Daily Archives: June 23, 2024

Investigator Marine Park VKFF-1717 and Flinders Island OC-261

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We had now spent 2 nights on Flinders Island in the Great Australian Bight, and it was Tuesday 16th April 2024. Adam VK2YK and I decided to head out to activate the Investigator Marine Park VKFF-1717.

Above:- The Investigator Marine Park. Image c/o Parks SA.

The park is about 1,185 square kilometres in size and was established on the 29th day of January 2009. The park consists of four parts. The first section extends along the coastland of the Eyre Peninsula from Point Dummond to just south of Elliston. The second part surrounds Flinders Island the the Topgallant Islands. The third and fourth parts respectively surround the Ward Islands and the Pearson Isles. (Wikipedia 2024)

The park takes its name from the HMS Investigator which was under the command of Captain Matthew Flinders (b. 1774. d. 1814). He led the first inshore circumnavigation of mainland Australia. (Wikipedia 2024)

Above:- Captain Matthew Flinders. Image c/o Wikipedia.

The HMS Investigator commenced her life as the mercantile Fram. She was built in Sunderland, England and was launched in 1795. In 1798 the British Royal Navy purchased the Fram and renamed her HMS Xenophon. In 1801 the name was changed to HMS Investigator. She as the first ship to circumnavigate Australia in 1802. The HMS Investigator was sold in 1810 and she returned to mercantile service under the name Xenophon. It is believed the ship was broken up c. 1872. (Wikipedia 2024)

Above:- The HMS Investigator. Image c/o Wikipedia.

Below is an excellent video on the life of Captain Matthew Flinders.

Adam and I drove south from our accommodation and set up on the eastern side of Flinders Island. It was a beautiful sunny day and we enjoyed some absolutely magnificent views during our activation.

Adam set up his station and I set up my station which comprised my Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipoel.

I logged a total of 105 QSOs on 20 & 40m SSB.

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

  1. VK3HJV
  2. VK5KLD
  3. VK5AAF
  4. Vk5GY
  5. Vk3CEO
  6. VK3VIN
  7. VK3MCK
  8. VK7JFD
  9. VK3BBB
  10. VK2CCP
  11. VK3APJ
  12. VK5HS
  13. VK5LA
  14. VK5KAW
  15. VK5FIL
  16. VK1AO
  17. VK2MET
  18. VK5ADB
  19. VK3IFR
  20. VK3PF
  21. VK3KAI
  22. VK3MTT
  23. VK5HYZ
  24. VK3ANL
  25. VK3BEL
  26. VK2KYO
  27. VK5ZTJ
  28. VK3CTM
  29. VK6LK

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

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK3KAO
  3. VK3APJ
  4. VK2SLB
  5. VKk3CEO
  6. VK2USH/p (Peggs Beach Conservation Area  VKFF-2913)
  7. VK3VIN
  8. VK3HJW
  9. VK2KYO
  10. VK3IFR
  11. VK3ANL
  12. VK6LMJ
  13. VK5KVA
  14. VK7EE
  15. VK5ADP
  16. VK3YV
  17. VK3TNL
  18. VK5KFB
  19. VK5QA
  20. VK3CLD
  21. VK3BVW
  22. VK2EXA
  23. VK2VAR
  24. VK2GOM

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK1AD
  2. VK1NAM
  3. KG5CIK
  4. VK1AO
  5. VK2MET
  6. VK3IF
  7. VK2VW
  8. VK2HFI
  9. VK2AKA
  10. VK2BUG
  11. VK3MCK
  12. VK3YV
  13. VK3TNL
  14. VK2USH/p (Peggs Beach Conservation Area  VKFF-2913)
  15. VK3APJ
  16. VK2IO
  17. VK2VAR
  18. VK2GOM
  19. VKL3HJV
  20. VK3CEO
  21. VK3EJ
  22. VK3PF
  23. VK3KAI
  24. VK6LK
  25. VK6LMK
  26. VK4MUD
  27. VK3ZSX
  28. VK1DI
  29. Vk4KBA
  30. VK3VIN
  31. VK5DW
  32. Vk3ANL
  33. ZL1TM
  34. VK7XX
  35. VK7HBR
  36. VK3BBB
  37. VK2CCP
  38. VK3BWS
  39. VK3TKK/p
  40. VK2TM
  41. VK3DJC
  42. VK3NDG
  43. VK3SO
  44. VK3SFG
  45. VK2HV
  46. VK3DL
  47. VK5QA
  48. VK3CLD
  49. VK7EE
  50. VK4HAT
  51. VK5CZ (SOTA VK5/ NE-031)
  52. VK3BEL

References.

