Author Archives: Paul VK5PAS

Day 3 Canberra

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The 3rd day of the 2025 VKFF National Get Together was upon us, Sunday, 26th October 2025.

The day commenced with a BBQ at the Black Mountain Peninsula BBQ area. A total of 38 amateurs attended the BBQ breakfast.

Thanks to Peter VK3PWG and Malcolm VK3OAK, our BBQ chefs extroidanaires.

Paul VK1OZ had his QRP Labs homebrew transceiver on display.

On Sunday morning, following the BBQ, there was a linked dipole construction session.  It was an opportunity for many to construct their very first antenna.   

The wire winders and centre pieces were printed on the 3D printer of Paul VK5PAS.  All other sourcing of material and production was undertaken by Ivan VK5HS.  A big thank you to Ivan. 

A total of 22 amateurs took part in the linked dipole construction project.  For some it was the first time that they had used a crimping tool and constructed an antenna.

After the antenna construction project, Hide 7M4MON got on air using his antenna that he had just completed, and made several contacts.

Following the Sunday morning BBQ breakfast, several people headed out into the field to activate VKFF parks.

For those who were brand new to VKFF park activating, some experienced VKFF ops offered to take new activators out to a park to lend some valuable tips.

Hide 7M4MON and Dan VK4DNO, accompanied myself, Marija VK5MAZ, Hans Vk6XN, and Chris VK5FR, to the Callum Brae Nature Park VKFF-0836

Later that evening, a dinner was held at the Gunghalin Lakes Golf Club.

It had been another very successful day, with Marija and me receiving some very positive feedback.

For a more detailed report, please visit the WWFF Australia website at:

https://www.wwffaustralia.com/2025-national-get-together.html

Day 2 Canberra

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It was now Saturday, 25th October 2025, and the presentation day for the 2025 VKFF National Get Together. The presentations were held at the Eastlake Football Club in Griffith.

A total of 45 amateurs and their wives attended the presentation sessions.

Attendees enjoyed several guest speakers and also enjoyed morning tea consisting of scones with jam and fresh cream, and afternoon tea consisting of assorted muffins. Our MC was Chris VK5FR.

Icom Australia had a display showcasing some of their portable-focused products. This included the new Icom IC-7300MK2 transceiver.  We were the first in Australia to see this new transceiver ‘in the flesh’. Thank you to Dan VK4DNO/VK3DNO & Hide 7M4MON for their attendance and support of the event.

Andy VK5LA had his fly wire vertical on display.

There was also a table with various handouts, VKFF certificates and various portable equipment c/o Paul VK5PAS & Andy VK5LA

Following the presentations a question and answer session was held with the attending VKFF Team members.

Each of the guest speakers and the MC were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation.

Certificates of Appreciation were also awarded to Marija VK5MAZ in recognition of her invaluable effort in organising the 2025 VKFF National Get Together, and Chris VK5FR for his MC duties and assisting in the linked dipole project.

Ivan VK5HS was also presented with a certificate for his involvement in the linked dipole project.

Each of the attending VKFF Team members received a Certificate of Appreciation from Paul VK5PAS for their ongoing efforts in maintaining the VKFF program.

A raffle was held on Saturday.  There were over $2,200.00 worth of prizes.  Proceeds this year went to the VKFF Team.

Thankyou to the following sponsors:

  • Icom Australia
  • Haverfkord
  • JMM Solutions
  • Jaycar
  • Watts Communications
  • RivComm Radio Solutions
  • VKFF Team

Following the Saturday procedures, we made our way downstairs to enjoy some cold beverages.

We then headed backupstairs for our Saturday evening meal.

Our Saturday evening guest speaker was Dan VK3DNO/VK4DNO, from Icom Australia.  He spoke about ICOM’s equipment suitable for mobile and portable operations. Dan was issued a Certificate of Appreciation.

It had been a very successful day. A HUGE thank you to Marija VK5MAZ. Without her assistance, this event would not have taken place.

A more detailed report can be found on the WWFF Australia website at:

https://www.wwffaustralia.com/2025-national-get-together.html

Canberra day 1

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It was now Friday, 24th November 2025, and time for Marija and me to do some more preparation for the 2025 VKFF National Get Together that was to commence later that evening.

