After leaving Apamurra, I headed into Murray Bridge, where I got an evening meal.

I then activated the Murray Bridge East silo VK-MRT5 and the Murray Bridge silo VK-MRE5. Again, I used the special event call of VI100IARU.

Above:- Map showing the location of Murray Bridge, east of Adelaide. Map c/o Google Maps.

On my way to the activation zone for both silos, I passed the old Murray Bridge Railway Station on Railway Terrace. The station was opened in the 1880s as part of the Adelaide-Wolseley railway line. (Wikipedia 2025)

The Murray Bridge silo VK-MRE5 is located on Hume Reserve Road. The Murray Bridge East silo VK-MRT5 is located on Mary Terrace.

In 2023 it was planned that the Murray Bridge silos would become part of the Australian silo art trail. Sadly, this was cancelled.

I parked on Railway Terrace within the activation zone of the two silos and operated from the 4WD. I ran 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 two silos. Image c/o SiOTA website.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK3PF
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK7IAN
6. VK2EXA
7. VK2LEE
8. VK2IO
9. VK2EG
10. VK7PJM
11. VK2USH
12. VK7LTD
13. VK5DMO
14. VK3BLG

References.

1. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Murray Bridge railway station. Wikipedia.‌

After leaving Cambrai on 8th April 2025, I headed to the Apamurra silo VK-APA5. Apamurra is located about 12 km northwest of Mannum and about 77 km northeast of Adelaide.

I have activated the Apamurra silo several times previously.

Apamurra is a railway siding on the former Monarto-Sedan railway. Apamurra is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘fresh water’. The township of Apamurra was laid out in 1921 on part sections 30-31, Hundred of Finniss, by Johann Gottfried Hartmann. It comprised 19 allotments contiguous to the railway station. On the 17th day of February 1922, the Apamurra Post Office opened. It closed on the 31st day of July 1971. (Place Names 2023)

The Apamurra silos are located on Milendella Road.

I parked on Milendella Road outside of 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:- the activation zone at the Apamurra silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK1AO
3. VK2MET
4. VK3PF
5. VK2USH
6. VK2EXA
7. VK5HYZ
8. VK5RA
9. VK2IO
10. VK5FL
11. VK5ADP
12. VK2YW
13. VK7PJM
14. VK5DMO
15. VK2LEE
16. VK5FB
17. VK7LTD

References.

1. A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia, 2023, <https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/>, [Accessed 15 Jun. 2025]

After leaving the Derek Sutcliffe Reserve on 8th April 2025, I headed to the town of Cambrai where I intended to activate the Cambrai silo VK-CMI5 for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program.

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

I headed west on Jutland Road and stopped briefly to admire the old South Rhine Presbyterian (later Uniting) Church. The Foundation Stone was laid on the 26th day of April 1882, by Thomas Gray. Its closing service was held on the 25th day of April 2010. (Facebook 2022)

The sun was setting as I headed to Cambrai, and I enjoyed a magnificent sunset.

I stopped briefly at one of the lookouts with some amazing views out across the plains towards Victoria.

I soon reached the town of Cambrai, which was formerly known as Rhine Villa. It was one of several towns that were renamed during World War One to remove any connection with German place names. It was renamed Cambrai after the Battle of Cambrai. (Wikipedia 2025)

The Cambrai silos are located on SIlo Road.

I parked near the gates of the silos ane operated from the 4WD. I ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.

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

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3WRD
2. VK3ZLF
3. VK2LDJ
4. VK2IO
5. VK3PWG/P
6. VK3ACZ
7. VK3NP
8. VK5QA/P
9. VK2DBF
10. VK3CLD
11. VK2USH
12. VK3AGM
13. VK3CJN
14. VK3QHU
15. VK7PJM
16. VK2UAJ/P
17. VK3PF
18. VK6CAO
19. VK3TDX
20. VK1AO
21. VK2MET

References.

1. Facebook. (2022). Log into Facebook. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/profile/100066749306355/search/?q=south%20rhine [Accessed 15 Jun. 2025].
2. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Cambrai. Wikipedia.‌

My next activation for 8th April 2024 was the Derek Sutcliffe Memorial Reserve VKFF-6414. The park is located about 8 km east of the town of Springton and about 81 km northeast of the city of Adelaide.

The reserve is located on the southern side of Jutland Road, Springton.

