Monthly Archives: December 2024

O’Shannessy Bushland Reserve VKFF-4200

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My final activation for the Werrimul Victoria trip was O’Shannessy Bushland Reserve VKFF-4200.

The reserve is located about 15 km south of the town of Walpeup in northwest Victoria.

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

The reserve is located at the junction of O’Shannessy Road and Munro Road, Walpeup.

The reserve is about 41 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

This was an easy park to access. I pulled off the road in the 4WD and set up in a clearing amongst the scrub. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I logged a total of 87 stations including quite a bit of DX on 20m.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. UT5PI
  2. VK2KEV
  3. VK5MAZ
  4. KG5CIK
  5. VK7XX
  6. ZL4KD
  7. SQ9CWO
  8. VK2IO/M
  9. VK2GEZ/M
  10. VK2VW
  11. VK2HFI
  12. VK2AKA
  13. VK2BUG
  14. F1BLL
  15. PP7M
  16. VK7AAE
  17. VK7DWS
  18. VK2NCS
  19. EW6MP
  20. DH4PSG
  21. VK4EMP
  22. VK4TI
  23. VK4GKO
  24. F5PYI
  25. VK7HBR
  26. VK3APJ
  27. ZL1TM
  28. IW2BZL
  29. VK4FOX
  30. IW2NXI
  31. VK4HNS
  32. OM5TX

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK5MAZ
  3. VK3HJW
  4. VK3MTT
  5. VK3CJN
  6. VK3APJ
  7. VK5TUX
  8. VK5GY
  9. VK3GP/M
  10. VK5WU
  11. VK3SQ
  12. VK2BD
  13. VK2EXA
  14. VK2VW
  15. VK2HFUI
  16. VK2AKA
  17. VK2BUG
  18. VK3CEO
  19. VK5AAF
  20. VK5JK
  21. VK3ZPF
  22. VK3JW
  23. VK5AFAN
  24. VK3CAT
  25. VK3APC
  26. VK3WSG
  27. VK3ACZ
  28. VK3KR
  29. VK2IO
  30. VK2GEZ
  31. VK7IAN
  32. VK3MCK
  33. VK3EJ
  34. VK1CHW
  35. VK2YAK/P
  36. VK4YAK/P
  37. VK2OKR
  38. VK2AUS
  39. VK3WRD
  40. VK3UAO
  41. VK3KGW
  42. VK5CZ
  43. VK3MGM
  44. VK2HAK
  45. VK3AMO
  46. VK4EMP
  47. VK4TI
  48. VK4GKO
  49. VK3VIN
  50. VK4FDJL
  51. VK4WAB
  52. VK3PWG/P
  53. VK3TTK/P
  54. VK5TN
  55. VK5DW

It was getting late and I still had a long drive ahead of me to get back home. I packed up and headed west along the Mallee Highway. I stopped briefly in the town of Underbool to stretch my legs. This is another favourite little town of mine along the Mallee Highway.

During the 1850’s, Europeans commenced to settle in the Underbool district. This included pastoralists Clow, Ellerman and Cameron who sought leases. However, life here was difficult. It was a desolate and remote region with drought and vermin being just some of the difficulties faced by those who decided to settle in the area. (Underbool 2024)

The exact origin of the name Underbool is unclear. Some suggest Underbool is derived from the aboriginal word ‘wimbool’ meaning the ear, or ‘bool’ meaning ‘water’. (Blake 1978)

While others believe the name is derived from the German word underbolt, given to it by surveyor Dr. Georg von Neumayer who camped in the area in October 1861. (Blake 1978)

Above:- Georg von Neumayer. Image c/o Wikipedia.