After breakfast, our first stop was Watts Communications at Fyshwick to collect the Icom IC-2730A, which had been kindly donated for our raffle.

Our next stop was the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre at Regatta Point. We had arranged to collect some tourist material that would be provided to all attendees in their Welcome pack.

We then wandered next door and enjoyed a magnificent breakfast at the Walter Cafe.

There are some magnificent views to be enjoyed from here of Lake Burley Griffin and Canberra.

Whenever I am in Canberra, I always visit the National Police Memorial at Parkes, ACT. The memorial pays tribute to Australian Police Officers who have been killed on duty or have died as a result of their duties. A total of 830 police appear on the wall.

Marija and I then headed back to the motel and met up with Hans VK6XN and Chris VK5FR, who assisted us in putting the Welcome packs together.

After freshening up, it was in an Uber and off to the Friday evening venue, the first stage of the 2025 VKFF National Get Together. It was quite cramped in the Uber as you can see from the photos below.

The Friday evening dinner was held at The Lighthouse Pub at Belconnen. A total of 42 people attended the dinner. We were not the only ones at the hotel, but we did have our own section. The meals were excellent and were served very promptly. It was a great night mixing with amateurs from all around Australia.

Cootamundra South silo VK-CTH2

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After leaving the Ulandra Nature Reserve on Thursday, 23rd October 2025, Marija and I drove towards Cootamundra. Our intention was to visit the Bradman Museum at Cootamundra.

Along the way, we stopped to admire the old Bethungra Hotel, which was established in 1886. The hotel was used as a Cobb & Co. changing station. In 1999, the hotel was closed. (Chirp 2026)

Cootamundra, known as Coota, is located in the Riverina region of New South Wales, about 379 km southwest of the city of Sydney.

Above: Map showing the location of Cootamundra, NSW. Map c/o Google Maps

In 1837, John Hurley and Patrick Fennell were licensed to graze stock on Coramundra Run. (Wikipedia 2021) (Wikipedia 2025)

John Hurley was born in 1796 in Limerick, Ireland. In October 1823, he was convicted of insurrection and sentenced to 7 years’ transportation to Australia. He arrived in Sydney in 1824, and by 1830, he was freed from servitude. By 1837, he had purchased his first pastoral lease. By 1849, he had acquired 40,000 acres at Houlahan’s Creek and 50,000 acres known as the Coramundra Run. (Rutledge 1972)

Above: John Hurley. Image c/o Parliament NSW

In 1860, Surveyor Philip Francis Adams drew up plans of the village of Cootamundry. The name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning ‘place below’ or ‘low-lying.’ (Trove 2026)

Above: design of the village of Cootamundry. Image c/o Trove

Philip Francis Adams was born in 1828 in Suffolk, England. He initially emigrated to Canada and then to the United States of America, where he worked as a surveyor. In 1854, he emigrated to Australia, where he was appointed the District Surveyor for Maitland. In 1864, he was appointed Deputy Surveyor General, and in 1868, he became the Surveyor General. Adams was one of the official observers of the transit of the planet Venus in 1874 in the Blue Mountains and on Lord Howe Island in 1882. Following retirement, he established a successful vineyard near Liverpool, NSW. He died in Sydney in June 1901, aged 73. (McIntyre, 1969)

Above: Philip Francis Adams. Image c/o Wikipedia

The township of Cootamundry was gazetted on the 9th day of August 1861. Cootamundry was described as “…..situated on the road from Wagga Wagga to Yass, on Mutta Muttama Creek, in the County of Harden, Lachlan District, about fifteen miles north-west of Gundagai, and ten miles south-west of Murrimboola”. (Trove 2026)

Above: from the NSW Govt Gazette, Tue 13 Aug 1861. Image c/o Trove

In early 1862, the first settlers purchased their lots. The town was established due to those attracted by the gold rush activity of the 1860s at the nearby Muttama goldfields. Muttama is about 24 km south of Cootamundra and is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘like it’ or ‘take it’. (Wikipedia 2021) (Wikipedia 2025)

By 1879, Cootamundra had several stores, business premises, hotels, churches, a courthouse, police barracks and private residences. The Cootamundra Herald in 1879 described Cootamundra as follows:

