A very pleasant surprise this morning to find the certificate below in my email inbox.
The certificate was issued by Leszek SQ9MDF in recognition of me contacting him several times whilst he was activating summits for the Summits On The Air (SOTA) program.
Thank you very much, Leszek.
My final activation for Thursday 22nd August 2024 was the Drendles Bushland Reserve VKFF-4161.
The reserve is located about 27 km east of Murrayville in northwest Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of Drendles Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
The park is at the end of a dirt track that runs off the Mallee Highway’s southern side.
Above:- Aerial view of the Drendles Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
By the time I reached the park it was dark.
I ran out the 20/40/80m linked dipole in the dark with my head torch. I ran the Yaesu FT857 and 40 watts output.
It was a beautiful balmy evening and no mosquitoes. My location was quite remote, with the Big Desert Wilderness Area and North Wyperfeld Wilderness Area to my south. To my north was the vast Murray Sunset National Park.
Above:- An aerial view of the Drendles Bushland Reserve looking north. Image c/o Google Maps.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-
References.
Here are my latest FT8 award certificates.
Thank you to all of the FT8 operators and the various award managers for their hard work.
Here is my latest VKFF Activator Honour Roll certificate, issued for having activated 650 VKFF references.
Thank you to all of the WWFF Hunters and to Adam VK2YK the VK5 VKFF State Rep for the certificate.
Here is my latest VKFF Hunter Honour Roll certificate, issued for having hunted 2,150 VKFF references.
Thank you to all of the VKFF Activators and to Adam VK2YK the VK5 VKFF State Rep for the certificate.
After leaving the Pidgeon Tank Bushland Reserve on Thursday 22nd August 2024, I drove a short distance to my next park activation, the Symes Bushland Reserve VKFF-4202.
The reserve is about 30 km southwest of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Symes Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
The reserve is located on the western side of Hopetoun-Walpeup Road at the junction of Munro Road.
Above:- An aerial view of the Symes Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
The reserve is about 30 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)
I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
With 87 QSOs in the log, I packed up and headed west towards Murrayville where I planned on staying for a few nights.
Along the way, I stopped briefly at Walpeup. I have been here dozens of times before, but I wanted to have another look at the silo art in the town.
There are various interpretations on the meaning of Walpeup. Some suggest it is derived from the aboriginal word wolpeep meaning a boil (body sore). Others state that Walpeup means stumpy-tailed lizard and others claim it is an aboriginal word for an indigenous acacia. (Blake 1978) (Victorian Places)
In 1861 German explorer and scientist George Neumayer named the Walpeup area Consolation Plains. Neumayer was a member of the Exploration Committee of the Royal Society of Victoria which organised the Burke and Wills Expedition. Neumayer joined the expedition at Swan Hill and remained with the expedition party until the Darling River at Bilbarka, before returning. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- George Neumayer in c. 1860. Image c/o Trove.
In 1903 the railway line was extended northwards from Woomelang via Ouyen, finally joining with Mildura. There was a settlement at nearby Pinnaroo in South Australia with good farming land. A study revealed that the land between Pinnaroo and Ouyen was of similar good quality. The availability of water was confirmed by the sinking of test bores. Between 1910 to 1911 the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission constructed catchment tanks. In 1912 the railway line from Ouyen to Murrayville was completed. In 1909 the first farm selections were offered along the railway route. The post office was opened on the 16th day of December 1912. (Wikipedia) (Victorian Places)
Above:- Homes in Walpeup. c. 1911. Image c/o Museums Victoria.
In 1909 a store was opened at Walpeup and this was followed by the Walpeup Primary School in 1912 which operated from the ‘Little White Hall.’ In 1911 the Shire of Walpeup was proclaimed, however, the administrative centre was at Ouyen. Council meetings alternated between Ouyen and Murrayville. The Walpeup South State School (No. 3939) also known as Hungry Hut, was opened in 1912 and closed in 1951. (Victorian Places) (Wikipedia)
Above:- The Walpeup School, c. 1911. Image c/o Museums Victoria.
By 1920 Walpeup had a population of about 400 people and had a general store, a blacksmith, a butcher, a bank branch and other businesses. The original public hall was replaced in 1923 with a brick memorial hall. (Victorian Places)
The Walpeup silo features World War One Light Horseman Harold Thomas Bell. The silo art is the work of artists Julian Clavijo and Camilo Delgardo. It was completed in 2023.
Below is a great video on the Walpeup silo.
As I drove into Murrayville the sun was setting and I enjoyed a magnificent sunset.
I then booked into my accommodation at the Murrayville Hotel.
After heaving a bite to eat I decided to head out to activate a final park for the day.
References.
My next activation for Thursday 22nd August 2024 was the Pidgeon Tank Bushland Reserve VKFF-4193.
The reserve is about 29 km west of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Pidgeon Tank Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
The reserve is located on the western and eastern sides of Hopetoun-Walpeup Road at the intersection with Mead Road and Scott Road.
Above:- Aerial view of the Pidgeon Tank Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
The reserve is about 18 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)
This was another easy park to access. There was no fence and I found a 4WD track to enter the eastern side of the park.
I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
References.
Today I downloaded my latest WWFF Activator certificate. It is issued for activating 510 different WWFF references and reaching 44 QSOs in each activation.
Thank you to all of the WWFF hunters and Hugo CT7AOV the Awards Manager.
After leaving the Tiega I80 Bushland Reserve on Thursday 22nd August 2024, I headed south to my next park activation, the Carters Tank Bushland Reserve VKFF-4198.
The reserve is about 15 km west of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of Carters Tank Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
The reserve is located at the intersection of Lodwick Road and Weston Road.
Above:- An aerial view of Carters Tank Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
The reserve is about 79 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)
I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
References.
My next activation for Thursday 22nd August 2024 was the Tiega I80 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4204.
The reserve is about 11 km west of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Tiega I80 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
I had been out here at Tiega the day before when I activated the Tiega I81 Bushland Reserve.
It was quite a warm day and as a result I saw several lizards enjoying the sunshine.
The Tiega I80 Bushland Reserve is located on the southern side of Mallee Highway opposite Le Couteur Road and the Tiega I81 Bushland Reserve.
Above:- An aerial view of the Tiega I80 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
The reserve is about 77 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)
I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-
I worked the following stations on 40m FM:-
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
References.
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