two missing men were found in a hut. It was established that the Constable and Oare had found a fire in the buggy on Saturday morning, believed to be caused by a spark from a fire. They extinguished the fire and continued in their search for the sheep. (Trove 2026)
Above: article from The Merbein Irrigationist, Wed 23 Jun 1920. Image c/o Trove
We were able to see Noorong Woolshed in the distance from Noorong Road. We would have very much loved to visit the historic woolshed, but it is located on private property. Marija and I always find old woolsheds to be extremely interesting.
We then stopped at the old Gee Gee Bridge on Noorong Road. Sadly, the heritage-listed bridge that crossed the Wakool River was demolished after the construction of a concrete bridge in 2020. The bridge was built in 1929 and was designed by Harvey Dare, who was the designer of various bridges. (Wikipedia 2024)
We continued on to Swan Hill, crossing into Victoria over the historic bridge and the Murray River. The bridge was built in 1896.
We made our way to our accommodation and unpacked the 4WD.
Marija and I then headed out to activate the two silos in Swan Hill. On the way, we stopped at the Giant Murray Cod, a monument to the large Murray Cod caught in the Murray River.
The Swan Hill North silo VK-SWH3 is located on the eastern side of Curlewis Street, opposite Pritchard Street, and alongside the Bendigo Piangil railway.
The Swan Hill silo VK-SWL3 is located on the western side of Monash Drive, alongside the Bendigo Piangil railway.
Marija and I parked on Monash Drive and operated from the 4WD, running the IOcom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.
Above: the activation zone at the silos in Swan Hill. Image c/o SiOTA website
Here are a couple more FT8 award certificates for VK5PAS. I haven’t been too active under that callsign recently, with me predominantly using VK5IPA and/or VK5COP.
Yesterday I received the OCCFF certificate below. It is issued for having worked a WWFF reference in 21 different Oceania DXCC/Australian States & Territories.
Thank you to all WWFF participants and Mill LX1CC the Awards Manager.
On Wednesday, 5th November 2025, Marija and I continued our journey towards Swan Hill. We drove west on Wakool Road, with our next planned stop at the town of Wakool.
Above: Map showing the location of Wakool, N.S.W. Map c/o Google Maps
On the Wakool Road at Yallakool, we stopped at the Frederick York Wolseley monument. The cairn marks the locality of Cobran homestead and Frederick Wolseley, who invented the mechanical method of shearing sheep.
Frederick York Wolseley was born on the 16th day of March 1837, in County Dublin, Ireland. His parents were Major Garnet Joseph Wolseley of the King’s Own Scottish Borders (25th Foot) and Frances Anne Smith. Frederick emigrated to Australia in July 1854 aboard the Norwood. As a 17-year-old, he gained his five-year colonial experience under the guidance of John Phillips, a former owner of Warbreccan station at Deniliquin. Wolseley’s brother-in-law, Gavin Ralston Caldwell, who was married to Frederick’s sister Fanny, held Cobran station. Wolseley lived on Cobran Station and Thule Station for 22 years. (ancestry 2016) (Walsh n.d.) (Wikipedia 2025)
Above: Frederick Wolseley. Image c/o findagrave.com
Frederick dreamed of creating a mechanical method of shearing sheep. In the late 1860s, he commenced work on developing his idea, financed by his elder brother Garnet, who became Field Marshal Viscount Wolseley. By 1872, he had created a working model. In 1874, he commenced development of the machine in Melbourne with the engineering business, Richard Park & Co. A few years later, Herbert Austin arrived from England to work at Richard Park & Co. (Walsh n.d.) (Wikipedia 2025)
On the 28th day of March 1877, Frederick and Robert Savage were granted a patent for a shearing device driven by horsepower. Savage was the inventor of several pieces of mining and agricultural machinery equipment. A further patent was granted in December 1877; however, the machine was not successful due to serious issues with the drive mechanism and shearer’s movements. Wolseley continued to work on the machine without Savage and made several developments with Richard Pickup Park. On the 13th day of December 1884, they patented an ‘Improved Shearing Apparatus’. (Walsh n.d.) (Wikipedia 2025)
In 1885, Wolseley conducted public demonstrations in Melbourne and Sydney. In 1887 to 1888, the Wolseley machine was widely demonstrated throughout Australia and in New Zealand. In 1888, Sir Samuel McCaughey’s shed at Dunlop, Louth, New South Wales, was the first shearing shed to complete a shearing with the Wolseley machine. In that same year, 18 other woolsheds in Australia were fitted with the Wolseley machine. (Walsh n.d.)
In 1887, Herbert Austin joined Wolseley Sheep Shearing Machine Company Limited as chief engineer. Austin conducted study on the machine and made further patented improvements. Wolseley visited England and left Austin in charge. A workshop in Birmingham was established. (Wikipedia 2025)
Above: An image featuring the Wolseley sheep shearing machine in an 1887 issue of the Queensland Figaro and Punch, Sat 9 Apr 1887. Image c/o Trove
In the late 1890s, Frederick was diagnosed with cancer. In 1898, he married his nurse, Ellen Elizabeth Clarke, in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1894, he briefly returned to Australia but later that year he returned to England for specialised treatment. He died on the 8th day of January 1899, at The Red House, Norwood, Surrey, England, aged 61 years. (ancestry 2016) (Wikipedia 2025)
During the late 1890s Austin commenced an interest in the manufacture of motor vehicles. He established The Austin Motor Company Limited in Birmingham.