By 1883, the Mallee Leases Act approved the establishment of A and B Blocks by dividing Mallee land in lines of 10 mile intervals. T.H.Turner surveyed the County of Weeah into A and B blocks in 1887. (Underbool 2024)         

During the early 1900’s the then Premier of Victoria, Sir Thomas Bent, recognised the potential for agricultural development along the Ouyen to Kow Plains route. This followed the successful settlement of Mallee land in the nearby South Australia. (Underbool 2024)

By 1907, the Mallee Select Committee recommended that Kow Plains be opened for selection and that a rail link should be established. Land was opened for selection as rail selections were completed. The block sizes were set at 600-700 acres. (Underbool 2024)

The Parish of Underbool was surveyed on the 24th day of July 1910. By August 1910, 31,000 acres of land were declared available in the Parish of Underbool. This consisted of 92 blocks. The demand was immediate and a list of the successful applicants appeared in The Age newspaper on the 20th day of December 1910. (Underbool 2024)

Above:- Article from The Age, Mon 12 Sep 1910. Image c/o Trove.

A post office opened ay Underbool on the 15th day of July 1912 when a regular mail service was provided following he opening of the railway from Ouyen to Murrayville a month earlier in June 1912. Underbool Primary School (No. 3819) opened on the 5th day of November 1913. (Phoenix 2012) (Underbool 2024)

Above:- Article from the Ouyen Mail, Mon 18 Sep 1933. Image c/o Trove

I continued along the Mallee Highway and crossed into South Australia.

My next stop was the little town of Parilla in South Australia. As I entered the town I enjoyed a magnificent sunset.

Parilla is believed to be an aboriginal word meaning ‘cold place’. The township of Parilla was proclaimed on the 4th day of January 1894. There is a magnificent mural in Parila entitled “Impression of Parilla 1914” acknowledges the early pioneers who established the town. The images appearing on the mural were designed from various photographs in a local history book. (Monument Australia 2024)

I then stopped briefly to have a look at the Lameroo silo. Unfortunately, I was running short of time and decided not to activate the silo for the Silos On the Air (SiOTA) program. The silo was completed in April 2024. I had been through Lameroo numerous times before but this was prior to the silo art being completed. The silo art features a Mallee farmer and a windmill. The artist was ‘Smug’ Sam Bates. (Silo Art 2024)

I stopped off along the way to get a bite to eat and made it home by earlu evening.

Thank you to everyone who called me while I was away.

References.

  1. Australiansiloarttrail.com. (2024). Lameroo Silo Art. [online] Available at: https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/lameroo [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].
  2. ‌Clark, I, Hercus, L, Kostanski, L, 1958, Indigenous and Minority Places Names.
  3. 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 Dec. 2024].‌
  4. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
  5. Phoenixauctions.com.au. (2022). Post Office List – Phoenix. [online] Available at: https://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&filter=. [Accessed 13 Dec 2024]
  6. ‌UBC Web Design (2020). Impression of Parilla 1914 | Monument Australia. [online] Monumentaustralia.org.au. Available at: https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/landscape/settlement/display/119375-impression-of-parilla-1914 [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].
  7. ‌Underbool.vic.au. (2023). History – Underbool, Victoria. [online] Available at: https://www.underbool.vic.au/about-us/history/ [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].‌

Walpeup I101 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4191

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My next park for Friday 23rd August 2024 was the Walpeup I101 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4191.

The reserve is located about 7 km south of the town of Walpeup in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Walpeup I101 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

Along the way, I had another look at access to the Gnarr I237 Bushland Reserve. It shows as bright green on MapshareVic which indicates the public can access it. However, the only apparent access point was a road running off Aikman Road, and there were two gates at this location and they were padlocked.

The reserve is located on the western side of Donnelly Road and to the north of Stock Route Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Walpeup I101 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 43 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

I found a dirt track leading into the park. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK5MAZ
  2. VK3APJ
  3. VK3HJW
  4. VK3PF
  5. VK5TUX
  6. VK3SQ
  7. VK2BD
  8. VK5AYL
  9. VK3PWG/P
  10. VK3TTK/P
  11. VK2HAK
  12. VK7DW
  13. VK2VW
  14. VK2HFI
  15. VK2AKA
  16. VK2BUG
  17. VK3CEO
  18. VK3MTT
  19. VK3ZPF
  20. VK3JW
  21. VK2RK
  22. VK2ACR
  23. VK5JK
  24. VK3ZSC
  25. VK5AC
  26. VK5HS/M
  27. VK2IO/M
  28. VK2GEZ/M
  29. VK2SLB
  30. VK2BRN
  31. VK2KBT
  32. VK3EJ

