My final activation for Thursday 25th April 2024 was the Wharminda silo VK-WHA5. It was just a short drive from the Wharminda Conservation Park down to the little town of Wharminda.
Blink and you will miss Wharminda. There is not much here nowadays apart from the Wharminda War Memorial Hall.
The Wharminda silos are located on Wharminda Road.
I parked on Wharminda Road right alongside the silo and operated from the 4WD. I ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5-metre stainless steel whip.
Above:- The activation zone at the Wharminda silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK5MAZ
AX5MAZ
VK5TUX
VK1AO
VK2MET
AX1AO
AX2MET
VK3APJ
VK4FOX
VK4SMA
VK2IO
VK3GJG/p
VK7PJM
VK3PF
VK3DFG
VK2GMC/1
AX7WN
VK3EJ
After my activation, I went to the Arno Bay Hotel for a very enjoyable meal and then returned to my accommodation at Cowell.
My last park for ANZAC Day, 25th April 2024, was the Wharminda Conservation Park VKFF-1120. The park is located about 334 km west of Arno Bay on the Eyre Peninsula.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Wharminda Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.
Wharminda is an aboriginal word meaning ‘a range of hills’. In 1914 the Wharminda Post Office opened. In that same year, the Wharminda Siding School opened. (Place Names 2012)
I headed down Range Road from Hincks and enjoyed some nice views of the surrounding countryside.
The park is about 662 acres in size and was established on the 7th day of November 1985. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- An aerial view of the park showing its boundaries. Image c/o Google Earth.
The park was gazetted to “conserve remnant vegetation” which is “dominated by mallee and shrubland”. The park has native plants within that are considered as ‘state and regionally rare.’ (Wikipedia 2024)
I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
My next activation for ANZAC Day, 25th April 2024, was the Hinks Wilderness Protection Area VKFF-1715. The park is located on the Eyre Peninsula.
This was one of those parks, that had I not activated it and researched it, I probably would not have learnt about the remarkable man that the park is named in honour of.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Hincks Wilderness Protection Area. Map c/o Google Maps.
The Hundred of Hincks in the County of Jervois was proclaimed on the 31st day of October 1957. It was named in honour of Sir Cecil Stephen Hincks, an Australian politician who was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly. He was Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Repatriation in Thomas Playford’s government. Hincks was born in February 1894 in Maitland, South Australia. In 1914 he was considered to try out for the Port Adelaide Football Club, but this was cancelled due to the outbreak of the First World War. (Place Names 2012) (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- Cecil Hincks. Image c/o State Library SA
Hincks served with the 10th Battalion in the Gallipoli campaign, landing at Anzac Cove on 25th April 1915. After developing influenza and an intestinal disease he was evacuated to Mudros and admitted to hospital. About one year later he was discharged from hospital and returned to rejoin his unit on the Western Front. (Wikipedia 2024)
In 1917 at the Battle of Lagnicourt, Hincks received gunshot wounds to his legs and chest. He was evacuated to England. His injured leg was amputated. (Wikipedia 2024)
During the Second World War, he served as an Australian Army recruiting officer. (Wikipedia 2024)
Upon his discharge from the Australian Army, Hincks worked for the Wheat Harvest Board. He then set up his own grain and insurance management business and set up a farm. Hincks was a member of several charitable organisations and a State Councillor in the Returned Sailors Soldiers (and Airmens ) Imperial League (RSL).
In August 1941 at the South Australian State election, Hincks was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly and represented the electoral district of Yorke Peninsula for the Liberal and Country League. In 1946 he was assigned the portfolio Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Repatriation.
He was made a Knight Bachelor in January 1960 for service as Minister of Lands and Repatriation in South Australia. Hincks died from cancer on the 1st day of January 1963. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- Sir Cecil Stephen Hincks. Image c/o Wikipedia.
The Hincks Wilderness Protection Area is 16,471 acres in size and was proclaimed under the Wilderness Protection Act 1992 on the 30th day of September 2004 on land excised from the Hincks Conservation Park. The land was originally set aside as a Flora & Fauna Reserve in 1941. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- An aerial view of the park. Image c/o Google Maps.
