Daily Archives: October 17, 2024

Kiamal Bushland Reserve VKFF-4232 and Kiamal silo VK-KML3

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After packing up at Carwarp West I9 Bushland Reserve on Monday 19th August 2024, I headed south on Calder Highway for 65 km until I reached the town of Ouyen. I had booked accommodation here for a few nights. I booked into my motel room, offloaded some of my gear, and then headed out to activate another park.

I drove to Kiamal Bushland Reserve VKFF-4232, just 8 km north of Ouyen. The park is also within the activation zone of the Kiamal silo VK-KML3.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Kiamal Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

Kiamal was formerly known as Kia. It is an aboriginal word with various meanings including to squat, emu, war spear, and fibrous tree). (Victorian Places)

In its day Kiamal was a thriving town with dances and other social events being held at the local hall. Kiamal also had its own cricket club.

Above:- Article from the Ouyen Mail, Wed 15 Nov 1939. Image c/o Trove.

The Kiamal railway station opened on the 6th day of May 1913 and was originally known as Kia Siding. It was renamed Kiamal on the 19th day of February 1917. The siding consisted of a goods loop siding that was completed in late April 1913. By January 1919 a passenger platform had been constructed. There were no goods platform or shed on the siding. Kiamal was closed to passenger traffic on the 14th day of April 1970. In January 1992 the Kiamal platform was removed. (Mildura Railway History)

The Kiamal Bushland Reserve is located on both the eastern and western side of Calder Highway at the intersection with Parallel Road and Dingo Tank Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Kiamal Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 18 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. (CAPAD 2022)

I accessed the reserve via Old Kia Road. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

Above:- the activation zone at the Kiamal silo. Image co SiOTA website.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. ZL3MR
  2. VK2VW
  3. VK2HFI
  4. VK2AKA
  5. VK2BUG
  6. VK2IO
  7. VK2GEZ
  8. KG5CIK
  9. VK2EG/p
  10. VK5QA/4
  11. VK3CLD/4
  12. OH1XT
  13. ON4BB
  14. VK5PL
  15. SP7MW
  16. VK4SMA
  17. F5NZO
  18. IK1GPG
  19. OH1MM
  20. SP9RXP
  21. EW6MP
  22. ON4ON
  23. GI0BDX
  24. ZL1TM
  25. OH5EP
  26. M6KFI/p
  27. PA5WK
  28. UT5PI
  29. OM5TX
  30. VK6NU
  31. EA3MP
  32. IS0CZG
  33. M1TES/m
  34. G4AKC/p (bicycle mobile)
  35. DL2ND
  36. VK4HNS
  37. F4HZR
  38. VK4TJ
  39. OM3CND
  40. VK4EMP
  41. VK4TI
  42. VK4GKO
  43. S58AL
  44. RX9WN
  45. SP5HRX
  46. IK4JPK
  47. VK5AYL
  48. LA7TN

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK5LA
  2. VK5KAW
  3. VK3APJ
  4. VK2EXA
  5. VK7PSJ
  6. VK5FB
  7. VK7PJM
  8. VK1DI
  9. VK3CEO
  10. VK4FSC
  11. VK3ADS
  12. KG5CIK
  13. VK3ALF
  14. VK7JU
  15. VK5AC
  16. VK3PF/p (Yea Streamside Reserve VKFF-3928)
  17. VK5WU
  18. VK4FDJL
  19. VK4WAB
  20. VK4EMP
  21. VK4TI
  22. VK4GKO
  23. VK3SQ
  24. VK2BD
  25. VK2KEV/3
  26. VK4XRC
  27. VK3ZK
  28. VK2TGH
  29. VK5GY
  30. VK5FANA
  31. VK4DTS
  32. VK2IO
  33. VK2GEZ

References.

  1. Dcceew.gov.au. (2023). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2022 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2022 [Accessed 17 Oct. 2024].‌
  2. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
  3. Vmrs.net. (2024). Kiamal. [online] Available at: https://vmrs.net/mildura/section1/Kiamal.htm [Accessed 17 Oct. 2024].‌