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK7XX
  2. VK2KBT
  3. VK2BRN
  4. VK2SLB
  5. VK5MAZ
  6. VK7HBR
  7. VK5QA/4
  8. VK3CLD/4
  9. VK2DBF/4
  10. VK4EMP
  11. VK4TI
  12. VK4GKO
  13. VK2VW
  14. VK2HFI
  15. VK2AKA
  16. VK2BUG
  17. KG5CIK
  18. VK7HCK
  19. VK2MW
  20. VK2COS
  21. VK2IO/M
  22. VK2GEZ/M
  23. VK2TM
  24. OH2CGU
  25. VK7SW
  26. VK7AAE
  27. VK7DWS
  28. IW2NXI
  29. IK4IDF
  30. VK4HNS
  31. VK2TER
  32. ZL4KD
  33. OH5EP
  34. VK6XL/5
  35. F5PYI
  36. VK3SX
  37. SQ9CWO

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 Dec. 2024].‌

Mamengoroock I18 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4234

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My third park activation for Friday 23rd August 2024 was the Mamengoroock I18 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4234.

The reserve is located about 18 km north of Underbool in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Mamengoroock I18 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

To access the park I took a dirt track that ran off Bertalli Road. It took me passed the ruins of an old farm with several old tractors rusting away.

This was quite an isolated location. The reserve is located just to the south of the remote expanse of the Murray Sunset National Park.

Above:- An aerial view of the Mamengoroock I18 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. Mount Gnarr is just to the south of the park. It is not really a mountain, more like a hill at just 99 metres above sea level. (CAPAD 2022) (Peak Advisor 2024)

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:-

  1. VK5MAZ
  2. VK7XX
  3. VK2SLB
  4. VK2BRN
  5. VK2KBT
  6. VK3SO
  7. VK3SFG
  8. VK7HBR
  9. VK2VW
  10. VK2HFI
  11. VK2AKA
  12. VK2BUG
  13. VK3PF
  14. VK3MCK
  15. VK2DML
  16. VK7AAE
  17. VK7DWS
  18. VK4EMP
  19. VK4TI
  20. VK4GKO
  21. VK2EXA
  22. VK2IO
  23. VK2GEZ
  24. VK3PWG/P
  25. VK3TTK/P
  26. VK2JDL
  27. VK5HS
  28. VK4MUD

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK5MAZ
  3. VK5HS
  4. VK3WSG/P (VKFF-2151)
  5. VK2EXA
  6. VK3EJ
  7. VK3APJ
  8. VK3VIN
  9. VK3MTT
  10. VK2DWPO
  11. VK5FANA
  12. VK3SQ
  13. VK2BD
  14. VK3CA
  15. VK3HM
  16. VK5TUX
  17. VK2MOE
  18. VK1MO
  19. VK3PWG
  20. VK3TTK
  21. VK2SLB
  22. VK2BRN
  23. VK2KBT
  24. VK5WU
  25. VK3ANL
  26. VK3HJW
  27. VK2VW
  28. VK2HFI
  29. VK2AKA
  30. VK2BUG
  31. VK2GQR
  32. VK5AC
  33. VK3UAO
  34. VK3ZPF
  35. VK3JW

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 Dec. 2024].‌
  2. PeakVisor (2022). Mount Gnarr. [online] PeakVisor. Available at: https://peakvisor.com/peak/mount-gnarr.html [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].‌

Mamengoroock I72 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4174

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After leaving the Worooa Bushland Reserve on 23rd August 2024, I headed to my next planned park activation, the Purnya Bushland Reserve. However, this did not end well. The park showed up as bright green on the MapshareVic website, which indicates public access is allowed. However, it was not easy to access the park. I initially took Megaw Road which ran off the northern side of the Mallee Highway which turned into Kinnersley Road. But I soon started encountering gates. In the end, I decided not to continue.

It was off to option number two, the Mamengoroock I72 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4174.