“Cootamundra is really a natty little town, one of the best places in the colony, sheltering a real go-ahead die-hard community. who deserve great credit for the energy and determination with which they drive their town along.” (Trove 2026)

In 1952, it was decided that the town would solely be known as Cootamundra. Mr Hawkins, the Minister for Lands, made the decision to change the official spelling of Cootamundry to Cootamundra, a spelling adopted as far back as 1885. (Trove 2026)

Above: part of an article from The Western Herald, Bourke, Fri 16 May 1952. Image c/o Trove

Bradman’s Birthplace Museum is located at 87 Adams Street, Cootamundra. (Service 2023)

Eliza Ellen ‘Granny’ Fife was born in September 1846 at Drumcullion, Northern Ireland. She arrived in Sydney in November 1865 aboard the Africana. In June 1890, she married John Ergott Scholz, who was a farm labourer at Cootamundra. (ancestry 2016) (Trove 2026)

Eliza was a midwife and ran a small hospital called Irena, contained in a small wooden cottage. On the 27th day of August 1908, at Irena, she delivered a young baby named Donald George Bradman, who would become Australia’s most famous cricket player. (Trove 2026) (Wikitree 2025)

Each birthday, Eliza would receive a telegram of congratulations from Bradman. Eliza died in August 1939, at Cootamundra. She was 92 years old. (Trove 2026)

Above: article from the Cootamundra Herald, Thu 3 Aug 1939. Image c/o Trove

Sir Donald George Bradman, known as ‘The Don’, is widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time in the sport of cricket. Hits Test batting average was 99.94. He died in February 2001 at Kensington Park, South Australia, aged 92 years of age. (Wikipedia 2019)

The museum features a magnificent collection of Bradman memorabilia. This includes a cricket bat signed by Bradman and English bowler Harold Larwood from the 1932-33 Test Series known as the ‘Bodyline Series.’ (Service 2023)

At the rear of the Bradman cottage is the Memorabilia Cottage. It features a magnificent collection of Australian memorabilia, curios and bric-a-brac from the era of Don Bradman’s birth. (Service 2023)

After a very interesting visit to the Bradman museum, Marija and I headed to the Bradman Oval at Cootamundra to view “The Big Stumps.” The stumps stand eight metres tall.

We then headed to the Cootamunda South silo VK-CTN2 for an activation for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program. There are two sets of silos at Cootamundra, but we were running very short of time, so we only had the opportunity of activating one of the two.

The Cootamundra South silos are located on the southern side of the Olympic Highway, between the highway and the railway line.

They are located on the site of the historic mill site now run by the Conqueror Milling Company. The mill was built in 1875.

Marija and I parked in Hovell Street and operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metres stainless steel whip.

Unfortunately, the other silo is just outside the activation zone. And I mean ‘just outside’.

Above: the activation zone at the Cootamunda South silo. Image c/o SiOTA website

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF/p (VKFF-4428)
  2. VK3CLD
  3. VK5QA
  4. VK2DBF
  5. VK1AO
  6. VK2MET
  7. VK3WSG

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF/p (VKFF-4428)
  2. VK3CLD
  3. VK5QA
  4. VK2DBF
  5. VK1AO
  6. VK2MET
  7. VK3WSG
  8. VK3AUN
  9. VK3BWS
  10. VK3HJW
  11. VK3NCR
  12. VK2LEE
  13. VK3EJ
  14. VK5AYL
  15. VK3FS
  16. VK3ATT

After leaving Cootamundra, Marija and I continued along the Olympic Highway to the town of Wallendbeen and then east on Burley Griffin Way until we reached the town of Harden-Murrumburrah.

The town contains several historic buildings.

The former Exchange Hotel was built in 1899.

The Murrumburrah Post Office was built in 1905.

In the main street, you can find an information board on an incident which occurred in August 1863.

John Barnes was born in June 1812 in Bedfordshire, England. He emigrated to Australia in 1841 aboard the Abbortsford with his wife and family. Barnes was a merchant who owned two stores. One at Murrumburrah and the other on the Wagga Wagga Road on the Cootamundry Run. On the 31st day of April 1863, bushrangers Frank Gardiner, John Gilbert, Fred Lowry and John O’Meally robbed the store at Cootamundry. Several weeks later, the store was robbed again. (ancestry 2016)

Above: John Barnes.

