My next activation for Saturday 17th August 2024 was the Galga silo VK-GLA5 for the Silos On The AIr (SiOTA) program. Galga is about 173 km (by road) northeast of the city of Adelaide. It was just a short 16km drive northeast from Copeville.
Above:- Map showing the location of Galga. Map c/o Google Maps.
The first European to settle in the district was William Selby Douglas who took up land in 1868. Galga is an aboriginal word meaning ‘hungry.’ The town was named by the Railway Commissioner who intended the railway station to be a place where refreshments would be provided. (Place Names 2012)
The town lies on the northern boundary of the Hundred of Bandon which adjoins the Hundred of Bakara. The Hundred was declared in 1898. However, it was not until 1904 that the first leasehold land was taken up by Alfred and Ludwig Kuehn. Between 1909 to 1910 freehold land was taken up. In 1915 the Kuehn brothers relinquished 40 acres of their land for the surveing of the town of Galga. (flickr 2024)
In October 1915, Mr. A. Thomas surveyed the township of Galga. A total of 54 town blocks were alotted. The town was proclaimed on the 10th day of February 1916. (flickr 2024)
Above:- SA Govt Gazette, Thur Feb 10 1916.
In 1915 the Post Office opened. In 1921 it was moved into the general store that had opened. Alfred Kuehn donated two town blocks for a hall to be used as a school. In 1921 the limestone and red brick Galga Hall was built. However, it was not used as a school until 1925. At its opening, the school had 16 pupils. Its greatest enrollment period was during the late 1950s to early 1960s when 39 students were enrolled, with 2 teachers being employed. The school closed in 1966 when the East Murray Area School was planned to be opened in 1967. (flickr 2024)
One of Galga’s famous students was Julie Lush, now Julie Anthony. She attended the school from 1959 onwards. As a child, she excelled in sport and singing. Anthony was awarded an OBE in 1980 by Britain and in 2007 was made a Member of the Order of Australia. She sang the National Anthem at the opening of the Sydney Olympic Games. (flickr 2024)
Above:- Julie Anthony. Image c/o Facebook.
In 1923 a ten-acre grant from the government was issued for an oval and sports field at Galga. In 1924 the Gothic-style St Pauls Lutheran Church was opened. (flickr 2024)
In Its heyday, Galga had a tennis club and a football club.
Above:- Article from The Advertiser, Wed 16 Feb 1938. Image c/o Trove.
Today, Galga is an interesting little town to visit. The beautiful Gothic style St Paul’s Church remains.
There are also some excellent information boards detailing the history of Galga.
In 1963 bulk handling of grain commenced in Galga. The railway line closed in 1994 with passenger services ceasing during the 1970s. (flickr 2024)
The Galga Silo Art completed in April 2023 and was painted by Jarrod Loxton. The Galga silo features local soldiers and also honours nurses, including Vivian Bullwinkel. (Australian SIlo Art 2024)
One of those featured on the silo is Vivian Bullwinkel. She was born in December 1915 at Kapunda. She trained as a midwife and dnurse at Broken Hill, prior to commencing her career in nursing at Hamilton, Victoria and then Melbourne, Victoria. In 1941 Bullwinkerl volunteered for service with the RAAF, but was rejected for having flat feet. She did however, join the Australian Army Nursing Service. (AWM 2024)
Above:- Lt Col Vivian Bulwinkel. Image c/o Aust War Memorial.
Following the invasion of Malaya in December 1941, Bullwinkel and 65 other nurses boarded the SS Vyner Brooke to escape the island. Two days into their voyage, the shop was sunk by Japanese aircraft. Bullwinkel, along with 21 other nurses and a group of men, women and children made it ashore on Banka Island. (AWM 2024)
The following day they were joined by about 100 British soldiers. The group surrendered to the Japanese. The men were murdered by the Japanese, while the female nurses were ordered to walk into the sea. They were then machine gunned from behind. Bullwinkel was struck by a bullet but survived.
She pretended to be dead until the Japanese left the beach. For 12 days she hid on the island with a wounded British soldier and again surrendered to the Japanese. Bullwinkel spent 3 & 1/2 years in Japanese captivity. She was just 24 of the 65 nurses were aboard the SS Vyner Brooke that survived the war. (AWM 2024)
Below is a trailer to an ABC doumentary on Vivian Bullwinkel.
Another person featuring the silo is Hurtle Murdoch “Tom” Zilm. He was born in September 1917 at Hamley Bridge. He enlisted for service on the 2nd day of December 1942. He is the step grandfather to the owner of the silo. (Facebook 2024) (vwma 2024)
Above:- Hurtle Murdoch Zilm. Image c/o ancestry.com.au
Below is a video from You Tube showing the Galga silo.
I parked on Galga Road, directly alongside of the silo. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
Above:- An aerial view showing the Galga silo activation zone. Image c/o SiOTA website.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK3CAL
- VK3PWG
- VK3APJ
- VK5FANA
- VK2YAK (Lighthouse AU-0033)
- VK4YAK (Lighthouse AU-0033)
- VK5PX
- VK4SMA
- VK5FBIC/p
- VK5FIVE
- VK5CZ
- VK3SWV (Lighthouse AU-0117)
- VK3DJC/p (Lighthouse AU-0117)
- VK5LKJ
- VK5IS
- VK3ARM/p (Lighthouse AU-0117)
- VK2SLB
- VK2BRN
- VK2KBT
- VK5DW
- VK5KVA
- VK5FA
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
- VK6NU
- F5PYI
- VK5QA/4
- VK3CLD/4
- VK2R (Lighthouse AU-0041 & VKFF-0473)
- VK2SLB
- VK2BRN
- VK2KBT
- VK5DW
References.
- Australiansiloarttrail.com. (2024). Galga Silo Art. [online] Available at: https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/galga [Accessed 28 Aug. 2024].
- Australian War Memorial (2016). Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel. [online] Awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10676383. [Accessed 28 Aug. 2024].
- Facebook.com. (2021). Facebook. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/australiansiloarttrail [Accessed 29 Aug. 2024].
- Flickr. (2024). Galga. In the Murray Mallee. St Pauls Lutheran Church. Foundation stone laid 1923 and church opened 1924. Now a private residence. [online] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/40821872680 [Accessed 28 Aug. 2024].
- 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 28 Aug. 2024].
- Vwma.org.au. (2024). Hurtle Murdock ZILM. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/535147 [Accessed 29 Aug. 2024].
VK5PAS 