A few days ago, I received the certificate below for my participation in the 2025 All Asian DX Contest. I came first in Australia in the Single Operator All Band Low Power category.
Thank you to everyone who called me, and thank you to the organisers of the contest.
After leaving Belfrayden, Marija and I headed towards Jerilderie via Lockhart. Across the cleared farming land we were able to view The Rock summit.
As Marija and I drove along Lockhart Road, and our attention was drawn to numerous towers and antennas. We found that it was a Department of Defence high-frequency transmitter facility – Modernised High Frequency Communications System (MHFCS). The MHFCS is a high-frequency (3030 MHz) radio network providing communication services for the operational control and support of the Australian Defence Force and allied aircraft, marine craft and land units. (Airservices n.d.) (Tanter 2013)
The site is locally known as Lyndoch, named after the homestead on which the facility is built. The HF transmitter consists of a main circular antenna array, which is made up of 2 concentric rings of masts, with 10 smaller antennas outside the circles. The outer ring has 18 pairs of masts. The inner ring is made up of 20 single masts. Surrounding the 2 core circles are 10 separate sets of antennas. (Tanter 2013)
We then drove down to Milbrulong. We had travelled through Milbrulong earlier in our trip on 22nd October 2025. We wanted to head back to activate the silo. Milbrulong is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘rosella parrot.’ The Milbrulong Post Office opened on the 7th day of August 1899 and closed in 1976. (Phoenix 2026) (Visit Lockhart 2022)
Milbrulong once had its own football club and cricket club. The first published match of the Milbrulong Football Club was played in 1901 against Lockhart. (Trove 2026)
Above: part of an article from The Lockhart Review, Tue 28 Mar 1933. Image c/o Trove
The old Boundary Inn Hotel is located on Lockhart-The Rock Road, just before the railway line. The hotel was closed in November 1999. It is so sad to see all of these historic hotels sitting idle and their condition deteriorating. (Chirp 2026)
The hotel was opened in 1900 by Johann ‘John’ Heinrich Herman Menz. He was born in November 1856 at Lights Pass, South Australia. During his life, he was actively involved in farming and the hotel industry. He died in May 1901 at Albury, New South Wales. (Chirp 2026)
Above: article from the Wagga Wagga Advertiser, Thu 3 May 1900. Image c/o Trove
A tragedy involved John Menz and his family. On Tuesday, 7th December 1880, whilst living at Jindera and being the licensee of the local hotel, a brutal crime occurred at the home of his father, Martin Johann Menz. A swagman called Henry Wilkinson had been drinking at John’s hotel. The swaggie left the hotel to head to Albury. Later that night, John’s father was murdered, his daughter Maria Dorothea ‘Mary’ mortally wounded, and the house was set on fire. (Findagrave.com 2019)
Above: part of an article from Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 11 Dec 1880. Image c/o Trove
After the house had been set alight, Mary, who had been shot three times with a revolver, fled the house with her 10-month-old son. She arrived at a nearby house owned by Mrs Douglass, suffering from a gunshot wound. She informed the homeowner that a male believed to be Wilkinson had shot her father and herself, robbed them, and then set fire to the house. (Findagrave.com 2019) (Trove 2026)
Following the murder, Wilkinsonson continued drinking at Jindera, using the money he had stolen. (Findagrave.com 2019)
Wilkinson was arrested at Jindera the following day. On Thursday, 16th December 1880. Mary died at the Albury Hospital from her injuries. (Findagrave.com 2019) (Trove 2026)
A trial took place at Albury, where Wilkinson was convicted and sentenced to death. He was hanged in the Albury Gaol on 4th June 1881. This was the only execution that took place at the Albury Gaol. (Findagrave.com 2019) (Trove 2026)
Above: article from The Australasian, Melbourne, Sat 4 Jun 1881. Image c/o Trove
Another historic building in Milbrulong is the old Commission Agent Store.