The Hincks Wilderness Protection Area is one of the largest expanses of Mallee on the Eyre Peninsula. About 420 species of native plants have been recorded in the park, including 28 orchids. Of the 420 species, 91 (including four species of orchid) had not previously been recorded on any other reserve in South Australia. The wilderness protection area is dominated by Mallee, with a small portion covered by forest, woodland, or shrubland. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- An aerial view of the park showing its boundaries.
I accessed the park via its eastern side. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.
I made a total of 100 QSOs including quite a bit of DX.
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK7XX
VK3UAO
VK5MAZ
AX5MAZ
VK4EW
AX4EW
OH1MM
ON3YB
VK4NH
VK4DXA
AX4NH
AX4DXA
ON4VT
OH1XT
VK3PWG
VK3ZPF
VK2IO
VK3DL
VK3EJ
IZ5JMZ
VK3VIN
AX3PF/p (Traralgon South Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2464)
ZL1TM
UT5PI
IK1GPG
VK2VW
VK2HFI
VK3CEO
VK3GJG
VK3SPG
AX7MAD
AX5HS
VK4MUD
VK3APJ
SQ2WKQ
F1BLL
S52KM
PH9HB
OH2LIO
OG7J
IW2BNA
OH2CGU
EA5JMN
VK1AO
VK2MET
AX1AO
AX2MET
VK4CZ
VK3CWF
VK3PI
VK3SQ
VK2BD
KG5CIK
IU3GKJ
VK2HAK
VK3SO
VK3SFG
VK2USH
SQ9CWO
VK4EMP
VK4TI
IZ2ZPT
AX3ACZ
DJ1SD
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK5MAZ
AX5MAZ
AX3PF/p (Traralgon South Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2464)
My next activation for 25th April 2024 was the Verran Tanks Conservation Park VKFF-1112. The park is located about 35 km west of Arno Bay on the Eyre Peninsula.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Verran Tanks Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.
I headed south from Rudall and soon reached the little town of Verran. The town takes its name from the Hundred of Verran which in turn was named in honour of John Verran, an Australian politician and trade unionist. He served as Premier of South Australia from 1910 to 1912. (Cleve 2020) (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- John Verran. Image c/o Wikipedia.
Verran has the Driver River Uniting Church and a monument to mark the site of the Verran SIding School which operated from 1913 to 1941. (Cleve 2020)
As I travelled to the park I could see some of the summits that qualify for Summits On The Air (SOTA) in the distance. Unfortunately, I did not have the time to activate them.
The park is about 294 acres in size and was 28th July 1983. The park was originally a water reserve. It takes its name from a water storage facility known as the “Verran Tank.” (Wikipedia 2024)
The park is on the northwestern side of Pahls Hill Road.
Above:- An aerial view of the Verran Tanks Conservation Park. Image c/o Google Earth.
Verran Tanks Conservation Park consists of mallee scrub.
I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80 m linked dipole.
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK7XX
ZL2GLG
VK2HDT
AX5QA
AX4DXA
AX4NH
VK4NH
VK4DXA
AX4EI
VK4PDX
I4RHP
IW2NXI
M7CBI
OH1MM
VK5MAZ
AX3PF/p (Traralgon South Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2464)
After packing up at the Rudall Conservation Park (25th April 2024), I headed into the little town of Rudall to activate the Rudall silo VK-RDA5.
Above:- Map showing the location of Rudall. Map c/o Google Maps.
The Hundred of Rudall, County of Jervois, was proclaimed on the 3rd day of February 1910. The town of Rudall was proclaimed on the 4th day of June 1914. The Hundred of Rudall School opened in 1917 and closed in 1949. In 1921 the Rudall Centre School opened and closed in 1946. (Place Names 2012)
Above:- Proclamation of the town of Rudall in the SA Govt Gazette, 4 Jun 1914.
The town is named in honour of Samuel Bruce Rudall, a lawyer and politician. Samuel was the elder surviving son of John Rudall, the first town clerk of Gawler, and the first solicitor to practise there. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- Samuel Bruce Rudall. Image c/o gawlerhistory.com
Today Rudall is a tiny little town with a population of about 70 people (Wikipedia 2024)
The Rudall silo is located on the southwestern side of Birdseye Highway.
I set up on the side of Birdseye Highway and ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5-metre stainless steel whip.
