After packing up at Mantung Conservation Park (31st January 2023) I headed to the Bakara Conservation Park VKFF-0868. It was just a short 30 km drive to get to Bakara from Mantung.

The Bakara Conservation Park is located about 205 km northeast of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Bakara Conservation Park. Map c/o Location SA Map Viewer.

The park is located on the southern side of the Stott Highway at the junction of Start Road.

Above:- An aerial shot of the Bakara CP looking southwest towards Adelaide. Image c/o Google maps.

The Stott Highway runs from Angaston in the Barossa Valley, through Sedan and Swan Reach and on to Loxton in the Riverland region of South Australia. In 2008 the highway was named in honour of Tom Cleave Stott (b. 1899. d. 1976) who was a farmer and member of State Parliament from 1933 to 1970. The Stott family farm was at Mindarie in the Murray Mallee.

Above:- Tom Stott (far right) at a “Press v Parliament” cricket match, 1947. Image c/o Wikipedia.

The name Bakara was given by the aboriginal people to a native camp on a track from Swan Reach to Loxton. The word derives from either bakarra meaning ‘hot wind’ or balkara meaning ‘native dove.

In 1864 the Bakara Run was established by W.P. Barker (b. 1845. d. 1914) and D. McLean. The land was originally held by Messrs Lucas and Reid from February 1860. The Hundred of Bakara, County of Albert, was proclaimed on the 15th day of June 1893. The Netherleigh school was opened in 1909 as ‘Bakara’ and was closed in 1935. The Bakara Post Office was closed on the 30th day of June 1979.

The Bakara Conservation Park was proclaimed on the 15th day of May 1986.

Above:- from the SA Govt Gazette, 15 May 1986. Image c/o Wikipedia.

The park comprises land in sections 54 and 55 in the cadastral unit of the Hundred of Bakara. In 1983 the South Australian State Government compulsorily acquired Section 55 and this was proclaimed as the park. Section 54 was added on the 6th day of August 2009. The park currently covers an area of about 2,030 hectares.

The park provides valuable habitat for the Malleefowl.

I drove into the park via one of the tracks off the Stott Highway. It was a hot afternoon so I chose some shade underneath a tree to get out of the sun.

Band conditions on 10m and 15m were very good and this helped me to easily get over the 44 QSO line for the global World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

It was also nice to pick up a couple of Park to Park contacts with Andy VK5LA and Daryl VK3BEZ.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5LA/p (Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2244)
2. VK5BJE
3. VK5MAZ
4. VK7QP
5. VK5FANA
6. VK3PF
7. VK5WU
8. VK1AO
9. VK2MET
10. VK3FABS/p
11. VK5NIG
12. VK3MCA
13. VK4FW
14. VK8MM

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2VJE
2. VK3PF
3. VK2IO
4. VK4FW
5. VK8MM
6. VK3OHM
7. VK3ZSC
8. VK3BEZ/p (Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park VKFF-0747)
9. VK3TXB/m
10. VK4HRE
11. VK1AO
12. VK2MET
13. VK4EMP
14. VK4TI
15. VK3JLS

I worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-\

1. VK2VJE
2. VK4FW
3. VK8MM
4. VK4EMP
5. VK4TI
6. VK3ACZ
7. VK3PF
8. VK2IO
9. VK3EJ
10. VK3SQ
11. VK7IAN
12. VK4TJ
13. VK1AO
14. VK2MET
15. VK4KTW

I worked the following stations on 10m SSB:-

1. VK2FR
2. VK3SQ
3. VK3PF
4. VK5LA/p (Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2244)
5. VK1AO
6. VK2MET
7. VK2FADV
8. VK3ZSC
9. VK2MOE
10. VK4FW
11. VK8MM
12. VK3ACZ
13. VK2IO
14. VK2UGB
15. VK2MOE/m
16. VK2CPC
17. VK4HAT
18. VK4FFAB
19. VK4EW
20. VK2XZ/m
21. VK4TJ
22. VK7IAN
23. VK3EJ

References.

1. A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia, 2023, <https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/>, viewed 13th February 2023.
2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Stott>, viewed 13th February 2023.
3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Stott>, viewed 13th February 2023.
4. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakara_Conservation_Park>, viewed 13th February 2023.

After leaving the Wunkar silo (31st January 2023), I drove south along Curtis Road and then west on Farr Road. It wasn’t long before I reached the northeastern corner of the Mantung Conservation Park VKFF-1055.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Mantung Conservation Park. Map c/o Google maps.

Mantung is aboriginal for ‘water on a native road’. Nomadic aboriginal people who followed sandhills from Jadko north of Swan Reach to Loxton, via Bakara, obtained water from mallee trees. Needle bush roots also yielded water. When the Hundred of Mantung, County of Albert, was proclaimed on the 15th day of June 1893, the name was shown as an Aboriginal waterhole on an 1864 land tenure plan.