We stopped briefly to have a look again at the Milbrulong water tower tank art project. It was painted by Scott Nagy and Krimsone in May 2020. It features the Eastern Rosella, which is native to the Mibrulong district. (Australiansiloarttrail.com, 2020)
Below is a short video all about the Eastern Rosella.
The Milbrulong silos are operated by GrainCorp. They are located alongside the Oaklands railway line, a branch line of the Main South Line.
The silos were opened in 1933. (Trove 2026)
Above: article re the opening of the silos, The Lockhart Review, Tue 5 Dec 1933. Image c/o Trove
I found the article below where an accident occurred at the Milbrulong silo back in 1930.
Above: article from the Daily Advertiser, Fri 25 Jul 1930. Image c/o Trove
Marija and I parked alongside the silos. We operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.
Above: An aerial view of the activation zone at the Milbrulong silo. Image c/o SiOTA website
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
References.
After packing up at Minjary National Park on Sunday, 2nd November 2026, Marija and I headed back to Gundagai and revisited the Gundagai Visitor Information Centre. We specifically wanted to have a look at Rusconi’s Marble Masterpiece.
Frank Rusconi was the sculptor of the famous Dog on the Tuckerbox. He also created this absolutely magnificent masterpiece.
Francis Philip ‘Frank’ Rusconi was born on the 20th August 1874 at Bell’s Creek, which is located near Braidwood in New South Wales. His father, Pietro ‘Peter’ Rusconi, was born in 1842 in Switzerland. He was a stonemason and emigrated to Australia in 1865, and in 1869, he married Mary McCarthy. She was born in 1847 at Braidwood, N.S.W. (ancestry 2016) (Kerr 1988)
Frank was only 4 years old when his mother died in 1878, at Braidwood. His father took Frank and his siblings to live in Switzerland to be cared for by his sister. By the age of 15, Frank was an apprentice in the marble trade in Verquinto, Italy. He completed his apprenticeship in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. He then took on the role of ‘foreman interpreter’ with Renard, Fèvre & Co. of Paris and Conblanchien, travelling for work to France, Italy and England. (Kerr 1988)
By early 1901, Frank returned to Australia and established the Borenore marble quarries near Orange, N.S.W. His father and brother Joseph ‘Joe’ worked with him at the quarry, extracting marble which had become popular in the construction of buildings in Sydney. (Kerr 1988)
Four years later, in 1905, he settled in Gundagai, and he established a monumental masonry business. On the 15th day of June 1905, he married Florence Elizabeth Smith, in Bega, N.S.W. Rusconi’s business thrived and his headstones were known for their excellent quality. (ancestry 2016) (Kerr 1988)
In June 1910, Rusconi commenced collecting different marble from around New South Wales. He used these to create the Marble Masterpiece. (Kerr 1988) (Trove 2026)
In June 1923, whilst cutting a piece of wood, Rusconi suffered a serious eye injury. A wood chip flew up and struck his right eye, which burst the eyeball and pupil. As a result of the accident, Rusconi lost sight in his right eye. (Kerr 1988)
Above: article from The Gundagai Times, Tue 19 Jun 1923. Image c/o Trove
In 1932, Rusconi was contracted to create the bronze sculpture of the Dog on the Tuckerbox, which is his best-known work. (Kerr 1988)
Above: article from The Sun, Mon 28 Nov 1932. Image c/o Trove
The Marble Masterpiece was completed in November 1937. The Tumut and Adelogn Times reported: “An illustration, or a word-picture fails to describe the magnificence of this work of meticulous accuracy.”(Trove 2026)
Above: article from The Tumut & Adelong Times, Tue 18 Oct 1938. Image c/o Trove
In his latter life, he experienced severe arthritis and was unable to carve marble. Instead, he made small plaster souvenirs for tourists visiting the Dog on the Tuckerbox. (Kerr 1988)
Above: Frank Rusconi. Image c/o National Library of Australia
Frank died on the 21st day of May 1964 at Cootamundra, aged 90 years. He is buried in the Catholic section of the Gundagai Cemetery. (ancestry 2016) (Kerr 1988)
The Marble Masterpiece is a 1.2 metre (4-foot) high model of an imaginary Baroque Italian palace. No plans were used. It consists of 20,948 pieces from 20 different varieties of marble, and after 28 years of work, was completed in 1938. (Kerr 1988) (Marble 2020)
Prior to the Masterpiece being placed on display at the Visitor Centre, it was on display in a room at the Royal Hotel in Gundagai. (Trove 2026)
Also at the display is a detailed miniature marble model of the altar at St Marie’s Cathedral near Paris, France. No specialised equipment was used to create the miniature. Rusconi used basic marble worker’s tools and an old lathe, which was made from a discarded sewing machine. (Kerr 1988) (Marble 2020) (Trove 2026)
It was time for us to leave Gundagai and head to Jerilderie. We had spent 3 very enjoyable nights in Gundagi and can highly recommend a visit to this historic town. There are so many things to see and do.
