Our final activation for Friday 10th November 2023 was the Walpeup Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2471 and the Walpeup silo VK-WLP3.

Above:- Map showing the location of Walpeup. Map c/o Google Maps.

‘Walpeup’ is derived from an Aboriginal word with numerous recorded meanings including a ‘stumpy-tailed lizard’ and another is an indigenous acacia.

The township of Walpeup was settled following the arrival of the railway. In 1909 a store opened at Walpeup. In 1911 the Walpeup Shire was proclaimed. Walpeup’s population was 101 people. The Walpeup Primary School opened on the 3rd day of June 1912 in the ‘Little White Hall’. The Post Office opened on the 16th day of December 1912. 

Above: early settlers at Walpeup, c. 1911. Image c/o Museums Victoria.

In 1914 a one-room school building was constructed. A second room was added in 1927. In April 2015 the school closed and the last five students were transferred to the Underbool school.

The Walpeup South State School (No. 3929), also known as Hungry Hut, was opened in 1912 and closed in 1951.  The school building was later moved and served as the dressing shed at the Walpeup Recreation Reserve.

By 1921 Walpeup had a population of about 452 people. The town had a general store, a blacksmith, a butcher, a bank branch and several other businesses. A brick memorial hall replaced the original public hall in 1923.

Above:- Walpeup township, c. 1911. Image c/o Museums Victoria.

We arrived at the park at about 9.00 p.m. and it was completely dark. It was a very hot and humid night and we could hear thunderstorms off in the distance. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. I used the special event callsign of VI10VKFF for this activation.

The Walpeup Flora & Fauna Reserve is also referred to as the Walpeup Nature Conservation Reserve. It is about 178 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979.

We operated within the activation zone of the Walpeup silo.

We had viewed the Walpeup silos earlier in the day on our way to Ouyen.

They feature magnificent silo art. One of the best that we have seen during our travels. The silos were painted in June 2023 by Julian Clavijo and Camilo Delgado. They depict the story of Trooper Harold Thomas Bell.

Harold Thomas Bell was born in 1901 at Walpeup. He was just 16 years old when the First World War broke out. He travelled to Mildura and enlisted with the Light Horse Regiment, lying about his age, name and his family circumstances. He claimed to be 21 years old and gave his name as Harold Thomas Wickham.

On the 22nd day of June 1917, he left Australia and arrived in Egypt about 6 weeks later. He was subsequently selected for the Hotchkiss machine gun section.

On the 28th day of October 1917, he was involved in a battle near the town of Beersheva. He was shot in the leg and critically wounded. He died the following day and was laid to rest in the Beersheba War Cemetery.

A telegram was despatched to Harold’s only living uncle, recorded on the enlistment forms, to inform him of Harold’s death. Upon receiving the telegram Thomas Bell replied:

“I don’t have a nephew named Harold. I do have a son by that name, but he couldn’t be in the Army, he’s only 16.”

Tragedy was to strike the family twice. Less than a year following Harold’s death, his father received another telegram to advise of the death of his other son Samuel.

Above:- The attestation document of Harold Thomas Bell @ Harold Thomas Wickham. Image c/o ancestry.com.au

During our activation at Walpeup the lightning activity to the west of us really intensified. We could hear the loud rumble of thunder. And then the fire sirens went off in Walpeup, and we decided to pack up and head back to Murrayville.

Along the way, we observed numerous fires burning in paddocks, the result of lightning strikes. We were passed by a number of fire appliances and police cars heading to the fires with lights and sirens. And the lightning display was absolutely spectacular.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK3SQ
4. VK2BD
5. VK3ACZ
6. VK3CEO
7. VK3SG
8. VK1AO
9. VK2MET
10. VK2EXA

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK3SQ
4. VK2BD
5. VK3ACZ
6. VK3CEO
7. VK3SG
8. VK1AO
9. VK2MET
10. VK2EXA
11. VK7AAE
12. VK2NZL
13. VK3YV
14. VK3EJ
15. VK1RF
16. VK2MK
17. VK4CEE
18. VK3ZH
19. VK2CDB
20. VK2YAK
21. VK4YAK
22. VK3APJ
23. VK5LA
24. VK5FANA
25. VK5AAF
26. VK3ZK
27. VK4HMI

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK2BD
3. VK3PF
4. VK3KAI
5. VK5KK
6. VK3ZK
7. VK2EXA
8. VK7AAE
9. VK3APJ
10. VK5GY
11. VK3LF
12. VK3BWM
13. VK5BRU
14. VK3GV
15. VK2IO/p
16. VK1AO
17. VK2MET
18. VK2YAK
19. VK4YAK

References.

