Our final activation for Thursday, the 6th day of November 2025, was Mystic Park Bushland Reserve VKFF-5618. The park is located about 17km southeast of Lake Boga.

Above: Map showing the location of Mystic Park Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps

We drove along the western side of Kangaroo Lake.

We crossed several irrigation channels.

Mystic Park Bushland Reserve is located on the western side of Murray Valley Highway. The southern boundary is Mystic Park E Road. The northern boundary is Bailey Road.

Above: the boundaries of Mystic Park Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth

The locality of Mystic Park takes its name from the Mystic Park Hotel, which was established in 1879 on the stagecoach run to Swan Hill. The publican had an affection for horse racing, and as there was a Mystic Park race track in Massachusetts, USA. In 1890, a railway station was opened on the Piangil Railway line. In 1893, a township was gazetted. In its heyday, it contained a church, a school, a mechanics institute and a football club. (Victorianplaces.com.au, 2026) (Wikipedia 2024)

Above: article from The Kerang Times, Fri 9 Jun 1893. Image c/o Trove

John Gorton was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1968 to 1971. He lived in Mystic Park for a significant portion of his life. (Wikipedia 2024)

Above: John Gorton. Image c/o Wikipedia

In April 1946, at Mystic Park Hall, Gorton delivered an address to a welcome-home gathering for returned soldiers. It was described by some as “Australia’s best unknown political speech.

I want you to forget it is I who am standing here. And I want you to see instead Bob Davey. And behind him I want you to see an army; regiment on regiment of young men, dead. They say to you, burning in tanks and aeroplanes, drowning in submarines, shattered and broken by high explosive shells, we gave the last full measure of devotion. We bought your freedom with our lives. So take this freedom. Guard it as we have guarded it, use it as we can no longer use it, and with it as a foundation, build. Build a world in which meanness and poverty, tyranny and hate, have no existence. If you see and hear these men behind me – do not fail them. (Wikipedia 2019)

Mystic Park Bushland Reserve is about 645 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. Sadly, we found that vandals had spray-painted graffiti on the park sign. (Dcceew.gov.au 2025)

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

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5NJ
2. VK3PF/M
3. VK3KAI/M
4. VK4SMA
5. VK2IO
6. VK2GEZ
7. VK5FANA
8. VK4FODM
9. VK3TDK
10. VK3NYC

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5NJ
2. VK3PF/M
3. VK3KAI/M
4. VK4SMA
5. VK2IO
6. VK2GEZ
7. VK5FANA
8. VK4FODM
9. VK3TDK
10. VK3NYC
11. VK4EMP
12. VK4TI
13. VK4GKO
14. VK4QRZ
15. VK4GAP
16. VK2NP
17. VK2EXA
18. VK2BL
19. VK2USH
20. VK3KBC
21. VK3NS
22. VK2HAK
23. VK3DAC
24. VK3MIJ
25. VK2VIC
26. VK1VIC
27. VK2GOY
28. VK3APJ
29. VK4CK
30. VK1CHW
31. VK3AIK
32. VK2DA
33. VK1DA
34. VK3UH
35. VK3JDO
36. VK7KT
37. VK3AIW

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK3KBC
2. VK3NS
3. VK4CPS
4. VK2USH
5. VK2JPR
6. VK3DAC
7. VK2VIC
8. VK1VIC
9. VK2GOY
10. VK4CK
11. VK2CHW
12. VK1CHW
13. VK2HAK

Marija and I packed up and we headed back towards Swan Hill.

We stopped at the site of Burke and Wills Camp 14 on the Murray Valley Highway between Mystic Park and Lake Boga. It is one of 54 recognised camp sites between Melbourne and Coopers Creek during the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition in 1860.

Below is an excellent video on the Burke and Wills expedition.

Marija and I then headed out for dinner. It had been a great day of activating.

References.

1. Dcceew.gov.au. (2025). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database 2024 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2024. [Accessed 17 Apr. 2026]‌
2. Victorianplaces.com.au. (2026). Mystic Park | Victorian Places. [online] Available at: https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/mystic-park [Accessed 17 Apr. 2026].
3. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Mystic Park. Wikipedia.‌
4. Wikipedia Contributors (2019). John Gorton. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gorton. [Accessed 17 Apr. 2026]‌

It was getting towards the end of Thursday, the 6th day of November 2025, but we still had some time to squeeze in a few more park activations for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Above: Map showing the location of Cullens Lake Wildlife Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps

Marija and I drove south along Benjeroop-Lake Charm Road into the little town of Lake Charm. The town is surrounded by a series of lakes: Lake Charm to the northeast, Salt Lake to the north, Racecourse Lake to the west, and Little Lake Charm to the south.