Along the way we stopped to have a look at the historic Shanty Hotel on the Sturt Highway at Alfredtown near Wagga Wagga.
Mary Ryan was born in 1822 in Queens County, Ireland. She emigrated to Australia in the late 1850s with her 4 sons and 3 daughters. She settled at Alfredtown and named their property ‘Glandore’. Her daughter, Ellen married Patrick Rogers in 1865. Patrick built the hotel in 1868. It was known as the Prince Alfred Hotel. On the 10th day of May 1955, the name of the hotel was changed to the Shanty Hotel as this was the hotel’s common nickname. Sadly, this is another closed hotel. Its last trading day was 26th April 2009. (Burch 2018) (Nsw.gov.au 2026)
We then stopped briefly at the Big Murray Cod sign on the Sturt Highway on the eastern side of Wagga Wagga. It was initially located at the Murray Cod Hatcheries and Fauna Park in 1975. The park closed in 1995, at which time the Cod fell into disrepair. Following the purchase of the property, the Cod was restored to its current excellent condition. (About Regional n.d.)
We continued on to the little town of Belfrayden, west of Wagga Wagga on Lockhart Road. It is a tiny town with just a handful of homes.
The Belfrayden silo is located on Andrews Road, alongside the old Kywong railway line. The Kywong branch line was built in 1928 to service the wheat crops in the southern parts of New South Wales. It extended from Uranquinty to Kywong. The line closed on 1988. The Belfrayden railway station closed in 1976. (Nswrail.net 2026)
Marija and I set up alongside the silos and operated from the 4WD. We ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 930 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.
Above: the activation zone at Belfrayden silo. Image c/o SiOTA website
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
References.
Our first activation for Sunday, 2nd November 2026, was the Minjary National Park VKFF-0319. The park is located about 30 km south of Gundagai in New South Wales.
Above: Map showing the location of Minjary National Park. Map c/o Google Maps
The park is not signposted from any major road, and the park is not widely promoted. We attempted to reach the park via Meadow Creek Road, which runs off Gocup Road, but we struck a ‘Private Property Keep Out’ sign, and we decided not to venture any further.
We got very close and could see the park, but we respected the sign and turned back.
We received some advice from a local that if we headed back along Gocup Road to McGrath Trail, we could access the park via that road.
We did a few door knocks on the dirt road leading up to the park, and each time, the landowners kindly gave us permission to access the park via their property.
We passed through a few gates and grids on our way to the park.
As we got further along Mcgrath Trail, the park came clearly into view.
Until we finally reached an open gate and the park sign. It had been a bit of an adventure, but we had made it. It is so important in the WWFF program to obey all signs, specifically with regard to private property, and to ‘door knock’ and get permission from landowners. An incident of trespassing could place the WWFF program in jeopardy.
After passing through the gate, Marija and I followed the dirt track for about 1 km before we found a nice clearing in the scrub to set up.