The town of Mantung was proclaimed on the 8th day of July 1915. The post office was opened in September 1915. The Mantung school opened in 1921 and closed in 1944. The school was reopened in 1961 and was conducted in the Mantung Hall.

Early in 1914 a meeting was called to arrange for the inauguration of an agricultural show when ‘a strong committee was formed’: Subsequently, owing to the dryness of the season, the committee deemed it wise to postpone the show and hold a farmers’ picnic instead… Thanks largely to the untiring energy of the capable secretary, Mr A.E. Solly, everything went with a swing… Before the folk dispersed in the evening three rousing cheers were given for ‘King and country’…

Above:- Article from the Observer, Adelaide, Sat 10 Oct 1914. Image c/o Trove.

The Mantung Conservation Park is about 1,695 hectares in size and was created on the 16th day of October 2014. The park is part of an extensive area of native vegetation containing the largest intact remnants of deep sand habitat in the Northern Murray Mallee, supporting numerous rare plant species including the rasp daisy bush.

The park can be located on the southern side of Farr Road. The northwestern corner of the park is located at the junction of Farr Road and Evans Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Mantung Conservation Park. Image co Google maps

The park is important for the conservation of the following bird species – malleefowl, southern scrub robin, shy heathwren, inland thornbill, white-browed babbler and purple-gaped honeyeater.

I pulled into one of the dirt tracks leading off Farr Road. It was a hot afternoon and the flies were out in force, so I operated from the 4WD.

Above:- An aerial view of the Mantung CP showing my operating spot. Image c/o Location SA Map Viewer.

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole. For 10 & 15m SSB I ran the Icom IC-7000, and the Codan 9350 self tuning antenna.

I made the following QSOs on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK5NIG
3. VK3SQ
4. VK5CZ
5. VK1AO
6. VK2MET
7. VK5PET
8. VK5FANA
9. VK3GRK
10. VK5MAZ
11. VK5BJE
12. VK3SMW
13. VK3BEL

I made the following QSOs on 20m SSB:-

1. VK1AO
2. Vk2MET
3. VK4FW
4. VK8MM
5. VK2IO
6. VK4EMP
7. VK4TI
8. VK3PF
9. VK4TJ
10. VK3MB

I made the following contacts on 15m SSB:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. VK3PF
4. Vk2IO
5. VK1AO
6. VK2MET
7. VK3MCA
8. VK7QP
9. VK2FR
10. VK4EMP
11. VK4TI
12. VK4TJ
13. VK3JLS
14. VK3UAO
15. VK4ABF

I made the following QSOs on 10m SSB:-

1. VK2FR
2. VK4TJ
3. VK2IO
4. VK4FW
5. VK8MM
6. WH6LU
7. VK3LVH
8. VK2FADV

With 46 QSOs in the log, I packed up and headed off to the Bakara Conservation Park.

References.

1. A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia, 2023, <https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/>, viewed 4th February 2023.
2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantung_Conservation_Park>, viewed 4th February 2023.

After activating the Pike River Conservation Park (Tuesday 31st January 2023) I headed to the Wunkar silo. I turned off the Sturt Highway and travelled southwest on Stanitzki Road and into Loxton. I then took Kingston Road and detoured down to Milich’s Landing.

Milich’s Landing was named after early pioneers Johannes and Ernstine Pauline Milich. It was a regular stop for paddle steamers. Johannes and his oldest sons arrived and set up camp in 1899. Ernstine Paule and the remainder of the family arrived in 1902. The family lived in a kerosine tin hut near the site before moving into their new home at Pyap which was completed in 1913.

Ernstine Pauline was a midwife and at that time was the only medical assistance for Loxton and surrounding districts.

Above:- Ernstine Pauline Milich. Image c/o Brighter Lives Townsville Hospital Facebook page.

Wunkar is a tiny town in the Murray Mallee region of South Australia, about 27km west of Loxton.

Above:- Map showing the location of Wunkar. Map c/o Google maps.

It was originally a station on the Moorook railway line. The township of Wunkar was surveyed in 1926 after the railway station name was approved in 1925. The railway closed in 1971. The Wunkar school opened in 1925 and closed in 1973.

Above:- Surveyor map of Wunkar. Image c/o Trove.

Wunkar’s population as of 2021 was 51 people. There are a few dozen homes, a hall, and the Golden Grain Hotel. Wunkar is an aboriginal word meaning ‘grass’.

Adjacent to the silo was another very impressive tower that I would like to have at home with my antennas on top of.

The Wunkar silos are located in Snograss Road. They are located alongside of the old railway line.

I operated from the 4WD for this action and ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 self-tuning antenna.