The reserve is located about 14 km north of Underbool in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Mamengoroock I72 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The park is located at the corner of Mamengoroock Road and Bertalli Road, Underbool.

Above:- An aerial view of the Mamengoroock I72 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

Mamengoroock is an aboriginal reference to great father, e.g. spirit god. (Blake 1978) It is interesting to note that there is a Mamengorook I236 Bushland Reserve. Note the spelling difference.

The Mamengoroock I71 Bushland Reserve is about 144 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

To the north of the park is the great expanse of the Murray Sunset National Park.

Above:- An aerial view of the park looking north. Image c/o Google Maps.

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I logged a total of 67 QSOs.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK5MAZ
  2. VK3PF
  3. VK3CEO
  4. VK5JK
  5. VK3APJ
  6. VK3VIN
  7. VK3BBB
  8. VK2CCP
  9. VK5GY
  10. VK5TUX
  11. VK3SMW
  12. VK2IO
  13. VK2GEZ
  14. VK3PWG
  15. VK3TTK
  16. VK3ANL
  17. VK3WSG/P (VKFF-2151)
  18. VK2VAR
  19. VK2GOM
  20. VK3EJ
  21. VK2VW
  22. VK2HFI
  23. VK2AKA
  24. VK2BUG
  25. VK3CA
  26. VK3HM
  27. VK2SLB
  28. VK2BRN
  29. VK2KBT
  30. VK5CZ
  31. VK3KRL
  32. VK3HJW
  33. VK7EE
  34. VK3ZPF
  35. VK3JW
  36. VK1XX/M
  37. VK1CHW/P (VKFF-0834)
  38. VK3UAO
  39. VK1AD/P (SOTA VK1/ AC-021 & VKFF-033)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK2IP
  2. VK2GEZ
  3. VK3PWF
  4. VK3TTK
  5. VK3PF
  6. VK4EMP
  7. VK4TI
  8. VK4GKO
  9. VK3ZZS
  10. VK2VW
  11. VK2HFI
  12. VK2AKA
  13. VK2BUG
  14. VK2SLB
  15. VK2BRN
  16. VK2KBT
  17. VK4HNS
  18. VK2VAR
  19. VK2GOM
  20. VK7XX
  21. VK4KLA
  22. VK4CEG
  23. VK1DI
  24. VK2VIN
  25. VK7MAZ
  26. VK7AAE
  27. VK7DWS
  28. 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 Dec. 2024].‌
  2. ‌Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.

Worooa Bushland Reserve VKFF-4165

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It was now Friday 23rd August and it was to be my last day of activating on the Werrimul Victoria trip. My plans for the day were to activate some parks and then head home to Ashbourne.

My first park for the day was the Worooa Bushland Reserve VKFF-4165.

The park is located about 41 km east of Murrayville in northwest Victoria.

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

Before heading to the park, I drove around the town of Murrayville to take a few photographs. Marija and I have visited Murrayville several times and love this little town.

Before European settlement, the Murrayville area was home to the Wergaia or Werriga Aboriginal people who lived in the Wimmera and Mallee regions. (Aussie Towns 2024)

Above:- Map of aboriginal tribal territories in Victoria. Image c/o Tirin aka Takver, WIkipedia.

In 1849 Edward Riggs White was appointed to survey the border between South Australia and Victoria. He attempted to develop a road between the Murray Darling junction and the upper Wimmera in Victoria. Between 1852 and 1862, annual depasturing licences were being issued, however few were taken up. During the 1860s cattle was being driven from Kow Plains near Murrayville to Nhill Station. (Aussie Towns 2024)

The area around Murrayville was not settled until the early 1900s. Test bores were sunk by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission to establish if there was reliable water. By 1909 selectors commenced to move into the district and began clearing scrub for farming. (Aussie Towns 2024)

The town of Murrayville was surveyed in 1910. In that same year, the Post Office opened. In 1911 a hotel was built. In 1912 a school and a mechanics institute were opened. Murrayville’s first agricultural show was held in 1917. In 1923 St Peters Lutheran church was built and in 1929 the Anglican church was consecrated (Aussie Towns 2024)

Above:- A plan of the township of Murrayville. Image c/o State Library Victoria.

