Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November 2022 was the annual VKFF Activation Weekend. Marija VK5MAZ and I had planned to activate four parks on Saturday and another four on Sunday.

Our first park for Saturday 26th was the Nixon Skinner Conservation Park VKFF-0923, located near the town of Myponga on the Fleurieu Peninsula, about 63 km south of the city of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Nixon Skinner Conservation Park. Map c/o Google maps.

I have activated Nixon Skinner on four previous occasions, the first being in 2013.

Prior to European settlement, the Myponga area was the home of the Kaurna aboriginal people. The Kaurna name for Myponga was Maitpungga or Miappunga believed to mean vegetable food place.

One of the earliest European families to settle in the Myponga area was Con Polden and his wife and their children, from Wiltshire in England. They settled in the area in about 1840. In 1858 Myponga became a settlement as a series of land purchases.

We stopped briefly in Myponga for a coffee and some breakfast.

As we travelled to the park out of Myponga on Main South Road, we came to the Myponga Reservoir. It is fed by the Myponga River and other tributaries in the Myponga catchment area. The reservoir provides about 5% of the water supply for the city of Adelaide.

Construction of Myponga Reservoir commenced in 1958 and was completed in 1962. As a result of the reservoir,the area known as Lovely Valley was flooded.

The Nixon Skinner Conservation Park is 8 hectares (20 acres) in size and was established on the 1st day of January 1956. The park is bounded in the south by Main South Road and to the east by the Myponga Reservoir

Above:- An aerial shot of the Nixon Skinner CP. Image c/o Google maps.

In 1948 Mrs. Lucy Eleanor Page nee Skinner (b. 1870. d. 1960) donated 20 acres of land to the Field Naturalists Section for use as a natural history reserve. It was named as the Nixon Skinner sanctuary in memory of her grandfather.

Above:- Lucy Eleanor Page nee Skinner. Image c/o http://www.ancestry.com.au

On the 1st day of January 1956, ownership was transferred to the South Australian Government. On the 9th day of November 1967 the reserve was proclaimed as the Nixon Skinner National Parks Reserve. On the 27th day of April 1972 it was reconstituted as the Nixon Skinner Conservation Park.

Above:- Item from The Advertiser, Sat 16 Oct 1948. Image c/o Trove.

On the 24th day of February 1980, a memorial plaque was unveiled in the park by the Environment Minister David Wotton in the presence of Mrs. Page’s three surviving daughters.

Above: Article from the Victor Harbour Times, Wed 27 Feb 1980. Image c/o Trove.

The plaque is a little hard to find if you don’t know where to look. It is located in amongst the scrub off the main walking trail leading down to the reservoir.

The park consists of Messmate Stringybark, Pink Gum, River Red Gum, South Australian Blue Gum with an understorey of Erect Guinea-flower, Heath Tea-tree, Myrtle Wattle, Golden Wattle, Silver Banksia, Cross-leaved Honey-myrtle, and Silky Tea-tree. The rare Cherry helmet orchid can be found in the park.

Above:- Aerial view of the Nixon Skinner Conservation Park. Image c/o Google Earth.

Birds SA have recorded 81 species of bird in the park including Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairywren. Crescent Honeyeater, Brown Thornbill, Grey Shrikethrush, and Scarlet Robin.

Various native mammals can be found in the park including the Western Grey kangaroo.

The video below shows the park and the Myponga reservoir.

Marija and I set up in our normal spot, alongside of the walking trail leading from Main South Road down to the reservoir. It was a cold and dull day with occasional showers. During the day we had to deploy the bothy bag on a few occasions to keep out of the rain.