Above:- The activation zone at the Rudall silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK5MAZ
AX5MAZ
AX3UCD
VK3BEL
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK7XX
AX3TKK/p (Wyberjong Streamside Reserve VKFF-3924)
VK3PWG
AX3UCD
VK2IO
VK4NH
VK4DXA
AX4NH
AX4DXA
VK1AO
VK2MET
AX1AO
AX2MET
VK7HBR
AX3JBL/p (SOTA VK3/ VC-037)
VK3APT
VK4SMA
VK3OAK
VK7PAL
VK3DCQ
AX3PF/p (Traralgon South Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2464)
Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Rudall, South Australia. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudall [Accessed 15 Aug. 2024].
My next activation for ANZAC Day 25th April 2024, was the Rudall Conservation Park VKFF-1091. The park is located on the Eyre Peninsula, about 23 km (by road) northwest of Cleve.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Rudall Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.
On the way to the park, I stopped at the Goyders Line Monument and the Wheat Crop monument.
In 1865 Surveyor General George Woodroofe Goyder, marked on a map of South Australia, a line delineating drought-affected country. The line which passes through this area became an important factor in settlement in the state of South Australia. The line was regarded as an indication of the limits of lands considered safe for agricultural development.
Above:- George Goyder. Image c/o Wikipedia.
The wheat crop monument commemorates the first wheat crop grown on Section 65 Hundred Yadnarie by E. Bradley in 1879.
The park is located at the southeastern corner of the intersection of Old Darke Peake Roaad and Syvertsen Road.
Above:- An aerial view of the park showing its boundaries. Image c/o Google Earth.
The park is about 882 acres in size and was proclaimed on the 16th day of August 1973.
Above:- An aerial view of the park looking east. Image c/o Google Maps.
I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
I was getting towards the end of my trip and it was now ANZAC Day, the 25th day of April 2024.ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. It is one of Australia’s most important national occasions. It is Australia’s national Day of Remembrance.
After breakfast, I headed out towards Cleve. I had planned on activating several parks and silos during the day.
My first stop was the site of the old Mindrow Creek School on Birdeye Highway. The school opened in 1913 and closed in 1938.
During its life, the school had a total of 13 teachers.
Above:- The Mindorw Creek school, c. 1916. Image c/o State Library SA.
I continued on to the May Gibbs monument.
Cecilia May Gibbs MBE (b. 1877. d. 1969) was an Australian children’s author, illustrator, and cartoonist. She is best known for her Gumnut babies and the book Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. Her first Australian home was near the site in 1881. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- May Gibbs. IMage c/o Wikipedia.
My next brief stop was at Crossville Corner. about 11 km east of Cleve. A school was opened here in 1909 and closed in 1947. It was named after a local homestead. The former St Pauls Lutheran church was built in 1927 and closed in 1960. (Flickr 2024) (Place Names 2012)
I continued on to the town of Cleve. European occupation of the Cleve district commenced in about 1855 with Dr James McKechnie (b. 1810. d. 1869) and his two brothers Donald and Peter, holding pastoral lease no. 401. In 1877 much of the land in the district had been resumed by the government.
The town of Cleve was proclaimed on the 6th day of March 1879. It was named by Governor William Jervois after a property in Devonshire, England, held by the Snow family who were related to the Governor.
Above:- Governor WIlliam Jervois. Image c/o Wikipedia.
Today Cleve is located in sheep and wheat growing country and services the surrounding farmers. I stopped off at a local cafe to get a bite to eat and a coffee.
Below is a short video on Cleve and its surroundings.
An interesting attraction in Cleve is the brilliant mural painted on the side of the Cleve Institute building. It is the work of artist Patrycja Hannagan, @ Mural Nomad. The mural was part of Hannigan’s mission to paint 100 murals around Australia, with $100.00 from each commission committed to the Black Dog Institute. (5cc 2024)
Another interesting attraction is Redgie the Wedgie, a sculpture of a Wedge Tailed Eagle. It is the work of Peter Crosby.
And there is Bonnie the Clydesdale.
The Cleve silo is located on the northern side of Birdseye Highway on the western side of Cleve.
I parked on the side of Birdseye Highway and operated from the 4WD. I ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5-metre stainless steel whip. As this was ANZA Day, I was permitted to use the special AX prefix.
