Our third activation for Thursday, the 6th day of November 2025, was Lake Mannaor Wildlife Reserve VKFF-5311. The reserve is about 5 km (by road) east of Lake Boga and about 21 km south of Swan Hill.

Above: Map showing the location of Lake Mannaor Wildlife Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps

The reserve is located on the southern and northern sides of Fish Point Road and includes Lake Mannaor itself.

Above: the boundaries of Lake Mannaor. Image c/o Google Earth

Lake Mannaor is about 83 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. Mannaor is derived from the Aboriginal word manua, meaning wattle tree. (Blake 1977) (Dcceew.gov.au 2025)

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-

1. VK2HBG/P (VKFF-1177)
2. VK2GRB/P (VKFF-1177)
3. VK2GDX/P (VKFF-1177)
4. VK2ALY/P (VKFF-1177)
5. VK5GY
6. VK5CS
7. VK2IO
8. VK2GEZ

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK2VW
2. VK2HFI
3. VK2AKA
4. VK2BUG
5. VK2IO
6. VK2GEZ
7. VK2HBG/P (VKFF-1177)
8. VK2GRB/P (VKFF-1177)
9. VK2GDX/P (VKFF-1177)
10. VK2ALY/P (VKFF-1177)
11. VK3WSG
12. VK1AD
13. VK1NAM
14. VK3PF
15. VK2NP
16. VK7DIK
17. VK3APJ
18. VK3EJ
19. VK5EDY
20. VK5HS
21. VK1AC
22. VK3UH
23. VK3CLD
24. VK5QA
25. VK2DBF
26. VK3BEL
27. VK3BEB
28. VK5GY
29. VK5CS

Marija worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK1AC
2. VK1AD
3. VK1NAM
4. VK5HS

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-

1. VK2HBG/P (VKFF-1177)
2. VK2GRB/P (VKFF-1177)
3. VK2GDX/P (VKFF-1177)
4. VK2ALY/P (VKFF-1177)
5. VK5GY
6. VK5CS
7. VK2IO
8. VK2GEZ
9. VK2VW
10. VK2HFI
11. VK2AKA
12. VK2BUG

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK2VW
2. VK2HFI
3. VK2AKA
4. VK2BUG
5. VK2IO
6. VK2GEZ
7. VK2HBG/P (VKFF-1177)
8. VK2GRB/P (VKFF-1177)
9. VK2GDX/P (VKFF-1177)
10. VK2ALY/P (VKFF-1177)
11. VK3WSG
12. VK1AD
13. VK1NAM
14. VK3PF/M
15. VK2NP
16. VK7DIK
17. VK3APJ
18. VK3EJ
19. VK5EDY
20. VK5HS
21. VK1AC
22. VK3UH
23. VK3CLD
24. VK2DBF
25. VK5QA
26. VK3BEL
27. VK3BEB
28. VK5GY
29. VK5CS
30. VK3SQ
31. VK2BD
32. VK3JT

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK1AC
2. VK1AD
3. VK1NAM
4. VK5HS

Marija and I packed up, and we headed to the Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum. The museum features over 500 artefacts that relate to Lake Boga’s history associated with the First World War, including the historic Catalina Flying Boat. The concept of the museum was first discussed in a Lake Boga hotel in 1983 by members of the Lake Boga Lions Club. The current modern hangar was officially opened on the 21st day of April 2012. (Artful 2026)

As we arrived, we saw a number of trikes parked in the car park. Over the previous days, we had seen several trikes on the road during our travels.

In front of the museum are some Flying Boat mooring blocks. They were constructed on the shore of Lake Boga and then transported out to the water, where the heavy chain was attached and coupled to a large balloon. The flying boats were then able to moor at the balloons.

Inside is a very impressive collection of WW2 memorabilia.

And of course, the primary attraction is the Catalina.