We spent about 1 hour & 45 minutes in the park and logged a total of 94 QSOs on 20, 40 & 80m SSB. This included a total of 61 Park to Park QSOs.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-

1. VK5AV/3 (Kulwin Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2353)
2. VK1RF/p (Yatteyattah Nature Reserve VKFF-2779)
3. VK3BEZ/p (Traralgon South Flora Reserve VKFF-2465)
4. VK3TUN/p (Stuart Mill Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2198)
5. VK5DG/p (Stuart Mill Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2198)
6. VK2YAK/p (Copeland Tops State Conservation Area VKFF-1308)
7. VK4YAK/p (Copeland Tops State Conservation Area VKFF-1308)
8. VK4FDJL/p (Roundstone Conservation Park VKFF-1637)
9. VK1DI/p (Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve VKFF-0991)
10. VK2IO/p (Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041)
11. VK2MET/p (Tilligerry Nature Reserve  VKFF-2740)
12. VK1AO/p (Tilligerry Nature Reserve  VKFF-2740)
13. VK7QP
14. VK2VW
15. VK2HFI
16. VK3ANL/p (Greswell Hill Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2104)
17. VK4FW/p (Tinana Island Conservation Park VKFF-1659)
18. VK3ZK/p (Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park VKFF-0747)
19. VK2YK/p (Hale Conservation Park VKFF-0889)

Marija worked the following station on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2USA/mm (Saratoga Island Nature Reserve VKFF-2713)

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5FANA
2. VK5BJE
3. VK3BHR/p (SOTA VK3/ VW-025)

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK3BEZ/p (Traralgon South Flora Reserve VKFF-2465)
2. VK3OAK/p (VKFF-0742)
3. VK2MOE/p (VKFF-0111)
4. VK5AV/p (Kulwin Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2353)
5. VK3ANL/p (Greswell Hill Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2104)
6. VK2EXA
7. VK1DI/p (Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve VKFF-0991)
8. VK1RF/p (Yatteyattah Nature Reserve VKFF-2779)
9. VK2MET/p (Tilligerry Nature Reserve  VKFF-2740)
10. VK1AO/p (Tilligerry Nature Reserve  VKFF-2740)
11. VK1XP/m
12. VK7LTD/p (Eaglehawk Bay State Reserve VKFF-1797)
13. VK2LP/p (Edmondson Regional Park VKFF-2781)
14. VK2APC/p (Edmondson Regional Park VKFF-2781)
15. VK3ZPF
16. VK3SQ
17. VK3MCA/p (You Yangs Regional Park VKFF-0982)
18. VK2IO/p (VKFF-0041 & SOTA VK2/ CT-032)
19. VK5HAA
20. VK2VW
21. VK2HFI
22. VK3APJ/m

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-

1. VK5AV/3 (Kulwin Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2353)
2. VK1RF/p (Yatteyattah Nature Reserve VKFF-2779)
3. VK3BEZ/p (Traralgon South Flora Reserve VKFF-2465)
4. VK3TUN/p (Stuart Mill Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2198)
5. VK5DG/p (Stuart Mill Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2198)
6. VK2YAK/p (Copeland Tops State Conservation Area VKFF-1308)
7. VK4YAK/p (Copeland Tops State Conservation Area VKFF-1308)
8. VK2PKT
9. VK3ZPF
10. VK3AMO
11. VK4FDJL/p (Roundstone Conservation Park VKFF-1637)
12. VK1DI/p (Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve VKFF-0991)
13. VK2IO/p (Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041)
14. VK2MET/p (Tilligerry Nature Reserve VKFF-2740)
15. VK1AO/p (Tilligerry Nature Reserve VKFF-2740)
16. VK3VIN
17. VK7QP
18. VK2VW
19. VK2HFI
20. VK3ANL/p (Greswell Hill Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2104)
21. VK1TTY
22. VK2EXA
23. VK4FW/p (Tinana Island Conservation Park VKFF-1659)
24. VK2LEE
25. VK3ZK/p (Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park VKFF-0747)
26. VK2DHN
27. VK2YK/p (Hale Conservation Park VKFF-0889)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK3BEZ/p (Traralgon South Flora Reserve VKFF-2465)
2. VK3OAK/p (Warby Ovens National Park VKFF-0742)
3. VK3VIN
4. VK2MOE/p (Abercrombie River National Park VKFF-0111)
5. VK5AV/p (Kulwin Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2353)
6. VK3ANL/p (Greswell Hill Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2104)
7. VK2EXA
8. VK1DI/p (Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve VKFF-0991)
9. VK1RF/p (Yatteyattah Nature Reserve VKFF-2779)
10. VK2MET/p (Tilligerry Nature Reserve VKFF-2740)
11. VK1AO/p (Tilligerry Nature Reserve VKFF-2740)
12. VK7LTD/p (Eaglehawk Bay State Reserve VKFF-1797)
13. VK2LP/p (Edmondson Regional Park VKFF-2781)
14. VK2APC/p (Edmondson Regional Park VKFF-2781)
15. VK2IO/p (VKFF-0041 & SOTA VK2/ CT-032)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2LEE
2. VK2USA/mm (Saratoga Island Nature Reserve VKFF-2713)
3. ZL1TM
4. VK6AJP

