Ouyen I245A Bushland Reserve VKFF-4207

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My second activation for Thursday 22nd August 2024 was the Ouyen I245 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4207.

But prior to heading to the park I had a look around the town of Ouyen.

My first stop was the Big Mallee Stump at Blackburn Park. The mallee stump is estimated to be hundreds of years old and is believed to be the largest mallee stump in Australia. This particular stump was dug up by a gentleman called Bert Holland whilst he was grading roads for the former Shire of Walpeup.

Adjacent is the unique clock with wheat sheafs.

There is also an information board detailing all the facts about the Malleefowl, a ground dwelling bird about the size of a domestic chicken. Their conservation status is listed as vulnerable due to the clearing of land for farming and the introduced fox.

I then took a drive around Ouyen to look at some of the town’s historic buildings. This includes the former Savings Bank of Victoria building that was built in 1926 in Neo-Georgian style. The Victoria Hotel was built in 1918 and laid claim to being the best hotel between Adelaide and Melbourne. Sadly the old Ouyen RSL Memorial Club Rooms stands derelict. (Flickr)

Virtually every town I go to has a ‘Bills’ horse trough. They were manufactured in Australia and were installed to provide relief for working horses during the early 1900s. They were financed by a trust fund that was established through the will of George Bills. About 700 of these troughs were distributed around Australia and about 50 in several other countries around the world. (Wikipedia 2024)

George Bills was born in Brighton Sussex England in 1859. With his family, he emigrated to New Zealand and in 1873 he emigrated to Australia. By 1882 he was operated a bird dealers shop in Brisbane Queensland. In 1885 George married Annis Elizabeth Swann and soon after they moved to Sydney where George opened a wire mattress manufacturing company with his brothers. In 1908 George retired. His wife Annis died in 1910 while the couple wrestled visiting England. In 1924 George became a Life Governor of the RSPCA. (Wikipedia)

Above:- George Bills. Image c/o Billswatertroughs.wordpress.com

George died in 1927. Following his death a Trust fund was established valued at about £70-80,000 One of the purposes of the trust, as set out in the will of George Bill’s was:

“construct and erect and pay for horse troughs wherever they may be of the opinion that such horse troughs are desirable for the relief of horses and other dumb animals either in Australasia, in the British Islands or in any other part of the world subject to the consent of the proper authorities being obtained.“

Above:- Article from The Advertiser, Fri 12 Oct 1928. Image c/o Trove.

Each Bill’s horse trough cost £13 including transport and installation. They were initially indivually designed and constructed. By the early 1930s, J.B. Phillips who was a relative of George and Annis, became the head contractor. He produced the troughs in Hawthorn Victoria to a standard design. The troughs were precast concrete and had the inscription of “Donated by Annis & George Bills Australia”. (Wikipedia)

Ouyen also has an excellent mural. It was undertaken by local artist Kevin Jones and represents the history, people and activities that have shaped Ouyen.

I then left Ouyen and headed to the Ouyen I245A Bushland Reserve. On the way I passed the Ouyen State Forest.

The reserve is located on the western side of Dunkley Road, in between the Ouyen Cemetery and the Ouyen Landfill site.

Above:- An aerial view of the Ouyen I245A Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 4 hectares in size and was established on the 29th day of January 1992. (CAPAD 2022)

I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this atcivation.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3MTT
  2. VK5WU
  3. VK3SQ
  4. VK2BD
  5. VK3VIN
  6. VK1DI
  7. VK5MAZ
  8. VK2HRX/P (SOTA VK7/ SC-001)
  9. VK5IS
  10. VK3WSG
  11. VK3CEO
  12. VK3KRL
  13. VK5ADB
  14. VK3CA
  15. VK3HM
  16. VK2EXA
  17. VK2IO
  18. VK2GEZ
  19. VK3PF
  20. VK5GY
  21. VK3EJ
  22. VK3BAP
  23. VK3ANL
  24. VK3APJ
  25. VK2YW
  26. VK2VW
  27. VK2HFI
  28. VK2AKA
  29. VK2BUG
  30. VK4HNS
  31. VK1AAF

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK4EMP
  2. VK4TI
  3. VK4GKO
  4. VK4HNS
  5. VK1DI
  6. VK1AD/P 9VKFF-0845)
  7. VK2VW
  8. VK2HFI
  9. VK2AKA
  10. VK2BUG
  11. VK1ARQ
  12. VK6LK
  13. VK6LMK
  14. VK2HRX/P (SOTA VK7/ SC-001)

At the conclusion of the activation I paid a quick visit to the Ouyen cemetery.