The Consolidated Model 28, more commonly known as the PBY Catalina. The aircraft on display is a Catalina PBY5 A24-30. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operated Catalinas as night raiders, with four squadrons Nos. 11, 20, 42, & 43 laying mines from April 1943 until July 1945 in the southwest Pacific. This particular Catalina was a Dutch aircraft and was acquired by the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942. Following the end of WWII, it was sold to Kingsford Smith Airlines, which used it for spare parts. The body of the Catalina was sent to Lake Boga for scrap; however, it was purchased by a local farmer and taken to Nyah, where some of the parts were used, with most of the aircraft left under a tree for 40 years. It was donated to the Lake Boga Lions Club by the farmer’s family, and it was restored. (Artful 2026) (Wikipedia 2019)

You can view the inside of the Catalina and start to imagine what these brave men endured during the Second World War.

On display is an emergency radio from a Sunderland aircraft.

I also found this morse code unit.

There is a large collection of WW11 historical items.

One of the displays I found very interesting was the 1945 Ford field ambulance.

On display is a left-hand drive WWII USA Army jeep.

You can also view a 1942 WLA Harley Davidson motorcycle known as the ‘Liberator.’

There are various other military vehicles on display.

After wandering around the museum, we headed to the communications bunker.

In early 1997, work commenced on creating the bunker into a museum to house exhibits that had been donated and collected. The bunker museum was officially opened in November 1997. In 2011, the museum was relocated from the bunker into the current hangar museum.

The bunker contains various displays and communications equipment. It has been reconstructed from old photographs and an original floor plan drawing. (Artful 2026)

I found the Morse key below and tapped out some Morse for Marija.

References.

1. Artful (2026). Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum | Catalina Flying Boat Museum Swan Hill. [online] Flyingboat.org.au. Available at: https://www.flyingboat.org.au/ [Accessed 15 Apr. 2026].
2. ‌Blake, L, 1977, Place Names of Victoria
3. Dcceew.gov.au. (2025). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database 2024 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2024. [Accessed 15 Apr. 2026]‌
4. Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Consolidated PBY Catalina. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_PBY_Catalina.‌ [Accessed 15 Apr. 2026]

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.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2MOE
2. VK1MO
3. VK2VW
4. VK2HFI
5. VK2AKA
6. VK2BUG
7. VK3CLD
8. VK5QA
9. VK2DBF
10. VK5GY
11. VK2IO
12. VK2GEZ
13. VK2COS
14. VK3PF
15. VK3KAI
16. VK1AO
17. VK2MET
18. VK2VIC
19. VK1VIC
20. VK2GOY
21. VK5CS
22. VK1AD
23. VK1NAM
24. VK2NP
25. VK2AN
26. VK2VAR
27. VK2GOM
28. VK2JPR
29. VK5WE
30. VK5HS
31. VK5AYL
32. VK2HBG/p (VKFF-1177)

Marija worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK2VAR
2. VK2GOM
3. VK5WE
4. VK3PF
5. VK3KAI

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI

Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2VW
2. VK2HFI
3. VK2AKA
4. VK2BUG

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2MOE
2. VK1MO
3. VK2VW
4. VK2HFI
5. VK2AKA
6. VK2BUG
7. VK3CLD
8. VK5QA
9. VK2DBF
10. VK5GY
11. VK2IO
12. VK2GEZ
13. VK2COS
14. VK3PF
15. VK3KAI
16. VK1AO
17. VK2MET
18. VK2VIC
19. VK1VIC
20. VK2GOY
21. VK5CS
22. VK1AD
23. VK1NAM
24. VK2NP
25. VK2AN
26. VK2JPR
27. VK5WE
28. VK5HS
29. VK5AYL
30. VK2HBG/p (VKFF-1177)

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK5GY
2. VK5CS
3. VK2VAR
4. VK2GOM
5. VK5WE
6. VK3PF
7. VK3KAI

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI

I worked the following stations on 20m SSBL-

1. VK2VW
2. VK2HFI
3. VK2AKA
4. VK2BUG

References.