Barnes became aware of the robberies, and upon learning that the bushrangers had escaped from an ambush on 30th August 1863, he feared that there would be another attack on his store. A police officer was shot and wounded during that incident. Barnes then saddled up and rode towards Cootamundry. At Wallendbeen, he encountered the Gilbert gang, who were preparing to rob the local station storehouse.

O’Meally ordered Barnes to dismount from his horse, as he liked the look of the horse. Rather than obeying the order, Barnes spurred his mount and galloped for the protection of the nearby homestead. Sadly, he did not make it. O’Meally chased Barnes and shot him several times.

Above: part of an article from The Golden Age, Thu 10 Sept 1863. Image c/o Trove

Barnes was originally buried at Yass, but was later reinterred in the family vault at the Cootamundra cemetery. (ancestry 2016)

Above: the headstone of John Barnes. Image c/o ancestry.com.au

Murrumburrah has a silo that qualifies for the SiOTA program, but we just did not have enough time to activate it. We did, however, admire the magnificent silo art that it features. The art is the work of Melbourne-based Mongolian street artist Heesco Khosnaran. He commenced the silo art in January 2021 and completed the work at the end of February 2021.  The artwork features rural life in Australia in the late 1800s and early 1900s. (Australiansiloarttrail.com, 2020)

Below is a video on the Murrumburrah silo

In the main street is a statue of Major-General James Alexander Kenneth Mackay C.B., O.B.E., V.D., F.R.G.S. He created the First Australian Light Horse troop. (Office 2019)

The Light Horse Memorial commemorates the birthplace of the First Australian Light Horse at Murrumburrah in 1897.

There is also an excellent information board on the Lambing Flat goldfields, about 20 km north. Lambing Flat was the scene of a series of violent anti-Chinese demonstrations that took place in the early 1860s.

Below is a video on the Lambing Flat Riots.

Harden is home to the life-size sculpture of Australia’s best-known war horse, ‘Bill the Bastard’. Bill was a 730 kg chestnut stallion, one of 130,000 Australian horses that served during the First World War. However, Bill was no average horse. He was described as having the lungs and heart of an elephant.

Below is an excellent video on Bill the Bastard.

And of course, Harden has a Bill’s horse trough. For more information on the interesting background of Bill’s horse troughs, please have a look at my previous post:

Ouyen I245A Bushland Reserve VKFF-4207

We continued on to Binalong, a small village about 37 km northwest of Yass. It is believed the name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning ‘under the hills’, ‘surrounded by hills’ or ‘towards a high place.’ (Wikipedia 2025)

On the outskirts of Bingalong, on the western side of Burley Griffin Way, you can find the grave of the bushranger John Gilbert.

Gilbert was born in c. 1842 in Canada. He was shot dead by police on the 13th day of May 1865, aged just 23 years. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: John Gilbert. Image c/o WIkipedia

I wrote a little about Gilbert in a previous post about Junee:

Junee silo VK-JNE2

Below is an excellent video on the life of John Gilbert.

On the side of the old Produce Store in Binalong is an excellent mural on the shooting of John Gilbert.

There is also a monument in honour of Senior Constable Charles Hales, Constable Michael King, Constable John Bright, and Constable Henry Hall, for the gallant and courageous manner in which they performed their duty on the 13th day of May 1865 in the capture of Gilbert.

There is also a bust of the Australian poet, Banjo Patterson, who spent part of his childhood at nearby Yass. Patterson drew inspiration from the rural life of the area and the bushranger John Gilbert.

Patterson wrote a poem about Gilbert. Part of it reads:

But Gilbert walked from the open door
In a confident style and rash;
He heard at his side the rifles roar,
And he heard the bullets crash.
But he laughed as he lifted his pistol-hand,
And he fired at the rifle-flash.

Then out of the shadows the troopers aimed
At his voice and the pistol sound,
With rifle flashes the darkness flamed,
He staggered and spun around,
And they riddled his body with rifle balls
As it lay on the blood-soaked ground.