Above:- the activation zone at the Wunkar silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

I made the following contacts on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK5FANA
3. VK5BJE
4. VK5DW
5. VK3ZSC
6. VK5ZSA
7. VK5ZLT

I made the following contacts on 20m SSB:-

1. VK5DW
2. VK2IO
3. VK3ZSC
4. VK3OHM

References.

1. The Advertiser, 2023, <https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle/sa-lifestyle/the-az-of-the-meanings-of-south-australia8217s-town-names/news-story/eb38a61ae5809e40516b0b207a09a61b>, viewed 4th February 2023.
2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wunkar,_South_Australia>, viewed 4th February 2023.

I packed up at the Paringa silo and headed to my next activation, the Wunkar silo. I stopped briefly at Paringa to look across the Pike River floodplain which was covered in water.

I then headed south on the Sturt Highway and stopped briefly at the roadside rest stop just outside of Paringa. There are some information boards here on the Pike floodplain, an old timber jinker, an information board from Maxwell Schmidt, and a large rock mined from Pinch Quarry.

The timber jinker was used in the 1930s at the Renmark Irrigation Trust’s No. 1 pumping station to haul red gum logs into the irrigation settlement for various purposes including pylons in culverts over the irrigation channels. It was hauled by a crawler tractor.

Maxwell Thomas Schmidt (b. 1929. d. 2004) served the Renmark and Paringa district for over 20 years as a Councillor, until he passed away in June 2004. He was a great advocate for improving the Murray River and its environment and was a Life Member of the Murray Darling Association Inc.

Although I had activated and qualified the park previously, I decided to drive into the Pike River Conservation Park VKFF-0831, and activate it for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Pike River CP. Map c/o Google maps.

The park is about 2.88 km² in size and was established on the st day of February 1979.

Access to the park is via the Sturt Highway.

Above:- An aerial view of the Pike River Conservation Park. Image c/o Google maps

The park is named after Pike River, a stream that flows through the park’s eastern end. On the 10th day of December 2009, crown land in section 84 of the Hundred of Paringa which was formerly the Mundic Forest Reserve was added to its extent.

An 1865 map held at the South Australian Library refers to the ‘Billy Bong Pike River’. In 1910 it was reported that ‘adjacent to the Pyke for a distance of five or six miles was a perfect forest of tobacco trees so dense and vigorous that nothing but bare soil is seen between… On the other side of the road are several farms, fallow land, fair looking crops and an abundance of feed…’

During my visit to the park, I had a pair of Wedge-tailed eagles soaring above. A brilliant sight!

I entered the park via the Sturt Highway and set up in the high section of the park. I operated from the 4WD running the Icom IC7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 self tuning antenna.

Above:- map of the Pike River CP showing my operating spot. Map c/o Location SA Map Viewer.

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

1. VK3AHR
2. VK5MAZ
3. VK3PF
4. VK1AD/p (HEMA VK1/ HCT-040 & VKFF-0837)
5. VK1DA/p (HEMA VK1/ HCT-045)
6. VK5BJE
7. VK5FANA
8. VK3MCA
9. VK3SQ
10. VK2IO

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

1. VK2EXA
2. VK3VAR
3. VK5BJE
4. VK5KSW

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO
2. VK3PF
3. VK4TJ
4. ZL3MR/p (SOTA ZL3/ CB-416)
5. VK1DA/p (HEMA VK1/ HCT-045)
6. VK2MET
7. VK1AO
8. KG5CIK
9. VK4HAT
10. VK4FW
11. VK8MM

I worked the following stations on 15m SSB before the UTC rollover:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. VK4HAT
4. VK4FFAB
5. VK1AO
6. VK2MET
7. VK2IO
8. ZL1TM
9. VK4HMI
10. VK2DJP

I worked the following stations on 15m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK1AO
2. VK2MET
3. VK4TJ
4. VK2DJP
5. VK6NU
6. VK2IO
7. ZL1TM
8. KG5CIK
9. VK4KC
10. VK4MAD
11. VK4DOG

References.

1. A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia, 2023, <https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/>, viewed 4th February 2023.
2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_River_Conservation_Park>, viewed 4th February 2023.

On Tuesday 31st January 2023, I was on the road by about 7.30 a.m. The first stop was Mcdonald’s for a coffee and some breakfast. I then headed to the Paringa silo.

Above:- Map showing the location of Paringa. Map c/o Google maps.

Paringa is a small town just over the Murray River to the east of Renmark. Paringa is well known for its vineyards, almond, citrus and stone fruit orchards, and the Paringa bridge. You can also find the Black Stump in Paringa. It is the largest of eleven known black stumps in Australia and is about 600 years old.

