Mantung Conservation Park VKFF-1055

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After leaving Galga on Saturday 17th August 2024, I headed to the Mantung Conservation Park VKFF-1055, to activate the park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Prior to activating the park, I stopped to have a look around the little town of Mantung which is located about 140 km east of Adelaide.

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

Mantung is an aboriginal word meaning ‘water on a native road’. Nomadic aboriginal people followed sandhills from near Swan Reach via Bakara to Loxton in the Riverland region, obtaining water from mallee trees. The sandhills also contained root foods. When the Hundred of Mantung was proclaimed on the 15th day of June 1893, the name was shown as an Aboriginal waterhole on an 1864 land tenure plan. (Place Names 2012)

The town of Mantung was proclaimed on the 8th day of July 1915. The Post Office was opened as Mantung Railway in September 1915. It became Mantung on the 1st day of September 1966. The Mantung School opened in 1921 and closed in 1944. The school reopened in 1961 and was conducted in the Mantung Hall. (Place Names 2012)

The town was one of several towns along the Waikerie railway line following its opening in 1914. The line branched from the Barmera railway line at Karoonda, which was also the junction for the Peebinga railway line. It extended north, northeast, and north again to Waikerie. (Wikipedia 2024)

Above:- 1914 map of railway lines in South Australia, showing the Waikerie line. Image c/o railmapsa.au

Mantung once had its own Agricultural Show.

Above:- Article from the Observer, Adelaide, Sat 10 Oct 1914. Image c/o Trove.

If you are in the district, please take the time to have a look around Mantung. There are several information signs detailing the history of the town and some of the remaining historic buildings.

At the Mantung Hall, you can pick up a ‘Mantung Centenary Walk’ brochure that details a very interesting walk around what was once a bustling town.

The Mantung Hall was built in 1918. It is the last country hall between Karoonda and Waikerie that is still being used regularly.

The community hall toilet block at the rear of the hall has been painted by Jarrod Loxton. It features some of the local wildlife including a Wedge Tailed Eagle, Mallee fowl, and a Major Mitchell Cockatoo. (Karoonda 2024)

Adjacent to the hall is the Mantung War Memorial. It includes an avenue of pine trees to commemorate the men and women of the district who have served in the various conflicts in which Australia has been involved (Monument Australia 2024) 

The Mantung Conservation Park is about 1,695 hectares in size and was proclaimed on the 16th day of October 2014. (Wikipedia 2024)

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

The park contains the largest intact remnant of deep sand habitat in the Northern Murray Mallee. It supports several rare plant species including the rasp daisy bush. It is also contains significant habitat for several endangered bird species including malleefowl, southern scrub-robin, shy heathwren, inland thornbill, white-browed babbler and purple-gaped honeyeater. (Nat Resources 2014)

I set up in a cleared area of the scrub and ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I ended up logging a total of 91 QSOs including 9 Park to Park contacts.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3VIN
  2. Vk3ACZ
  3. VK3FAR
  4. VK2SLB
  5. VK2BRN
  6. VK2KBT
  7. VK5FD
  8. VK5HS
  9. VK3PWG
  10. VK2R/p (Sydney Harbour National Park VKFF-0473 & lighthouse AU-0041)
  11. VK5PE
  12. VK4DNO
  13. VK5DW
  14. VK1AAF
  15. VK2GOM/p (Meroo National Park VKFF-0312)
  16. VK2VAR/p (Meroo National Park VKFF-0312)
  17. VK5FBIC
  18. VK3OAK
  19. VK5STU
  20. VK3ASU
  21. VK3CAT
  22. VK2PKT
  23. VK3KRL
  24. VK3SCS
  25. VK5LA
  26. VK5KAW
  27. VJ5Z
  28. VK5DC
  29. VK2VW
  30. VK2HFI
  31. VK2AKA
  32. VK2BUG
  33. VK5PL
  34. VK5AYL
  35. VK5CHD
  36. VK3PF/p (Moorabbee Shoreline Geological Reserve VKFF-3774)
  37. VK5TR
  38. VK4FDJL
  39. VK4WAB
  40. VK5FANA

