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Alawoona silo VK-ALA5

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On Tuesday, 14th October 2025, Chris VK5FR and I drove up the Riverland region of South Australia to complete some errands for the 2025 VKFF National Get Together. Our first stop was at Loxton to catch up with Danny VK5DW, who had kindly donated a UHF CB radio and antenna on behalf of his company RivComm Radio Solutions. Our next stop was to visit Ivan VK5HS at Renmark, and drop off the wire winders and centre pieces for the linked dipole project. It was a 560 km round trip.

On the way home, Chris and I stopped off briefly at Alawoona to undertake a quick activation of the Alawoona silo VK-ALA5 for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program.

Alawoona is located about 220 km east of Adelaide.

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

The town of Alawoona was surveyed in 1914 and was proclaimed on the 9th day of July 1914. It was named for the Aboriginal word ngalawuna for ‘place of hot winds’. (slsa.sa.gov.au n.d.) (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: South Australia Govt Gazette. July 1914.

Not much remains at Alawoona. The Post Office was opened on the 1st day of March 1915 and was closed on the 18th day of March 1988. The Alawoona school operated from the 1st day of January 1915 until 1967, when it consolidated with the Browns Well Area School. Alawoona’s first police station was opened in 1924. By the 1930s, Alawoona had three churches, a railway refreshment hall, a school, a police station, a bank, a bakery, a butcher shop, two general stores, football clubrooms and a 400-person capacity hall that regularly held dances and balls. (Heritage SA 1998) (Heuzenroeder and Dawes, 2019) (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Article from the Murray Pioneer, Fri 2 Jul 1920. Image c/o Trove

One of the impressive buildings in the town is the old Alawoona Institute.

Due to the growth in population in Alawoona and the surrounding district, a larger hall was required for the original hall that was built in 1916. Work commenced on the extension of the hall in 1927, with local people assisting in the carting of stone and sand to the building site. The foundation stone of the new hall was laid on the 5th day of November 1927. It was opened on the 31st day of January 1929 at a cost of about £2,500. (Heritage SA 1998) (State Library of South Australia, 2025)

Above: article from The Advertiser, Sat 26 Jan 1929. Image c/o Trove.

Below is a photograph of the Alawoona Institute in c. 1932.

Above: the Alawoona Institute, c. 1932. Image c/o State Library South Australia.

On the corner of Karoonda Highway and Billiatt Road is a memorial cairn to honour the pioneers and settlers in the Hundred of Allen.

Alawoona was the junction of the Brown’s Well railway line and the branch line to Loxton. The branch line from Loxton to Alawoona was opened on the 13th day of February 1916. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Murraylands lines. Image c/o Wikipedia.

The Alawoona silos are located in the town on the northern side of the Karoonda Highway. The silos were constructed during the 1960s under the supervision of Mr. A.S. Hooper of C.H. Martin Ltd. In September this year, a grant was issued to assist in the engagement of an artist to paint the silos and join the South Australia and National Silo Art Trail. (Tony Passin MP, 2025) (Trove 2025)

Chris and I operated from the 4WD, using the Icom IC7000 at 100 watts and the Codan 9350 with a 1.5-metre stainless steel whip.

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

We found the band conditions on 40m to be very poor and struggled to get callers. Unfortunately, we did not have time to try the 20m band.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK5DW
  3. VK5FANA

References.

  1. Heuzenroeder, C. and Dawes, S. (2019). Saviour needed to redeem historic buildings in ghost towns. [online] Abc.net.au. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-15/alawoona-ghost-town-building-looking-for-a-saviour/11788728 [Accessed 10 Nov. 2025].
  2. Heritage South Australia, 1998, Heritage of the Murray Mallee
  3. published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au. (n.d.). A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia. [online] Available at: https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/.
  4. ‌‌State Library of South Australia. (2025). Alawoona Institute. [online] Available at: https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+8111 [Accessed 10 Nov. 2025].
  5. ‌Tony Pasin MP. (2025). Designs underway for Alawoona Silo Art with Stronger Communities funding. [online] Available at: https://www.tonypasin.com/designs_underway_for_alawoona_silo_art_with_stronger_communities_funding [Accessed 10 Nov. 2025].
  6. ‌Trove. (2025). GRAIN SILO TERMINAL WILL BE SA’s BIGGEST – Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 – 2002) – 12 Mar 1964. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/267071846?searchTerm=alawoona%20silo [Accessed 10 Nov. 2025].
  7. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Alawoona. Wikipedia.‌
  8. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Loxton railway line. Wikipedia.‌

Radio Prague International QSL cards

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Whilst I was away on holiday, I received a nice letter from Radio Prague International, which contained four QSL cards.

