My first activation for Thursday 22nd August 2024 was the Ouyen I244 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4208 and the Ouyen silo VK-OYN3.

The reserve is located on the southwest edge of the town of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Ouyen I244 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The reserve is located on the northern and southern sides of the Mallee Highway.

Above:- An aerial view of the Ouyen I244 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 75 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

There was quite a bit of birdlife in the park, and in between activating I managed to get off a few snaps which can be seen below.

I set up in the very top northeast corner of the park which was in the activation zone of the Ouyen silo.

Above:- Map showing the activation zone at the Ouyen silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3CA
3. VK3HM
4. VK5MAZ
5. VK3WSG
6. VK1ARQ
7. VK2SLB
8. VK2BRN
9. VK2KBT
10. VK5AAF
11. VK5MH
12. VK3APJ
13. VK3AWA
14. VK2EXA
15. VK3CJN
16. VK3QHU
17. VK3HJW
18. VK3EJ
19. VK3BAP
20. VK2VAR
21. VK2GOM
22. VK4EMP
23. VK4TI
24. VK4GOZ
25. VK3KRL
26. VK3SO
27. VK3SFG
28. VK3CEO
29. VK4HNS
30. VK3AMO
31. VK2IO
32. VK2GEZ
33. VK3BBB
34. VK2CCP
35. VK2VW
36. VK2HFI
37. VK2AKA
38. VK2BUG
39. VK3SQ
40. VK2BD
41. VK3VIN
42. VK3MTT
43. VK3MCK
44. VK1DI
45. VK3UAO
46. VK1AAF
47. VK5WU

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4EMP
2. VK4TI
3. VK4GOZ
4. VK3ZPF
5. VK3JW
6. VK5MAZ
7. VK3PF
8. VK2IO
9. 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 15 Nov. 2024].‌

My final park for Wednesday 21st August 2024, was the Nulkwyne I26 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4197.

The reserve is about 24 km northwest of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Nulkwyne I26 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

During the 1930s land described as being in the ‘virgin Mallee country in the parish of Nulkwyne’ was opened up for settlement. (The Argus 1934)

Above:- Article from The Argus, Mon 8 October 1934. Image c/o Trove.

The reserve is locate on the northern side of Parallel Road between Munro Road and Galah N Road.

The reserve is about 47 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK2BD
3. VK3PF
4. VK3KAI
5. VK5AYL
6. VK4FDJL
7. VK4WAB
8. ZL4KD
9. VK4EMP
10. VK4TI
11. VK4GKO
12. VK2IO
13. VK2GEZ
14. VK5CZ
15. VK5MAZ
16. VK7PJM
17. VK5TUX
18. VK4HMI
19. VK2EXA
20. VK5FANA
21. VK4SMA
22. VK3WRD
23. VK3APJ
24. VK5JK
25. VK3EJ
26. VK3CEO
27. VK6DS
28. VK2FALL
29. VK7IAN
30. VK5OPL
31. VK3CA
32. VK3HM
33. ZL3MR
34. VK4VAW
35. VK4BZ/P
36. VK5GY
37. VK5HW
38. VK3HJW
39. VK6MRS
40. VK2KTA
41. ZL4NVW/P (ZLFF-0006)
42. VK1CHW
43. VK3SX
44. VK5PLD
45. KG5CIK

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK5GY
2. VK4BZ/p

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 15 Nov. 2024].‌
2. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
3. Trove. (2014). OTHER DISTRICTS – The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957) – 8 Oct 1934. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10957230?searchTerm=nulkwyne%20kangaroo [Accessed 15 Nov. 2024].‌

After leaving the Tiega I24 Bushland Reserve, I headed to my next park activation, the Paignie I23 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4186.

The reserve is located about 24 km northwest of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Paignie is an aboriginal word meaning ‘water’. Paignie was once a thriving community. It had a State School and a Progress Association. Sadly, very little remains today. (Blake 1978)

Above:- Article from The Ouyen Mail, Fri 20 Feb 1914. Image c/o Trove.