The park commemorates Derek Sutcliffe, who was the first President of the Mount Pleasant Area Trees for Life Group. (Monument Aust 2025)

The reserve is about 20 hectares in size. It is surrounded by three other Heritage Agreements, including Guthrie Gorge.

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK7XX
2. VK4JT
3. VK1AC
4. VK4NH
5. VK4DXA
6. VK5QA/M
7. VK2DBF/M
8. VK3CLD/M
9. ZL2LDX
10. VK2BUM
11. VK2HDT
12. VK2USH/P (VKFF-1008)
13. VK1AO
14. VK2MET
15. VK3HJV
16. VK3ANL
17. VK2IO
18. VK2GEZ
19. VK2MOE
20. VK1MO
21. VK2LEE
22. VK3AMO
23. VK2VW
24. VK2HFI
25. VK2AKA
26. VK2BUG
27. VK3UH
28. VK2MG
29. VK6JK
30. VK5XB
31. VK5CZ
32. VK5XE
33. KG5CIK
34. M0TRP
35. VK4BT
36. VK4IO
37. VK4KTX

I worked the following stations on 20m FT8:-

1. EA1AKD
2. EA7TR
3. DL2MIJ
4. VK2IO
5. EA7ST
6. VK3AWA

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4DNO
2. VK3DNO
3. VK3PF
4. VK3KAI
5. VK4HMI
6. VK2MOE
7. VK1MO
8. VK3WSG
9. VK7PJM
10. VK5CZ
11. VK5XE
12. VK3CEO
13. VK2LEE
14. VK3BY
15. VK5GY
16. VK5HS
17. VK5SFA
18. VK3CJN
19. VK3QHU
20. VK5FANA

I worked the following stations on 40m FT8:-

1. VK5CZ
2. VK3PF
3. VK5XE
4. VK3KAI

References.

1. UBC Web Design (2021). Derek Sutcliffe | Monument Australia. [online] Monumentaustralia.org.au. Available at: https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/community/display/119494-derek-sutcliffe [Accessed 15 Jun. 2025].‌

My next activation for Tuesday 8th April 2024, was the Mount Gawler summit VK5/ SE-013 for the Summits On The Air (SOTA) program and the Mount Gawler Native Forest Reserve VKFF-2888 for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

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

I have activated this summit and the park several times previously.

Mount Gawler Native Forest Reserve is about 1,044 hectares in size and consists of remnant native vegetation.

Mount Gawler is about 541 metres above sea level. It has been activated a total of 162 times for the SOTA program and is worth 2 points. (Sotadata.org.uk, 2025)

There are some nice views from the summit out to the east and the west.

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK5NRG
4. VK5CZ
5. VK5XE
6. VK2EXA
7. VK3ZSC/P (VKFF-2031)
8. VK7DD
9. VK2HAK
10. VK5KVA
11. VK5JW
12. VKWYW
13. VK5IS
14. VK4NH
15. VK4DXA

I worked the following stations on 40m FT8:-

1. VK2HAK
2. VK3PF
3. VK3SQ
4. VK3KAI
5. VK1DI
6. VK2IO

I worked the following stations on 20m FT8:-

1. UA3PAB
2. VK2IO
3. VK2HAK
4. VK4MGL
5. VK5CZ
6. VK1DI
7. VK7XX
8. VK3APJ
9. LZ1YF

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2VW
2. VK2HFI
3. VK2AKA
4. VK2BUG
5. VK2HAK
6. VK3PF
7. VK3KAI
8. KG5CIK
9. VK4DXA
10. VK4NH
11. VK5QA/M
12. VK2DBF/M
13. VK3CLD/M
14. VK4MGL
15. VK2USH/P (VKFF-1008)
16. VK1DI
17. VK3SQ
18. VK2BD
19. VK3JT
20. VK3TBS
21. VK4SMA
22. VK4CK
23. UT5PI

References.

1. Forestry SA, 2016, Mount Gawler Native Forest Reserve Management Plan
2. Sotadata.org.uk. (2025). Sotadata3. [online] Available at: https://www.sotadata.org.uk/en/summit/VK5/SE-013 [Accessed 15 Jun. 2025].‌

On Tuesday 8th April 2025, I activated Mount Barker VK5/ HSE-019 for the HEMA program. I used the special event call of VI100IARU. The summit is about 43 km southeast of Adelaide in the Mount Lofty Ranges ‘Adelaide Hills’.