Minjary National Park is about 1,462 hectares in size and is located on the South West Slopes of New South Wales. It takes its name from Minjary mountain, the highest point in the park at 762 metres above sea level. (NSW NPWS 2004)
Above: the boundaries of Minjary National Park. Image c/o Google Earth
The park consists of undulating to steep, forested country, which is surrounded by cleared farming land. It contains significant intact remnants of South West Slopes forest and woodland, including White Box Grassy Woodland which has been identified as an endangered ecological community. (NSW NPWS 2004)
Above: an aerial view of Minjary National Park. Image c/o Google Maps
Minjary National Park was formerly administered and managed by State Forests of New South Wales as Minjary State Forest. Minjary National Park was gazetted on the 1st day of January 2001. (NSW NPWS 2004)
The park lies near the border of the Wiradjuri and Walgalu Aboriginal people. It is believed that the park was part of an Aboriginal travelling route between the Western Plains and the Kosciuszko area via the Tumut River. (NSW NPWS 2004)
During the late 1880s and early 1900s, there was extensive timber harvesting in the Minjary area. The timber was used to fuel steam boilers used in the gold mining industry in the Adelong area. The timber was felled with axes and ‘spare-chained’ down to wagons by horses. (NSW NPWS 2004)
A sulky route that was used between Adelong and Minjary existed on an east-west alignment through the park. It was constructed and used by the Hogan family and other locals as a shortcut between Adelong and Minjary. (NSW NPWS 2004)
A total of 8 mammal species, 31 bird species, 6 reptile species, and 2 amphibian species have been recorded in the park. This includes the threatened Turquoise Parrot and the Powerful Owl. (NSW NPWS 2004)
Marija and I operated from near Burnie Trail and O’Shea’s Trail.
We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I made the following contacts on 20m SSB:-
References.
From the 9th March 2026 to the 15th March 2026, the Young Ladies World Wide Award (WWA) 2026 event was held. It was the first international radio project aimed at bringing together the largest number of Young Ladies (YL) worldwide in a single event.
Over the 7 day period a total of 234 YLs from around the world took part. A total of 300,509 QSOs were made with 203 countries taking part.
My wife Marija VK5MAZ took part as an Activator and did most of the operating from our shack during the event. I took part as a Hunter.
I made contacts with the YLs around the world on SSB, FT8, & FT4. The’Mixed’ Hunter award was issued at three levels: Bronze 100 points, Silver 250 points, and Gold 500 points. Each SSB contact was worth 5 points, while a digital contact was worth 2 points. I managed to get to the Bronze level with 130 points.
Marija made a total of 798 contacts. Marija received four different award certificates for the event. She came in 87th place in the Mixed category, 126th in the SSB category, and 53rd in the Digital category.
The first certificate for Marija was ‘Activator as Hunter’, with 108 points.
The other three certificates for Marija were:
Sadly, there did not seem to be a lot of Australian YL’s taking part in the event. Dianne VK4DI was very active and made it into Marija’s log a few times on 40m & 20m SSB.
Marija worked 79 DXCC entities during the event. She worked 38 of the 50 USA States and 30 of the 40 zones.
On Saturday, 20m SSB, Marija had a very significant pileup on the long path to Europe and the UK. I came out into the shack in the middle of the madness, and I was very proud of how she was handling the pileup (with some poor behaviour at times on the other end).
Below is a map showing Marija’s QSOs during the event.
Thank you to the organisers. And of course, thank you to everyone who called us during the event. Both Marija and I had a lot of fun.
Here are my latest FT8 Digital Modes Club certificates for VK5COP.
Thank you to all of the FT8 operators, and thank you to the Award Managers.
Our final activation for Saturday, 1st November 2025, was Wereboldera State Conservation Area (SCA) VKFF-1392. The reserve is located just to the south of Tumut in New South Wales.
Above: Map showing the location of Wereboldera State Conservation Area. Map c/o Google Maps
The town of Tumut is located just to the north of the reserve. Its eastern boundary is close to the Snowy Mountains Highway, while its western boundary is close to E Gilmore Road. The reserve extends south down to Wereboldera and the Blowering Reservoir. The Tumut State Forest can be located to the north and west of the reserve.