  1. Wikipedia. (2021). Investigator Marine Park. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investigator_Marine_Park [Accessed 23 Jun. 2024].
  2. Wikipedia. (2020). Matthew Flinders. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Flinders.‌‌ [Accessed 23 Jun. 2024].
  3. Wikipedia. (2021). HMS Investigator (1801). [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Investigator_(1801). [Accessed 23 Jun. 2024].‌

Point Labatt Conservation Park VKFF-1081

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My final activation for Saturday the 13th day of April 2024 was the Point Labatt Conservation Park VKFF-1081.

The park is located about 47 km south of Streaky Bay on the far west coast of South Australia.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Point Labatt Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.

The park is named in honour of John Bagot Labatt, a former Deputy Chairman of the South Australian Harbour’s Board. He was born on the 9th day of January 1861 in North Adelaide, South Australia. Labatt was educated at St Peter’s College where he specialised in science. In August 1877 he commenced work in the dockyard at Glanville where he carried out practical engineering work. He was then transferred to the Engineer-in-Chief’s office and commenced work in harbour surveys. In March 1906 he was appointed Assistant Engineer for Harbours. When the Harbours Board was established in APril 1914 he was appointed one of the three Commissioners and was given the title of Deputy Chairman. He held that position until his retirement in 1927. His hobbies included gardening, carpentry and reading. He died on the 12th day of May 1928 in North Adelaide, South Australia, aged 68 years. (ancestry.com.au) (DEATH OF MR. J. B. LABATT., 1928)

Above:- Members of the South Australian Harbor’s Board sitting around a conference table, 1914. J.B. Labatt is second from the left. Image c/o State Library South Australia.

Point Labatt is located in the locality of Sceale Bay on the west side of the Calca Peninsula, also known as Freeman Peninsula. The name Calca is derived from an aboriginal word meaning stars. Its variant, the Freeman Peninsula, takes its name from the Freeman family who held land on the peninsula until the early 1980s. (Wikipedia 2024)

Above:- An aerial view of Point Labatt. Image c/o Google Earth.

The Point Labatt Conservation Park is about 51 hectares (130 acres) in size and was established on the 12th day of July 1973. It was established to protect the ‘largest colony of Australian sea lions on mainland Australia. The land was donated in 1972 by Ron, Myra, and Ellen Freeman who was concerned about illegal shooting. (Management Plan 1995)

Other than the Australian Sea Lion population, the park is also home to Southern Right Whales, Western Grey kangaroos, and numerous bird species including Cormorants, Terns, Gulls, Ospreys and Kestrels. (Management Plan 1995)