1. Australian Silo Art Trail, 2023, <https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/walpeup>, viewed 2nd January 2023.
2. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/walpeup>, viewed 2nd January 2023.
3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpeup>, viewed 2nd January 2023.

After leaving Galah we headed into Ouyen and went to the local Ouyen Hotel for an evening meal which we were very impressed with. Following our meal we filled up the Toyota Hi-Lux with some diesel. We then headed the Ouyen I244 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4208 and the Ouyen silo VK-OYN3.

The town of Ouyen is located about 105 km south of Mildura and about 441 km northwest of Melbourne. Ouyen has a population of about 1,000 people.

 Above:- Map showing the location of Ouyen. Map c/o Google Maps.

The Ouyen district was first inhabited by the Wegaia aboriginal people. The name Ouyen, pronounced ‘Oh-Yen’, is believed to be derived from the Wegaia word ‘wuya-wuya’ There are differing views on the origin of the name. Some believe it means ‘pink-eared duck’ while others claim it means ‘ghost waterhole’.

In 1903 the railway line was extended from Woomelang, 80 km south of Ouyen, to Mildura. Settlements at Hopetoun and Lascelles, both near Woomerlang, had enhanced the prospects of farming in the Mallee region of Victoria. The opening of the railway line invited settlement along its route. In about 1906 settlers commenced arriving in the Ouyen district. The town of Ouyen was proclaimed in 1909.

Above:- 1920 Victorian railway map. Image c/o vrhistory.com

The town of Ouyen was established around the Ouyen railway station which was built in 1906. The Ouyen Post Office was opened on the 22nd day of July 1907.  Land to the west of Ouyen was found to be suitable for farming and various townships were established. Ouyen became a functioning service centre. In 1909 a school was opened in a coffee palace and public hall. In 1911 Ouyen’s population was 766 people. 

In 1918 a shire hall was constructed. In 1928 a higher education school was opened. In 1929 a district hospital was built. By the 1930s Ouyen had a local court, four banks, an agricultural society, sporting and racing clubs, and local industries such as cordial making, plaster sheet, a freezing works and an electricity generation plant. In 1933 Ouyen’s population was 1,169 people.

Above:- The Ouyen Coffee Palace, c. 1916. Image c/o Museums Victoria.

Above:- The main street of Ouyen, c. 1915. Image c/o Museums Victoria.

Today Ouyen is a rural service centre of the Mallee. It is the gateway to several Mallee parks in Victoria including Murray Sunset National Park, Wyperfeld National Park and Hattah Kulkyne National Park.

Well worth a visit if you are in Ouyen is the community mural in the centre of the business/cafe precinct of Ouyen. It depicts the history of the district.

Following dinner, we headed to the Ouyen I244 Bushland Reserve. The reserve was established on the 8th day of May 1990 and is only 1.5 hectares in size.

We set up within the activation zone of the Ouyen silo.

Above:- the activation zone at the Ouyen silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

The Ouyen silos are located alongside the railway line on the western side of Rowe Street.

The silos were opened in 1939.

Above:- Article from the Ouyen Mail, Wed 8 Nov 1939. Image c/o Trove.

The Ouyen silo has not been without its accidents.

Above:- Article from the Ouyen Mail, Wed 3 May 1939. Image c/o Trove.

We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. I operated with the special call sign of VI10VKFF.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2EXA
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK2YAK
6. VK4YAK
7. VK5LA
8. VK5KAW
9. VK3BWS
10. VK5HS
11. VK3OAK
12. VK2IO/p (Baring I113 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4218)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2EXA
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK2YAK
6. VK4YAK
7. VK5LA
8. VK5KAW
9. VK3BWS
10. VK5HS
11. VK3OAK
12. VK5GY
13. VK3CEO
14. VK7KW
15. VK7AAE
16. VK3UH
17. VK2IO/p (Baring I113 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4218)
18. VK3ACZ
19. VK2CDB
20. VK2DG
21. VK4SMA
22. VK2LQ
23. VK2PCT
24. VK3SQ
25. VK2BD
26. VK3CLD
27. VK3EJ
28. VK3SO
29. VK3YUN
30. VK3HNG
31. VK3CNC
32. VK5DW
33. VK2GWB
34. VK3ABK
35. VK3GQ/m
36. VK2TER
37. VK2BM

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3APJ
2. VK3PF
3. VK3SQ
   VK2BD
4. VK3ZK
5. VK3KAI
6. VK3GV

References.

1. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/ouyen>, viewed 2nd December 2023.
2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouyen>, viewed 2nd December 2023.

Our next activation for Friday 10th November 2023 was the Galah Bushland Reserve VKFF-4194 and the Galah silo VK-GLA3.

We had decided to head to Ouyen for some fuel and to have an evening meal.

Above:- Map showing the location of Galah, Victoria. Map c/o Google Maps.

Along the way, we stopped briefly at Walpeup to view the silo art. For more information on Walpeup, please see my post at….

Walpeup Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2471 and Walpeup silo VK-WLP3

For more information on the Walpeup silo art please see my post at….

Walpeup Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2471 and Walpeup silo VK-WLP3

We left Walpeup and continued east along the Mallee Highway and soon reached the district of Galah.

Galah is a locality in northwestern Victoria. It was formerly known as Anderson’s Plains taking its name from a stickman. It is named after the iconic Australian bird, the Galah.

The Galah State School (No. 3955) opened in June 1917. Schooling was initially conducted in the Galah Hall until a school building was erected. In 1933 the school was destroyed by fire and the school returned to the hall until the former Timberoo South School was moved to Galah in 1934. The school closed in 1947.

Above: Article from The Argus, Wed 19 Apr 1933. Image c/o Trove.

The Galah North State School (No. 4262) opened in May 1926 and closed in 1942. At its peak, Galah had a store, a post office, a community hall, and a Sunday school.

Above:- Article from the Ouyen Mail, Fri 20 Oct 1911. Image c/o Trove.

The Galah Bushland Reserve was established on the 8th day of May 1990 and is about 3 hectares in size. It is a very small piece of remnant mallee scrub.

The park is located on the northern side of Galah North Road and the eastern side of Nunn Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Galah Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The Galah silos are located on the northern side of the Mallee Highway, alongside the Ouyen-Pinnaroo railway line.

The Galah silos were opened in 1939.

Above:- Article from the Herald Melbourne, Sat 18 Nov 1939. Image c/o Trove.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PI/p (Fosters Lake Waterhole Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2090)
2. VK3UH
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK3PF
6. VK3APJ
7. VK3SQ
8. VK2BD
9. VK1DA
10. VK2DA
11. VK2IO/p (Spindles Bushland Reserve VKFF-4247)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PI/p (Fosters Lake Waterhole Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2090)
2. VK3UH
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK3PF
6. VK3APJ
7. VK3SQ
8. VK2BD
9. VK1DA
10. VK2DA
11. VK3SO
12. VK2EXA
13. VK2AB
14. VK2IO/p (Spindles Bushland Reserve VKFF-4247)
15. VK5FANA
16. VK3SG

As it was getting late in the afternoon and we wanted to get to Ouyen for a meal, we did not operate on the 20m band.

References.

1. Blake; L, 1977, Place Names of Victoria.
2. CAPAD 2022.
3. Nickolls; J, Angel, A, 2003, Mallee Tracks.
4. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galah,_Victoria>, viewed 2nd January 2024.

Our next activation for Friday 10th November 2023 was the Underbool Bushland Reserve VKFF-4171 and the Underbool silo VK-UNL3. This was to be the first time that the park had been activated for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of Underbool. Map c/o Google Maps.

Underbool is a town and district located in the Mallee region of northwest Victoria. Underbool is located about 476 km northwest of Melbourne and about 50km west of Ouyen.

Above:- The locality of Underbool. Image c/o Mapshare Victoria.

During my research of Underbool, I found that there were two possible origins of the name. One is that Underbool originates from an aboriginal word ‘wimbool’, the ear, ‘bool’ means ‘water’, native name of waterholes’. The other is that Underbool comes from the German word underbolt given to the area by surveyor Dr. Georg von Neumayer (b. 1826. d. 1909). During his travels in the area in 1864 Neumayer stated:

“I can readily imagine why most people speak of this part of the country with a certain dread for there is actually no grass and no water to be found.’