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5FANA
2. VK5BJE
3. VK3BHR/p (SOTA VK3/ VW-025)

It was time to pack up and head to our next park, the Myponga Conservation Park.

References.

1. Birds SA, 2023, <https://birdssa.asn.au/location/nixon-skinner-conservation-park/>, viewed 9th January 2023.
2. Friends of Parks, 2023, <https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/members/members-directory/friends-of-nixon-skinner-conservation-park/>, viewed 9th January 2023.
3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myponga,_South_Australia>, viewed 9th January 2023.
4. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myponga_Reservoir>, viewed 9th January 2023.

Our final silo for our trip (Monday 21st November 2022) was the Kaniva 2 silo VK-KNV3. We made quite a mistake, as we had forgotten that we had activated this silo on the 1st day of our trip. Oh well, we added some more QSOs to our tally for this silo.

Above:- Map showing the location of Kaniva. Map c/o Google maps.

Kaniva is located about 416 km north west of Melbourne.

Please see my previous post re this silo. There are some interesting videos at that post about the silo.

https://vk5pas.org/2022/11/30/kanvia-2-silo-vk-knv3/

Marija worked the following station on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4EW

Marija worked the following station on 20m AM:-

1. VK4EW

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2IO

I worked the following station on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4EW

I worked the following station on 20m AM:-

1. VK4EW

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2IO
3. VK4NH
4. VK4DXA

Kaniva is home to the sheep art trail which spans about 900 metres in length, running from from the Big Windmill connecting the Silo Art to the Wetlands and Fauna Park. The Sheep Art Trail features 46 sheep, murals and games.

Every time we travel through Kaniva, we stop at the Fauna Park and aviary at Kaniva. It was established by the Kaniva Rotary Club during the 1980s.

It was time for us to hit the road. Sadly there was no more time for any further silos. It had been a brilliant 4 weeks away.

Thankyou to everyone who called us and thanks to those who took the time to spot us on parksnpeaks.

References.

1. Kaniva, 2023, <https://www.kaniva.org/sheep-art.html>, viewed 9th January 2023.
2. Kaniva, 2023, <https://www.kaniva.org/wetlands.html>, viewed 9th January 2023.

We then activated our 8th silo for the day (Monday 21st November 2022), the Kiata silo VK-KTT3.

Kiata is located on the Western Highway about 13 km east of the town of Nhill and about 362 km north west of the city of Melbourne.

Above:- Map showing the location of Kiata in western Victoria. Map c/o Google maps.

Kiata is an aboriginal word meaning summer heat. During the early 1870s the land around Kiata was taken up for farm selections. In 1876 the township of Kiata was surveyed. In 1879 the Kiata West school opened, followed by the Kiata East school in 1881. In 1884 the Kiata Anglican church was opened and used as a school. In 1887 the railway line was opened and a hotel, store and blacksmith followed.

Today little remains in Kiata. Many of the old shops and the hotel are now sadly closed.

The Kiata silo is located on the northern side of the Western Highway.

We ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 self tuning antenna for this activation, and operated from alongside of the silo.

Above:- Map showing the location of the silo and the activation zone. Image c/o SiOTA website.

Marija made the following QSOs on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3CAT
3. VK2HQ/p (Bournda National Park VKFF-0050)
4. VK2IO
5. VK4NH
6. VK4DXA

I made the following QSOs on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3CAT
3. VK2HQ/p (Bournda National Park VKFF-0050)
4. VK2IO
5. VK4NH
6. VK4DXA
7. VK4FW
8. VK8MM
9. VK5FANA
10. VK2MET
11. VK1AO

I made the following QSOs on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4EW
2. VK2MET
3. VK1AO
4. VK4EK
5. VK4FW
6. VK8MM

I made the following QSO on 20m AM:-

1. VK4EW

References.