The exact origin of the name Paringa is not known. Horace Cobden Talbot (H.C. Talbot) who was employed in the Lands Department in the 1860s and who authored nomenclature books suggested that Paringa was taken from a large waterhole opposite the original homestead and means ‘whirlpool’. It represented the boundary between the Erawirung and Ngintait Aboriginal people.

Other sources contend that Paringa means ‘land near or about the river’. H.M. Cooper, formerly of the SA Museum, believes it means ‘place at the river’.

Daniel Michael Paul Cudmore (b. 1811. d. 1891) arrived in South Australia from Tasmania in October 1837 with his wife and son. By 1858 he owned a property on the Murray River called ‘Paringa’. The property had originally been leased by Frederick C. Hayes in April 1851. Cudmore moved the homestead to higher ground due to regular flooding. It was reported that Cudmore owned a piano and he was concerned about it getting damaged due to the flooding.

Above:- Daniel Michael Cudmore. Image c/o People Australia.

The Hundred of Paringa, County of Alfred, was proclaimed on the 15th day of June 1893. The Paringa Post Office opened in 1912. The Paringa school opened in 1913. The town of Paringa was laid out in 1917.

Above:- Paringa Station, c. 1890. Image c/o State Library South Australia.

In 1880, Daniel Cudmore’s son, James Francis Cudmore, commenced construction of a mansion called ‘Paringa Hall’ at Somerton south of Adelaide. Construction took two years and it was not until 1882 that the family moved into the property. ‘Paringa Hall’ had 30 rooms and was renowned for its woodwork, elaborate fittings, and stained glass windows at the entrance hall that depicted the Cudmore coat of arms.

‘Paringa Hall’ had a clock at the stables and this maintained the correct time for South Australia. A large ell which hung in a belfry outside, summoned the men on the property.

Following the death of Mr and Mrs Cudmore in 1912 and 1914, the property was sold to the Marist Brothers who transformed the property into Sacred Heart College.

Above:- Paringa Hall. Image c/o State Library South Australia.

The water levels in the Murray River were still quite high at Paringa with lots of levees and sandbagging evident.

Many of the roads in the Paringa area were also closed.

One of Paringa’s attractions is the historic Paringa bridge which was opened on the 31st day of January 1927. It was designed to carry a single railway line in the centre of the bridge, with a road lane on each side. The bridge is on the South Australian Heritage Register. The railway closed in December 1990, however, the bridge continues to carry numerous traffic as part of the main road link between Adelaide and Sydney.

The Paringa silos are located on the northern side of the Sturt Highway just after crossing the Paringa bridge. Prior to bulk handling through silos and other grain storage facilities, grain was bag handled. The bagged grain weighed about 82 kg per bag. The bags were then loaded onto wagons or trucks and carted to the nearest railway siding or wharf for transport.

It was not until the late 1950s and early 1960s that South Australia moved into bulk handling through the South Australian Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd. In 1966 a shed-type construction was built at Paringa. Following lobbying in 1978 two silos were built. In 1982 rail transport ceased to the Riverland region and transport from the silos was by road. The Paringa silo was closed in 2012.

There is an excellent information board at the silos explaining who and what is featured on the silo murals.

The Paringa silo murals were painted by Jack Fran and Sam Brooks. Each of the 4 silos features a local hero to the Paringa region.

This includes David James Jones @ Possum. He was born in 1901 at Ruapuna, New Zealand. In 1924 he came to South Australia where he was employed as a shearer. By 1928 his Australian Workers Union ticket had expired and in 1929 during the Depression he was turned away from the shearing shed at Lake Victoria Station in NSW. Jones was too proud to borrow money so he walked into the bush and remained there for over 50 years until his remains were discovered in 1982 by woodcutters near Lock 8.

Elaine Balfour-Ogilvy was born in 1912 in Renmark. In 1940 she enlisted in the A.I.F. as a Sister in the Australian Imperial Nursing Service. She embarked for overseas service in 1941. She was a member of the 2/4th Casualty Clearing Station in Singapore, tending to thousands of casualties. In February 1942 she was one of a number of nurses and civilians aboard the coastal vessel Wyer Brooke. It was attacked by the Japanese in the Bangka Straits. Elaine was one of 22 nurses who made it to shore in a leaky lifeboat. On the 16th day of February 1942, they were found by a party of Japanese soldiers. They were forced o form a line and walk into the sea where they were machine-gunned from behind.

I made the following QSOs on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5HS
2. VK5AYL
3. VK5MAZ
4. VK7ALH
5. VK2EXA
6. VK3AG
7. VK1DA/p (HEMA VK1/ HCT-045)
8. VK3PF
9. VK7LH
10. VK5EE

I made the following QSO on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ

I made the following QSOs on 20m SSB:-

1. VK3BCM
2. VK3PF
3. VK2IO

With 14 contacts in the log, I packed up and headed off to my next activation for the day.