Above:- Map showing the activation zone at the Cleve silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
AX5AAF/p (Pike River Conservation Park VKFF-0831)
AX5HS/p (Chowilla Regional Reserve VKFF-1698)
VK5LA
VK5KAW
VK3PF
VK5AYL
VK5MAZ
AX5MAZ
AX5QA
AX3CLD
AX5AV
VK5KVA
AX3SPG
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK7XX
VK1AO
VK2MET
AX1AO
AX2MET
VK3PF
VK3DCQ
VK5MAZ
VK4NH
VK4DXA
VK2IO
AX5QA
AX3CLD
AX3SPG
AX7MAD
AX3IFR/am
VK3MCK
VK3APT
AX3VIN
VK2ZRD
VK2VW
VK2HFI
AX4MWL
VK5LRB
ZL1XS
AX3UCD
AX1AD
References.
Flickr. (2024). Crossville Corner South Australia. The former St Pauls Lutheran Church built 1927. Closed 1960 Now a private residence. [online] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/31899908188 [Accessed 15 Aug. 2024].
After leaving Arno Bay I headed to Cowell where I booked into my accomodation, a cabin at the Cowell Foreshore Caravan Park. I then headed next door for a meal at the Cowell Hotel.
After dinner I decided to head out to activate a park rather than spend the evening in the cabin watching television. I drove out to the Franklin Harbour Marine Park VKFF-1709.
The Franklin Harbor Marine Park covers 636 km2 and is located on the central western side of Spencer Gulf, between Gibbon Point and Munyaroo Conservation Park. The park supports a variety of marine and coastal species, including several commercial fish species such as King George whiting, southern sea garfish, mullet, blue crabs and western king prawns. (Man. Plan 2012)
Above:- Map showing the location of the Franklin Harbour Marine Park. Image c/o DEWNR.
Franklin Harbor is named in honour of Sir John Franklin, Governor of Tasmania (1837-1843). He was previously a midshipman on the Investigator. (Place Names 2012)
Above:- Sir John Franklin. Image c/o Wikipedia.
It was almost dark by the time I had reached the park. I drove along Beach Road and took a 4WD running off the eastern side of the road. 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:-
VK4EMP
VK4TI
VK5MAZ
VK2VW
VK2HFI
VK2AKA
VK2BUG
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK5LA
VK5KAW
IK1GPG
VK4NH
VK4DXA
VK3CWF
OH1MM
VK2IO
VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK3APJ
DL1EBR
IW2BNA
VK2USH/p
IK4IDF
VK6NU
ZL3MR
VK4KK/m
OH1XF
UT5PI
VK4SYD
OH5EP
SQ9FMC
PD4US
VK1ARQ
ON3YB
VK6XL
VK2HBO
DK4RM
OM5TX
VK3EJ
ZL1TM
DL1ASF
JF7RJM
VK4SMA
I worked the following stations on 20m FT8:-
JA1NLX
JF7RJM
VK3PF
CT1GFK
VK5LA
VK5KAW
VK3CEO
VK3KAI
7M4HOA
EA3EDU
LU2BA
VK3APJ
JH6XOD
LW2DLY
N9IBM
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK5MAZ
VK2IO
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK3CEO
VK4SMA
VK2FALL
VK5WU
VK8CWR
VK3SO
VK3SFG
References.
Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources, 2012, Franklin Harbour Marine Park Managaement Plan.
My next planned stop was Arno Bay to activate the Arno Bay silo VK-ARY5 for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program. Arno Bay is about 535 km (by road) from Adelaide.
Above:- Map showing the location of Arno Bay. Map c/o Google Maps.
As I left Port Neill I stopped on the Lincoln Highway to view the Robert Bratten monument. It commemorates Robert Bratten, the Overseer of Workds for the District Council of Tumby Bay. (Monument Australia 2024)
Robert Bratten was born in January 1862 in Ireland. In 1882 at the age of 20, he emigrated to Australia. In 1906 he was appointed to the position of Overseer at a time when the council received many petitions for new roads to be opened. The first roads on the Eyre Peninsula were manually cleared through scrub. The roads were macadamised, a process where big stones were broken with a hammer until they were small enough to pass through a 2.5 inch ring. (Monument Australia 2024)
This initially sufficed until motor vehicles required a stronger surface for speed and weight. Large sheet limestone was a major problem so a special plough was designed to plough the stones to the surface. The larger stones were disposed of, while the smaller ones were crushed and used. The road was formed by a grader and the roller with a heavy roller. This method was called Brattenising. (Monument Australia 2024)
Above:- Robert Bratten. Image c/o ancestry.com.au
Prior to European occupation, the Arno Bay district was the home of the Banggarla aboriginal people. (Aussie Towns 2024)
The Arno Bay district was opened up by pastoralists in 1863. The area was named ‘Salt Creek Cove’. The town was initially proclaimed in 1882 by G.H. Ayliffe under the name ‘Bligh’, after Vice Admiral William Bligh who is best known for the mutiny on HMS Bounty. Locals resisted the name change and referred to the town as Arno Bay until its official name change. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- Rear Admiral Bligh. Image c/o Wikipedia.