1. Historic trucks, 2023, <http://historictrucks.blogspot.com/2017/01/place-names-and-their-meanings-of-towns.html>, viewed 9th January 2023.
2. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/kiata>, viewed 9th January 2023.

Our seventh silo for Monday 21st November 2022 was the Gerang Gurung silo VK-GRU3, located about 351 km north west of the city of Melbourne.

Above:- Map showing the location of Gerang Gerung. Map c/o Google maps

Gerang Gerung comes from an aboriginal word jerung meaning a leaf or branch. European pastoralists settled in the area commenced in 1846. During the early 1880s the Junction Hotel was opened. In September 1884 the Gerang State School No 2618 was opened. Following the opening of the railway line in 1887 from Dimboola to Serviceton, a general store, Bible Christian church and a public hall were built.

Nowadays very little remains in Gerang Gerung.

The silo is located in Railway Street.

We operated from directly alongside of the silo and ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 self tuning antenna.

Above:- Map showing the location of Gerang Gerung and the activation zone. Image c/o SiOTA website.

Marija made the following QSOs on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4KLA
2. VK4EW
3. VK4FW
4. VK8MM
5. VK2MET
6. VK1AO

Marija made the following QSOs on 20m AM:-

1. VK4EW
2. VK4FW
3. VK8MM

Marija made the following QSOs on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2IO

I made the following QSOs on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4KLA
2. VK4EW
3. VK4FW
4. VK8MM
5. VK2MET
6. VK1AO

I made the following QSOs on 20m AM:-

1. VK4EW
2. VK4FW
3. VK8MM

I made the following QSOs on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2IO
3. VK4EW

References.

1. Historic trucks, 2023, <http://historictrucks.blogspot.com/2017/01/place-names-and-their-meanings-of-towns.html>, viewed 9th January 2023.
2. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/gerang-gerung>, viewed 9th January 20223.

Our sixth silo for Monday 21st November 2022 was the Dimboola silo VK-DMA3. Dimboola is located in western Victoria about 337 km north west of the city of Melbourne.

Above:- Map showing the location of Dimboola in western Victoria. Map c/o Google maps.

Prior to the arrival of European settlers the Dimboola area was occupied by the Wotjobaluk aboriginal people. In 1852 it is believed there were about 1,200 Wotjobaluk people living in the area.

In 1846 the first station in the district was established by Horatio Ellerman and George Shaw. By 1859 the area was known as ‘Nine Creeks’ due to the numerous nearby branches of the Wimmera River. In 1862 a town site was surveyed. Dimboola was gazetted and proclaimed in 1863. The Post office still called Nine Creeks at this time.

Dimboola is a Singhalese word (‘Dimbula’) meaning ‘land of figs’. This was because the surveyor of Dimboola was John George Winchester Wilmot (b. 1830. d. 1895) who had been a pioneering coffee planter in Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon).

The Dimboola silo is a large complex and is located between Upper Region Street and Hindmarsh Street in the heart of Dimboola.

We operated from Upper Region Street directly opposite the silo. It was a little noisy on the 40m band due to us being in the heart of town. We ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 self tuning antenna for this activation.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Dimboola silo and the activation zone. Image c/o SiOTA website.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2MET
3. VK1AO

Marija worked the following station on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2MET
3. VK1AO

I worked the following station on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO

References.

1. Aussie Towns, 2023, <https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/dimboola-vic>, viewed 9th January 2023.
2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._G._W._Wilmot>, viewed 9th January 2023.

After leaving Pimpinio (Monday 21st November 2022), Marija and I drove a little further along the Western Highway to the Wail silo VK-WLL3.

Wail is about 26 km north west of Horsham, and about 292 km north west of Melbourne.

Above:- Map showing the location of Wail in western Victoria. Map c/o Google maps.

Wail is an aboriginal word for Curlew which is a a type of bird. On the 9th day of June 1873 the township of Wail was gazetted.