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK7XX
  2. VK3APJ
  3. VK3OAK
  4. VK3GUM
  5. VK2IO/p (Burrin Burrin Conservation Reserve VKFF-3035)
  6. VK3PF
  7. VK3KAI
  8. OH1MM
  9. VK1AO
  10. VK2MET
  11. VK6LK
  12. VK6LMK
  13. VK3EJ
  14. VK5MAZ
  15. VK4NH
  16. VK4DXA
  17. VK4SMA
  18. ZL1TM
  19. VK2EXA
  20. VK3VIN
  21. VK4MUD
  22. VK1DI
  23. VK2VW
  24. VK2HFI
  25. VK2AKA
  26. VK2BUG
  27. UT5PI
  28. VK2MOR
  29. DL1EBR
  30. IK1GPG
  31. F5PYI
  32. SP7MW
  33. VK2MG
  34. VK4HAT
  35. VK2LEE
  36. EA5JMN
  37. OH6JUM
  38. IW2BNA
  39. HA4FB
  40. IZ2JCD
  41. IZ5JMZ
  42. SP1D
  43. VK4EMP
  44. VK4TI
  45. DK9HN
  46. VK3GJG
  47. LZ3TY
  48. VK2VAR
  49. VK2GOM
  50. F8CRS
  51. VK2BY
  52. PA1LX
  53. VK4FE/p (Mowbray National Park VKFF-0367)
  54. VK3CEO
  55. VK3GP/m
  56. VK3PWG
  57. VK3TTK
  58. VK7AAE
  59. VK3SQ
  60. VK2BD
  61. VK2TG
  62. DL2ND
  63. F5PMW
  64. PD2BA
  65. M7CBI
  66. F4GYM
  67. EA3MP
  68. HA0IS

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK2TER
  2. VK3DL
  3. VK3CEo
  4. VK5TUX
  5. VK5MAZ
  6. VK5FANA
  7. VK3PF
  8. VK3KAI
  9. VK5KLV
  10. VK2EXA
  11. VK3SMW
  12. VK1AO
  13. VK2MET
  14. VK5KVA

At the conclusion of the activation, I commenced to make my way back to Elliston, about 129 km to the south.

Along the way, I stopped briefly at the monument on the Flinders Highway to commemorate the township of Colton.

The town was named in honour of Sir John Blackler Colton (b. 1823. d. 1902). He was an Australian politician, the Premier of South Australia, and a philanthropist.

Above:- Sir John Blackler Colton. Image c/o Wikipedia.

Michael Stephen White Kenny was born in 1811 in County Clare, Ireland. In 1842 he emigrated to Australia aboard the Braken Moor with his sister and her husband. They arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) with Kenny later moving to South Australia. In 1848 he married Brigid Purtle at Morphett Vale, South Australia. He initially owned land at Shea-oak Log. By the 1870s he had moved to the Yorke Peninsula where he secured farms for his sons. In 1876 he boarded the Selector and sailed from Oyster Bay (Stansbury) to Port Lincoln. He then trekked overland to the Hundred of Colton where he established ‘Balla McKenny’ a property of about 9,000 acres. He died in May 1892 at Colton. (ancestry.com.au) (Place Names 2012)

Above:- Michael Kenny. Image c/o ancestry.com.au

On the 21st day of December 1880, Michael’s eldest son Daniel Thomas Kenny (b. 1849. d. 1934), entered into an agreement with the Department of Lands and purchased 371 acres of land in the Hundred of Colton. This included land that adjoined a junction of five roads and this was an ideal position for a hotel which opened in 1884. A school was opened in 1885 and closed in 1956. The town also had a general store, churches, and a blacksmith shop. (Place Names 2012)

Above:- Kenny’s Hotel at Colton. Image c/o ancestry.com.au

Nearby is the George North Walkway in honour of George Tramountanas, the first Greek settler in South Australia. He changed his name to George North during the 1840s. He initially lived in Adelaide before moving to the Eyre Peninsula. His son, George Henry North, who was born at Port Lincoln, was the first South Australian born Greek.

Once arriving in Elliston I headed to the local hotel where I caught up with the rest of the VK5FIL Flinders Island Team: Grant VK5GR, Andy VK5LA, Chris VK5FR, Ivan VK5HS, and Adam VK2YK.

We enjoyed some great laughs, a nice meal and of course a few beverages.

References.

  1. Ancestry.com.au. (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/ [Accessed 23 Jun. 2024].‌‌
  2. DEATH OF MR. J. B. LABATT. (1928). Register. [online] 14 May. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/56633158 [Accessed 23 Jun. 2024].‌‌
  3. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 1995, Point Labatt Conservation Park.
  4. published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au. (n.d.). A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia. [online] Available at: https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/ [Accessed 23 Jun. 2024].‌‌
  5. Wikipedia. (2019). Calca Peninsula. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calca_Peninsula [Accessed 23 Jun. 2024].
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