Our final activation for Tuesday, the 5th day of May 2026, was solely for the purpose of obtaining a Park-to-Park contact with Peter, VK3PF. Chris and I pulled into the Piangil West Bushland Reserve VKFF-5714, which we had activated on our way over to Albury.

Chris and I made contact with Peter VK3PF, who was activating VKFF-4736, and then made a Park to Park contact with Gerard VK2IO, who was activating VKFF-3599.

Above: Map showing the location of the Piangil West Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps

I made the following QSOs:-

1. VK3PF/P (VKFF-4736 & VK-WHH3)
2. VK2IO/P (VKFF-3599)
3. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-3599)

We then continued west towards home, and we crossed over the Victorian & South Australian State border. We stopped at the fruit fly roadblock at Pinnaroo and continued along the Mallee Highway to Tailem Bend. Rather than continuing along the Princes Highway to Murray Bridge, we headed down to Wellington and crossed over the ferry on the Murray River.

The Wellington ferry is a free 24/7 cable ferry that crosses the Murray River.

Wellington is located just upstream of where the Murray River empties into Lake Alexandrina. The European colonists who settled in the Wellington area compared the development opportunities of Wellington to those of New Orleans due to its geographical similarities. (Wikipedia 2021)

By 1839, the town of Wellington had become one of the most important settlements on the Murray River in the colony of South Australia. Following the establishment of a ferry, it was the only point where traffic could cross over the Murray River. (Bridge 2023)

The former Wellington police station and courthouse was built in 1864. It was formerly a museum, and now serves as accommodation and venue hire.

In the park alongside the old courthouse, you can view the original bell that was used to summon the ferry.

Wellington was located on the Gold Escort route, where gold from the Victorian goldfields was escorted by South Australian Police. You can find a monument here to commemorate the Gold Escort route.

There is also a monument co commemorate the explorer Captain Charles Sturt who passed here in February 1830.

We continued on to home. It had been a great week away with Chris. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

References.

1. Bridge, R.C. of M. (2023). Murray Bridge Council. [online] Murray Bridge Council. Available at: https://www.murraybridge.sa.gov.au. [Accessed 15 May 2026]‌
2. Wikipedia. (2021). Wellington. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington. [Accessed 15 May 2026]‌