Above: the boundaries of Wereboldera SCA. Image c/o Google Earth
The Wereboldera State Conservation Area is about 2,550 hectares in size and was established in January 2003. It is located at the northern end of the Snubba Range. (NSW NPWS 2009) (NSW National Parks 2026)
Above: an aerial view of Wereboldera SCA. Image c/o Google Maps
The majority of the reserve was previously managed by the then State Forests of New South Wales, as part of Tumut State Forest (No 798), which was gazetted in 1926. Other smaller sections of the reserve including Travelling Stock Reserves. (NSW NPWS 2009)
The reserve includes four distinct forest ecosystems: Narrow-leaved Peppermint moist forb forest; Apple Box-Norton’s Box moist grass forest; Brittle Gum-Broad-leaved Peppermint Pa grass forest; and Norton’s Box-Red Box open forest. (NSW NPWS 2009)
About 150 species of native birds have been recorded in the reserve. A total of 13 fauna species listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act have also been recorded in the park. This includes Turquoise Parrot, Painted Honeyeater, Barking Owl, and Striped Legless Lizard. Native mammals that can be found in the reserve include Sugar Glider, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Swamp Wallaby, Short-beaked Echidna, Large Forest Bat, and Chocolate Wattled Bat. (NSW NPWS 2009)
Marija and I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. The band conditions were quite good, but we did experience strength 8 static crashes on the 40m band.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
Marija and I then drove into the town of Tumut.
As we entered the town, we saw the Tumut Pioneer Cemetery, so we decided to have a bit of a wander. The Pioneer Cemetery was not the first cemetery in Tumut. The original cemetery was near the current showground/racecourse area, but this was subject to regular flooding, so the cemetery was relocated c. 1848. (Findagrave.com 2020)
During the 1890s, the Tumut Pioneer Cemetery became overcrowded, and as a result, burials commenced at the Tumut General Cemetery. By the 1960s, the Tumut Pioneer Cemetery had fallen into disrepair, with most of the headstones being consumed by perwinkle and elm suckers. A Restoration Committee was established, and the cemetery was restored. Well done to all those involved. (Findagrave.com 2020)
The Tumut district attracted a large Chinese population during the 1850s due to the discovery of gold. Following the gold rush, many Chinese people remained in the district. The Tumut Cemetery features several Chinese graves and a Chinese burning tower used for ritualised offerings.
The cemetery has dozens of historic headstones which tell the story of the pioneers of Tumut and the surrounding district.
I have talked about the bushranger Captain Moonlight in my previous Mount Burra post, but I will touch a little bit here on his relationship to some people who are buried in the cemetery.
John and Isabella Thomas were proprietors of the Australian Arms Hotel at Wantabadgery, N.S.W., during November 1879. John and Isabella, and their sons Herbert and John, were taken hostage by Captain Moonlite.
Andrew George Scott @ Captain Moonlite, was born on the 5th day of July 1842 in Rathfriland, Ireland. He commenced a life of bushranging from c. 1879. His gang included James Nesbitt, Thomas Rogan 21, Thomas Williams 19, Gus Werneckie 15, and Graham Bennet 18.
On the afternoon of Saturday the 15th day of November 1879, Scott’s gang held up Wantabadgery Station, about ’24 miles’ east of Wagga Wagga, and ’27 miles’ from Gundagai. The produced revolvers and threatened the station staff and forced them to break open the storeroom. Other people arrived at the property and they were taken hostage. (Wikipedia 2024)
Scott then took Claude McDonald in a horse & buggy to the Australian Arms Hotel on the Gundagai Road. The public and his wife were not present. Scott stole their rifle, raided the till stole some alcohol and took their 2 children hostage, returning to Wantabadgery. (Wikipedia 2024)
The licencee of the Australian Arms, James Patterson and his wife returned to find their hotel had been ransacked and their children missing. The police were notified. A small party of four mounted police troopers arrived at Wantabadgery that evening, and a gunfight ensued between the police and the bushrangers. Scott’s gang managed to capture the trooper’s horses and they fled. (Wikipedia 2024)
The gang then held up the property of Edmund McGlede. By this time, further police had been mobilised and they surrounded the property. One of Scott’s gang, Warneckie was shot as he ran to a fence to reach a better position. The police then entered the homestead and further shots were fired. As a result Constable Webb-Bowen was struck and fatally wounded. Nesbitt was shot and killed. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above: part of an article from The Ballarat Courier, Wed 19 Nov 1879. Image c/o Trove
Below is an excellent video on the legend of Captain Moonlite.
