Our final activation for Friday 10th November 2023 was the Walpeup Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2471 and the Walpeup silo VK-WLP3.

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

‘Walpeup’ is derived from an Aboriginal word with numerous recorded meanings including a ‘stumpy-tailed lizard’ and another is an indigenous acacia.

The township of Walpeup was settled following the arrival of the railway. In 1909 a store opened at Walpeup. In 1911 the Walpeup Shire was proclaimed. Walpeup’s population was 101 people. The Walpeup Primary School opened on the 3rd day of June 1912 in the ‘Little White Hall’. The Post Office opened on the 16th day of December 1912. 

Above: early settlers at Walpeup, c. 1911. Image c/o Museums Victoria.

In 1914 a one-room school building was constructed. A second room was added in 1927. In April 2015 the school closed and the last five students were transferred to the Underbool school.

The Walpeup South State School (No. 3929), also known as Hungry Hut, was opened in 1912 and closed in 1951.  The school building was later moved and served as the dressing shed at the Walpeup Recreation Reserve.

By 1921 Walpeup had a population of about 452 people. The town had a general store, a blacksmith, a butcher, a bank branch and several other businesses. A brick memorial hall replaced the original public hall in 1923.

Above:- Walpeup township, c. 1911. Image c/o Museums Victoria.

We arrived at the park at about 9.00 p.m. and it was completely dark. It was a very hot and humid night and we could hear thunderstorms off in the distance. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. I used the special event callsign of VI10VKFF for this activation.

The Walpeup Flora & Fauna Reserve is also referred to as the Walpeup Nature Conservation Reserve. It is about 178 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979.

We operated within the activation zone of the Walpeup silo.

We had viewed the Walpeup silos earlier in the day on our way to Ouyen.

They feature magnificent silo art. One of the best that we have seen during our travels. The silos were painted in June 2023 by Julian Clavijo and Camilo Delgado. They depict the story of Trooper Harold Thomas Bell.

Harold Thomas Bell was born in 1901 at Walpeup. He was just 16 years old when the First World War broke out. He travelled to Mildura and enlisted with the Light Horse Regiment, lying about his age, name and his family circumstances. He claimed to be 21 years old and gave his name as Harold Thomas Wickham.

On the 22nd day of June 1917, he left Australia and arrived in Egypt about 6 weeks later. He was subsequently selected for the Hotchkiss machine gun section.

On the 28th day of October 1917, he was involved in a battle near the town of Beersheva. He was shot in the leg and critically wounded. He died the following day and was laid to rest in the Beersheba War Cemetery.

A telegram was despatched to Harold’s only living uncle, recorded on the enlistment forms, to inform him of Harold’s death. Upon receiving the telegram Thomas Bell replied:

“I don’t have a nephew named Harold. I do have a son by that name, but he couldn’t be in the Army, he’s only 16.”

Tragedy was to strike the family twice. Less than a year following Harold’s death, his father received another telegram to advise of the death of his other son Samuel.

Above:- The attestation document of Harold Thomas Bell @ Harold Thomas Wickham. Image c/o ancestry.com.au

During our activation at Walpeup the lightning activity to the west of us really intensified. We could hear the loud rumble of thunder. And then the fire sirens went off in Walpeup, and we decided to pack up and head back to Murrayville.

Along the way, we observed numerous fires burning in paddocks, the result of lightning strikes. We were passed by a number of fire appliances and police cars heading to the fires with lights and sirens. And the lightning display was absolutely spectacular.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK3SQ
4. VK2BD
5. VK3ACZ
6. VK3CEO
7. VK3SG
8. VK1AO
9. VK2MET
10. VK2EXA

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK3SQ
4. VK2BD
5. VK3ACZ
6. VK3CEO
7. VK3SG
8. VK1AO
9. VK2MET
10. VK2EXA
11. VK7AAE
12. VK2NZL
13. VK3YV
14. VK3EJ
15. VK1RF
16. VK2MK
17. VK4CEE
18. VK3ZH
19. VK2CDB
20. VK2YAK
21. VK4YAK
22. VK3APJ
23. VK5LA
24. VK5FANA
25. VK5AAF
26. VK3ZK
27. VK4HMI

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK2BD
3. VK3PF
4. VK3KAI
5. VK5KK
6. VK3ZK
7. VK2EXA
8. VK7AAE
9. VK3APJ
10. VK5GY
11. VK3LF
12. VK3BWM
13. VK5BRU
14. VK3GV
15. VK2IO/p
16. VK1AO
17. VK2MET
18. VK2YAK
19. VK4YAK

References.

1. Australian Silo Art Trail, 2023, <https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/walpeup>, viewed 2nd January 2023.
2. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/walpeup>, viewed 2nd January 2023.
3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpeup>, viewed 2nd January 2023.