References.

1. A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia, 2023, <https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/>, viewed 4th February 2023.
2. Australian Silo Art Trail, 2023, <https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/paringa>, viewed 4th February 2023.
3. Renmark Paringa Visitor Information Centre, 2023, <https://www.discoverrenmark.com.au/the-black-stump>, viewed 4th February 2923.
4. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paringa,_South_Australia>, viewed 4th February 2023.

After leaving Mal’s house I headed towards Renmark where I had booked some accommodation for the night. Prior to leaving Berri, I had a look at the Murray River which was in full flow.

Upon arriving in Renmark I headed to the Cooltong Conservation Park VKFF-0823 for a quick activation. It would have to be quick as I had arranged to go out for dinner that night with Ivan VK5HS and Danny VK5DW.

I have activated and qualified Cooltong Conservation previously. The park is located about 282 km (by road) northeast of the city of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Cooltong CP. Map c/o Location SA Map Viewer.

The Cooltong Conservation Park is 3,710 hectares in size and is located on the northern side of the Sturt Highway. The eastern side of the park adjoins the Renmark airport. The park was proclaimed on the 8th day of April 1983.

Cooltong is an aboriginal word meaning lizard place’. The name Cooltong was applied to a division of the Chaffey Irrigation Area on the 5th day of June 1925. The town of Cooltong was proclaimed on the 1st day of March 1951.

Above:- Article from the Chronicle, Adelaide, Thu 29 Dec 1949. Image c/o Trove

The park’s main vegetation is mallee, with undulating dunes and shales. Mallee species found in the park include Blue-leaf Mallee, White Mallee, Narrow-leaf Red Mallee, and Red Mallee.

Birds SA have recorded 109 species of birds in the park including Malleefowl, Mulga Parrot, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Purple-backed Fairywren (Variegated Fairywren), Southern Whiteface, Weebill, Grey Butcherbird, and Chestnut Quailthrush.

I set up just off Santos Road which travels through the park. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole and the Codan 9350 antenna for this activation.

Above:- Map showing my operating spot in the park. Map c/o Location SA Map Viewer.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK5BJE
3. VK3GRX
4. VK4FW
5. VK8MM
6. VK5DW
7. VK2IO
8. VK1AO
9. VK2MET
10. VK3CWF
11. VK5AYL
12. VK3GJG
13. VK3UAO
14. VK4TJ

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO
2. VK4EHI
3. VK4FW
4. VK8MM
5. IK4IDF
6. VK4EMP
7. VK4TI
8. ZL3MR
9. VK4TJ
10. VK5HS
11. SO5CAL
12. ZL2WE
13. VK1AO
14. VK2MET
15. OH1MM
16. IW2NXI
17. VK6XN
18. OH1XT
19. Iw2BNA

I worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. VK6XN
4. VK5HS

I had 37 QSOs in the log, 7 short of the 44 for the global WWFF program. However I was really cutting it fine for time, so I packed up and headed to my motel, the Citrus Valley Motel at Renmark.

I had a shower and then walked to the motel’s restaurant “Ashley’s” and caught up with Ivan and Danny. We had a great night and a terrific meal.

References.

1. A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia, 2023, <https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/>, viewed 4th February 2023.
2. Birds SA, 2023, <https://birdssa.asn.au/location/cooltong-conservation-park/>, viewed 4th February 2023.

After leaving Alawoona I travelled north on the Karoonda Highway towards Loxton, about 36 km. I travelled through Beitch, a small town proclaimed on the 8th day of June 1916. It takes its name from a well sunk by Mr Vietch in 1882. A school was opened at Veitch in 1919 and closed in 1946.

Next was the little town of Pata which is aboriginal for ‘swamp gum trees’. The town was proclaimed as Muljara on the 18th day of November 1915 and was renamed Pata in 1929. The Pata school opened in 1919 and closed in 1955.

I soon reached Kingston Road and it was evident that I was in the Riverland, as vineyards and fruit orchards were visible.

At the junction of Kingston Road and Karoonda Highway is the National Television Service and the Loxton transmitter station, with a very impressive tower. I would love to have my 5 element yagi on the top of that at home.

A short distance away, near the corner of Karoonda Highway and Pioneer Landing Drive, are two graves. They mark the resting spot of Elisabeth Clara Habel who died in 1898, aged just 3 years, and Barbara Thiele who died in 1900 aged 2 years. They were the children of local Loxton pioneer families.

I headed down towards the Murray River on Pioneer Landing Drive. There were some nice views of the Murray from the top of the road.

At the end of Pioneer Landing Drive is Habel’s Landing which contains a marina with numerous houseboats. The landing is named after pioneer farmer Wilhelm Emil Habel (b. 1856. d. 1926). Habel’s homestead sits high overlooking the Murray.

