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:-
- VK1AC
- VK3PF
- VK3KAI
- VK3APJ
- VK5FANA
- VK2IO
- VK2GEZ
- VK2ZR
- VK2AZR
- VK3UH
- VK3WSG
- VK2YL
Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
- VK2IO
- VK2GEZ
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK1AC
- VK3PF
- VK3KAI
- VK3APJ
- VK5FANA
- VK2IO
- VK2GEZ
- VK2ZR
- VK2AZR
- VK3UH
- VK3WSG
- VK2MOE
- VK1MO
- VK2DA
- VK1DA
- VK2YL
- VK2EXA
- VK3KRL
- VK2NP
- VK3BWS
- VK2FALL
- VK2DXX
- VK2MAB
- VK5SGX
- VK3VPM
- VK2TH
- VK3MDC
- VK2VW
- VK2HFI
- VK2AKA
- VK2BUG
- VK3AIW
- VK2MJW
- VK5AYL
I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-
- VK2VW
- VK2HFI
- VK2AKA
- VK2BUG
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
- VK2IO
- VK2GEZ
- VK2V2
- VK2HFI
- VK2AKA
- VK2BUG
References.
- 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]
- 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].
- Victorianplaces.com.au. (2026). Lake Charm | Victorian Places. [online] Available at: https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/lake-charm [Accessed 17 Apr. 2026].
VK5PAS 