Above:- Georg von Neumayer. Image c/o Wikipedia.

Before European settlement, the area around Underbool was occupied by the Wergaia or Werrigia aboriginal people. 

They occupied land in the Mallee and Wimmera area that included Lake Hindmarsh, Lake Albacutya, Pine Plains Lake, Lake Werringrin, Lake Coorong, Warracknabeal, Beulah, Hopetoun, Dimboola, Ouyen, Yanac, Hattah Lakes and the Wimmera River.

Settlers commenced taking up Mallee farms in the Underbool district in the early 1900s. In 1911 the first store was established by J. Cotter in a tent in the railway yard. Settlers could obtain food supplies from the store. In 1911 the Underbool district had a population of 153 people. The Underbool Post Office opened on the 15th day of July 1912. In that same year, the railway line from Ouyen to Pinnaroo opened.

Above:- the Ouyen to Pinarroo railway line. Image c/o Railway Map of Victoria.

In November 1913 the Underbool Primary School (No. 3819) opened. A Bush Nursing Centre was opened in 1917. By 1918 Underbool had several stores and businesses. A police station was established in 1920. In 1921 Underbool’s population was 380 people. However, it did not possess a hotel until 1925. That same year a Methodist church was built. The Underbool Mirror newspaper operated from 1925 to 1957.

The Underbool Football Club was established in 1913. During the 1920s, tennis, cricket, and golf clubs were formed. 

Above:- Article from the Weekly Times Melbourne, Sat 4 Aug 1923. Image c/o Trove.

Underbool is a quaint little Mallee town. Sadly it has many unoccupied shops and the magnificent old two-storey hotel which no longer operates. The hotel was built in 1925 and operated for over 90 years providing bar service, meals and accommodation. It closed in 2016.

Above:- Article from the Geelong Advertiser, Wed 16 Jul 1924. Image c/o Trove.

Above:- Article from the Ouyen Mail, Wed 8 Jun 1927. Image c/o Trove.

Ouyen has a magnificent rest area on the Mallee Highway, with several things to view for the visitor. This includes information boards and the Pioneer & Early Settler Memorial.

There is also an old mallee scrub roller used in the clearing of mallee scrub for the development of agricultural land.

You can also view Underbool’s police cells that were in use from 1919 to 2002.

The Underbool Bushland Reserve consists of several separate portions of land surrounding the township of Underbool.

The reserve is about 49 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979.

For this activation we operated within the activation zone of the Underbool silos.

The Underbool silos are located on the northern side of the Mallee Highway.

The silos were built in 1939.

Above:- Article from the Sunraysia Daily Mildura, Wed 19 Apr 1939. Image c/o Trove.

We operated from the vehicle for this activation, running the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80 metre linked dipole.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/p (Patchewollock North Bushland Reserve VKFF-4243)
2. VK3YV
3. VK3PF
4. VK3SMW
5. VK3BEL/p (Barmah National Park VKFF-0739)
6. VK5LA
7. VK5KAW
8. VK3VIN
9. VK1AD
10. VK1NAM
11. VK3DAC
12. VK4FE/3

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/p (Patchewollock North Bushland Reserve VKFF-4243)
2. VK2EXA
3. VK3YV
4. VK3PF
5. VK3SMW
6. VK3BEL/p (Barmah National Park VKFF-0739)
7. VK5LA
8. VK5KAW
9. VK3VIN
10. VK1AD
11. VK1NAM
12. VK3DAC
13. VK4FE/3
14. VK3SQ
15. VK2BD
16. VK2VH
17. VK4AAC
18. VK3GJG
19. VK5PET
20. VK1AO
21. VK2MET
22. VK1RF
23. VK2MK
24. VK4CEE
25. VK3APJ
26. VK3MTT
27. VK5FANA
28. VK3SG
29. VK3AMO
30. VK3ANL
31. VK3SO
32. VK3OAK
33. VK5TN
34. VK3PWG/p (Budj Bim National Park VKFF-0345)
35. VK3BBB
36. VK2CCP
37. VK5KLV
38. VK5HAA
39. VK2HAK
40. VK3DCQ
41. VK3UH
42. VK2NP
43. VK5NHG
44. VK1DI
45. VK3TKK/m
46. VK3CLD
47. VK5MTR

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. F1BLL
2. ZL4NVW
3. KG5CIK
4. VK4JT
5. VK4MUD
6. IK1GPG
7. OH1MM

References.