Above:- Map showing the location of Mount Barker summit. Map c/o Google Maps.

Mount Barker summit is 517 metres above sea level.

Above:- An aerial view of Mount Barker summit. Image c/o Google Earth.

Mount Barker summit was first sighted in 1830 by explorer Captain Charles Napier Sturt (b. 1795. d. 1869). At the time, he believed he was looking at Mount Lofty, which had previously been discovered. (Wikipedia 2025)

In 1831, the area was surveyed by Captain Collet Barker. He fixed the error made by Sturt. Sturt named the summit in honour of Captain Barker following his death at the hands of Aboriginal people just 2 days later. (Wikipedia 2025)

On the 27th day of November 1837, six years after its discovery, the Mount Barker summit was first climbed by Europeans. A six-man party climbed the summit, which comprised John Barton Hack, John Morphett, Samuel Stephens, Charles Stuart, Thomas Davis, and John Wade.

Above:- John Barton Hack (left) and John Morphet (right). Image sc/o Wikipedia

A steep dirt track leads up to the car park at the summit. The track is passable with a conventional vehicle.

There is a sign in the car park which details the history & heritage, the geology, and the vegetation of the summit.

Mount Barker summit has a large transmission tower that services the SA Government Radio Network and mobile phone transmissions. There is also microwave radio equipment on the tower. (Wikipedia 2025)

There are some nice views out to the west, back towards Adelaide, across Mount Barker, from the car park.

There is a track from the car park leading up to the top of the summit. Along the way, many of the native plants are marked.

At the top of the summit, you can find an obelisk and a trig point.

Again, there are some excellent views of the surrounding district.

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:-

1. VK2YW
2. VK5QA
3. VK3ZSC/P (VKFF-2031)
4. VK3PF
5. VK3SQ
6. VK2BD
7. VK3JT

I worked the following stations on 40m FT8:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2IO
3. VK4EW
4. VK3SQ

I worked the following stations on 20m FT8:-

1. VK1AD
2. VK4EW
3. VK1NAM
4. VK3PF
5. VK2IO

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK1AO
3. VK2MET
4. VK1AD
5. VK1NAM
6. VK2VW
7. VK2HFI
8. VK2AKA
9. VK2BUG

References.

1. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Mount Barker (South Australia). Wikipedia.‌

My final activation for 7th April 2025, was the Strathalbyn silo VK-STN5 for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program.

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

I have activated the Strathalbyn silo several times previously.

For more information on the Strathalbyn silo, please see the post below….

I operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK3PF
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK2HAK
6. VK3MIJ
7. VK3SPG
8. VK2LEE
9. VK5HS/M
10. VK2FDWY
11. VK5DMO
12. VK2SGB
13. VK2NRB

After leaving Hindmarsh Valley, I headed to the Hesperilla Conservation Park VKFF-1038. The park is located about 2 km south of Mount Compass and about 60 km south of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Hesperilla Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.

The park is located on the western side of Victor Harbor Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Hersperilla Conservation Park. Image c/o Google Earth.

The park is about 11 hectares in size and was established on the 18th day of February 2010. (CAPAD 2022)

Hesperilla Conservation Park protects an important remnant of the critically endangered Fleurieu Peninsula Swamp ecological community. (Nature Glenelg Trust, 2024)

A total of seven bird species that are listed as threatened at State level can be found in the park, including the Southern emu-wren. The nationally threatened Mount Compass oak-bush, and 7 other plant species that are listed as threatened at the state level, are also found in the park. (NPWS 2023)

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK3PF
3. VK3KAI
4. VK1AO
5. VK2MET
6. VK2LDJ
7. VK2LEE
8. VK2VW
9. VK2HFI
10. VK2AKA
11. VK2BUG
12. VK3JV
13. VK2EXA
14. VK5WU
15. VK3MDC
16. VK3ANL
17. VK1DI
18. VK7PJM
19. KG5CIK
20. VK5CZ
21. VK5XE
22. VK3UH
23. VK5TN
24. VK3OHM
25. BK3MU
26. VK3GRK
27. VK3MCK
28. VK2MOE
29. VK1MO
30. VK5FC
31. VK2EG
32. VK3CEO
33. VK5PDR
34. VK3ZLT
35. VK5SO
36. KG8P
37. VK1CHW
38. VK4NH
39. VK4DXA
40. VK2ZR
41. VK5FANA
42. VK4LEW
43. VK7AAE

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK1DI
2. KG5CIK
3. VK5MAZ
4. VK4NH
5. VK4DX
6. VK3PF
7. VK3KAI
8. VK2EG
9. VK7AAE
10. VK4EMP
11. VK4TI
12. VK4GKO
13. VK1AO
14. VK2MET
15. KG8P
16. SM4BNZ
17. IK1GCB
18. VK2MG
19. OH1MM

References.