We continued on to the town of Bowning, about 14 km west of Yass. Bowning is believed to be an Aboriginal word meaning ‘big hill’. The explorers Hume and Hovell mentioned Bowning Hill in their journal of 1824. Bowning is one of the earliest settlements in the district. There are a number of historic buildings in Bowning, including the former Shamrock and Thistle Hotel. (Wikipedia 2025)

Marija and I then continued on to Canberra, where we booked into our accommodation, the Ibis Styles Canberra.

It had been a long day. But after freshening up, we headed off for dinner and then back to the motel room to finalise some issues for the 2025 VKFF National Get Together.

References.

  1. ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/. [Accessed 16 Jan. 2026]
  2. ‌Australiansiloarttrail.com. (2020). \r\n \n Murrumburrah Silo Art\n \r\n. [online] Available at: https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/murrumburrah [Accessed 17 Jan. 2026].
  3. ‌Chirp Internet (2026). Former Hotel Shirley in Bethungra < New South Wales | Gday Pubs – Enjoy our Great Australian Pubs. [online] Gdaypubs.com.au. Available at: https://www.gdaypubs.com.au/NSW/bethungra/51160/former-hotel-shirley.html [Accessed 16 Jan. 2026].‌
  4. Hilltops Region – Young, Jugiong, Boorowa, Harden. (2026). Bill the Bastard- Australia’s Greatest Warhorse – Hilltops Region – Young, Jugiong, Boorowa, Harden. [online] Available at: https://visithilltopsregion.com.au/see-do/local-attractions/historical-sites-and-heritage-locations/bill-the-bastard-australias-greatest-warhorse/ [Accessed 17 Jan. 2026].
  5. ‌McIntyre, J. (1969). Adams, Philip Francis (1828–1901). [online] Anu.edu.au. Available at: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/adams-philip-francis-2867 [Accessed 17 Jan. 2026].
  6. ‌Office (2019). Murrumburrah to unveil Mackay Sculpture – Hilltops Council. [online] Hilltops Council. Available at: https://www.hilltops.nsw.gov.au/murrumburrah-to-unveil-mackay-sculpture/ [Accessed 17 Jan. 2026].
  7. ‌Rutledge, M. (1972). Hurley, John (1796–1882). [online] Anu.edu.au. Available at: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hurley-john-3826 [Accessed 16 Jan. 2026].‌
  8. Service, C. (2023). Bradman’s Birthplace Museum Cootamundra. [online] NSW Government. Available at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/bradmans-birthplace-museum-cootamundra [Accessed 16 Jan. 2026].‌
  9. Trove. (2026). OBITUARY – MRS. ELIZA ELLEN (. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144484044 [Accessed 16 Jan. 2026].‌
  10. Trove. (2026). The Western Herald (Bourke, NSW : 1887 – 1893; 1895 – 1903; 1906 – 1914; 1916 -1976) – 16 May 1952 – p9. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/10630088?searchTerm=cootamundra [Accessed 16 Jan. 2026].
  11. ‌Trove. (2026). New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 – 1900) – 13 Aug 1861 – p1725. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/12570694?searchTerm=cootamundry [Accessed 17 Jan. 2026].
  12. ‌Trove. (2026). DESCRIPTION OF COOTAMUNDRA. – Cootamundra Herald (NSW : 1877 – 1954) – 18 Jan 1879. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/143905889?searchTerm=cootamundra [Accessed 17 Jan. 2026].
  13. ‌Wikitree.com. (2025). Eliza Ellen (Fife) Scholz (1846-1939) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree. [online] Available at: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fife-1368 [Accessed 16 Jan. 2026].‌
  14. Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Don Bradman. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Bradman. [Accessed 16 Jan. 2026].‌‌
  15. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Cootamundra. Wikipedia.‌
  16. Wikipedia. (2021). Cootamundra Domestic Training Home for Aboriginal Girls. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cootamundra_Domestic_Training_Home_for_Aboriginal_Girls. [Accessed 16 Jan. 2026].‌‌
  17. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Muttama, New South Wales. Wikipedia.‌
  18. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). John Gilbert (bushranger). Wikipedia.‌
  19. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Bowning. Wikipedia.‌