The main card is for my reception of their station on 15770 kHz on the 5th day of August 2025. This card features a white tiger, which is found at the Liberec Zoo in the Czech Republic.

The remaining three were blank to add to my collection.

The second card features a Cuban Flamingo at the Ostrava Zoo.

The third features Western lowland gorilla, which are found at the Prague Zoo.

The fourth features Eastern black rhino that are located at the Safari Park Dvur Kralove.

Scott Conservation Park VKFF-0934

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On Saturday, 11th October 2025, Marija VK5MAZ and I headed out to activate the Scott Conservation Park VKFF-0934 for the 2025 VKFF Team Championship. Unfortunately, we did not get to the park until mid-late afternoon. Marija had been down in the city at Office Works purchasing items for the upcoming VKFF National Get Together, and I was glued to the computer and printer, tidying up issues for the Get Together.

The Scott Conservation Park is located about 75 km south of the city of Adelaide, and about 8km northwest of Currency Creek on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

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

The park is located on the southern side of Gould Road. This is the only public access point to the park.

Above: An aerial view of the park looking south. Image c/o Google Maps

There are two Heritage Agreements on the southern side of the park and one on the northern side.

Above: An aerial view of the Scott CP showing the park’s boundaries. Image c/o Google Earth

The park was established on the 20th day of March 1969, and gazetted as the Scott National Park. It was reconstituted as the Scott Conservation Park on the 27th day of April 1972. (Wikipedia 2025)

The park is about 419 hectares in size. It has two car parking areas for visitors on Gould Road, with signs showing the two walking trails in the park.

The park is home to Western Grey kangaroos, Ringtail Possums, and Western Pygmy Possums. Birds SA have recorded about 148 native birds, including Superb Fairywren, White-throated Treecreeper, Red Wattlebird, and Eastern Rosella. (Birds SA 2016)

Scott Conservation Park’s habitat consists of low Woodland with Brown Stringybark, Cup Gum, Peppermint Box, Heath Tea-tree and Tate’s Grass tree; and Mallee consisting of Pink Gum and Peppermint Box. (Birds SA 2016)

There were numerous native plants in flower during our visit to the park.

There is a creek that flows through the park, and if the short cliffs are any indication, the water must really race through here after heavy rain. During our visit, it was bone dry.

We parked in the western car park and set up alongside one of the walking trails. We had several interested onlookers, and we took the time to stop and explain what we were doing and the amazing hobby of amateur radio. Most were amazed that with low power and a tiny bit of wire, we were able to talk around Australia.

We ran the Yaesu FT-857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole supported by the 7 metre telescopic squid pole.

After about 2 hours on air, Marija and I packed up and went for a one-hour hike in the park.

It was a mild day, and as a result it was a great day for a walk.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK5GY/p (VKFF-1757)
  2. VK5CZ/p (VKFF-1757)
  3. VK5XE/p (VKFF-1757)
  4. VK5CS/p (VKFF-1757)
  5. VK5SFA
  6. VK3HJW
  7. VK3GJG
  8. VK5ATL
  9. VK5WU
  10. VK1AO/p (VKFF-2740)
  11. VK2MET/p (VKFF-2740)
  12. VK7MAT/p (VKFF-0322)
  13. VK5DW
  14. VK2IO/p (VKFF-0444)
  15. VK2GEZ/p (VKFF-0444)
  16. VK5NHG
  17. VK3VIN
  18. VK3ZPF/p (VKFF-3683)
  19. VK3BEL
  20. VK3BEB
  21. VK5LRB
  22. VK3SRT/p (VKFF-3683)
  23. VK5EDY
  24. VK2GOM/p (VKFF-2679)
  25. VK3PF
  26. VK3KAI
  27. VK3DCQ
  28. VK3KLI
  29. VK3TDX
  30. VK1CHW/p (VKFF-0858)
  31. VK2LDJ/p (VKFF-0858)
  32. VK3APJ
  33. VK5IS
  34. VK3UP
  35. VK7EE
  36. VK5FB
  37. VK3SRT/p (VKFF-4442)
  38. VK3COE
  39. VK3UK
  40. VK3ZPF/p (VKFF-4442)
  41. VK5HS
  42. VK2VW
  43. VK2HFI
  44. VK2AKA
  45. VK2BUG
  46. VK3VRL
  47. VK3CLD
  48. VK2DBF
  49. VK5QA
  50. VK5LSB
  51. VK2LEE
  52. VK2XGB/p (VKFF-3102)
  53. VK3DJB
  54. VK2OKR/p (VKFF-0196)
  55. VK2BXB/p (VKFF-0196)
  56. VK2AUS/p (VKFF-0196)
  57. VK2AUR/p (VKFF-0196)
  58. VK2AUT/p (VKFF-0196)
  59. VK2YAK/p (VKFF-0196)
  60. VK4YAK/p (VKFF-0196)
  61. VK3SQ
  62. VK2BD
  63. VK3JT
  64. VK2EXA
  65. VK3TDK
  66. VK3NYC
  67. VK5ABN
  68. VK6KBY/5
  69. VK7CH
  70. VK5DOC
  71. VK3KRL
  72. VK5KKT