1. CAPAD 2022.
2. Clark, I, Hercus, L, Kostanski, L, 1958, Indigenous and Minority Places Names.
3. Discover Murray Mallee, 2023, <http://www.murrayriver.com.au/underbool/underbool-pioneer-memorial/>, viewed 1st January 2023.
4. Underbool Community, 2023, <https://www.underbool.vic.au/directory/local-businesses/underbool-pub-general-store/>, viewed 1st December 2023.
5. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/underbool>, viewed 1st January 2023.
6. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underbool>, viewed 1st January 2023.
7. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_von_Neumayer>, viewed 1st January 2023.
8. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wergaia>, viewed 1st January 2023.
9. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinnaroo_railway_line,_Victoria>, viewed 1st January 2023.

Our next activation for Friday 10th November 2023 was the Linga Bushland Reserve VKFF-4166 and the Linga silo VK-LNA3. Linga is about 60 km west of Ouyen in northwestern Victoria.

This was to be the first activation of this park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of Linga in northwest Victoria. Map c/o Google Maps.

It is believed that Linga is a derivative of the traditional aboriginal word Lar-gni which means ‘camp’ or ‘home’.

Above:- Plan of the township of Linga. Image c/o State Library Victoria.

The Post Office opened on the 15th day of July 1912 following the opening of the railway from Ouyen to Murrayville. It was known as Manpy until 1913 and was closed in 1975. The Linga State School (No. 3798) opened on the 31st day of March 1913 in the local hall, with a permanent building erected in 1916. The school closed on the 17th day of December 1970. The Linga South State School (No. 4460) opened on the 30th day of January 1930 and closed in 1949. At its peak, Linga had a general store, billiard saloon and coffee palace, Post office telephone exchange and a Commonwealth Bank Agency.

Above:- K. Jones Company Proprietary Limited General Merchant. Image c/o Museums Victoria

Linga once had a branch of the Victorian Farmers Union, a football club formed in 1913, a tennis club, a basketball club, and a branch of the Catholic Young Mens Society.

In an issue of the 1929 minutes of the Linga Football Club it was moved that ‘a bottle of sherry be procured for the players and officials at half-time.’

Today very little remains of Linga to indicate that it was once a thriving town.

The Linga Bushland Reserve is located on the northern side of Mitchells Road.

The Linga Bushland Reserve is about 25 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990.

The Linga silo is located on Mitchell Road, alongside the old railway line, on the northern side of the Mallee Highway. 

The Linga silo was constructed in the late 1930s.

Above:- Article from the Horsham Times, Tues 21 Nov 1939. Image c/o Trove.

We operated within the activation zone of the silo for this activation. We ran the Yaesu FTR857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

All of our contacts were on the 40m band. We tried 20m but had no takers.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK2BD
3. VK3VIN
4. VK3APJ
5. VK3PF
6. VK3BEL/p (Barmah National Park VKFF-0739)
7. VK1DI
8. VK2DG
9. VK5CZ
10. VK5FANA
11. VK3CLD
12. VK2IO/p (Dering Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2307)
13. VK3PI/p (Wangaratta Common Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2223)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK2BD
3. VK3VIN
4. VK3APJ
5. VK3PF
6. VK3BEL/p (Barmah National Park VKFF-0739)
7. VK1DI
8. VK2DG
9. VK5CZ
10. VK5FANA
11. VK3CLD
12. VK1AO
13. VK2MET
14. VK3DAC
15. VK2IO/p (Dering Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2307)
16. VK3PI/p (Wangaratta Common Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2223)
17. VK3SG
18. VK2EXA
19. VK2NP
20. VK7STO
21. VK5PL
22. VK5TN
23. VK3GRX
24. VK5KVA
25. VK3DAI
26. VK7FLI
27. VK7MFI
28. VK1RF
29. VK2MK
30. VK4CEE
31. VK3BBB
32. VK2CCP
33. VK5KKT
34. VK3ANL
35. VK3BWS
36. VK1CHW
37. VK3SO
38. VK3CEO
39. VK3BAP
40. VK4FE/3
41. VK5IS

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK3DAC
2. VK3ANL

I worked the following stations on 40m FM:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK2BD

References.