George Thomas was born in August 1879. He died on the 7th day of October 1901 at Blowering, New South Wales, aged 22 years. (ancestry 2016)
His body was recovered on Friday, 18th October 1901, about 2 miles down the Tumut River from where he attempted to cross the river on his horse. A significant search had been conducted. Newspaper articles make specific mention of the efforts of Constable Williams. (Trove 2026)
Above: part of an article from the Adelong Argus, Tue 22 Oct 1901. Image c/o Trove
Charles Jones was born c. 1802. In 1849, he married Caroline Harriet Thatcher. He was responsible for the recovery of several of the dead from the Gundagai floods in 1852. Sadly, he took his life at the Rose Inn, Tumut, on the 7th day of February 1866, aged 64 years.
Mary Brennan was born in August 1840 in County Tipperary, Ireland. She drowned in the Gundagai flood in June 1852, aged 11 years. (ancestry 2016)
Thomas Boyd was born in 1798 in Dublin, Ireland. He was convicted of High Treason in Dublin City and was transported to Australia for life. He arrived in New South Wales in March 1822 aboard the Isabella. He took part in the Hume and Ovell expedition to Port Phillip Bay in 1824. He was described as one of the most valuable members of the expedition. It is widely accepted that he was the first European to swim across the Murray River onto Victorian soil. He swam across the river with a piece of rope between his teeth, which was then used to transport equipment across the river. He died in 1885, aged 86 years. (Convictrecords.com.au 2026) (UBC Web Design 2026)
William Clee and his wife Ann were pioneers of the Tumut district who selected land at Meadow Creek, Gocup in 1860. Their marriage in 1856 is officially recorded as the fifth in Tumut. They raised a family of 14 children.
We left the cemetery and drove a few hundred metres along the Snowy Mountains Highway to the old Tumut Railway Station.
The Tumut railway had its official opening on Tuesday, the 13th day of October 1903. It was opened by the State Governor, Sir Harry Rawson and about 10,000 people were in attendance. (Trove 2026)
Above: article from the Newcastle Morning Herald, Tue 13 Oct 1903. Image c/o Trove
The railway station is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. (Wikipedia 2025)
A piece of interesting history at the railway station is the footwarmer heating plant. It was used to heat rectangular steel containers known as footwarmers. Train travellers were given these to make their journey more comfortable.
We had a quick drive around Tumut to admire some of the historic buildings. Sadly, we were really pressed for time, and Marija and I agreed that we would need to come back and stay in Tumut.
As we were keen to get back to Gundagai, we had a quick fast meal that evening at Kentucky Fried Chicken.
After dinner, we hit the road and travelled back to our motel in Gundagai.
References.
Below are my certificates for the WWFF 2025 Marathon.
The results were finalised in late January 2026, and unfortunately, I had not uploaded all of my activator logs by that time.
Our next activation for Saturday, 1st November 2025, was Helms Flora Reserve VKFF-3057.
Above: Map showing the location of Helms Flora Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps
We drove south along Downfall Road and arrived in the small town of Rosewood.