The reserve is located on a dirt track just south of John Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Paignie I23 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 163 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

This was another easy park to access with 4WD tracks entering the park. I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole. I enjoyed a very nice opening into Europe on the long path on the 20m band.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. F1BLL
2. KG5CIK
3. KC0IJN
4. VK5QA
5. Vk3CLD
6. VK2DBF
7. VK3SX
8. OH1MM
9. Vk4HNS
10. OH2CGU
11. F5NZO
12. F8DZU
13. K7CTV
14. VE2JC
15. VK2IO
16. VK2GEZ
17. ZL1HIM
18. G4MAP
19. SQ9FMC
20. VK4SMA
21. PA5WK
22. IZ4EFP
23. YO3AEK
24. IK1GPG
25. ON4BB
26. EW1TZ
27. IK3HMB
28. SQ9CWO
29. S58AL
30. ON1JU
31. VK2VW
32. VKK2HFI
33. VK2AKA
34. VK2BUG
35. M7CBI
36. S52KM
37. ON4VT
38. F4DSK
39. DM2KP
40. OH5EP
41. ON7LO
42. Vk3TKK/p (Drouin West G83 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4298)
43. DL2ND
44. IW1DAL
45. PD2BA
46. OP7M

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4EMP
2. VK4TI
3. VK4GKO
4. VK3PF
5. VK3SQ
6. VK2BD
7. VK2EXA
8. VK5FANA
9. VK5TUX
10. VK3CA
11. VK3HJW
12. VK5PL
13. VK3EJ
14. VK2IO
15. VK2GEZ
16. VK2KYO
17. VK3ALF
18. VK5VK
19. VK2YAK
20. VK4YAK
21. Vk4FDJL
22. VK4WAB
23. VK3MTT
24. VK5JK
25. VK3TKK/p (Drouin West G83 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4298)
26. VK5WU
27. VK3CJN
28. VK3QHU
29. VK1DI
30. VK3CEO
31. VK4HNS
32. VK3APJ
33. VK7PJM
34. VK2TM
35. VK5PCM

I packed up and headed to Ouyen where I planned on getting some dinner before activating a final park for the day. As I drove towards Ouyen on the dirt roads I encountered plenty of tumbleweed. It was like a scene out of a Western movie.

I drove into Ouyen and enjoyed a very nice meal at the Ouyen Club.

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 15 Nov. 2024].‌
2. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.

My next activation for Wednesday 21st August 2024 was the Tiega I24 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4186.

The reserve is located about 20 km northwest of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Tiega I24 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

Along the way, I stopped to have a look at the site of the old Galah North State School No. 4262 which operated from 1926 to 1942. In c. 1950, the building was moved to Mildura Central School. (Wikipedia 2024)

The Tiega I24 Bushland Reserve is located on the western and eastern sides of Galah N Road, south of Parallel Road.

The park is about 71 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. Although not a huge opening on 20m on the long path, it was still nice to log some of the familiar European park hunters.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3CA
2. VK5CZ
3. VK3BEL
4. VK5FANA
5. VK2VW
6. VK2HFI
7. VK2AKA
8. VK2BUG
9. VK5JK
10. VK6XL/m
11. VK5TUX
12. VK3PF
13. VK5PL
14. VK2EXA
15. VK3HJW
16. VK3KRL
17. VK3BBB
18. VK2CCP
19. VK3PWG
20. VK3TTK
21. VK2SLB
22. VK2BRN
23. VK2KBT
24. VK7XX
25. VK2YAK
26. VK4YAK
27. VK3EJ
28. Vk2IO
29. VK2GEZ
30. VK5HS
31. VK3BCM/p (SOTA VK3/ VC-001)
32. VK3PXS/p (SOTA VK3/ VC-001)
33. VK4HNS
34. VK3HM
35. VK2GQR
36. VK5MOS
37. VK3GDX
38. VK3APJ
39. VK3CEO

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. OH1MM
2. VK4EMP
3. VK4TI
4. VK4GKO
5. VK4HNS
6. KG5CIK
7. VK2VH
8. VK4AAC
9. VK5QA
10. VK3CLD
11. VK2DBF
12. EA3MP
13. IW2NXI
14. VK7AAE
15. VK7DWS
16. VK2JPR
17. OH6GAZ
18. IK4IDF
19. DL1EBR
20. SQ9CWO
21. F5PYI
22. IK1GPG
23. VK6TX
24. DJ9HN
25. OM5TX
26. DK4RM
27. DL2ND
28. SQ9FMC

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 15 Nov. 2024].‌
2. Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Galah. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galah [Accessed 15 Nov. 2024]‌

Yesterday I received my latest WWFF Activator Points Award certificate.

Thank you to all of the WWFF participants and Swa ON5SWA the Awards Manager.