It was expected that the town would become a port, and as a result, a jetty was constructed in 1880. Although not large, the port of Arno Bay imported fertilisers and exported cereal crops grown in the district. By 1911 the town had a school, post office, hotel and a hall. (Wikipedia 2024)
By 1940, the port was exporting 11,000 tonnes of grain. It was in that year that the decision was made to officially change the town’s name to Arno Bay. There are two theories on the origin of the name. Some claim the town was named after the Arno River in Italy. While others claim it took its name from Sandhill Well and that the aboriginal name for that place was ‘arno’. (Aussie Towns 2024) (Wikipedia 2024)
In 1963 the storage silos were constructed and this saw ocean shipping becoming redundant. It spelt the end of Arno Bay as a port. (Wikipedia 2024)
One of the must-sees in the town is the Arno Bay Heritage Mural, painted on the side of a building.
The Arno Bay Super Shed was built in 1912. It ceased being used for bagged grain/super in 1964. It now contains various tourist information and a large amount of history about Arno Bay and the district.
The Super Shed also features some artwork by artist Monique Van Eyk, and was completed in 1995.
Alongside the Super Shed is a jetty trolley.
There is also an old crane and an information board for the Marine and Harbours Board.
The Arno Bay silo is located on the eastern side of Lincoln Highway, opposite Schmitt Road. It is an operational silo, operated by Viterra.
I parked on Schmitt Road and operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5-metre stainless steel whip.
Above:- Map showing the activation zone of the Arno Bay silo. Map c/o SiOTA website.
Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Arno Bay, South Australia. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arno_Bay [Accessed 14 Aug. 2024].
I left Tumby Bay on Wednesday 24th April 2024 and continued north along the Lincoln Highway towards my next planned stop at Port Neill.
Along the way, I stopped at Lipson, about 11 km north of Tumby Bay.
Lipson was named in honour of Captain Thomas Lipson, an officer in the Royal Navy and the first Harbour Master in South Australia. Lipson was born in c. 1784 in Dartmouth, England. He entered the Royal Navy in 1794 at only 9-10 years old. In 1836 he emigrated to the colony of South Australia as a Naval Officer. Not long after his arrival, he was appointed Collector of Customs and Harbour Master at Port Adelaide. Over the following 20 years, Lipson made several coastal surveys. Upon his retirement in 1855, he was presented with a silver tea service by the residents of Port Adelaide. (Place Names 2012) (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- Thomas Lipson. Image c/o Wikipedia.
The Hundred of Yaranyacka, in which Lipson is contained, was proclaimed on the 20th day of June 1872. Yaranyacka is from the Narranga aboriginal word ‘yakkara’ (or jakara) meaning plain or level country.
Above:- Proclamation of the Hundred of Yaranyacka in the SA Govt Gazette, 20 Jun 1872.
A Post Office opened in November 1873 as ‘Yarandale’ on section 219 Hundred of Yaranyacka. It closed in 1909 becoming Lipson. In March 1875 the town of Lipson was surveyed by Thomas Evan. In 1881 a school was opened as ‘Yaranyacka’ and closed in 1950. (Place Names 2012)
Above:- Article from the Adelaide Observer, Sat 25 Jul 1885. Image c/o Trove.
Mines close to Lipson produced some of the finest talc in the world. Lipson was also the centre of the copper mining industry on the Eyre Peninsula. Many of the miners were of Cornish origin and had headed to the Eyre Peninsula following the closure of the Burra mines. Following the closure of the mines, the town of Lipson went into decline. (Port Lincoln Times 1973) (Wikipedia 2024)
Several historic buildings remain in Lipson. They include the second Lipson Hall, built in 1910 and officially opened by the Premier the Hon John Verran MP on the 22nd day of February 1911.