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 17 Nov. 2024].‌
  2. Flickr. (2024). Ouyen. The former Savings Bank of Victoria building. Erected 1926 in Neo-Georgian style. [online] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/39463418854 [Accessed 17 Nov. 2024].
  3. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Bills horse troughs. Wikipedia.‌

Ouyen I244 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4208 & Ouyen silo VK-OYN3

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My first activation for Thursday 22nd August 2024 was the Ouyen I244 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4208 and the Ouyen silo VK-OYN3.

The reserve is located on the southwest edge of the town of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Ouyen I244 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The reserve is located on the northern and southern sides of the Mallee Highway.

Above:- An aerial view of the Ouyen I244 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 75 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

There was quite a bit of birdlife in the park, and in between activating I managed to get off a few snaps which can be seen below.

I set up in the very top northeast corner of the park which was in the activation zone of the Ouyen silo.

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

I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK3CA
  3. VK3HM
  4. VK5MAZ
  5. VK3WSG
  6. VK1ARQ
  7. VK2SLB
  8. VK2BRN
  9. VK2KBT
  10. VK5AAF
  11. VK5MH
  12. VK3APJ
  13. VK3AWA
  14. VK2EXA
  15. VK3CJN
  16. VK3QHU
  17. VK3HJW
  18. VK3EJ
  19. VK3BAP
  20. VK2VAR
  21. VK2GOM
  22. VK4EMP
  23. VK4TI
  24. VK4GOZ
  25. VK3KRL
  26. VK3SO
  27. VK3SFG
  28. VK3CEO
  29. VK4HNS
  30. VK3AMO
  31. VK2IO
  32. VK2GEZ
  33. VK3BBB
  34. VK2CCP
  35. VK2VW
  36. VK2HFI
  37. VK2AKA
  38. VK2BUG
  39. VK3SQ
  40. VK2BD
  41. VK3VIN
  42. VK3MTT
  43. VK3MCK
  44. VK1DI
  45. VK3UAO
  46. VK1AAF
  47. VK5WU

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK4EMP
  2. VK4TI
  3. VK4GOZ
  4. VK3ZPF
  5. VK3JW
  6. VK5MAZ
  7. VK3PF
  8. VK2IO
  9. VK2GEZ

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 Nov. 2024].‌

Nulkwyne I26 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4197

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My final park for Wednesday 21st August 2024, was the Nulkwyne I26 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4197.

The reserve is about 24 km northwest of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Nulkwyne I26 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

During the 1930s land described as being in the ‘virgin Mallee country in the parish of Nulkwyne’ was opened up for settlement. (The Argus 1934)

Above:- Article from The Argus, Mon 8 October 1934. Image c/o Trove.

The reserve is locate on the northern side of Parallel Road between Munro Road and Galah N Road.

The reserve is about 47 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:-

  1. VK3SQ
  2. VK2BD
  3. VK3PF
  4. VK3KAI
  5. VK5AYL
  6. VK4FDJL
  7. VK4WAB
  8. ZL4KD
  9. VK4EMP
  10. VK4TI
  11. VK4GKO
  12. VK2IO
  13. VK2GEZ
  14. VK5CZ
  15. VK5MAZ
  16. VK7PJM
  17. VK5TUX
  18. VK4HMI
  19. VK2EXA
  20. VK5FANA
  21. VK4SMA
  22. VK3WRD
  23. VK3APJ
  24. VK5JK
  25. VK3EJ
  26. VK3CEO
  27. VK6DS
  28. VK2FALL
  29. VK7IAN
  30. VK5OPL
  31. VK3CA
  32. VK3HM
  33. ZL3MR
  34. VK4VAW
  35. VK4BZ/P
  36. VK5GY
  37. VK5HW
  38. VK3HJW
  39. VK6MRS
  40. VK2KTA
  41. ZL4NVW/P (ZLFF-0006)
  42. VK1CHW
  43. VK3SX
  44. VK5PLD
  45. KG5CIK

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

  1. VK5GY
  2. VK4BZ/p

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 Nov. 2024].‌
  2. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
  3. Trove. (2014). OTHER DISTRICTS – The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957) – 8 Oct 1934. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10957230?searchTerm=nulkwyne%20kangaroo [Accessed 15 Nov. 2024].‌

Paignie I23 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4186

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After leaving the Tiega I24 Bushland Reserve, I headed to my next park activation, the Paignie I23 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4186.

