My first park activation for Monday 19th August 2024 was the Ginquam I5 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4129. This was to be the first time that I had activated the park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program, and only the second time the park had been activated for WWFF.
The reserve is located about 36 km (by road) south of Mildura in northwest Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Ginquam I5 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
It was a beautiful morning and before leaving the caravan park I enjoyed a coffee overlooking Lake Cullulleraine. Lake Cullulleraine is a natural billabong of the River Murray. Cullulleraine is derived from the aboriginal word kallalla meaning neat. The lake is popular for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, water skiing and jet-skiing. (Victorian Fisheries) (Victorian Place Names)
I then headed down to the roadhouse to fill up the 4WD with diesel and a bacon & egg roll for breakfast. I is always a sign of a good meal when you see trucks parked outside of a roaadhouse.
As I drove along the Sturt Highway I passed many commercial almond orchards.
The reserve is located on the northern side of Ginquam W Road, just to the west of the junction with Scott Lane.
Above:- An aerial view of the Ginquam I5 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
The reserve is about 9 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. Ginquam is derived from the aboriginal word gam gam meaning horse. (CAPAD 2022) (Victorian Places Names)
i ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
I worked the following station on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-
VK3PF (Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve VKFF-3833)
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-
My final park for Sunday 18th August 2024 was the Yatpool Tank Bushland Reserve VKFF-4130. This was to be another brand new park for me for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.
The park is located about 21 km south of Mildura in northwest Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Yatpool Tank Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
The reserve is located on the eastern side of the Calder Highway at the junction with Treviso Way.
Above:- An aerial view of the Yatpool Tank Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
Yatpool is an aboriginal word meaning plain with waterholes. Yatpool once had a State School and its own Australian Rules football team. (Victorian Place Names)
Above:- The Yatpool Football Club, 1920. Image c/o Museums Victoria.
The Yatpool Tank Bushland Reserve is about 58 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)
I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
My next activation for Sunday 18th August 2024 was the Ginquam I4 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4128. This was the first time that I had activated this park and only the second time that the park had been activated for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.
The reserve is located about 35 km (by road) south of Mildura in northwestern Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Ginquam I4 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
The reserve is located on the northern side of NW Angle Road, west of Austin Road.
Above:- An aerial view of the Ginquam I4 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
Ginquam is derived from the aboriginal word gam gam meaning horse. The reserve is about 40 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022) (Place Names)
I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK5LA
VK5KAW
VK3VIN
VK3HJW
VK3KGW
VK3CA
VK3SPG
VK5PL
VK2EXA
VK3EJ
VK2USH/p (Lake Broadwater Conservation Park VKFF-1577)
VK2IO
VK2GEZ
VK7DW
VK7ADW
VK3ACZ
VK4SMA
VK4HNS
VK3AMO
VK5FANA
VK1DI
VK7PJM
L3MR
VK1MA
VK4MPB
VK3RU
VK2VE
VK3SKS
VK4EMP
VK4TI
VK4GKO
VK5AAF
VK3CEO
VK2MFW
VK2DWD
VK4KBA
VK2HMV
VK5AYL
VK3APJ
VK4PDX
VK4IKZ
VK3ZK
VK3CWF
VK4DTS
VK2XXM
VK3VPM
VK5VGC
VK6LK
As I packed up I enjoyed a magnificent sunset.
I headed into Red Cliffs after this activation for a bite to eat. I enjoyed a magnificent steak sandwich from one of the take away stores.
After booking into my accommodation at Lake Cullulleraine on 18th August 2024, I headed out to activate the Benetook Flora Reserve VKFF-4126. This was the first time that I had activated this park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.
The reserve is located about 29 km (by road) southwest of Mildura in northwestern Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of Benetook Flora Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
The Benetook Flora Reserve, also known as the Benetook Bushland Reserve is located on the northern side of Millewa Road and is divided by Meridian Road.
Above:- An aerial view of the Benetook Flora Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
The Benetook Post Office opened c. 1925. In 1929 the building was destroyed by fire. The office was closed in 1946. Benetook was located on the Morkala railway line. In 1924 the station opened with the first section of line. It had facilities for passengers, goods, and grain. It closed in 1970. At one stage Benetook had its own Australian Rules football team. (Wikipedia)
Above:- Article from the Sunraysia Daily, Mildura, Tue 21 Aug 1928. Image c/o Trove.
The Benetook Flora Reserve is about 48 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. Benetook is derived from the aboriginal word barnetuk meaning ankle. (CAPAD 2022) (Place Names 1978).