I then drove into the town of Loxton. The Erawirung aboriginal people occupied the area prior to the Europeans. The first European settler in the area was John Chambers who held a pastoral lease taken out in July 1851.

Loxton was originally known as Loxton’s due to a primitive pine and pug hut built on the banks of the Murray by a boundary rider during the 1880s.

The Loxton Hut school opened in 1902 and closed in 1909. In July 1907 the town of Loxton was surveyed into 40 allotments and was proclaimed on the 29th day of August 1907. At the time of the first sale in November 1907, prices ranged from £6-5-0 to £40-5-0 per block. In 1912 the town was extended by a further 45 allotments. The Loxton school opened in 1914.

Although the water had receded after the Murray River flooding, numerous roads in the area were still closed and various popular areas were still under water.

At Loxton, you can find the Avro Anson Crash memorial. At 11.30 p.m. on the 24th day of September 1943, during the Second World War, a RAAF Avro Anson aircraft crashed on a training flight east of Loxton. Four young airmen died as a result of the accident.

There is also a plaque to commemorate the landing of Lancaster Bomber “G for George’ in Loxton on the Third Victory Tour of Australia during WWII. Flight Sergeant Harry Tickle from Loxton was the flight engineer in charge f the flight to Australia. “G for George’ is now on display at the Canberra War Memorial/Museum.

Above:- Harry Tickle alongside G for George. Image c/o Australian War Memorial

The memorial can be found on Bookpurnong Terrace near the entrance to the Loxton Oval.

Nearby is the memorial to mark the significant role that the railway played in the Loxton area and the Northern Mallee district. There are a number of information boards here containing great detail about the railway.

The Loxton silo is located in the heart of the town on Railway Terrace.

It was quite noisy on the 40m band alongside the silo, so I drove back out to the Loxton oval which was within the 1km activation zone. I had the silo in sight across Bookpurnong Terrace.

Above:- the activation zone at the Loxton silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

I made the following contacts on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3ZSC
2. VK3PF
3. VK2VH
4. VK4AAC
5. VK5CZ/m
6. VK5DW
7. VK5FANA

I made the following contacts on 20m SSB:-

1. VK1AO
2. VK2MET
3. VK4SE
4. VK2IO
5. VK6XN

I made the following contact on 15m SSB:-

1. VK6XN

With 13 QSOs in the log from the Loxton silo, I then headed to Berri. The Bookpurnong Road was closed so I had to detour the long way via the ferry at Lyrup. The river levels were still high at Lyrup with sheds and other infrastructure clearly underwater.

Once in Berri, I spent a number of enjoyable hours at the home of Mal VK5MJ. Ron VK5MRE also paid a visit. Whilst at Mal’s I picked up the Realistic DX-302 communications receiver.

References.

1. A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia, 2023, <https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/>, viewed 2nd February 2023.
2. District Council of Waikerie, 2023, <https://www.loxtonwaikerie.sa.gov.au/your-council/about-the-loxton-and-waikerie-council/history-of-the-region>, viewed 2nd February 2023.
3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loxton,_South_Australia>, viewed 2nd February 2023.

My third silo activation for Monday 30th January 2023 was the Alawoona silo VK-ALA5. Alawoona is about 220 km east of Adelaide and about 36 km south of the town of Loxton.

Above:- Map showing the location of Alawoona. Map c/o Google maps.

Alawoona is a corruption of the aboriginal word ngalawuna meaning ‘place of hot winds’. The town of Alawoona was proclaimed on the 9th day of July 1914.

Above:- from the Govt Gazette, 9th July 1914. Image c/o Trove.

Alawoona was established as one of the original sidings during the construction of the Barmera railway line. The Alawoona school operated from 1915 to 1967 when it was consolidated with the Browns Well Area School. During the 1930s Alawoona had three churches, a railway refreshment hall, a school, a police station, a bank, a bakery, a butcher shop, two general stores, football clubrooms and a 400-person Institute/hall which held balls and dances.

Above:- the Alawoona Institute 1932 (left) and loading mallee roots (right). Images c/o State Library SA.

Today, many of the shops in Alawoona have closed. The beautiful stone Alawoona Institute remains and is in excellent condition.

The Alawoona silos are located on the northern side of the Karoonda Highway in the middle of town.

I parked in the main street (Karoonda Highway), directly opposite the silos and operated from the 4WD for this activation. I ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 self tuning antenna.

Above:- the activation zone at the Alawoona silos. Image c/o SiOTA website.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3AHR
3. VK5FANA
4. VK3SQ
5. VK2MVP
6. VK2MOP
7. VK2VH
8. VK4AAC
9. VK5BJF
10. VK3GRX

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2IO
3. VK4OY
4. VK1AO
5. VK2MET

With 15 QSOs in the log, I headed to my fourth silo for the day, the Loxton silo in the Riverland region of South Australi.