Some more FT8 award certificates for VI7POL

Thank you to all of the FT8 operators and the various award managers.

My next activation for Wednesday 21st August 2024 was the Tiega I81 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4205.

The reserve is about 11 km west of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Tiega I81 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

Tiega is an aboriginal word for ‘sister’. Tiega was once a thriving community having its own school, a tennis club, and a football club. (Blake 1978)

Above:- Article from the Sunraysia Daily, Thu 30 Dec 1937. Image c/o Trove.

Above:- Article from the Ouyen Mail, Wed 11 Oct 1939. Image c/o Trove.

Today, little remains at Tiega, other than a sign to let you know that you are entering the district.

The Tiega I81 Bushland Reserve is located on the northern side of the Mallee Highway at the junction with Le Couteur Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Tiega I81 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 16 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

I drove down to the railway line and I accessed the northern section of the park. I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO
2. VK2GEZ
3. VK6LK
4. VK6LMK
5. VK3PF
6. VK2VH
7. VK4AAC
8. VK2VW
9. VK2HFI
10. VK2AKA
11. VK2BUG
12. VK6DS
13. VK2SLB
14. Vk2BRN
15. VK2KBT
16. VK7AZ
17. VK3TKK/p (Rocky Point Bushland Reserve VKFF-4303)
18. VK5QA
19. VK3CLD
20. VK2DBF
21. VK4EMP
22. VK4TI
23. VK4GKO
24. VK4HNS
25. VK7XX
26. VK2NCS

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3TKK/p (Rocky Point Bushland Reserve VKFF-4303)
2. VK7AB/p (Mount Stronach Regional Reserve VKFF-3377)
3. VK7ZPE/p (Mount Stronach Regional Reserve VKFF-3377)
4. VK3SMW
5. VK6XL/5
6. VK5PL
7. VK3XL/p
8. VK7XX
9. VK3ENI
10. VK3APJ
11. Vk5AAF
12. VK2SLB
13. VK2BRN
14. VK2KBT
15. VK3PF
16. VK5IS/m
17. VK3MTT
18. VK3PWG
19. VK3TTK
20. VK3EJ
21. VK3HJW
22. VK5TUX
23. VK5DC
24. VK3DCQ
25. VK5CZ
26. VK5JK
27. VK3MBW
28. VK3IK/m
29. VK3MGM
30. VK3KRL
31. VK1AD
32. VK1NAM
33. VK3DJC
34. VK5AYL
35. VK2VAR
36. VK2GOM
37. VK3UAO
38. VK3CEO
39. Vk3BBB
40. VK2CCP
41. VK3CA
42. VK3WSG

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 12 Nov. 2024].‌
2. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.

My third park for Wednesday 21st August 2024 was the Kia I242 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4229.

It was just a short drive from the Kia I242A Bushland Reserve to reach this park which is located about 23 km north of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Kia I242 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The reserve is located in the southern side of Box Flat Road.

Above:- AN aerial view of the Kia I242 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 20 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. (CAPAD 2022)

This was another park that was not easy to string out the 20/40/80m dipole. So much so that the 80m sections were lying on the ground amongst the mallee scrub. But the antenna still seemed to perform okay.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5HS
2. VK5MOS
3. VK3WSG
4. VK3PF
5. VK5AYL
6. VK2EXA
7. VK3CEO
8. VK3UAO
9. VK3PWG
10. VK3TTK
11. VK5PL
12. VK5UV
13. VK3TKK/p (Ararat Bushland Reserve VKFF-4300)
14. VK3APJ
15. VK2HAK
16. VK2SLB
17. VK2BRN
18. VK2KBT
19. VK3CA
20. VK3HM
21. VK2MOE
22. VK1MO
23. VK3MTT
24. VK3KRL
25. VK2IO
26. VK2GEZ
27. VK2YAK
28. VK4YAK
29. VK3HJW
30. VK3EJ
31. VK2HMV
32. VK3MGM
33. VK2XD
34. VK2STO

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO
2. VK2GEZ
3. VK2SLB
4. VK2BRN
5. VK2KBT
6. VK2VW
7. VK2HFI
8. VK2AKA
9. VK2BUG
10. VK6DS
11. VK5HS
12. VK6LK
13. VK6LMK
14. VK4EMP
15. VK4TI
16. VK4GKO
17. ZL1KVA

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 12 Nov. 2024].‌

My second activation for Wednesday 21st August 2024 was the Kia I242 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4230.