We continued along Wakool Road, crossing the Wakool River, and into the town of Wakool. The Wakool River is an anabranch of the Edward River, which is part of the Murray River catchment. The Wakool River flows for a distance of 363km. (Wikipedia2025)
Wakool is believed to be derived from an Aboriginal word meaning ‘one’. (Lakemac.com.au 2026)
The first European exploration of the area was in 1836, when Surveyor-General Major Thomas Mitchell led an expedition through the Riverina region of New South Wales. (Grokipedia 2026)
Above: Major Mitchell. Image c/o Wikipedia
In 1842, Augustus Morris, a pastoral agent, acting on behalf of Benjamin Boyd, led an expedition into the area north of the Murray River in search of suitable grazing land. He was accompanied by Francis Augustus Gwynne and Frederick Walker. They named the Wakool River following tracing its course from the Edward River junction toward the Murray River. (Grokipedia 2026)
Above: Augustus Morris. Image c/o Wikipedia
In the following year, 1843, depasturing licenses were issued. William Charles Wentworth established the Tala Run, comprising about 200,00 acress, near the Wakool River.
Above: William Wentworth Image c/o Wikipedia
The Wakool Post Office opened on the 1st day of January 1870 and closed in 1874. In 1926, it reopened. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above: item from The Pastoral Times, Sat 15 Jan 1870. Image c/o Trove
Wakool is home to the Fishing Classic and the Wakool sheep races. The Sheep Races are a country festival, featuring, as the name implies, sheep racing, along with live bands fashions on the field, food outlets, and activities for children. (Service 2025)
The Wakool Hotel is owned by a syndicate of local farming families. (Wakool Pub 2023)
The Wakool Hotel was opened on the 13th day of October 1928. The Riverine Herald reported:
‘The building, which is of brick, contains 26 rooms, equipped on the most modern lines, with electric light, hot and cold water service and sewerage installed. Residents and the travelling public will appreciate this great improvement in the district’ (Trove 2026)
Above: opening of the Wakool Hotel. Image c/o Wakool Historical Photos Facebook page
Marija and I visited the Wakool Soldier Settlers Memorial Walk. There are several information signs that detail the life of former service people from Wakool, North Wakool, Tulla, Tullakool, Merriginnie, and Chowar. (Service 2023)
Alongside the railway line are several iron sculptures featuring cows, a railway worker, and a bull chasing a man up a tree.
We also saw the unusual sight of some camels grazing nearby.
Various railway lines were established in Victoria during the 1860s and 1870s. It would not be until the 1900s that public meetings were held and requests forwarded to the NSW Government for a railway line to be built to Moulamein and Balranald. These, however, were unsuccessful. In 1922, under a newly elected Government in New South Wales, a proposal for the construction of the Moama-Balranald rail extension was submitted to the Premier, Sir George Fuller. An agreement was then struck between the New South Wales and Victorian Governments for the construction of the line.
Construction then commenced in 1923, and to provide stores for those working on the line, a store was established on Wakool Station operated by Mrs Vinecombe. She then built a shop in Wakool alongside the railway station as did the Bush family.
The opening ceremony of the line took place on Monday, the 5th day of April 1926, at Barnes Siding, which was named after Mr Barnes MLA, who was the Minister for Railways in Victoria.
Above: article from The Argus, Thu 8 Apr 1926. Image c/o Trove
Wakool once had a railway station on the line. The old timber structure has been demolished.
Above: Wakool Station, c. 1910. Image c/o NSWrail.net
Not much remains on the railway line now at Wakool.
The Wakool silos are located in between Wakoola Street and Flinders Street, on the Balranald railway line.
Marija and I parked alongside the silos and operated from the 4WD. We ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.
Above: the activation zone at the Wakool silo. Image c/o SiOTA website
We found that band conditions on the 40m band were terrible There was very heavy QSB.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK5HS
VK2ETI
VK5WE
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK5HS
VK2ETI
VK5WE
References.
ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/. [Accessed 9 Apr. 2026]
Trove. (2026). THE WAKOOL DISTRICT – Coming of Water Brings Great Increase in Fat Lamb and Wool Industry. – The Riverine Herald (Echuca, Vic. : Moama, NSW : 1869 – 1954; 1998 – 2002) – 9 Jun 1937. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116212157 [Accessed 9 Apr. 2026].
Wakool Pub is located in the riverina town of Wakool, NSW. (2023). Home – Wakool Pub | Located in the Riverina town of Wakool, NSW. [online] Available at: https://wakoolpub.com.au/ [Accessed 9 Apr. 2026].
VK5PAS 