The reserve is located about 24 km northwest of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Paignie is an aboriginal word meaning ‘water’. Paignie was once a thriving community. It had a State School and a Progress Association. Sadly, very little remains today. (Blake 1978)

Above:- Article from The Ouyen Mail, Fri 20 Feb 1914. Image c/o Trove.

The reserve is located on a dirt track just south of John Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Paignie I23 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 163 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

This was another easy park to access with 4WD tracks entering the park. I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole. I enjoyed a very nice opening into Europe on the long path on the 20m band.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. F1BLL
  2. KG5CIK
  3. KC0IJN
  4. VK5QA
  5. Vk3CLD
  6. VK2DBF
  7. VK3SX
  8. OH1MM
  9. Vk4HNS
  10. OH2CGU
  11. F5NZO
  12. F8DZU
  13. K7CTV
  14. VE2JC
  15. VK2IO
  16. VK2GEZ
  17. ZL1HIM
  18. G4MAP
  19. SQ9FMC
  20. VK4SMA
  21. PA5WK
  22. IZ4EFP
  23. YO3AEK
  24. IK1GPG
  25. ON4BB
  26. EW1TZ
  27. IK3HMB
  28. SQ9CWO
  29. S58AL
  30. ON1JU
  31. VK2VW
  32. VKK2HFI
  33. VK2AKA
  34. VK2BUG
  35. M7CBI
  36. S52KM
  37. ON4VT
  38. F4DSK
  39. DM2KP
  40. OH5EP
  41. ON7LO
  42. Vk3TKK/p (Drouin West G83 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4298)
  43. DL2ND
  44. IW1DAL
  45. PD2BA
  46. OP7M

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK4EMP
  2. VK4TI
  3. VK4GKO
  4. VK3PF
  5. VK3SQ
  6. VK2BD
  7. VK2EXA
  8. VK5FANA
  9. VK5TUX
  10. VK3CA
  11. VK3HJW
  12. VK5PL
  13. VK3EJ
  14. VK2IO
  15. VK2GEZ
  16. VK2KYO
  17. VK3ALF
  18. VK5VK
  19. VK2YAK
  20. VK4YAK
  21. Vk4FDJL
  22. VK4WAB
  23. VK3MTT
  24. VK5JK
  25. VK3TKK/p (Drouin West G83 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4298)
  26. VK5WU
  27. VK3CJN
  28. VK3QHU
  29. VK1DI
  30. VK3CEO
  31. VK4HNS
  32. VK3APJ
  33. VK7PJM
  34. VK2TM
  35. VK5PCM

I packed up and headed to Ouyen where I planned on getting some dinner before activating a final park for the day. As I drove towards Ouyen on the dirt roads I encountered plenty of tumbleweed. It was like a scene out of a Western movie.

I drove into Ouyen and enjoyed a very nice meal at the Ouyen Club.

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 Nov. 2024].‌
  2. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.

Tiega I24 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4195

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My next activation for Wednesday 21st August 2024 was the Tiega I24 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4186.

The reserve is located about 20 km northwest of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Tiega I24 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

Along the way, I stopped to have a look at the site of the old Galah North State School No. 4262 which operated from 1926 to 1942. In c. 1950, the building was moved to Mildura Central School. (Wikipedia 2024)

The Tiega I24 Bushland Reserve is located on the western and eastern sides of Galah N Road, south of Parallel Road.

