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:-
- ZL3MR
- VK2VW
- VK2HFI
- VK2AKA
- VK2BUG
- VK2IO
- VK2GEZ
- KG5CIK
- VK2EG/p
- VK5QA/4
- VK3CLD/4
- OH1XT
- ON4BB
- VK5PL
- SP7MW
- VK4SMA
- F5NZO
- IK1GPG
- OH1MM
- SP9RXP
- EW6MP
- ON4ON
- GI0BDX
- ZL1TM
- OH5EP
- M6KFI/p
- PA5WK
- UT5PI
- OM5TX
- VK6NU
- EA3MP
- IS0CZG
- M1TES/m
- G4AKC/p (bicycle mobile)
- DL2ND
- VK4HNS
- F4HZR
- VK4TJ
- OM3CND
- VK4EMP
- VK4TI
- VK4GKO
- S58AL
- RX9WN
- SP5HRX
- IK4JPK
- VK5AYL
- LA7TN
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK5LA
- VK5KAW
- VK3APJ
- VK2EXA
- VK7PSJ
- VK5FB
- VK7PJM
- VK1DI
- VK3CEO
- VK4FSC
- VK3ADS
- KG5CIK
- VK3ALF
- VK7JU
- VK5AC
- VK3PF/p (Yea Streamside Reserve VKFF-3928)
- VK5WU
- VK4FDJL
- VK4WAB
- VK4EMP
- VK4TI
- VK4GKO
- VK3SQ
- VK2BD
- VK2KEV/3
- VK4XRC
- VK3ZK
- VK2TGH
- VK5GY
- VK5FANA
- VK4DTS
- VK2IO
- VK2GEZ
References.
- 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].
- Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
- Vmrs.net. (2024). Kiamal. [online] Available at: https://vmrs.net/mildura/section1/Kiamal.htm [Accessed 17 Oct. 2024].
VK5PAS 
Another excellent QSO Paul… I can see you are loving retirement mate!… Dave G4AKC/Bicycle Mobile