Chowilla Regional Reserve VKFF-1698

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After packing up at Danggali on Sunday 29th October 2023, Hans, Marija and I travelled south to our next activation, the Chowilla Regional Reserve VKFF-1698.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Chowilla Regional Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

We drove south along the Chowilla Track, keeping a watch out for the emus and the big Red Kangaroos.

We soon reached the Reserve which is about 75,221 hectares (185,880 acres) in size and was established on the 8th day of April 1993. The reserve is situated on the Chowilla floodplain, a part of the Riverland Ramsar site, designated by the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance.

The reserve contains several lakes and wetland areas, however, due to drought and water being regulated from the Murray, much of the Chowilla plain has been dry for many years. Lake Limbra is one such area in the reserve. It is regarded as a sacred site by the First Nations people and was used as a burial site. In March 2021, a project was undertaken to pump water into the lake from the river. Three months later, in June, numerous wildlife was observed around the lake, including wetland birds and Shield Shrimp.

In 1864 Richard Holland (b. 1815 d. 1881) acquired the lease of Bookmark Station. He was the son of Richard Holland, a convict sent to New South Wales. Some years earlier, in 1849, Holland had married Margaret Robertson nee Harper, the widow of Captain Robert Robertson. He took on three stepsons, John, William, and Robert.

Above:- Richard Holland. Image c/o State Library SA.

In 1896 Bookmark was divided into Calperum and Chowilla Stations. Robert Robertson took up the Chowilla Station, while John took up Calperum.

Chowilla is an aboriginal word. Its exact meaning is unclear. Tindale (1974) reports that Chowilla (or Tjowilla) means ‘a place of spirits and ghosts’. The Robertson family records the meaning of Chowilla as ‘good camping place.’

It was quite a warm afternoon, so we chose a shady spot under a tree. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80 m linked dipole.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF/p (Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373)
  2. VK3SG/p (Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373)
  3. VK5GY/p (Bullock Hill Conservation Park VKFF-0873)
  4. VK5FR/p (Bakara Conservation Park VKFF-0868)
  5. VK2USH
  6. VK4CPS
  7. VK5FL
  8. VK5FANA
  9. VK3KR/p (Boomers Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2051)
  10. VK3OAK/p (Moorook Game Reserve VKFF-1729)
  11. VK3PWG/p (Moorook Game Reserve VKFF-1729)
  12. VK2IO/p (Chowilla Game Reserve VKFF-1697)
  13. VK2EG/p (Sugarloaf State Conservation Area VKFF-1772)

Marija worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

  1. VK5FR/p (Bakara Conservation Park VKFF-0868)
  2. VK3PF/p (Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373)
  3. VK3SG/p (Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373)
  4. VK3OAK/p (Moorook Game Reserve VKFF-1729)
  5. VK3PWG/p (Moorook Game Reserve VKFF-1729)
  6. VK2IO/p (Chowilla Game Reserve VKFF-1697)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF/p (Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373)
  2. VK3SG/p (Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373)
  3. VK5GY/p (Bullock Hill Conservation Park VKFF-0873)
  4. VK5FR/p (Bakara Conservation Park VKFF-0868)
  5. VK2USH
  6. VK4CPS
  7. VK5FL
  8. VK5FANA
  9. VK3KR/p (Boomers Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2051)
  10. VK3MIJ
  11. VK5LA
  12. VK5KAW
  13. VK3APJ
  14. VK3CLD
  15. VK3CA
  16. VK3WMF
  17. VK1CHW
  18. VK5KLV
  19. VK3GJG
  20. VK2LEE
  21. VK7EE
  22. VK1AD
  23. VK1NAM
  24. VK3MLT
  25. VK2GQR
  26. VK3OAK/p (Moorook Game Reserve VKFF-1729)
  27. VK3PWG/p (Moorook Game Reserve VKFF-1729)
  28. VK3UP
  29. VK2TER/p (SOTA VK2/ HU-093)
  30. VK2IO/p (Chowilla Game Reserve VKFF-1697)
  31. VK2EG/p (Sugarloaf State Conservation Area VKFF-1772)
  32. VK5TR
  33. VK5AMH
  34. VK5TRM
  35. VK5YL
  36. VK3ALF/p
  37. VK3QA
  38. VK5AR

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

  1. VK5FR/p (Bakara Conservation Park VKFF-0868)
  2. VK3PF/p (Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373)
  3. VK3SG/p (Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373)
  4. VK3OAK/p (Moorook Game Reserve VKFF-1729)
  5. VK3PWG/p (Moorook Game Reserve VKFF-1729)
  6. VK2IO/p (Chowilla Game Reserve VKFF-1697)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK1A
  2. IR6T
  3. VL4A

References.

  1. PIRSA, 2023, <https://www.pir.sa.gov.au/aghistory/dept_of_agriculture_as_an_organisation/locations/turretfield_rc/history_of_turretfield>, viewed 16th December 2023.
  2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chowilla_Regional_Reserve>, viewed 16th December 2023.

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