1. Dcceew.gov.au. (2023). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2022 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2022 [Accessed 15 Jun. 2025].‌
2. National Parks & Wildlife Service South Australia, 2023, Parks of the Centra; Fleurieu Peninsula Management Plan
3. Nature Glenelg Trust. (2024). Healing a critically endangered swamp – Hesperilla Conservation Park one year later – Nature Glenelg Trust. [online] Available at: https://natureglenelg.org.au/healing-a-critically-endangered-swamp-hesperilla-conservation-park-one-year-later/ [Accessed 15 Jun. 2025].‌

My third activation for Monday 7th April 2025, as VI100IARU, was the Hindmarsh Valley National Park VKFF-3190. The park is located about 79 km south of the city of Adelaide. This was the first time the park had been activated for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Hindmarsh Valley National Park. Map c/o Google Maps.

As I drove to the park from the Spring Mount Conservation Park, I was rewarded with some magnificent views of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

The Fleurieu Peninsula was named in honour of the French explorer and hydrographer Charles Pierre Claret de Fleurieu by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin during his 1802 exploration of the south coast of Australia. (Wikipedia 2023)

Above:- Nicolas Baudin (left) and Charles Pierre Claret de Fleurieu (right). Images c/o Wikipedia

Despite this being a new park with plenty of hype from the South Australian State Government, it was not easy to find. Access to this park is via a narrow strip of land on Nettle Hill Road. There is a gate at this location; however, there are no signs.

The National Parks brochure shows that there is a car park and picnic area here, but I could not find them. The aerial view also indicates that the park extends all the way to Hindmarsh Tiers Road, but this is not the case according to Location SA Map viewer and CAPAD data.

Above:- Map of the park. Image c/o NPWS SA.

The Hindmarsh Valley National Park is in close proximity to the Mount Billy Conservation Park, and has a handful of Heritage Agreements that surround the park.

Above:- An aerial view of the Hindmarsh Valley National Park. Image c/o Google Earth.

Hindmarsh Valley is named in honour of Rear Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh (b. 1785. d. 1860), the first Governor of South Australia. (Wikipedia 2022)

Above:- Sir John Hindmarsh. Image c/o Wikipedia.

The Hindmarsh Valley National Park is 423 hectares in size and was established in December 2021. The land was previously owned by SA Water and was trans­ferred to the Depart­ment for Envi­ron­ment and Water in mid-2021. (National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia,2025)

The park is home to the nationally endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot, the Chest­nut Rumped Heath-wren, the nation­al­ly-vul­ner­a­ble Bass­ian thrush and local­ly crit­i­cal­ly endan­gered west­ern pygmy Possum. (National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia,2025)

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK2TM
3. KG55CIK
4. VK3PF
5. VK3KAI
6. VK4NH
7. VK4DXA
8. VK7AAE
9. VK2GJC
10. VK1AO
11. VK2MET
12. VK1DI
13. VK2LEE
14. VK4XCS
15. VK7XX
16. VK4JT
17. ZL2BAQ
18. VK2MW
19. VK2HDT
20. VK4GRZ
21. VK5VR
22. ZL2GLG
23. VK2IO/M
24. VK3UH
25. WA6SZE
26. DL8NDG
27. VI100SIG
28. VK2COS
29. IW2BNA
30. F5PYI
31. VK6JK
32. UT5PI

I worked the following stations on 20m FT8:-

1. SP9W
2. IZ7HNO
3. VK3APJ
4. VK3PF
5. NJ3T
6. YU7NW
7. I3QDK
8. RU3GC
9. IS0ANW
10. PA0ABM
11. F4EIK
12. VK2EG
13. IK5UIS
14. OK2QA
15. F5RRS