It is believed that Lake Charm takes its name from the Aboriginal word ‘charam’, meaning reed spear. However, other sources suggest that the lake was named after an Aboriginal Chief. Several of his tribal members were murdered in reprisal for the murder of two shepherds during the 1840s who worked on the Kerang Run. It was reported that one of the shepherds ran into the lake and he was speared to death. It was reported that the water around him was red with his blood. As a result, the lake was known as Murdering Lake and then changed to Lake Cham in honour of the Chief, and finally to Charm in 1876. (Trove 2026) (Victorianplaces.com.au, 2026)

In 1858, an Inn was established at Lake Charm, which was on the route for a mail and coach service between Kerang and Swan Hill. A store and post office were then opened. In 1879, a school was opened. (Victorianplaces.com.au, 2026)

We stopped in at the information display on Murray Valley Highway. It contains some excellent detail on the history of the Kerang Lakes, the flora and fauna of the region, and some information on Captain Albert Jacka V.C., M.C. and BAR.

We then drove the short distance to Lake Cullen. The reserve includes all of Lake Cullen and an area to the north of the lake.

Above: the boundaries of Cullens Lake Wildlife Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth

Cullen Lake is part of the Kerang Lake Ramsar site that consists of 23 individual wetlands.

The reserve is about 733 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. (Dcceew.gov.au 2025)

We 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. VK1AC
2. VK3PF
3. VK3KAI
4. VK3APJ
5. VK5FANA
6. VK2IO
7. VK2GEZ
8. VK2ZR
9. VK2AZR
10. VK3UH
11. VK3WSG
12. VK2YL

Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO
2. VK2GEZ

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK1AC
2. VK3PF
3. VK3KAI
4. VK3APJ
5. VK5FANA
6. VK2IO
7. VK2GEZ
8. VK2ZR
9. VK2AZR
10. VK3UH
11. VK3WSG
12. VK2MOE
13. VK1MO
14. VK2DA
15. VK1DA
16. VK2YL
17. VK2EXA
18. VK3KRL
19. VK2NP
20. VK3BWS
21. VK2FALL
22. VK2DXX
23. VK2MAB
24. VK5SGX
25. VK3VPM
26. VK2TH
27. VK3MDC
28. VK2VW
29. VK2HFI
30. VK2AKA
31. VK2BUG
32. VK3AIW
33. VK2MJW
34. VK5AYL

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

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

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO
2. VK2GEZ
3. VK2V2
4. VK2HFI
5. VK2AKA
6. VK2BUG

References.

1. Dcceew.gov.au. (2025). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database 2024 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2024. [Accessed 17 Apr. 2026]‌
2. Trove. (2026). Early Days Of Settlemet. – REMINISCENCES OF OLD PIONEERS. – Kerang New Times (Vic. : 1901 – 1918) – 9 Nov 1909. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222447705?searchTerm=murdering%20lake [Accessed 17 Apr. 2026].
3. ‌Victorianplaces.com.au. (2026). Lake Charm | Victorian Places. [online] Available at: https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/lake-charm [Accessed 17 Apr. 2026].‌

Our next park for Thursday, the 6th day of November 2025, was the Winlaton Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2232. It was just a short drive from our last park, the Tutchewop Wildlife Reserve.

Above: Map showing the location of Winlaton NCR. Map c/o Google Maps

On the way to the park, we stopped at the monument for the Winlaton School No. 4074, on the Benjeroop-Tresco Road. The school operated from 1922 to 1937.

Next stop was the monument for the final home of the Winlaton Cricket Club on the corner of Wells Road and Tresco Road. Its last season was c. 1973-1974.

The Winlaton NCR consists of 3 separate sections. The main section is on the northern side of Benjeroop-Tresco Road The other 2 sections are located on the southwestern corner of Benjeroop-Tresco Road and Wells Road.

Above: the boundaries of Winlaton NCR. Image c/o Google Earth

The reserve is about 86 hectares in size and was established on the 13th day of December 2004. (Dcceew.gov.au 2025)

We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. Again, we had to wear our hats with the fly nets, such were the flies.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2HAK
3. VK3SQ
4. VK2BD
5. VK3JT
6. VK2IO
7. VK2GEZ
8. VK2VW
9. VK2HFI
10. VK2AKA
11. VK2BUG
12. VK3ANL/P (VKFF-4639)
13. VK2HBG/P (VKFF-2736)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2HAK
3. VK3SQ
4. VK2BD
5. VK3JT
6. VK2IO
7. VK2GEZ
8. VK2VW
9. VK2HFI
10. VK2AKA
11. VK2BUG
12. VK3ANL/P (VKFF-4639)
13. VK5FANA
14. VK2MOE
15. VK1MO
16. VK2MAB
17. VK2NP
18. VK2HBG/P (VKFF-2736)
19. VK3GJG
20. VK2DHN
21. VK1RX/2
22. VK3FS/M
23. VK3ATT/M
24. VK5LA
25. VK5KAW
26. VK3WSG
27. VK2XI/P
28. VK5WU
29. VK3SO
30. VK3SFG
31. VK2COS
32. VK2DA
33. VK1DA
34. VK2ZR
35. VK2AZR
36. VK2YAK
37. VK4YAK
38. VK7AAE
39. VK3APJ
40. VK2EXA
41. VK2KAD

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK2ZR
2. VK2AZR
3. VK2HAK
4. VK2DA
5. VK1DA
6. VK2MOE
7. VK1MO
8. VK2YAK
9. VK4YAK

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. KG5CIK

References.

