After leaving the Gnarr I75 Bushland Reserve (on Sunday 12th November 2023), Marija and I headed to the Gnarr I237 Bushland Reserve. Unfortunately, we found a locked gate on the road leading to the park, so we could not activate that reserve.

Our next option was the Mamengoroock I73 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4173, just a short drive away. The reserve is located about 9km north of Underbool in northwestern Victoria.

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

It is interesting to note that there is a nearby park with a slightly different spelling: Mamengorook.

Mamengorook is an aboriginal word regarding their belief in a good and superior being (Mamen: father, and gorook: our).

The Mamengorook area was opened up for farming in the early 1900s.

Above:- Article from the Pinaroo and Border Times, Fri 27th Oct 1911. Image c/o Trove.

Above:- Map of Mamengorook. Image c/o Libraries Victoria.

The reserve is located on the western side of Mamengorook Road, about 1km south of Aikman Road.

The reserve is about 23 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. It is a small piece of remnant mallee bushland, surrounded by cleared farming land.

We found a dirt track leading into the park and set up the 20/40/80m linked dipole, supported by the 7-metre heavy-duty squid pole. We ran the Yaesu FT857 and 40 watts. I used the special call of VI10VKFF for this activation.

Whilst we were activating we were visited by two of the local farmers. They were curious as to what we were up to. We took the time out to have a long chat and explain the hobby.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3CEO
2. VK3VIN
3. VK3OAK
4. VK3BBB
5. VK2CCP
6. VK2HHA
7. VK3MTT
8. VK3PF
9. VK3KAI
10. VK2IO/p (Wathe Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2480)
11. VK3ZPF/p (Yarra Ranges National Park VKFF-0556)
12. VK3JW/p (Yarra Ranges National Park VKFF-0556)
13. VK2IO/p (Turriff Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2466)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3CEO
2. VK3VIN
3. VK3OAK
4. VK3BBB
5. VK2CCP
6. VK2HHA
7. VK3MTT
8. VK3PF
9. VK3KAI
10. VK2IO/p (Wathe Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2480)
11. VK2YK
12. VK5GA
13. VK3OF
14. VK3ZPF/p (Yarra Ranges National Park VKFF-0556)
15. VK5HS
16. VK3APJ
17. VK3PI
18. VK2LEE
19. VK2PBC
20. VK5FANA
21. VK3MIJ
22. VK3HQZ/p
23. VK2XB/m
24. VK3BSB/m
25. VK2EXA
26. VK3SQ
27. VK2BD
28. VK3DAC
29. VK4FE/3
30. VK2NP
31. VK2YAK
32. VK4YAK
33. VK1AO
34. VK2MET
35. VK3RU
36. VK3SMW
37. VK4MUD
38. VK1CHW
39. VK3EJ
40. VK5LA
41. VK5KLA
42. VK4SMA
43. VK3CWF
44. VK3BWS
45. VK3UH
46. ZL3ASn
47. VK3BSF
48. VK5NK
49. VK3VMM
50. VK5FBIC
51. VK3MLU
52. VK3ZK
53. VK4FOX
54. VK3BEL
55. VK7JDZ
56. VK7KAM
57. VK4KGY
58. VK7IAN
59. VK2IO/p (Turriff Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2466)

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK2BD
3. VK3PF
4. VK3KAI
5. VK1AO
6. VK2MET
7. VK5LA
8. VK5KAW
9. VK3BEL
10. VK3DAC
11. VK4FE/3
12. VK3APJ
13. VK5GY
14. VK2YAK
15. VK4YAK
16. VK3JGH/m
17. VK7IAN
18. VK3MTT
19. VK3CEO
20. VK1CHW

References.

1. Blake, L, 1977, Place Names of Victoria.
2. Wikisource, 2024, <https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Aborigines_of_Victoria/Volume_1/Chapter_20>, viewed 13th January 2024.