The reserve is located about 16 km north of Ouyen in northwest Victoria. This was the first time that I had activated the park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Kia I242A Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The reserve is located on the corner of Calder Highway and Chapman Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Kia I242A Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

This is just a small park comprising about 8 hectares of mallee scrub. It was established on the 8th day of May 1990. (CAPAD 2022)

I access the park via Chapman Road. There was just enough room amongst the scrub for me to string out the 20/40/80m linked dipole. I ran the Yaesu FT857d and 40 watts.

It was nice to pick up six Park to Park contacts from this park.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2GOM/p (Parma Creek Nature Reserve  VKFF-2698)
2. VK2VAR/p (Parma Creek Nature Reserve  VKFF-2698)
3. VK3BBB
4. VK2CCP
5. VK3PWG
6. VK3TTK
7. VK5HS
8. VK3CJN
9. VK3QHU
10. VK3APJ
11. VK3DWL/m
12. VK3PF
13. VK3MTT
14. VK3BEL
15. VK2IO
16. VK2GEZ
17. VK2EXA
18. VK5UV
19. Vk3GP
20. VK3FRC
21. VK2KYO
22. VK3EJ
23. VK5MOS
24. VK3WSG
25. VK3UAO
26. VK2SLB
27. VK2BRN
28. VK2KBT
29. VK1DI
30. VK3CEO
31. VK1AD
32. VK1NAM
33. VK5CZ
34. VK2VW
35. VK2HFI
36. VK2AKA
37. VK2BUG
38. VK3CA
39. VK3MGM

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2VW
2. VK2HFI
3. VK2AKA
4. VK2BUG
5. VK3PF
6. VK2IO
7. VK2GEZ
8. VK4HNS
9. VK6LK
10. VK6LMK
11. VK1DI
12. VK7EE
13. VK4EMP
14. VK4TI
15. VK4GKO
16. VK3KIM
17. VK2SLB
18. VK2BRN
19. VK2KBT
20. VK2USH/p (Lake Broadwater Conservation Park VKFF-1577)
21. VK6EH
22. VK2GOM/p (Parma Creek Nature Reserve  VKFF-2698)
23. VK2VAR/p (Parma Creek Nature Reserve  VKFF-2698)
24. VK3CEO
25. VK4JJ
26. VK2XD
27. VK3TKK/p (Noahs Ark Dam Natural Features Reserve VKFF-4301)

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 12 Nov. 2024].‌

My first activation for Wednesday 21st August 2024 was the Ouyen I34 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4210.

The reserve is located about 10 km north of Ouyen in northwest Victoria. This was the first time that I had activated the park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Ouyen I34 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The reserve is located on the northern and southern sides of Dingo Tank Road on the Calder Highway’s eastern side. Presumably, there were dingoes or wild dogs in this area back in the day.

Above:- An aerial view of the park. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 36 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

This was another park that was unfenced and I was able to drive in and set up amongst a clearing in the mallee scrub. I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2EXA
3. VK3CEO
4. Vk3MCK
5. VK2IO
6. VK2GEZ
7. Vk3CA
8. VK3HM
9. VK3VIN
10. VK5GY
11. VK2MOE
12. VK1MO
13. VK2VW
14. VK2HFI
15. VK2AKA
16. VK2BUG
17. VK5DC
18. VK2SLB
19. VK2BRN
20. VK2KBT
21. VK2MES
22. VK3APJ
23. VK3PWG
24. VK3TTK
25. VK3CJN
26. VK3QHU
27. VK5IS
28. VK3HJW
29. VK2AB
30. VK3UAO
31. VK4EMP
32. VK4TI
33. VK4GKO
34. VK1ARQ
35. VK3EJ
36. VK3AMO
37. VK1DI
38. VK2GOM/p (Parma Creek Nature Reserve  VKFF-2698)
39. VK2VAR/p (Parma Creek Nature Reserve  VKFF-2698)
40. VK3ANL
41. VK4HNS
42. VK3KIM
43. VK3BCM/p (SOTA VK3/ VE-144)
44. VK3PXS/p (SOTA VK3/ VE-144)
45. VK5AAF

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2VW
2. VK2HFI
3. VK2AKA
4. VK2BUG
5. ZL3QR
6. VK2SLB
7. VK2BRN
8. VK2KBT
9. VK4HNS
10. VK2IO
11. VK2GEZ
12. VK6NU

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 12 Nov. 2024].‌