I then visited the historic Lipson cemetery that was established in the early 1870s. Until the 1900s, the nearest doctor was in Port Lincoln, and many families lost loved ones to diphtheria, whooping cough and women died during childbirth.
I then drove down to Lipson Cove. This is a beautiful tranquil sandy bay. It has been featured in the book ‘Best Australian Beaches’. Lipson Island lies about 150 metres out from the Lipson Cove beach. It can be accessed when the tide is low. The island is declared as the Lipson Island Conservation Park. It was proclaimed in 1967 as it is an important rookery for roosting sea birds including colonies of Black-faced Cormorant, Crested Tern and Little Penguin. The park is also home to Sooty oystercatchers and New Zealand Fur Seals. (Wikipedia 2024)
I left Lipson Cove and drove to Port Neill. The town is named in honour of Andrew Sinclair Neill, Warden of the Marine Board, South Australia. Neill was born in June 1837 in Kilmarnock, Ayreshire Scotland. Until 1888 he was manager of Elder Smith and Co. He was then appointed Railway Commissioner for South Australia. Neil then commenced his own accounting business. From 1897 he was the consul for Sweden. He was the Warden of the Marine Board of South Australia from 1895. He died in 1915 at his residence in North Adelaide. (ancestry.com.au) (flickr 2024)
Above:- Mr. A.S. Neill. Image c/o State Library SA.
Port Neill is a popular coastal holiday town and is renowned for its incredibly white sandy beaches. (Aussie Towns 2024)
On the foreshore, you can find a monument for the Lady Kinnaird, a three-masted iron barque of 680 tones and 190 feet long. She was built in Dundee Scotland in 1877 by Brown & Simpson for W.B. Ritchie. She operated between the United Kingdom and the Australian colonies. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- The Lady Kinnaird.
With a crew of 18, under the command of Captain Alexander Laws, she sailed from Port Pirie on the 19th day of January 1880, bound for the United Kingdom with a cargo of about 8,400 bags of wheat. At midnight on the 20th day of January 1880, she was wrecked off Cape Burr, after being battered by gale-force winds. The Captain and crew abandoned the ship in lifeboats and made it to shore. Fortunately, no lives were lost. (Wikipedia 2024)
Captain Laws was charged with misconduct in connection with the wreck of the Lady Kinnaird. In January 1880 he was acquitted on the grounds that he had taken proper care in the navigation of his vessel. (SA Chronicle 1880)
Above:- Part of an article from the SA Chronicle, Sat 6 Mar 1880. Image c/o Trove.
In March 1979 the main anchor was lifted from the wreck site. In June 1979, it was towed ashore and lifted by a mobile crane into a tank made of concrete. The tank was built into the ground and was specifically designed for the purpose of conserving the anchor. On the 20th day of January 1980, the conserved anchor was unveiled on the Port Neill foreshore in front of a crowd of about 800 people. (Wikipedia 2024)
The Port Neill silo is located on the eastern side of Lincoln Highway adjacent to Brooker Road. It is an operational silo run by Viterra.
I parked on Brooker Road and activated the silo from the 4WD. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1/5 metre stainless steel whip.
Above:- An aerial view showing the activation zone of the Port Neill silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK5MAZ
VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK5FB
VK3APJ
VK5LEX
VK5GY
VK3UCD
VK5CZ
VK5WE
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK7XX
VK3UCD
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK3VIN
VK3CEO
VK2IO
VK3APJ
VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK4NH
VK4DXA
VK3DCQ
I4RHP
VK2HRX
VK3ZSC
VK2VW
VK2HFI
VK2XD
Following the activation of the silo I headed to the Port Neill lookout. It was erected in 1990 to honour the late Roger Cox who had a vision for constructing a lookout in the area.
References.
Ancestry.com.au. (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/. [Accessed 14 Aug. 2024].
Trove. (2014). MINING LEFT ITS MARK ON EYRE PENINSULA – Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 – 1988; 1992 – 2002) – 14 Jun 1973. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/270065512 [Accessed 14 Aug. 2024].
VK5PAS 