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. ZL6CC (Lighthouse ZL-0001)
  2. ZL4KD
  3. VK7AAE
  4. KG5CIK
  5. VK5HS
  6. VK6JK
  7. VK5QA/4
  8. VK3CLD/4
  9. VK1AO/8
  10. VK2MET/8
  11. VK3PF/p (Moorabbee Shoreline Geological Reserve VKFF-3774)
  12. VK4HNS
  13. VK3AWA
  14. IK4IDF
  15. DL2ND
  16. OH6GAZ
  17. DL1EBR
  18. OH1CM
  19. SQ9CWO
  20. OH5TQ
  21. OH1XT
  22. IZ5JMZ
  23. VK3ZPF/p (Upper Beaconsfield Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2219)
  24. VK5DW
  25. OH5EP
  26. OH1MM
  27. EC4AT
  28. VK4FOX
  29. VK8HPB/p
  30. F4JJS
  31. SQ2LKY
  32. HB0OAB
  33. ON4VT
  34. VK2GOM/p (Meroo National Park VKFF-0312)
  35. VK2VAR/p (Meroo National Park VKFF-0312)
  36. IK1GPG
  37. DL7CX
  38. GI0CWV/p
  39. DK4RM
  40. EA5GVV
  41. ZL2UGL
  42. F1BLL
  43. DJ6EA
  44. VK2R/P (Sydney Harbour National Park VKFF-0473 & lighthouse AU-0041)
  45. OE6BFF
  46. M7YET
  47. S58AL
  48. VK4PDX
  49. VK4GHL (Lighthouse AU-0019)
  50. VK3SX
  51. VK2CQ

References.

  1. Karoonda. (2022). Mantung Painted Mural. [online] Available at: https://www.karoonda.com/see-do/art-galleries-sculptures/mantung-painted-mural [Accessed 1 Sep. 2024].
  2. ‌UBC Web Design (2021). Mantung War Memorial | Monument Australia. [online] Monumentaustralia.org.au. Available at: https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/multiple/display/117619-mantung-war-memorial-/ [Accessed 1 Sep. 2024].
  3. ‌Water (DEW), D. for E. and (2014). Select a region. [online] http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au. Available at: http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au. [Accessed 1 Sep. 2024].‌
  4. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Waikerie railway line. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waikerie_railway_line [Accessed 1 Sep. 2024].
  5. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Mantung Conservation Park. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantung_Conservation_Park [Accessed 1 Sep. 2024].‌

Galga silo VK-GLA5

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My next activation for Saturday 17th August 2024 was the Galga silo VK-GLA5 for the Silos On The AIr (SiOTA) program. Galga is about 173 km (by road) northeast of the city of Adelaide. It was just a short 16km drive northeast from Copeville.

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

The first European to settle in the district was William Selby Douglas who took up land in 1868. Galga is an aboriginal word meaning ‘hungry.’ The town was named by the Railway Commissioner who intended the railway station to be a place where refreshments would be provided. (Place Names 2012)

The town lies on the northern boundary of the Hundred of Bandon which adjoins the Hundred of Bakara. The Hundred was declared in 1898. However, it was not until 1904 that the first leasehold land was taken up by Alfred and Ludwig Kuehn. Between 1909 to 1910 freehold land was taken up. In 1915 the Kuehn brothers relinquished 40 acres of their land for the surveing of the town of Galga. (flickr 2024)

In October 1915, Mr. A. Thomas surveyed the township of Galga. A total of 54 town blocks were alotted. The town was proclaimed on the 10th day of February 1916. (flickr 2024)

Above:- SA Govt Gazette, Thur Feb 10 1916.

In 1915 the Post Office opened. In 1921 it was moved into the general store that had opened. Alfred Kuehn donated two town blocks for a hall to be used as a school. In 1921 the limestone and red brick Galga Hall was built. However, it was not used as a school until 1925. At its opening, the school had 16 pupils. Its greatest enrollment period was during the late 1950s to early 1960s when 39 students were enrolled, with 2 teachers being employed. The school closed in 1966 when the East Murray Area School was planned to be opened in 1967. (flickr 2024)

One of Galga’s famous students was Julie Lush, now Julie Anthony. She attended the school from 1959 onwards. As a child, she excelled in sport and singing. Anthony was awarded an OBE in 1980 by Britain and in 2007 was made a Member of the Order of Australia. She sang the National Anthem at the opening of the Sydney Olympic Games. (flickr 2024)

Above:- Julie Anthony. Image c/o Facebook.

In 1923 a ten-acre grant from the government was issued for an oval and sports field at Galga. In 1924 the Gothic-style St Pauls Lutheran Church was opened. (flickr 2024)

In Its heyday, Galga had a tennis club and a football club.