We operated from Wail Nursery Road directly in front of the silo. We ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 self tuning antenna.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Wail silo and the activation zone. Image c/o SiOTA website.

Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. ZL3MR
4. VK4EW
5. VK2IO

Marija worked the following stations on 20m AM:-

1. VK4EW
2. VK4FW
3. VK8MM

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2MET
2. VK1AO

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK8MM
3. ZL3MR
4. VK4EW
5. VK2IO

I worked the following stations on 20m AM:-

1. VK4EW
2. VK4FW
3. VK8MM

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK4FW
3. VK8MM
4. VK2MET
5. VK1AO

References.

1. Historic trucks, 2023, <http://historictrucks.blogspot.com/2017/01/place-names-and-their-meanings-of-towns.html>, viewed 9th January 2023.

Our next silo for Monday 21st November 2022 was the Pimpinio silo VK-PMO3. Pimpinio is located about 15km west of Horsham and about 317 km north west of Melbourne.

Above:- Map showing the location of Pimipinio. Map c/o Google maps.

Pimpinio is believed to have derived from an Aboriginal word describing a man squatting on his heels, or children. In around 1870 a hotel and blacskmith’s forge was established in the Pimpinio area. The township of Pimpinio was gazetted on the 28th day of July 1873. In 1874 the Pimpinio school was opened in a Union Church hall. Following the extension of the railway from Horsham to Dimboola, a store was opened in the town.

The Pimpinio railway station was built in 1882 and disestablished 100 years later in 1982.

Above:- A diesel train at Pimpinio in 1979. Image c/o http://www.victorianrailways.net

 The old Pimpinio station buildings and goods shed have been demolished. Only the silos and railway platform mound remain today.

We operated from Station Street, directly opposite the silos. We ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 self tuning antenna.

Above:- Map showing the location of the silo and the activation zone. Image c/o SiOTA wwebsite.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2IO
3. VK2MET
4. VK1AO
5. VK5GY

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2IO
3. VK2MET
4. VK1AO
5. VK5GY
6. VK2PW

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4EW
2. VK2MET
3. VK1AO

I worked the following station on 20m AM:-

1. VK4EW

References.

1. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/pimpinio>, viewed 9th January 2023.
2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pimpinio,_Victoria>, viewed 9th January 2023.

Our third silo for Monday 21st November 2022 was the Dahlen Siding silo VK-DHG3. It is located on the Western Highway about 10km north west of Horsham.

Above:- Map showing the location of Dahlen Siding. Map c/o Google maps.

Dahlen Siding is a railway siding, with the silos being located between the Western Highway and Plowrights Road.

The Dahlen silos were built in 1951.

Above:- Article from The Horsham Times, Tues 17 July 1951. Image c/o Trove.

We operated from right alongside of the silos, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 self tuning antenna.

During our activation we were hit by heavy rain and hail. As the rain band approached the rain static on the 20m band went up to strength 9.

Marija worked the following station on 20m AM:-

1. VK4EW

Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4EW
2. VK2IO

Marija worked the following station on 15m SSB:-

1. VK4EW

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2MET
3. VK1AO
4. VK3SQ
5. VK2HQ/p (Mimosa Rocks National Park VKFF-0317)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4EW
2. VK4KLA
3. VK2IO

I worked the following stations on 20m AM:-

1. VK4EW

I worked the following station on 15m SSB:-

1. VK4EW

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2MET
3. VK1AO
4. VK3SQ
5. VK2HQ/p (Mimosa Rocks National Park VKFF-0317)

References.

1. Trove, 2023, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/7074584?searchTerm=dahlen%20siding>, viewed 9th January 2023.

Our second silo for Monday 21st November 2022 was the Vectis silo VK-VCS3, located just off the Wimmera Highway in western Victoria, about 15 km west of Horsham.

Above:- Map showing the location of Vectis, Victoria. Map c/o Google maps.

The rural locality of Vectis was named after the Vectis pastoral run which was taken up in 1844 by James and Alexander Wilson. By the early 1870’s a number of Prussian Lutheran settlers took up farm selections in the area. In 1875 the Zion Lutheran church was erected. Schools were also established between 1876 to 1878. In 1887, the railway line between Horsham and Noradjuha was opened and a railway station existed at Vectis.