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2HAK
2. VK5MAZ
3. VK7PJM
4. VK5CZ
5. VK5XE
6. VK3PF
7. VK3KAI
8. VK2VW
9. VK2HFI
10. VK2AKA
11. VK2BUG
12. VK1AD
13. VK1NAM
14. VK3UH
15. VK5LA
16. VK5KAW
17. VK3YV
18. VK3VIN
19. VK4NH
20. VK4DXA
21. VK2LEE
22. VK3ANL
23. VK2MOE
24. VK1MO
25. VK3HJV
26. VK2EXA
27. VK4HMI
28. VK2FALL
29. VK3OHM
30. VK3CEO
31. VK3ARD
32. VK7AN
33. VK5HS
34. VK3AEI

At the conclusion of the activation, I visited the Hindmarsh Falls, which are fed by the Hindmarsh River catchment area between Mt Cone and Spring Mount. (Victor Harbor 2022)

I left Hindmarsh Valley and headed towards home. I intended to activate on more park and a silo before reaching home. Despite it being a rather bleak day, I was still rewarded with some nice views of the Fleurieu as I made my way towards my next park.

References.

1. National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia. (n.d.). Creating Hindmarsh Valley National Park. [online] Available at: https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/park-management/new-in-sa-national-parks/hindmarsh-valley. [Accessed 15 Jun 2025]
2. ‌Victor Harbor. (2022). Hindmarsh Falls | Visit Victor Harbor. [online] Available at: https://visitvictorharbor.com/things-to-do/tours-and-attractions/hindmarsh-falls/ [Accessed 15 Jun. 2025].
3. ‌Wikipedia. (2023). Fleurieu Peninsula. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleurieu_Peninsula.‌[Accessed 15 Jun 2025]
4. Wikipedia Contributors (2022). Hindmarsh River. Wikipedia.‌

My next activation for Monday 7th April 2025, was the Spring Mount Conservation Park VKFF-0789.

Above:- Map showing the location of Spring Mount Conservation Park. Map /o Google Maps.

I have activated Spring Mount several times previously. It is one of my favourite parks.

Mount Alma Road dissects the park. Springmount Road is the northern boundary of the park. There is a heritage agreement to the west of the park.

Above:- An aerial view of the Spring Mount Conservation Park. Image c/o Google Earth.

The park is about 279 hectares in size and mostly consists of Open Forest of Brown Stringybark and Messmate Stringybark with understorey plants including Myrtle Wattle, Beaked Hakea, and Yacca. Over 90 species of native birds have been recorded in the park, including Adelaide Rosella, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairywren, Crescent Honeyeater, Grey Shrikethrush, Grey Fantail, and Scarlet Robin.(Birdssa.asn.au, 2016)

The Spring Mount Conservation Park was formerly known as the Spring Mount Wild-life Reserve, proclaimed on the 3rd day of February 1966. On the 27th day of April 1972, the Wild-life Reserve was reconstituted as the Spring Mount Conservation Park. (Wikipedia 2025).

Above:- the SA Govt Gazette, Thu Feb 3, 1966.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK4DNO
3. VK3PF
4. VK3KAI
5. VK3DL
6. VK5KLD
7. VK5CZ
8. VK5XE
9. VK3IDM
10. VK2EXA
11. VK3APJ
12. VK3SQ
13. VK2BD
14. VK3JT
15. VK5LKJ
16. VK3UH
17. VK5HS
18. VK3BEC

I worked the following station on 40m AM:-

1. VK5MAZ

I worked the following stations on 40m FT8:-

1. VK3UH
2. VK3PF
3. VK2IO
4. VK2HMC
5. VK5MAZ

I worked the following stations on 20m FT8:-

1. VK3MOF
2. YB2AYA
3. VK3PF
4. VK3SQ
5. VK1AD
6. VK3CEO
7. 3D2AJT
8. VK1NAM
9. UA6XY
10. ZL3YB
11. VK1NS
12. VK4EMP
13. VK4TI
14. UA6FM
15. VK4GKO

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2VW
2. VK2HFI
3. VK2AKA
4. VK2BUG
5. VK5MAZ
6. VK1AD
7. VK1NAM
8. VK5CZ
9. VK5XEVK1AO
10. VK2MET
11. VK3IDM

References.

1. Birdssa.asn.au. (2016). Spring Mount Conservation Park – Birds SA. [online] Available at: https://birdssa.asn.au/location/spring-mount-conservation-park/ [Accessed 15 Jun. 2025].
2. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Spring Mount Conservation Park. Wikipedia.‌