Above:- Article from The Advertiser, Wed 16 Feb 1938. Image c/o Trove.

Today, Galga is an interesting little town to visit. The beautiful Gothic style St Paul’s Church remains.

There are also some excellent information boards detailing the history of Galga.

In 1963 bulk handling of grain commenced in Galga. The railway line closed in 1994 with passenger services ceasing during the 1970s. (flickr 2024)

The Galga Silo Art completed in April 2023 and was painted by Jarrod Loxton. The Galga silo features local soldiers and also honours nurses, including Vivian Bullwinkel. (Australian SIlo Art 2024)

One of those featured on the silo is Vivian Bullwinkel. She was born in December 1915 at Kapunda. She trained as a midwife and dnurse at Broken Hill, prior to commencing her career in nursing at Hamilton, Victoria and then Melbourne, Victoria. In 1941 Bullwinkerl volunteered for service with the RAAF, but was rejected for having flat feet. She did however, join the Australian Army Nursing Service. (AWM 2024)

Above:- Lt Col Vivian Bulwinkel. Image c/o Aust War Memorial.

Following the invasion of Malaya in December 1941, Bullwinkel and 65 other nurses boarded the SS Vyner Brooke to escape the island. Two days into their voyage, the shop was sunk by Japanese aircraft. Bullwinkel, along with 21 other nurses and a group of men, women and children made it ashore on Banka Island. (AWM 2024)

The following day they were joined by about 100 British soldiers. The group surrendered to the Japanese. The men were murdered by the Japanese, while the female nurses were ordered to walk into the sea. They were then machine gunned from behind. Bullwinkel was struck by a bullet but survived.

She pretended to be dead until the Japanese left the beach. For 12 days she hid on the island with a wounded British soldier and again surrendered to the Japanese. Bullwinkel spent 3 & 1/2 years in Japanese captivity. She was just 24 of the 65 nurses were aboard the SS Vyner Brooke that survived the war. (AWM 2024)

Below is a trailer to an ABC doumentary on Vivian Bullwinkel.

Another person featuring the silo is Hurtle Murdoch “Tom” Zilm. He was born in September 1917 at Hamley Bridge. He enlisted for service on the 2nd day of December 1942. He is the step grandfather to the owner of the silo. (Facebook 2024) (vwma 2024)

Above:- Hurtle Murdoch Zilm. Image c/o ancestry.com.au

Below is a video from You Tube showing the Galga silo.

I parked on Galga Road, directly alongside of the silo. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

Above:- An aerial view showing the Galga silo activation zone. Image c/o SiOTA website.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3CAL
  2. VK3PWG
  3. VK3APJ
  4. VK5FANA
  5. VK2YAK (Lighthouse AU-0033)
  6. VK4YAK (Lighthouse AU-0033)
  7. VK5PX
  8. VK4SMA
  9. VK5FBIC/p
  10. VK5FIVE
  11. VK5CZ
  12. VK3SWV (Lighthouse AU-0117)
  13. VK3DJC/p (Lighthouse AU-0117)
  14. VK5LKJ
  15. VK5IS
  16. VK3ARM/p (Lighthouse AU-0117)
  17. VK2SLB
  18. VK2BRN
  19. VK2KBT
  20. VK5DW
  21. VK5KVA
  22. VK5FA

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK6NU
  2. F5PYI
  3. VK5QA/4
  4. VK3CLD/4
  5. VK2R (Lighthouse AU-0041 & VKFF-0473)
  6. VK2SLB
  7. VK2BRN
  8. VK2KBT
  9. VK5DW

References.

  1. Australiansiloarttrail.com. (2024). Galga Silo Art. [online] Available at: https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/galga [Accessed 28 Aug. 2024].
  2. Australian War Memorial (2016). Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel. [online] Awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10676383. [Accessed 28 Aug. 2024].‌
  3. ‌‌Facebook.com. (2021). Facebook. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/australiansiloarttrail [Accessed 29 Aug. 2024].
  4. ‌Flickr. (2024). Galga. In the Murray Mallee. St Pauls Lutheran Church. Foundation stone laid 1923 and church opened 1924. Now a private residence. [online] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/40821872680 [Accessed 28 Aug. 2024].
  5. ‌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/. [Accessed 28 Aug. 2024].‌
  6. Vwma.org.au. (2024). Hurtle Murdock ZILM. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/535147 [Accessed 29 Aug. 2024].‌

Copeville silo VK-CPE5

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I left home bright and early on Saturday morning 17th August 2024, heading to Renmark in the Riverland region of South Australia. I had planned on staying one night at Renmark on my 7-night trip to the Riverland region of South Australia and northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing my approximate route for day 1. Map c/o plotaroute.