References.

1. A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia, 2023, <https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/>, viewed 2nd February 2023.
2. ABC News, 2023, <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-15/alawoona-ghost-town-building-looking-for-a-saviour/11788728>, viewed 2nd February 2023.

After leaving Karoonda I continued northeast on the Karoonda Highway. I stopped briefly to have a look at the cairn to commemorate the pioneer settlers who established the Lowaldie settlement.

Blink nowadays and you will miss Lowaldie. It is located about 11 km northeast of Karoonda. The town was proclaimed on the 2nd day of April 1914. The Lowaldie Post Office was opened in 1917 and closed in 1969. The Lowaldie school opened in 1922 and closed in 1940. Lowaldie is an aboriginal name meaning ‘summer’.

I continued on through the tiny towns of Borrika and Sandalwood and then Halidon.

Borrika is an aboriginal word meaning ‘a stranger’s hut’. Borrika was proclaimed on the 2nd day of April 1914. The Borrika school opened in 1915 and closed in 1941.

Above:- town plan of Borrika. Image c/o Trove.

Sandalwood was proclaimed as a town on the 9th day of April 1914. It takes its name from the Sandalwood trees which are common in the area. The Sandalwood school opened in 1919 and closed in 1944.

Above:- Town plan of Sandalwood. Image c/o Trove.

Halidon is located about 37 km northeast of Karoonda. It was named after Halidon Hill, the site of a victory over the Scots by the army of King Edward III. It was surveyed by A. Thomas in February 1914 and was proclaimed on the 25th day of June 1914. The Halidon school opened in 1918 and closed in 1966.

After leaving Halidon I stopped at the Goyders Line monument on the Karoonda Highway

Goyder’s Line is an ‘imaginary’ line that runs east to west across South Australia. The line joins places that have an average rainfall of 250 mm (10 inches). Anywhere north of Goyders Line has an annual rainfall that generally is too low to support cropping and only suitable for grazing. The line also indicates a change in the vegetation, with the land to the south comprising mostly mallee scrub, whilst to the north of Goyder’s Line saltbush is the primary vegetation.

Above:- Goyder’s Line. Image c/o Wikipedia.

The line takes its name from Surveyor General George Goyder. In 1865 he was asked to map South Australia with areas receiving reliable rainfall and those in drought. In November 1865, Goyder travelled about 3,200 on horseback across South Australia. On the 6th day of December 1865, Goyder submitted his report and map to the South Australian colonial government. His map included the demarcation line. Goyder recommended that farmers not planted crops north of the line and used that land only for light grazing.

Above:- George Goyder. Image /o Wikipedia.

I then reached the little town of Wanbi, about 157 km from Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of Wanbi. Map c/o Google maps.

Wanbi is an aboriginal word meaning ‘dingo’. The town of Wanbi was proclaimed on the 9th day of July 1914.

Sadly not much remains in Wanbi today. The old Wanbi Memorial hall built in 1925 is in a state of disrepair, and the beautiful two-storey former hotel is closed.

Whilst in Wanbi, I activated the Wanbi silo for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program. I operated from the gate leading to the silo and operated from the 4WD.

Above:- the activation zone at the Wambi silo. Image c/o SioTA website.

I ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 930 self-tuning antenna mounted on the rear of the 4WD.

I made the following contacts on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3AHR
2. VK3PF
3. VK3ZSC
4. VK5FANA
5. VK5CZ
6. VK3NBL

I made the following contacts on 20m SSB:-

1. VK1AO
2. VK2MET
3. VK4EW
4. VK3PF

I made the following QSO on 15m SSB:-

1. VK4EW

With 11 QSOs in the log, I headed to my next silo activation at Alawoona.

References.

1. A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia, 2023, <https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/>, viewed 1st February 2023.
2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goyder%27s_Line> viewed 1st February 2023.

On Monday 30th January 2023, I left home to travel up to the Riverland region of South Australia. The purpose of my visit was to collect a communications receiver.

I was on the road by 7.00 a.m. and stopped at the Strathalbyn bakery just down the road from home for a coffee and a bacon & egg roll. I then headed to Murray Bridge where I stopped briefly to have a look at the flooding of the Murray River. There were parts of Murray Bridge that I had previously never seen water.

I then travelled east along the Karoonda Highway and stopped at the monument for the old Kulde school site on the Karoonda Highway. Kulde is an aboriginal word for ‘brothers’. The Kulde school opened in 1930 and closed in 1940. There was also once a railway station here.