European settlement of the Rosewood area commenced in c. 1836 when William Guise established Ondemaline Run as a heifer run. Ondemaline is an Aboriginal word meaning uncertain. William Guise was born in May 1796 in Sydney. In 1816, he married Catherine Allen. They had 8 children. Guise died in March 1850 at Liverpool, N.S.W. (ancestry 2016) (Andrews 1920)
By 1848, the run had been acquired by David R Gale who renamed it Glen Roy. (Andrews 1920)
Above: article from The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 12 Oct 1848. Image c/o Trove
The property was then owned by John McAuliffe and Patrick Craven. In 1866, the 20,000-acre property had 3,000 sheep. In the late 1860s McAuliffe and Craven’s partnership was dissolved. McAuliffe retained one-half of the property while Craven acquired the northern half, naming it Rosewood. (Andrews 1920)
John McAuliffe was born c. 1795 in County Cork, Ireland. In 1824, he was convicted of rebellion and was transported for life to Australia aboard the Ann and Amelia, arriving on the 2nd day of January 1825. In 1839 he married Mary Hough. They had 11 children. John died in November 1884, aged 89 years. (convictrecords.com.au 2026)
Above: John McAuliffe. Image c/o ancestry.com.au
Eventually, the property became known as Wolseley Park. (Andrews 1920)
A very unique place in Rosewood is the Rosewood Gnome Retirement Village, featuring a large collection of garden gnomes. Apparently, new gnomes are welcome.
Marija and I continued on towards the park, travelling through beautiful countryside. We then reached the park which is located between Kunama and Laurel Hill on the western side of Batlow Road.
Above: the boundaries of Helms Flora Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth
The reserve is 110 hectares in size and was established on the 12th day of May 1989. (Dcceew.gov.au 2025)
To access the park, we drove along Nursery Access Road. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole. Unfortunately, we had strength 8 static crashes on the 40m band.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
After a successful activation, Marija and I headed to the town of Batlow. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to fully explore this beautiful little town.
In c. 1853, gold was discovered in the area, and a small settlement called Reedy Creek was established. The Reedy Creek Post Office opened on the 1st day of August 1873. The name was changed to Batlow in 1889 as a result of locals writing to the Postmaster General requesting a name change. This was due to their mail being sent by mistake to other localities with similar names, such as Reedy Flat. The name originates from the surveyor who laid out the town. (Wikipedia 2025)
Marija and I drove up to Weemala Lookout, overlooking Batlow. What a brilliant view there is to be enjoyed from here. Weemala is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘big view’ or ‘distant view’.
Batlow is well known for its apple production. There are about 50 apple growers in the Batlow district who supply 1.6 million cases of apples to the Australian market. This equates to 10% of Australia’s apple crop. (Wikipedia 2025)
The Batlow district also produces cherries and other stone fruit.
When gold mining in the district commenced to wind down, the miners turned their attention to farming. Supplies from Sydney took a long time to arrive in Batlow, and as a result, the settlers grew most of their own produce. From as early as the start of the 1900s, fruit from Batlow was known as far away as Gundagai and Cootamundra for its high quality. (Trove 2026)
In 1907, there were about 5,000 orchard trees in the Batlow area. Just three years later, in 1910, there were about 18,900 orchard trees. And three years later, in 1913, that had increased to 112,000 orchard trees. In 1923, the Batlow Cool Stores were opened. (Trove 2026)
Above: part of an article from The Tymut Advocate, Tue 10 Apr 1923. Image c/o Trove
Marija and I stopped at one of the roadside stores and purchased some apples and an apple pie. They were absolutely delicious.
We left Batlow, passing the town’s ‘Big Apple’, which is located about 5 km north of the town. Australia has more than 150 ‘Big Things’. This includes the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, the Big Merino in Goulburn, and the Big Galah in Kimba. And of course, the Big Apple in Batlow.
We continued north on Batlow Road towards Tumut, admiring the absolutely spectacular countryside on the way.
References.
Our next park activation for Saturday, 1st November 2025, was the Downfall Nature Reserve VKFF-2589. The reserve is located about 26 km west of the town of Batlow and 9km north of the small town of Rosewood.
