Alawoona silo VK-ALA5

Posted on by

Our fourth silo for Thursday 26th October 2023, was the Alawoona silo VK-ALA5. Alawoona is located about 221 km northeast of the city of Adelaide.

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

As we approached Alawoona, the three of us worked Peter VK3ZPF from the mobile. Peter was activating Bridgewater Streamside Reserve VKFF-3609 and silo VK-LCE3. We let Peter know that we would soon be set up at the Alawoona silo.

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.

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.

We parked on the Karoonda Highway, opposite the silos and operated from the 4WD for this activation. We ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna.

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

Band conditions on 40m were awful, but all three of us managed to qualify the silo.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3ZPF/p (Bridgewater Streamside Reserve VKFF-3609 and silo VK-LCE3)
  2. VK3AWA
  3. VK3PF (Pirlta Bushland Reserve VKFF-4125)
  4. VK3CLD
  5. VK2USH
  6. VK3SMW
  7. VK3UAO (Koonwarra Flora Reserve VKFF-2350)

I worked the following stations

  1. VK3ZPF/p (Bridgewater Streamside Reserve and silo VK-LCE3)
  2. VK3AWA
  3. VK3PF (Pirlta Bushland Reserve VKFF-4125)
  4. VK3CLD
  5. VK2USH
  6. VK3SMW
  7. VK3UAO (Koonwarra Flora Reserve VKFF-2350)

References.

  1. A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia, 2023, <https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/>, viewed 7th November 2023.
  2. ABC News, 2023, <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-15/alawoona-ghost-town-building-looking-for-a-saviour/11788728>, viewed 7th November 2023.

Leave a comment