Our first activation for Thursday 24th October 2024, was the Brim silo VK-BRN, for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program.

Brim is located about 21 km north of Warracknabeal, and about 357 km northwest of Melbourne.

Above:- Map showing the location of Brim, Victoria. Map c/o Google Maps.

Prior to European settlement, the area around Brim was home to the Wergaia and Wotjobaluk aboriginal people. It is thought that Brim is a local First Nations word meaning “a spring” or “a well”. (Aussie Towns 2023)

The first European to settle in the area was Henry Davis in 1848. During the 1870s, more European settlers moved into the district. In 1870 Brim station homestead was built. In 1890, a school was opened in Brim and this was followed by a Post office. By 1893 the railway between Warracknabeal and Bealuh had opened, and the railway line passed through Brim. (Aussie Towns 2023)

In Simson Street, Brim, you can find the headstone of James Simson. Brime Station had a burial ground and one with a headstone survived, that of James Simson. It was moved to Simson Street. (Findagrave.com 2021)

Simson was formerly a Commander in the Honourable East India Company Service. He died in 1858 after being gored by a bullock. (Vic.gov.au 2015)

The Brim silos are part of the Australian SIlo Art Trail. They were painted in 2016 by the world-renowned Australian artist Guido Van Helten. The silos feature the anonymous faces of Victorian farmers. (Australiansiloarttrail.com 2022) 

There are excellent information boards at the silo detailing the silo art.

Below is an excellent video on Brim and the Brimi silo art.

Marija and I parked in the silo carpark and operated from the vehicle. We ran 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 at the Brim silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK7PJM
3. VK2VAR
4. VK2GOM
5. VK2IO/P (Ryans Lagoon NCR VKFF-2186)

Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4CEG
2. VK2VW
3. VK2HFI
4. VK2AKA
5. VK2BUG

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK7PJM
3. VK2VAR
4. VK2GOM
5. VK2IO/P
6. VK3VMM
7. VK3UP/M
8. VK3EI
9. VK3DX
10. VK1AO
11. VK2MET
12. VK3WSG
13. VK3CR
14. VK3APJ
15. VK5MOS
16. VK3NDG
17. VK3CJN
18. VK3QHU
19. VK3HO
20. VK2IO/P (Ryans Lagoon NCR VKFF-2186)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4CEG
2. VK2VW
3. VK2HFI
4. VK2AKA
5. VK2BUG

References.

1. Aussie Towns. (2023). Brim, VIC – Aussie Towns. [online] Available at: https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/brim-vic [Accessed 16 Mar. 2025].
2. Australiansiloarttrail.com. (2022). \r\n \n Brim Silo Art\n \r\n. [online] Available at: https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/brim [Accessed 16 Mar. 2025].
3. ‌‌Findagrave.com. (2021). James Simson (1821-1858) – Find a Grave Memorial. [online] Available at: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/227832483/james-simson [Accessed 16 Mar. 2025].
4. ‌Vic.gov.au. (2015). Brim. [online] Available at: https://www.yarriambiack.vic.gov.au/Discover-Yarriambiack/Towns-To-Visit/Brim-Town [Accessed 16 Mar. 2025].
5. ‌

Our final activation for Wednesday 23rd October 2024, was the Rainbow Bushland Reserve VKFF-5759 and the Rainbow silo VK-RNW3.

The reserve is located about 402 km northwest of Melbourne.

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

The reserve is located on the western side of Park Street and the northern side of Kruger Road.

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

By the time we reached the reserve it was totally dark. The Rainbow Bushland Reserve is about 12 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. (CAPAD 2024)

We positioned ourselves in the northern section of the park in the activation zone of the Rainbow silo VK-RNW3. Unfortunately we were just outside of the activation zone of the Rainbiow 2 silo VK-RNO3.

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

Above:- the activation zone at the Rainbow silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5LA
2. VK5KAW
3. VK3SQ
4. VK2BD
5. VK5HS
6. VK3WSG
7. VK4MRH
8. VK3PF
9. VK3KAI
10. VK3GJG
11. VK2IO/P (VKFF-4631)
12. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-4631)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5LA
2. VK5KAW
3. VK3SQ
4. VK2BD
5. VK5HS
6. VK3WSG
7. VK4MRH
8. VK3PF
9. VK3KAI
10. VK3GJG
11. VK5DW
12. KD1CT
13. VK3APJ
14. VK7PJM
15. VK3CEO
16. VK1AO
17. VK2MET
18. VK2PV/P
19. KG8P
20. VK5AMH
21. VK3ZSC
22. VK3KRL
23. VK2IO/P (VKFF-4631)
24. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-4631)
25. VK3ZK
26. VK7WC
27. VK2EG
28. VK2AGS
29. VK5FANA

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 14 Mar. 2025].‌

After leaving the Albacutya I257 Bushland Reserve on 23rd October 2024, Marija and I drove the short distance to our next park activation, the Albacutya I171 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4472.

The reserve is located about 9 km north of Rainbow in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Albacutya I171 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The reserve is located on the northern side of Bullock Bottom Road.

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

The reserve is about 133 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. It is signposted as the Bullocks Bottom Bushland Reserve.