1. Blake; L, 1977, Places Names of Victoria.
2. CAPAD 2022.
3. Mallee Highway Touring Route, 2023, <https://www.malleehighway.com.au/html/linga.html>, viewed 29th December 2023.
4. Nickolls; j & Angel, A, 2002, Mallee Tracks.
5. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linga,_Victoria>, viewed 29th December 2023.

After packing up at the Cowangie silo on Friday 10th November 2023, we headed east on the Mallee Highway to Tutye. Tutye is a locality situated about 80km west of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of Tutye in northwest Victoria. Map c/o Google Maps.

Along the way, we stopped to look at the gravesite of a railway worker. The grave is located about 2.3 km east of Cowangie and is on the northern side of the Mallee Highway. The name of the person is not known but the headstone states that they died in 1913.

We continued east and soon reached Tutye.  Tutye is an aboriginal word meaning ‘rest’.

The Tutye district was opened for selection in 1911. Tutye was once a thriving township, but today very little remains. The Post Office was opened on the 15th day of July 1912 following the opening of the railway line from Ouyen to Murrayville. The Post office closed in 1980. The Tutye General Store opened in 1914 and closed in 1970. The Tutye State School opened in 1920. The town once had several businesses including a blacksmith shop, boot repairer, bank agency, boarding house and telephone exchange.

Above:- Plan of the township of Tutye. Image c/o State Library Victoria.

Tutye once had a football club, a tennis club, a croquet club, a golf club, a racecourse, and a dramatic society.

Above:- the 1928 Tutye football club team. Image c/o Cowangie Danyo Tutye and district Facebook page.

The Tutye Hall hosted numerous events.

Above:- article from the Ouyen Mail, Wed 17th August 1938. Image c/o Trove.

In 1953-54 a processing plant for cruse plaster of Paris was established at Tutye by Associated Plaster and Gypsum. All that remains today are some ramps and sidings which were used for unloading/loading of gypsum on the old railway line/

You can also find a plaque commemorating the Tutye Avenue of Honour which was planted on the 24th day of July 1919 by the Tutye Progress Association as a mark of honour to the men from Tutye who served abroad in the war 1914-1918.

The Tutye silos are located on the southern side of the Mallee Highway on Old Stock Route Road.

Above:- the Tutye silo, c. 1960s. Image c/o Cowangie Danyo Tutye and district Facebook page.

This was a quick activation from the vehicle, running the Icom IC7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1/5 mere stainless steel whip.

Above:- aerial view of the Tutye silos. Image c/o Google Maps.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2IO/p (Dering Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2307)
3. VK2TRL
4. VK1CHW/p (Dunlop Grasslands Nature Reserve VKFF-0839)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2IO/p (Dering Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2307)
3. VK2TRL
4. VK1CHW/p (Dunlop Grasslands Nature Reserve VKFF-0839)

Following our activation of the silo we drove out to the Tutye cemetery to hopefully view some of the graves of the early settlers. Sadly there were not many historic headstones visible in the cemetery.

We then headed east along the Mallee Highway to Linga for our next activation.

References.

1. Australian Cemeteries, 2023, <https://www.australiancemeteries.com.au/vic/mildura/cowangielone.htm>, viewed 29th December 2023.
2. Blake, L, 1977, Places Names of Victoria.
3. Mildura Rural City Council, 2013, Mildura (Former Shire of Walpeup) Heritage Study Stage 2
4. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutye,_Victoria>, viewed 29th December 2023.

Received yesterday, my Park to Park 1,844 certificate

Thank you to all of the WWFF activators and to Swa ON5SWA the Awards Manager.

This morning I received my latest VKFF Hunter Honour Roll certificate, issued for having worked 2,000 different VKFF references.

Thank you to all of the VKFF Activators and thank you to Adam VK2YK the VK5 VKFF State Rep for the certificate.

Here are my latest FT8 award certificates.

Thank you to all of the FT8 operators and to the Award Managers.

Here are my latest FT4 award certificates.

Thank you to all of the FT4 operators and to the Award Managers.