My next stop was the little town of Wynarka, about 120 km southeast of Adelaide. The name Wynarka is from an aboriginal word meaning ‘a strayer’. The government town of Wynarka was proclaimed on the 9th day of January 1913.  Sadly the town became infamous following the discovery of the remains of a young child in a suitcase on the side of the Karoonda Highway in 2015.

Next was Karoonda, which is located about 146 km from Adelaide. Karoonda was a former aboriginal camp on a trade route. It is derived from the aboriginal word karunda meaning ‘winter’s camp’.

It is believed the first European to take up land in the Karoonda area was James Archibald Cook who took up land under pastoral lease 2093 from the 1st day of January 1871. The town of Karoonda was proclaimed on the 11th day of December 1913 and was extended in 1928.

Between 1911-1914 railways were constructed to open up the mallee region of South Australia. Karoonda was on the Brown’s Well railway line and became a junction with the Waikerie railway line to the north and the Peebinga railway line to the east. Sadly both branches were closed in 1990. However, the main line through Karoonda remained open until it was closed in 2015.

Above:- Karoonda railway yard and town, c. 1915. Image c/o State Library South Australia.

On the main street of Karoonda, you can view an information board on the railways, the old Karoonda railway crane, and the old railway station.

One of the iconic features of Karoonda is ‘The Big Ram’. Well, it is not really what I call ‘big’, but nonetheless it is very interesting. It recognised the importance of the sheep industry in the Karoonda area.

In close proximity is a memorial to Senior Constable Harold Rae Pannell who was murdered in the course of his duty in 1957.

Senior Constable Pannell had attended the property of John Fischer at Bow Hill to execute a warrant to seize property. Fischer had failed to pay damages that had been awarded against him in a civil court case that arose from a motor vehicle accident in 1955.

Senior Constable Pannell was shot at point-blank range in the head by Fischer. In the week leading up to the shooting, Pannell had attempted to explain to Fischer that he would be forced to take personal property to cover the outstanding debt. Fischer was unable to understand this.

Fischer was tried for murder, however, the Supreme Court found him not guilty on the grounds of insanity and he was committed into the strict custody of a mental institution at the Governor’s pleasure. Fischer died in 1988 at the age of 67.

Above:- Senior Constable Pannell. Image c/o Police Assoc of SA.

Also in the main street you can find the Karoonda Centenary Walk which commemorates the pioneers of Karoonda. It features a number of pavers leading to a windmill structure.

I then set up at the Karoonda silo for an activation for the Silos On The Air (SioTA) program.

The Karoonda silo is a tribute to the heritage of farming in the Karoonda district.

By day one side of the Karoonda Silos is a magnificent tribute to the heritage of farming in Karoonda. Some people ask, why are parts of the silo not painted? Well by night, the ‘blank’ area of the silo is brought to life with colour art projections. The Karoonda silo was the first of its kind in Australia, offering silo art by day and silo art by night.

The silo was painted by renowned Australian artist Heesco. It took him about 38 days to pain the silo, which was completed on the 26th day of July 2019.

Below is a video where silo artist Heesco tells the story of the Karoonda silo.

Below is a drone fly over showing the town of Karoonda and the Karoonda silo.

I operated from the vehicle in the car park alongside the silo. I ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 930 self-tuning antenna. It was very quiet on all of the bands despite being in the middle of the town.

Above:- the silo activation zone for Karoonda. Image c/o SiOTA website.

I made the following contacts on 40m SSB from the Karoonda silo:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK5FANA
3. VK3SQ
4. VK2IO
5. VK3AHR
6. VK5MJ
7. VK3ZZS/p
8. VK3ZSC

I made the following contacts on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4KLA
2. VK4MUD

I also put out some calls on 21.250 on 15m and 28.490 on 10m, but had no takers.

Also in Karoonda is Pioneer Park which is maintained by the Karoonda Historical Society. It contains a number of historical buildings including Wynarka’s original pioneer Metholidat church and the Kunlara Post and Telephone Office which is believed to be one of the smallest ever built.

Entry is a gold coin donation. Marija and I have visited here previously and we highly recommend a visit if you are in Karoonda.

I then left Karoonda and continued east to my next stop, the Wanbi silo.

References.

1. A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia, 2023, <https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/>, viewed 1st February 2023.
2. Australian Silo Art Trail, 2023, <https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/karoonda>, viewed 1st February 2023.
3. Police Association of South Australia, 2023, <https://www.facebook.com/PASouthAustralia/photos/roll-of-honour-march-12-1957-i-senior-constable-harold-rae-pannell-38-karoonda-p/2035264643295114/?paipv=0&eav=AfbnzH28ycBL_VmVatyX8e7MO5hES0Zt8nMQLoDsjFCwlV4fYbpolLITMxiUDMOkw2k&_rdr>, viewed 1st February 2023.
4. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wynarka,_South_Australia>, viewed 1st February 2023.