Murayville is named in honour of John ‘Jack’ Murray (b. 1851 d. 1916) who was the Premier of Victoria from 1909-1912. (Aussie Towns 2024)

Above:- John Murray. Image c/o Wikipedia.

On the 4th day of May 1916, Murray was riding on his horse, along a street in Warrnambool. His horse was frightened and bolted. Murray eventually controlled the horse and upon his alighting, he collapsed and died. He was buried with a State funeral attended by nearly 2,000 people including First Nation’s people. His funeral procession was nearly 3.2 km long. (Aust. Dict. Biography 2024)

Above:- Article from the Dungog Chronicle, Tues 9 May 1916. Image c/o Trove.

The Murrayville Hotel is the town’s most impressive building. It was built in 1918.

Murrayville’s main street is evidence of what was once a thriving town.

Murrayville is home to former Olympic basketball Rachael Sporn.

And of course, Murrayville has a Bill’s horse trough

Murrayville also has a rather unusual collection of old army tanks. They are located next to the self-serve service station on the eastern side of town.

The story behind these tanks varies depending on what you read on the internet. I found some YouTube posts where it was reported that the tanks were purchased from an army disposal sale at Bandiana near Wodonga. It is reported that they were purchased for steel to be used in an engineering manufacturing business owned by Peter Peers. Two were used in his limestone surface quarry at Cowangie. Several others were sold to military collectors while another was donated to a military museum. Engines were used in other earthmoving machinery built by Peers. Armour plate from the tanks was also used to construct chain which was pulled to clear mallee scrub. (Murrayville Tank Graveyard 2017) (On Roads Less Travelled 2024)

Other sites report that the tanks were purchased in Darwin and were to be converted into tractors or bulldozers to be used by farmers for use in agricultural and earthmoving duties.

The tanks include some M3 Grant tanks.

Above:- M3 Lee/Grant tanks, Egypt, 1942. Image c/o Wikipedia.

Below is an interesting video on the M3 Lee/Grant army tank.

The story about Mr. Peter Peers is very interesting. Peter Robert Nelson Peers was born in 1911 at Fairfield, Victoria. Peter was just 4 years old when he was lost in the bush. He rode a horse to school. He studied electrical and mechanical engineering and worked on the family farm at Duddo. In 1942 he married Lucy Stella Duffin who was a teacher. They had four children. Peter had an engineering workshop in Murrayville. He also ran a school bus service. In the early 1960s he established a surface limestone quarry and crushing plant. He retired at the grand old age of 93. Peter was a life member of the Ouyen Harness Racing Club and the Murrayville Lawn Tennis Club. He was a renowned storyteller and loved music from the 1920s to 1940s. He played piano, banjo and steel guitar. Peter died in 2010 at Pinaroo, South Australia, aged 99 years. His wife Lucy of 67 years, died 4 days later. (Ancestry.com.au) (The Age 2024)

The Worooa Bushland Reserve is located on Cummings Road.

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

Worooa is an aboriginal word meaning ‘green’. The Reserve is about 2 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. (Blake 1978) (CAPAD 2022)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK2IO
  3. VK2GEZ
  4. VK3TV
  5. VK1DI
  6. VK3VIN
  7. VK5GY
  8. VK3CA
  9. VK3HM
  10. VK5MAZ
  11. VK5CZ
  12. VK2EXA
  13. VK3MTT
  14. VK4FDJL
  15. VK4GOB
  16. VK3APJ
  17. VK3ZPF
  18. VK3JW
  19. VK2SLB
  20. VK2BRN
  21. VK2KBT
  22. VK5TUX
  23. VK3CEO
  24. VK3HJW
  25. VK3SO
  26. VK3SFG
  27. VK6XL
  28. VK2VW
  29. VK2HFI
  30. VK2AKA
  31. VK2BUG
  32. VK1ARQ
  33. VK3SQ
  34. VK2BD
  35. VK3MCK
  36. VK4HNS
  37. VK3AMO

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK2SLB
  2. VK2BRN
  3. VK2KBT
  4. VK5MAZ
  5. VK4EMP
  6. VK4TI
  7. VK4GKO
  8. VK2KET
  9. VK5AYL
  10. VK6LK
  11. VK6LMK
  12. VK2IO
  13. VK2GEZ
  14. VK2VW
  15. VK2HFI
  16. VK2AKA
  17. VK2BUG

References.