It was a beautiful morning and as I came down the hill from Ashbourne into Strathalbyn, I enjoyed a beautiful sunrise. My first stop was the Strathalbyn bakery to get a coffee and a bacon & egg roll.

After breakfast, I headed northeast and stopped at the Kulde school site on the Karoonda Highway. The Kulde school operated here from 1930 to 1940 before becoming part of South Australia’s first Area School at Karoonda in 1941.

Kulde is an aboriginal word for ‘brothers’. Other than the school, Kulde once had a railway station and it was a thriving little community. (Place Names 2012)

Above:- Article from the Murray Pioneer, Fri 11 Dec 1931. Image c/o Trove.

The South Australian Minister of Education approved the establishment of the Kulde School in January 1930. The Advertiser newspaper reported that 14 children would be attending the school.

Above:- Article from The Advertiser, Wed 29 Jan 1930. Image c/o Trove.

My next brief stop was the monument for the Bowhill East school site. The school operated from 1940 to 1948.

I came across this beautiful old stone home on my way to Bowhill. I pondered on the history of this home and those who previously lived in it.

I then reached the little town of Bowhill, on the bank of the Murray River between Mannum and Swan Reach. The main industries in the area are cereal grain and sheep farming. (Wikipedia 2024)

The Hundred of Bowhill in the County of Buccleuch was proclaimed in 1893 and was named in honour of the Duke of Buccleuch’s residence in Scotland which was built in 1708. (flickr 2024) (Wikipedia 2024)

Above:- Bowhill House. Image c/o Bowhill House. (2024, March 7). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowhill_House

The first known European settler in the area was William Wainwright who in 1848 ran the Chucka Bend pastoral station. When placed up for lease in 1888, Chucka Bend station covered an area of about 700 square miles. A local rumour was that Chucka Bend obtained its name from a horse owned by Walter Craven who leased the property during the 1880s. The horse was prone to ‘chucking’ Craven into the river. However this is not the real origin of the name as the property was known as Chucka Bend well prior to the 1880s. (flickr 2024) (Place Names 2012)

In 1893 land was surveyed in the area. This was followed by further surveys in 1897 and 1904. The land was sold as freehold or on perpetual lease to farmers. Many of these were of German descent. About 33% of the lands were considered arable, with most of the Hundred not being fully cleared for agriculture until 1920. (flickr 2024)

In 1891 the German settlers built the first Lutheran Church at Chucka Bend. In 1893 the local community petitioned the State Government for £75 to erect a school. Two years later in 1895 a tin and iron schoolroom was built. Helen Young was the first teacher. The school was also used as a public hall. In 1903 the building was replaced with a stone building. Mr. Dorgemuller was the builder. (flickr 2024)

In 1895 the first Post Office service commenced at Bowhill. The first Bowhill agricultural show was held in 1898. In 1899 the first Primitive Methodist Church service was held. (flickr 2024)

Above:- Article from the Burra Record, Wed 13 Sep 1899. Image c/o Trove.

In 1910 the town of Bowhill developed on the area once occupied by the station homestead. By this time it had a General Store, Post Office, and a banking agency. The wharf was busy with bagged wheat and baled wool being loaded onto paddle steamers to be sailed down the Murray to the rail head at Murray Bridge. (flickr 2024)

I paid a quick visit to the Bowhill cemetery which was established in 1897. Many of the headstones reflect the German history of the district.

I left Bowhill and drove up to the top of the Purnong lookout which offers some great views of the Murray River.

The lookout is part of the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve. The reserve covers more than 3,200 square km and is known for its cloudless skies. (Dark Sky 2024)

My next stop was the old Claypans Church and Hall. It was opened on the 23rd day of September 1906. The church closed in 1959. It was used as a school from 1907 to 1947.

Next was the old Spurling Memorial Hall which was erected in 1920 in memory of Corporal William Alfred Spurling of Copeville. He was killed in action during WW1 in 1917.

