After leaving the Dergholm Streamside Reserve on Thursday, 31st October 2024, we drove to the monument for Brimbunyah ‘Red Cap’, who was one of the First Eleven Aboriginal cricket team that toured England in 1868.

The date of birth of Brimbunyah ‘Red Cap’ is not known. He represented Australia in every one of the 47 matches. His highest score was 56, with his strike rate with the ball second only to Twopenny. On his return to Australia, Red Cap obtained a grant of 40 acres of land near the Dergholm River where he built a hut. He was employed on standard European wages as a shearer. He died between 1891 and 1894.

We left Red Cap’s monument and crossed the Glenelg River on the Dergholm-Chtewynd Road.

We soon reached our fourth park for the day, the Dergholm State Park VKFF-0756.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Dergolm State Park. Map c/o Google Maps.

The Dergholm State Park is separated into two sections. The park is about 10,882 hectares in size and was established on the 23rd day of September 1992. (CAPAD 2022)

Above:- An aerial view of the Dergholm State Park. Image c/o Google Earth.

The park contains woodlands, open forests, heaths, and dry swamps. The park is traversed by the Glenelg River. The park is home to echidnas, koalas, eastern grey kangaroos, and sugar gliders. You can also find marbled geckos, eastern blue-tongued lizards and tiger snakes. Birdlife includes the red-tailed black cockatoo, swift parrot and powerful owl. (Wikipedia 2023)

Prior to activating, Marija and I visited Bailey’s Rocks, a series of large 500 million-year-old granite rocks.

Marija and I operated from the Bailey’s Rocks camping area. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2HAK
2. VK2IO/P (VKFF-2903)
3. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-2903)
4. VK3WSG/P (VKFF-5754
5. VK3PF
6. VK3CEO
7. VK5MK
8. VK5CZ
9. VK3HJW
10. VK3YY/P (SOTA VK3/ VT-016)
11. VK7AN

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2HAK
2. VK2IO/P (VKFF-2903)
3. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-2903)
4. VK3WSG/P (VKFF-5754
5. VK3PF
6. VK3CEO
7. VK5MK
8. VK5CZ
9. VK3HJW
10. VK3YY/P (SOTA VK3/ VT-016)
11. VK7AN
12. VK3VIN
13. VK7PJM
14. VK1DI
15. VK2VAR
16. VK2GOM
17. VK3UP
18. VK5WY/M
19. VK3APJ
20. VK7EE
21. VK1CHW
22. VK3DL
23. VK5PE
24. VK3AMO
25. VK5HAA
26. VK3HBG
27. VK3SQ
28. VK2BD

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK1AO
2. VK2MET
3. VK4EW

I worked the following station on 20m FT8:-

1. F5UOU

I worked the following stations on 40m FT8:-

1. VK3CEO
2. VK3APJ
3. VK5CZ
4. VK3SQ
5. VK3PF
6. VK3KAI
7. VK3UH
8. VK3UAO
9. VK1DI
10. VK1AO

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK2IO/P (VKFF-2903)
2. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-2903)
3. VK3SQ
4. VK2BD

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 Jun. 2025]
2. Wikipedia Contributors (2023). Dergholm State Park. Wikipedia.‌