This was another easy park to access, with an open gate and a 4WD track leading into the park. It was almost dark by the time we set up. Marija and I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK5LA
4. VK5KAW
5. VK3PWG
6. VK3TTK
7. VK3SQ
8. VK2BD
9. VK1AO
10. VK2MET

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK5LA
4. VK5KAW
5. VK3PWG
6. VK3TTK
7. VK3SQ
8. VK2BD
9. VK1AO
10. VK2MET
11. VK3APK
12. VK7PJM
13. VK4SMA
14. VK5DW
15. VK4MRH
16. VK2LQ
17. VK2PCT
18. VK4HMI
19. VK2IO/M
20. VK2GEZ/M
21. VK3WSG
22. VK5HS
23. VK3KRL
24. VK2EG

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 14 Mar. 2025].‌

After dinner on 23rd October 2024, Marija and I activated the Albacutya I257 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4473.

The reserve is located about 9 km north of Rainbow.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Albacutya I257 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The reserve is located on the southern side of Jacks Track, a few hundred metres from the Hopetoun-Rainbow Road.

Above:- Aerial view of the reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

Albacutya is derived from the Wergaia aboriginal word for nearby Lake Albacatya “Ngelbakutya”. (Griffin 2018)

The reserve is about 4 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. It is signposted as Griggs Reserve.

This was an easy park to access. There were no fences and there was a 4WD track leading into the park. Marija operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metres stainless steel whip.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK2BD
3. VK3PF
4. VK3KAI
5. VK1AO
6. VK2MET
7. VK4HMI
8. VK4SMA
9. VK7PJM
10. VK3APJ

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK2BD
3. VK3PF
4. VK3KAI
5. VK1AO
6. VK2MET
7. VK4HMI
8. VK4SMA
9. VK7PJM
10. VK3APJ
11. VK3KRL
12. VK3PWG
13. VK3TKK
14. VK3GJG
15. VK5LA
16. VK5KAW
17. VK2IO/m
18. VK2GEZ/m
19. VK2EG
20. VK2PV/p
21. VK4MRH
22. 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 14 Mar. 2025].‌
2. Griffin, Darren; Muir, Ben, 2018, “Barringgi Gadyin – The Wimmera River and Wotjobaluk Connection to Country”

After leaving the Elam silo on 23rd October 2024, Marija and I continued north towards our next activation, the Albacutya silo VK-ALA3.

Above:- Map showing the location of Albacutya. Map c/o Google Maps.

As we drove into the town of Rainbow, we stopped briefly to look at Rainbow Lake, a man-made lake popular for swimming and kayaking.

We then visited the little town of Rainbow on the southern edge of the Victorian Mallee country. The town’s name comes from a property in the area known as ‘Rainbow Rise’ which in turn was named due to it being located near a crescent-shaped ridge that in spring was alive with colourful wildflowers. (Aussie Towns 2025)

Rainbow has several murals that are located in and around Federal Street. The Centennary of Rail to Rainbow mural depicts one of the first passenger trains into Rainbow Station. The Commonwealth Hotel mural depicts the magnificent hotel that was demolished in 1959.

Marija and I then had a look at Yurunga Homestead in Rainbow. This heritage listed Edwardian style home was built in 1909 by Mr. A.G. Cust. (Visit Wimmera Mallee 2025)

Rainbow is a beautiful little town. In the main street, Federal Street, you can find the Rainbow War Memorial. The monument commemorates all those from the Rainbow district who served in World War One and World War Two.

The monument is surrounded by dozens of rose bushes which were in full bloom during our visit.

Marija and I then had dinner at the Eureka Hotel in Rainbow. The Eureka Hotel was built in 1905. (Flickr 2025)

On our way to the Albacutya silo we stopped to have a look at the murals located on the corner of Hopetoun-Rainbow Road and Albacutya Road. There are three murals painted on large panels. They depict the history of nearby Lake Albacutya.

The Albacutya silos are part of the Australian Silo Art Trail. The silo art was completed in May 2021 and is the work of Melbourne artist Kitt Bennett. (Australiansiloarttrail.com, 2022)

Kitt Bennett spent several weeks exploring the local area and speaking with locals. He commenced compiling a series of sketches and paintings that would form the basis of the final design of the silos. Kitt drew on his childhood experience in growing up in the bush and catching yabbies in the creeks. The concept of the boy on the motorbike was based on the son of the silo owner.

Marija and I parked in the silo carpark and operated from the 4WD. We ran 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 at the Albacutya silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3WSG
2. VK1CHW
3. VK7PJM
4. VK3APJ

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3WSG
2. VK1CHW
3. VK7PJM
4. VK3APJ
5. VK3USA
6. VK2IO/m
7. VK5WU
8. VK5FB
9. VK3SQ
10. VK2BD
11. VK1AO
12. VK2MET
13. VK7MAD

References.

1. Aussie Towns. (n.d.). Rainbow, VIC. [online] Available at: https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/rainbow-vic [Accessed 12 Feb. 2025]
2. ‌Australiansiloarttrail.com. (2022). \r\n \n Albacutya Silo Art\n \r\n. [online] Available at: https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/albacutya [Accessed 12 Feb. 2025].
3. ‌Flickr. (2025). Rainbow. One of the two grand hotels built in Rainbow in 1905. This is the Eureka Hotel. Almost next door is the Royal Hotel. [online] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/24108525150 [Accessed 12 Feb. 2025].
4. ‌Visit Wimmera Mallee. (2025). Yurunga Homestead – Visit Wimmera Mallee. [online] Available at: https://visitwimmeramallee.com.au/business-listing/yurunga-homestead/ [Accessed 14 Mar. 2025].‌

Here is a selection of the latest QSL cards received for VK5MAZ and VK5PAS.

Here are some recent QSL cards received for VI7POL.

Here are my latest FT8 award certificates.

Thankyou to all of the FT8 operators around the world and the various Award Managers for this time.