William Alfred Spurling was born in February 1893 in Warracknabeal, Victoria. He was killed in action in the UK on the 16th day of August 1917, aged just 24 years. He was a Corporal with the 50th Australian Infantry Battalion. (ancestry.com.au) (AWM 2024)

Above:- William Spurling. Image c/o ancestry.com.au

The town of Copeville was proclaimed on the 1st day of May 1919. It was named in honour of Henry Spencer Cope, an early settler in the district. Prior to its proclamation, it was known as ‘Glencope’. That name was given to a school which was opened in 1914. The Post Office opened as ‘Glencope Siding’ on the 29th day of September 1915. (Place Names 2012)

Not much remains today at Copeville. Below is a photograph of the old tennis courts, completely overgrown by weeds.

The town has been placed back on the map by the silo art on the local silos. The Copeville Silo was painted in October 2022 and is the work of artist Jarrod Loxton. The silo art features a Galah and a Clydesdale horse. (Silo Art 2024)

I parked on the dirt road running parallel to Perponda Road and operated from the 4WD. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

Above:- An aerial view showing the activation zone at the Copeville silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

I logged a total of 44 stations for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program. This included several lighthouse stations that were activating for the International Lighthouse Lightship (ILLW) Weekend.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK2HBG/p (Warden Head Lighthouse AU-0035)
  2. VK5GY
  3. VK3APJ
  4. VK5FL/p
  5. VK3PF
  6. VK3OAK
  7. VK5MCB
  8. VK3JLS
  9. VK3GJG
  10. VK3ILH (Cape Nelson lighthouse AU0055)
  11. VK3MDC/m
  12. VK3EJS
  13. VK3SO
  14. VK3SWV (Whalers Bluff lighthouse AU-0017)
  15. VK3DJC/p (Whalers Bluff lighthouse AU-0017)
  16. VK5LA
  17. VK5DW
  18. VK3UHF (Port Henry Signal Station AU0084)
  19. VK7XX
  20. VK5HW
  21. VK5NIG
  22. VK5STU
  23. VK3MLT
  24. VK5IS
  25. VK4DNO

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK2HPN/4
  2. VK2VIN
  3. VK7XX
  4. VK4CQR (Seahill Lighthouse AU0060)
  5. VK5QA/4
  6. VK3CLD/4
  7. VK6WE
  8. VK4PDX
  9. VK4JJ
  10. VK7EE
  11. VK6NU
  12. VK2IO/p (Sydney Harbour lighthouse VKFF-0473)
  13. VK4BT
  14. VK4KTX
  15. VK4IO
  16. VK2SLB
  17. VK2BRN
  18. VK2KBT
  19. VK4SUN

References.

  1. Ancestry.com.au. (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/. [Accessed 27 Aug. 2024].
  2. ‌Australiansiloarttrail.com. (2024). Copeville Silo Art. [online] Available at: https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/copeville [Accessed 27 Aug. 2024].
  3. ‌Awm.gov.au. (2024). Corporal William Alfred Spurling. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10678857 [Accessed 27 Aug. 2024].
  4. ‌Flickr. (2024). Bowhill. The former stone school. The first school on this site was tin and iron and opened in 1895. This school was built in 1903. It clsoed in 1942. Now a private residence. [online] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/27019427029 [Accessed 27 Aug. 2024].
  5. ‌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/ [Accessed 26 Aug. 2024]‌
  6. Wikipedia Contributors (2016). Bowhill. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowhill [Accessed 27 Aug. 2024].‌
  7. Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Bowhill House. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowhill_House [Accessed 27 Aug. 2024].‌
  8. http://www.rivermurraydarkskyreserve.org. (n.d.). About Us | River Murray Dark Sky Reserve. [online] Available at: https://www.rivermurraydarkskyreserve.org/aboutus.php. [Accessed 27 Aug. 2024].‌

Trip to the Riverland and Northwest Victoria

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I am back from my Riverland SA & northwest Victoria trip. I was away for 7 days.

I had a very enjoyable Saturday evening dinner with Ivan VK5HS & Peter VK5PE.

And on Sunday I attended the Werrimul Hotel for lunch to catch up with members of the Sunraysia Radio Group and the Riverland Radio Club. It was a great afternoon.

Whilst away I undertook 9 silo activations for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program and 39 park activations for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

I made a total of 2,521 QSOs. This included 69 Park to Park contacts.

Thank you to everyone who called.

I will place more information & photographs about each activation here over the coming weeks.