I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
This was a great activation, with a total of 97 contacts logged.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK2IO
VK2GEZ
VK5QA/4
VK3CLD/4
OH1MM
VK4SMA
OH1XT
VK6JK
LZ3TY
VK2XXM
EC4AT
OH1CM
SQ9CWO
VK4HNS
F1BLL
EA3MP
DL2ND
F6PYI
IZ2LVY
VK2VW
VK2HFI
VK2AKA
VK2BUG
DK4RM
VK1RF
VK2MK
VK4CEE
DH1BAS
VK7HCK
SP7MW
VK1AO/p (Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve VKFF-1237)
VK2MET/p (Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve VKFF-1237)
VK8DNT/p (Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve VKFF-1237)
F4ISZ
9A2CD
SP6BYC
LY4L
VK3APJ
DH4PSG
SQ2LKY
S58AL
VK8NSB
DK9HN
ON3VPA
VK2BNG
OP7M
PD5S
ON4VT
F4HZR
VK2EIR/m
K5RX
LZ1DM
VK6ADF/p (Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park VKFF-0283)
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3HJW
VK3UAO
VK5PE/m
VK3APJ
VK7DW
VK1DI
VK3CJN
VK3QHU
VK2BAI
VK3CEO
VK1MA
VK5PL
VK3NRB
VK2MOE
VK1MO
VK4SMA
VK2HAK
VK2IO
VK2GEZ
VK3LF
VK5PCM
VK3PF/p (SOTA VK3/ VU-014)
VK3EJ
VK2TM
VK3NL
Vk2NCS/p (Lighthouse AU-0033)
VK5FB
VK2PBC
VK5BRU/p (Onkaparinga River National Park VKFF-0402)
VK4FDJL
VK4WAB
VK3MGM
VK7PJM
VK2USH/p (Lake Broadwater Conservation Park VKFF-1577)
On 7th September 2024, I activated a VKFF reference area on 2024 National Threatened Species Day, and as a result, I qualified for the certificate below.
On Sunday morning 18th August 2024, I headed to McDonalds at Renmark for some breakfast and also filled the 4WD up with diesel. I then headed towards the Victorian border with the intention of crossing over into VK3 and attending the Werrimul Hotel with members of the Riverland Radio Club and the Sunraysia Radio Group.
As I approached the Victorian border, I stopped to take a photograph of the big Dunlop Tyre. It was constructed when Adelaide held the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
I then drove a short distance and reached the South Australian and Victorian State border.
I soon entered into the Karween district in Victoria. I stopped off briefly to visit Andy VK5LA who was activating the Morkala Bushland Reserve VKFF-4119. We had a quick chat before I hit the road once again.
I then drove a short distance down Millewa Road to the Karween Bushland Reserve VKFF-4120, where I stopped to undertake an activation for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Karween Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
Karween is located in the Millewa region of northwestern Victoria. Millewa is an aboriginal name for the Murray River. In 1923 the Millewa region was opened up for selection. Settlement commenced from Red Cliffs and extended west until 1928. (Aussie Towns 2024) (Millewa The First 50 Years)
Karween is an aboriginal word meaning ‘grass tree’. Virtually nothing remains here nowadays. But in its day this was a thriving little community. The Karween State School opened on the 7th day of May 1928. From 1928 to 1943, a total of 97 children attended the school. (Millewa The First 50 Years) (Place Names Victoria)
Above:- Article from The Sun, Tue 23 Aug 1927. Image c/o Trove.
The Karween Bushland Reserve is located on the northern and southern side of Millewa Road at the intersection with Karween S and Karween N Road.