The park is about 71 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. Although not a huge opening on 20m on the long path, it was still nice to log some of the familiar European park hunters.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3CA
  2. VK5CZ
  3. VK3BEL
  4. VK5FANA
  5. VK2VW
  6. VK2HFI
  7. VK2AKA
  8. VK2BUG
  9. VK5JK
  10. VK6XL/m
  11. VK5TUX
  12. VK3PF
  13. VK5PL
  14. VK2EXA
  15. VK3HJW
  16. VK3KRL
  17. VK3BBB
  18. VK2CCP
  19. VK3PWG
  20. VK3TTK
  21. VK2SLB
  22. VK2BRN
  23. VK2KBT
  24. VK7XX
  25. VK2YAK
  26. VK4YAK
  27. VK3EJ
  28. Vk2IO
  29. VK2GEZ
  30. VK5HS
  31. VK3BCM/p (SOTA VK3/ VC-001)
  32. VK3PXS/p (SOTA VK3/ VC-001)
  33. VK4HNS
  34. VK3HM
  35. VK2GQR
  36. VK5MOS
  37. VK3GDX
  38. VK3APJ
  39. VK3CEO

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. OH1MM
  2. VK4EMP
  3. VK4TI
  4. VK4GKO
  5. VK4HNS
  6. KG5CIK
  7. VK2VH
  8. VK4AAC
  9. VK5QA
  10. VK3CLD
  11. VK2DBF
  12. EA3MP
  13. IW2NXI
  14. VK7AAE
  15. VK7DWS
  16. VK2JPR
  17. OH6GAZ
  18. IK4IDF
  19. DL1EBR
  20. SQ9CWO
  21. F5PYI
  22. IK1GPG
  23. VK6TX
  24. DJ9HN
  25. OM5TX
  26. DK4RM
  27. DL2ND
  28. SQ9FMC

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 Nov. 2024].‌
  2. Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Galah. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galah [Accessed 15 Nov. 2024]‌

Tiega I81 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4205

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My next activation for Wednesday 21st August 2024 was the Tiega I81 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4205.

The reserve is about 11 km west of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Tiega I81 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

Tiega is an aboriginal word for ‘sister’. Tiega was once a thriving community having its own school, a tennis club, and a football club. (Blake 1978)

Above:- Article from the Sunraysia Daily, Thu 30 Dec 1937. Image c/o Trove.

Above:- Article from the Ouyen Mail, Wed 11 Oct 1939. Image c/o Trove.

Today, little remains at Tiega, other than a sign to let you know that you are entering the district.

The Tiega I81 Bushland Reserve is located on the northern side of the Mallee Highway at the junction with Le Couteur Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Tiega I81 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 16 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

I drove down to the railway line and I accessed the northern section 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 20m SSB:-

  1. VK2IO
  2. VK2GEZ
  3. VK6LK
  4. VK6LMK
  5. VK3PF
  6. VK2VH
  7. VK4AAC
  8. VK2VW
  9. VK2HFI
  10. VK2AKA
  11. VK2BUG
  12. VK6DS
  13. VK2SLB
  14. Vk2BRN
  15. VK2KBT
  16. VK7AZ
  17. VK3TKK/p (Rocky Point Bushland Reserve VKFF-4303)
  18. VK5QA
  19. VK3CLD
  20. VK2DBF
  21. VK4EMP
  22. VK4TI
  23. VK4GKO
  24. VK4HNS
  25. VK7XX
  26. VK2NCS

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3TKK/p (Rocky Point Bushland Reserve VKFF-4303)
  2. VK7AB/p (Mount Stronach Regional Reserve VKFF-3377)
  3. VK7ZPE/p (Mount Stronach Regional Reserve VKFF-3377)
  4. VK3SMW
  5. VK6XL/5
  6. VK5PL
  7. VK3XL/p
  8. VK7XX
  9. VK3ENI
  10. VK3APJ
  11. Vk5AAF
  12. VK2SLB
  13. VK2BRN
  14. VK2KBT
  15. VK3PF
  16. VK5IS/m
  17. VK3MTT
  18. VK3PWG
  19. VK3TTK
  20. VK3EJ
  21. VK3HJW
  22. VK5TUX
  23. VK5DC
  24. VK3DCQ
  25. VK5CZ
  26. VK5JK
  27. VK3MBW
  28. VK3IK/m
  29. VK3MGM
  30. VK3KRL
  31. VK1AD
  32. VK1NAM
  33. VK3DJC
  34. VK5AYL
  35. VK2VAR
  36. VK2GOM
  37. VK3UAO
  38. VK3CEO
  39. Vk3BBB
  40. VK2CCP
  41. VK3CA
  42. VK3WSG

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 12 Nov. 2024].‌
  2. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.