The Vectis silos are working silos, operated by Shannon Bros, a family owned and operated commercial grain storage, export packing and logistics company. They have two grain receival and export packing sites, one of which is Vectis.

We operated from the 4WD for this activation on Geodetic Road, adjacent to the silo. We used the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 self tuning antenna.

Above:- Map showing the location of the silo and the activation zone. Image c/o SiOTA website.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK5LN
3. VK2IO

Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2MET
2. VK1AO
3. VK4EW

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK5LN
3. VK2IO

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2MET
2. VK1AO
3. VK4EW
4. VK4KUS

I worked the following station on 20m AM:-

1. VK4EW

References.

1. Shannon Bros, 2023, <https://www.shannonbros.com.au/>, viewed 9th January 2023.
2. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/vectis>, viewed 9th January 2023.

On our way home (Monday 21st November 2022) we had planned on trying to activate as many silos as possible for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program. We had a 410 km drive ahead of us and it was already late in the morning, so each activation was going to be quick.

Our first silo was the Horsham silo VK-HRM3, in western Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of Horsham. Map c/o Google maps.

Horsham is a regional city in western Victoria about 300 km northwest of Melbourne. It has a population of about 20,429 people (2021 census). It is the 11th largest city in Victoria.

It was named Horsham by James Monckton Darlot (b. 1811. d. 1903), an early settler in the area, after his native town of Horsham in the United Kingdom.

Above:- Article from The Blayney Advocate and Carcoar Herald, Sat 20 Jul 1901. Image c/o Trove

The Horsham silo features silo art. The silo itself has a painting of Yanggendyiaanyuk, an aboriginal man whose tracking skills were used. On the old flour mill next to the silo is a painting of a Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.

The murals were painted by artist Sam Bates @ Smug and were completed in May 2022. The mural is titled The Yangga Dyata which means ‘Walking on Country’. 

Yanggendyinanyuk (b. c. 1834d. 1866), also known as ‘Dick-a-Dick’, Dicky Dick, King Richard, Richard Kennedy, and Richard Barney, was a tracker and cricketer. He was a member of the first Australian cricket team to tour England in 1868, composed of aboriginal Australians.

Above:- The aboriginal cricket team, c. 1867 at the Melbourne Cricket Team. Image c/o State Library NSW

The story of this cricket team is little known by many Australians I have found. There is a brilliant museum at Harrow, the Harrow Discovery Centre, which we have visited and tells the story of the team.

On Friday the 12th day of August 1864, in the mallee scrub near Natimuk, three white children, Isaac Cooper, Jane Cooper and Frank Duff, went missing. Their tracks were found the following day, however a thunderstorm developed and this resulted in the tracks being destroyed. The official search for the children was subsequently cancelled and the children were reported as being dead.

Six days later on the 18th day of August 1864, a neighbour of the Duff family suggested that Dick-a-Dick and other Wotjobaluk aboriginal trackers be used. The Duff family agreed and as a result, Dick-a-Dick took two other Wotjobaluk men, Jerry and Fred, with him and recommenced a search. Within hours they located the children.

As a result Dick-a-Dick became a hero and was called King Richard. He and the other two aboriginal trackers received a reward of £15 between them. They were permitted to spend £5 in whatever fashion they chose, while the remaining amount ws given to their white employer.

Above:- from an article in The Australian News for Home Readers, Sat 24 Sep 1864. Image c/o Trove.

We operated from the 4WD directly alongside of the silo on Wawunna Road, Horsham. We used the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 self tuning antenna for this activation.

Above:- The location of the silo and the activation zone. Image c/o SiOTA website.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2MET
3. VK1AO
4. VK5FANA

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2MET
3. VK1AO
4. VK5FANA
5. VK3GH
6. VK5ZK
7. VK3SQ
8. VK2IO

References.

1. Australian Dictionary of Biography, 2023, <https://ia.anu.edu.au/biography/yanggendyinanyuk-30059>, viewed 9th January 203.
2. Australian Silo Art Trail, 2023, <https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/horsham>, viewed 9th January 2023.
3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsham,_Victoria>, viewed 9th January 2023.