The Karween Bushland Reserve is about 78 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. (CAPAD 2022)
Above:- An aerial view of the Karween Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
I found a clearing in the mallee scrub and set up my station. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m, linked dipole for this activation.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3ZPF
VK3JW
VK3BAP
VK4DNO
VK5PE/m
VK5LA/p (Morkala Bushland Reserve VKFF-4119)
VK5KAW/p (Morkala Bushland Reserve VKFF-4119)
VK5PX
VK3APJ
VK2OKR/p (Lighthouse AU-0033 & Myall Lakes National Park VKFF-0375)
VK2AUS/p (Lighthouse AU-0033 & Myall Lakes National Park VKFF-0375)
VK2YAK/p (Lighthouse AU-0033 & Myall Lakes National Park VKFF-0375)
VK4YAK/p (Lighthouse AU-0033 & Myall Lakes National Park VKFF-0375)
VK3ASU
VK3CEO
VK5MWW
VK3GJG
VK2IO
VK2GEZ
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK3HJW
VK3SO
VK3SFG
VK3KRL
VK2UGB/p ((Lighthouse AU-0033 & Myall Lakes National Park VKFF-0375))
VK1DI
VK2VAR
VK2GOM
VK3MTV
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK1DI
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK2VAR
VK2GOM
VK3OAK
VK3GUM
VK2IO
VK2GEZ
VK3CEO
VK4AAC/p (Goomboorian National Park VKFF-0722)
VK2VH/p (Goomboorian National Park VKFF-0722)
VK3VIN
VK6LK
VK5LA/p (Morkala Bushland Reserve VKFF-4119)
Vk5KAW/p (Morkala Bushland Reserve VKFF-4119)
VK3ALK
VK3UAO
VK4HNS
VK3TU
VK3ATL/p
VK2MW
VK3EMF
VK2EXA
VK4CXY
VK1RF
VK2MK
VK4CEE
VK7EE
I needed to get to Werrimul so I packed up and headed east along Millewa Road. I stopped briefly at the little town of Meringur. Meringur is an aboriginal word meaning grey female kangaroo. Meringur was once known as The Hut. In October 1924 a survey of the Parish of Meringur was made by Rickley L. Turner. The layout of allotments included a town reserve of 100 acres. In March 1926 Robert Poole subdivided this area into nine sections allowing for a recreation and a school reserve. (Millewa The First 50 Years) (Place Names Victoria)
Meringur was once a thriving community with its own Australian Rules football team.
Above:- The Meringur Football team 1926. Image c/o Millewa History Photos Facebook page.
I had a little bit of time up my sleeve so I stopped at the Milliewa Pioneer Park. I have visited here before, but it is such an interesting place I wanted to have another quick look. It was established in 1986 to recognise the efforts of the early settlers of the district.
I then drove into the town of Werrimul which is about 65 km west of Mildura. Werrimul is an aboriginal word meaning emu. It is now the main centre of the Millewa district. (Place Names Victoria)
I then attended lunch at the historic Werrimul Hotel. It lays claim to being Victoria’s most outback hotel. It was a very nice meal and a great afternoon chatting with hams from the Riverland the Mildura region.
After leaving Werrimul I headed to my accommodation at Lake Cullulleraine. Along the way, I passed the Cullulleraine weather radar that services northwestern Victoria. Work commenced on the project in 2020. (ABC 2020)
I booked into my accommodation at the Bushmans Rest Caravan Park at Lake Cullulleraine.
Wunkar is located about 232 km northeast of the city of Adelaide.
Above: The map shows the location of Wunkar, South Australia. Map c/o Google Maps.
Wunkar is about 27 km west of Loxton in the Riverland region of South Australia. Wunkar is an aboriginal word meaning ‘grass’.
The area was taken up by pastoral leases during the mid-1850s and was known as Walker’s Dam. It appears the name came from three brothers named Walker who were shepherds in the area. (Flickr 2024)
The town was proclaimed on the 3rd day of March 1927 and was originally known as Walkers Dam. The School was originally known as Walkers Dam and was changed to Wunkar in 1926. The school closed in 1974. (SA Place Names 2012)
The Wunkar silos are located at the former railway station on the old Wanbi to Moorook railway line which was also known as the Yinkanie Railway Line. The line was opened on the 4th day of September 1925 and was closed on the 1st day of May 1971. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above: The map shows the Yinkanie Line. Image c/o Wikipedia.
The Wunkar silos were the only silos located on the Yinkanie Line. They were opened in 1960. This followed an announcement in mid-1959 by the General Manager of South Australian Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd. (Flickr 2024) (Pt Lincoln Times 1959) (Wikipedia 2024)
I last activated the Wunkar silos in January 2023.
I parked adjacent to the silos and operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5-metre stainless steel whip.
Above:- Map showing the activation zone at the Wunkar silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.
After leaving Wunkar I drove into Renmark and booked into my accommodation. That evening I enjoyed a great meal, a few bundy and cokess, and plenty of laughs with Ivan VK5HS and Peter VK5PE.
References.
Flickr. (2024). Wunkar In the Murray Mallee. All the remains of the Wunkar railway station and railway yards.The Wanbi to Yinkanie railway line was put through in 1925 and closed in 1971. [online] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/51116031572 [Accessed 5 Oct. 2024].
About a week ago I received in my email Inbox, my latest WWFF Activator certificate. It is issued for having activated a total of 466 different references and reaching at least 44 QSOs in each.
Thank you to all of the WWFF Hunters and thank you to Hugo CT7AOV the Award Manager.
VK5PAS 