1. ‌Dcceew.gov.au. (2025). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database 2024 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2024. [Accessed 17 Apr. 2026]‌

After leaving Lake Mannaor on Thursday, the 6th day of November 2025, Marija and I headed to our next park activation at Tutchewop Wildlife Reserve VKFF-5979. Tutchewop is about 31 km southeast of Swan Hill in Victoria.

Above: Map showing the location of Tutchewop Wildlife Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps

The park is located on the eastern side of Murray Valley Highway and on the western shore of Lake Tutchewop.

Above: the boundaries at the Tutchewop Wildlife Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth

We found a dirt track leading into the park.

The park is about 508 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. (Dcceew.gov.au 2025)

In April 2021, a small monument was unveiled at Lake Tutchewop to commemorate the former Lake Tutchewop Athletic and Aquatic Club.

Lake Tutchewop was once the district’s most popular lake and contained a sandy beach. It became known as the ‘St Kilda beach of the north’ following the formation in 1928 of the Lake Tutchewop Athletic and Aquatic Club by Tresco settlers.  Bathing boxes were constructed, willow trees planted along the beach, and an athletic running track was established between the lake and the road. A pier and a diving board were built, with the 20-acre area known as Tutchewop Park.  

On New Year’s Day 1929, the first carnival was held, which attracted over 600 people.

Above: article from The Age, Wed 2 Jan 1929. Image c/o Trove

Subsequent carnivals were held on each New Year’s Day until 1936. The carnivals attracted people from Kerang, Swan Hill, Ultima and Deniliquin. In 1930, Alan Dunoon, a well-known Swan Hill aviator, landed his plane in a nearby paddock and took people for joyriders at $3 per flight.

Above: article from The Horsham Times, Tue 13 May 1930. Image c/o Trove

Swimming lessons for local school children were conducted at the lake. Professional fishermen caught fish in the lake, and these were sent by rail from the Tresco Railway Station to the Melbourne market.

Lake Tuchewop was decommissioned by the Water Commission, and it was bypassed with a large channel. In 1968, the lake became a salt disposal basin for the Barr Creek. Today, Lake Tutchewop generally remains dry with a skin of salt on its base.

The bathing boxes remain, but have been subject to vandalism.

We were rewarded during our visit with a variety of bird of prey soaring over the lake.

The flies at the park were relentless and we were forced to wear our hats with the fly netting.

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

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2HBG/P (VKFF-2736)
2. VK2GRB/P (VKFF-2736)
3. VK2GDX/P (VKFF-2736)
4. VK2ALY/P (VKFF-2736)
5. VK2VAR
6. VK2GOM
7. VK1AO/P (VKFF-1271)
8. VK2MET/P (VKFF-1271)
9. VK2EXA
10. VK3UP
11. VK2HRX

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2HBG/P (VKFF-2736)
2. VK2GRB/P (VKFF-2736)
3. VK2GDX/P (VKFF-2736)
4. VK2ALY/P (VKFF-2736)
5. VK2VAR
6. VK2GOM
7. VK1AO/P (VKFF-1271)
8. VK2MET/P (VKFF-1271)
9. VK2EXA
10. VK3UP
11. VK5LA
12. VK5KAW
13. VK2IO
14. VK2GEZ
15. VK2HRX
16. VK3PF
17. VK3KAI
18. VK7ALB
19. VK2VW
20. VK2HFI
21. VK2AKA
22. VK2BUG
23. VK3WSG
24. VK3UH
25. VK3MAP
26. VK2NP
27. VK5HS
28. VK2YL
29. VK2DA
30. VK1DA
31. VK7AN
32. VK2HBR
33. VK5CZ
34. VK5XE
35. VK3HJW
36. VK3CLD
37. VK5QA
38. VK2DBF
39. VK2OZO
40. VK2MAB
41. VK2HAK
42. VK3WAR
43. VK5HRB
44. VK5SGX
45. VK5DW
46. VK2COS

References.

1. Bridge Contributors (2021). Historic Monument Unveiled. [online] The Bridge. Available at: https://www.thebridgenews.com.au/historic-monument-unveiled/ [Accessed 15 Apr. 2026].
2. ‌Dcceew.gov.au. (2025). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database 2024 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2024. [Accessed 17 Apr. 2026]‌