1. Dcceew.gov.au. (2025). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database 2024 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2024. [Accessed 14 Apr. 2026]
2. ‌Victorianplaces.com.au. (2026). Tresco | Victorian Places. [online] Available at: https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/tresco [Accessed 13 Apr. 2026].‌
3. Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Lake Boga (Victoria). Wikipedia.‌

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:-

1. VK2IO
2. VK5NHG
3. VK7HOB

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK5LA
3. VK5KAW

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO
2. VK5NHG
3. VK7HOB

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK5LA
3. VK5KAW

I worked the following station on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4LP

References.

1. ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/. [Accessed 13 Apr. 2026]
2. ‌Australiansiloarttrail.com. (2023). \r\n \n Graincorp Silo Art Lake Boga\n \r\n. [online] Available at: https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/lake-boga [Accessed 13 Apr. 2026].‌
3. 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]‌

I received the three DXCC certificates in the mail a few days ago for VK5IPA.

This morning I received the award certificates below from the Natal Digital Group (NDG).

• W10SA Award – issued for contacting 10 DXCC entities in South America on digital modes
• WAB Award (10) – issued for contacting 10 Barzilian states using digital modes

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:-

1. VK2YAK
2. VK4YAK
3. VK2ZR
4. VK2AZR
5. VK3PF
6. VK4CBT

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2YAK
2. VK4YAK
3. VK2ZR
4. VK2AZR
5. VK3PF
6. VK4CBT
7. VK5WU
8. VK1AO
9. VK2MET
10. VK5NJ
11. VK2IO
12. VK3UZI
13. VK3WSG
14. VK2HLM
15. VK3MCA
16. VK3KRL
17. VK5DMO
18. VK1CHW
19. VK3TDK
20. VK3NYC
21. VK3BVQ
22. VK2VIC
23. VK1VIC
24. VK2GOY
25. 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.

1. ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/. [Accessed 11 Apr. 2026]
2. ‌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].
3. ‌Poynter, J.R. (2005). Campbell, Charles (1840–1905). [online] Anu.edu.au. Available at: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/campbell-charles-12836 [Accessed 11 Apr. 2026].‌
4. Trove. (2026). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 – 1954) – 18 Sep 1935 – p16. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/19254742?searchTerm=swan%20hill%20town%20hall [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

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2HAK
2. VK3WSG
3. VK2IOP
4. VK5NJ
5. VK5GY
6. VK4GWC
7. VK3PF
8. VK2ZR
9. VK2AZR
10. VK3MCA
11. VK3SPG
12. VK2YAK
13. VK4YAK

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2HAK
2. VK3WSG
3. VK2IO
4. VK5NJ
5. VK5GY
6. VK4GWC
7. VK3PF
8. VK2ZR
9. VK2AZR
10. VK3MCA
11. VK3SPG
12. VK2YAK
13. VK4YAK
14. VK5OG
15. VK3UZI

References.

1. Trove. (2026). Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 – 1931) – 13 Mar 1879 – p2. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/11605807?searchTerm=noorong [Accessed 10 Apr. 2026].‌
2. Trove. (2026). Kilmore Free Press (Kilmore, Vic. : 1870 – 1954) – 24 Apr 1873 – p2. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/6755305?searchTerm=noorong%20%2B%20mcphee [Accessed 10 Apr. 2026].‌
3. Trove. (2026). STATION MYSTERY. – The Merbein Irrigationist and Murray Valley Soldiers’ Gazette (Vic. : 1919 – 1920) – 23 Jun 1920. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/258152401/28741638 [Accessed 10 Apr. 2026].‌
4. Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Gee Gee Bridge. Wikipedia.‌

My latest FT8 award certificates for VK5IPA.

Again, thank you to all of the FT8 operators and the Award Managers.

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.