Above: Map showing the location of Downfall Nature Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
After leaving Murraguldrie, Marija and I drove to the town of Humula. It was once named American Yards or American Fields during the 1850s gold rush. By 1888, the name Humula had been officially adopted by the local Post Office. (Wikipedia 2026)
The Humula Bush Fore Brigade features a magnificent mural. It features an NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteer carrying a kangaroo joey away from a fire. It also features native flora and fauna, and ‘Elvis’, the NSW RFS helicopter. The mural was completed in March 2023 and is the work of Melbourne-based artist Alex Sugar. (City 2023)
The original Humula Hall was built in 1890. In 1955, the building was auctioned and demolished, and the current brick hall was built. Outside the front of the hall are the silhouettes of local returned service personnel. (Festival of Small Halls 2026)
The former Union Church at Humula is now a private property.
St Therese Catholic Church was built in c. 1937. Prior to the erection of the church, Mass was celebrated in the local School of Arts. (UBC Web Design 2022)
In 1874, the Washington Hotel was built at the Ravine Lobbs Hole near Kiandra in the Snowy Mountains. It was built to service the gold miners and later the copper mines in the area. In 1910, the entire building was pulled apart and moved piece by piece to the American Yards by bullock and cart. It ceased being a licensed premises and became the Humula village general store, haberdashery, baker, grocer, and service station. During the 1960s, it was registered as the Humula Post Office. After 50 years ot closed and falling into disrepair. (Familclub.com.au 2021)
Marija and I then drove south on Downfall Road. It was quite a warm day with plenty of snakes and lizards on the road.
Downfall Nature Reserve takes its name from the locality of Downfall, which in turn was named from a steep slope in the Rosewood Hills where those constructing the railway had to negotiate a very steep slope. (NSW NPWS 2006)
The first Europeans to visit the area were the explorers Hume and Hovell, who passed through the area in 1824. In c. 1836, settlement commenced in the Tumbarumba area. From about 1850, the reserve was part of the American Yards pastoral run. Prior to 1885, the land became part of the Humula Run. In 1906, the reserve became Crown Land. (NSW NPWS 2006)
The Carabost State Forest is located to the south and southwest of the reserve. The forest is primarily pine plantation; however, it also contains native forest. To the southwest of the reserve is a Travelling Stock Route (TSR)
Above: the boundaries of Downfall Nature Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth
Downfall Nature Reserve is about 496 hectares in size and was gazetted in 2001 as part of the Southern Regional Forest Agreement. The reserve is dominated by moderately steep slopes with an elevation range between 400 metres and 690 metres. The reserve is a piece of remnant vegetation in an area where there has been a significant history of clearing of the land. (NSW NPWS 2006)
Above: An aerial view of Downfall Nature Reserve. Image c/o Google Maps
This was not an entirely easy reserve to access. There are no signs. Access is via 4WD tracks. We also had to do some creek crossings.
The reserve contains six distinct forest types, including Apple box forest, Peppermint moust forest, Red Stringybark-Scribbly Gum-Rough barked Red Box-Tussock grass open forest, Peppermint-mixed box grassy forest, Norton’s Box-Peppermint grassy open forest, and Secondary wattle shrubland. (NSW NPWS 2006)
A total of 16 native mammals can be found in the park. A total of 72 species of birds have been recorded in Downfall. The reserve has several species listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, including the Barking Owl, Turquoise Parrot, Black-chinned honeyeater, Diamond Firetail, and Squirrel Glider. (NSW NPWS 2006)
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
References.
Amateur Radio, Short Wave Listening, travel and history
Amateur radio experiences with VK1DA
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german amateur radio station
Summits On The Air
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A fine WordPress.com site
Amateur Radio Adventures
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Radio craft, homebrew, QRP/SOTA, AM
Ego loqui ad viros super montes
My adventures with Amateur Radio and Geocaching!
The rantings of VK2GAZ on his SOTA experiences in Australia
A survivor, with minor cuts and abrasions.
The Art and Craft of Blogging
The latest news on WordPress.com and the WordPress community.
Blog of Justin Giles-Clark VK7TW's SOTA and amateur radio adventures.
Occasional SOTA & Microwave operation
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