  1. ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/ [Accessed 12 Dec 2024]
  2. ‌Aussie Towns. (n.d.). Murrayville, VIC. [online] Available at: https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/murrayville-vic. [Accessed 8 Dec. 2024].
  3. ‌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 Dec. 2024].‌
  4. Elagabalus65 (2017). Murrayville Tank Graveyard: June 2017. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jx18KwpAVA [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].
  5. ‌Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
  6. On Roads Less Travelled Off-Road Adventures (2024). WW2 tank’s Murrayville: inside and out. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FSeb7aDgzY [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].
  7. ‌rodeime (2024). WWII tanks in the Aussie bush. [online] Travel-news-photos-stories.com. Available at: https://www.travel-news-photos-stories.com/2016/01/wwii-tanks-in-aussie-bush.html [Accessed 8 Dec. 2024].
  8. ‌Serle, G. (1986). Murray, John (Jack) (1851–1916). [online] Anu.edu.au. Available at: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/murray-john-jack-7710 [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].‌
  9. The Age. (2010). Engineer helped build the Mallee. [online] Available at: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/engineer-helped-build-the-mallee-20100318-qidd.html [Accessed 12 Dec. 2024].‌

Poland SOTA certificate

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A very pleasant surprise this morning to find the certificate below in my email inbox.

The certificate was issued by Leszek SQ9MDF in recognition of me contacting him several times whilst he was activating summits for the Summits On The Air (SOTA) program.

Thank you very much, Leszek.

Drendles Bushland Reserve VKFF-4161

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My final activation for Thursday 22nd August 2024 was the Drendles Bushland Reserve VKFF-4161.

The reserve is located about 27 km east of Murrayville in northwest Victoria.

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

The park is at the end of a dirt track that runs off the Mallee Highway’s southern side.

Above:- Aerial view of the Drendles Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

By the time I reached the park it was dark.

I ran out the 20/40/80m linked dipole in the dark with my head torch. I ran the Yaesu FT857 and 40 watts output.

It was a beautiful balmy evening and no mosquitoes. My location was quite remote, with the Big Desert Wilderness Area and North Wyperfeld Wilderness Area to my south. To my north was the vast Murray Sunset National Park.

Above:- An aerial view of the Drendles Bushland Reserve looking north. Image c/o Google Maps.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK5MAZ
  2. VK3PF
  3. VK7UK
  4. VK2EXA
  5. VK4SMA
  6. VK4FDJL
  7. VK4WAB
  8. VK3APJ
  9. VK5WU
  10. VK3HJW
  11. VK3SO
  12. VK3SFG
  13. VK6DS
  14. VK3SQ
  15. VK2BD
  16. VK4EMP
  17. VK4TI
  18. VK4GKO
  19. VK3EJ
  20. VK3VIN
  21. VK5PE
  22. VK4HNS
  23. VK2IO
  24. VK2GEZ
  25. KG5CIK
  26. VK7PJM
  27. VK4HMI
  28. VK5HS
  29. VK3MAW
  30. VK6JK
  31. VK5AKR
  32. VK2OKR
  33. VK5ZNP
  34. VK2FSAA

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK3APJ
  3. VK2OKR
  4. VK2AUS
  5. VK4EMP
  6. VK4TI
  7. VK4GKO
  8. VK2YAK
  9. VK4YAK
  10. VK4HNS
  11. VK7HAM
  12. VK5LA
  13. VK5KAW
  14. VK5MAZ
  15. VK5PE
  16. VK2IO
  17. VK2GEZ
  18. VK5HS
  19. VK5ZNP

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 3 Dec. 2024].‌