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

  1. VK5KKT
  2. VK5LA
  3. VK5KAW
  4. VK5HS

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK5GY/p (VKFF-1757)
  2. VK5CZ/p (VKFF-1757)
  3. VK5XE/p (VKFF-1757)
  4. VK5CS/p (VKFF-1757)
  5. VK5SFA
  6. VK3HJW
  7. VK3GJG
  8. VK5ATL
  9. VK5WU
  10. VK1AO/p (VKFF-2740)
  11. VK2MET/p (VKFF-2740)
  12. VK7MAT/p (VKFF-0322)
  13. VK5DW
  14. VK2IO/p (VKFF-0444)
  15. VK2GEZ/p (VKFF-0444)
  16. VK5NHG
  17. VK3VIN
  18. VK3ZPF/p (VKFF-3683)
  19. VK3BEL
  20. VK3BEB
  21. VK5LRB
  22. VK3SRT/p (VKFF-3683)
  23. VK5EDY
  24. VK2GOM/p (VKFF-2679)
  25. VK3PF
  26. VK3KAI
  27. VK3DCQ
  28. VK3KLI
  29. VK3TDX
  30. VK1CHW/p (VKFF-0858)
  31. VK2LDJ/p (VKFF-0858)
  32. VK3APJ
  33. VK5IS
  34. VK3UP
  35. VK7EE
  36. VK5FB
  37. VK3SRT/p (VKFF-4442)
  38. VK3COE
  39. VK3UK
  40. VK3ZPF/p (VKFF-4442)
  41. VK5HS
  42. VK2VW
  43. VK2HFI
  44. VK2AKA
  45. VK2BUG
  46. VK3VRL
  47. VK3CLD
  48. VK2DBF
  49. VK5QA
  50. VK5LSB
  51. VK2LEE
  52. VK2XGB/p (VKFF-3102)
  53. VK3DJB
  54. VK2OKR/p (VKFF-0196)
  55. VK2BXB/p (VKFF-0196)
  56. VK2AUS/p (VKFF-0196)
  57. VK2AUR/p (VKFF-0196)
  58. VK2AUT/p (VKFF-0196)
  59. VK2YAK/p (VKFF-0196)
  60. VK4YAK/p (VKFF-0196)
  61. VK3SQ
  62. VK2BD
  63. VK3JT
  64. VK2EXA
  65. VK3TDK
  66. VK3NYC
  67. VK5ABN
  68. VK6KBY/5
  69. VK7CH
  70. VK5DOC
  71. VK3KRL
  72. VK5KKT

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

  1. VK5KKT
  2. VK5LA
  3. VK5KAW
  4. VK5HS

After getting back to the 4WD, we drove back towards home, a short distance away. We stopped off at our local hotel, The Greenman Inn at Ashbourne and enjoyed a very nice meal.

References.

  1. Birdssa.au. (2016). Scott Conservation Park – Birds SA Resources. [online] Available at: https://resources.birdssa.au/location/scott-conservation-park/ [Accessed 13 Oct. 2025].
  2. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Scott Conservation Park. Wikipedia.‌

Linked dipole project – VKFF National Get Together

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I have finished printing out on my 3D printer the centre piece and wire winders for the linked dipole construction project, which is to be held at the 2025 VKFF National Get Together in Canberra.

Tomorrow I will head down to the city to purchase some SO239 connectors.

I will also travel up to Renmark in the Riverland soon to liaise with Ivan VK5HS for further work on this project. Ivan VK5HS very kindly offered his invaluable assistance.