Blue Mountain Bushland Reserve VKFF-4220

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My final activation for Tuesday 20th August 2024 was the Blue Mountain Bushland Reserve VKFF-4220.

I headed to the park after enjoying a very nice meal at the Victoria Hotel at Ouyen.

The Victoria Hotel was built in c. 1920. It was extensively enlarged in 1934.

Above:- The Victoria Hotel Ouyen. Image c/o Walking Ouyen Facebook page.

The park is located about 13 km (by road) south of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

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

The park is located on the southern side of Steele Road which runs off the western side of the Calder Highway.

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

The park is about 40 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. I am not sure how it was named as there is certainly no mountain in or near the reserve. (CAPAD 2022)

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

By the time I arrived at the park, it was completely dark. 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. VK2IO
  2. VK2GEZ
  3. VK2DWP
  4. VK3SQ
  5. VK2BD
  6. VK3BBB
  7. VK2CCP
  8. VK4SMA
  9. VK2YAK
  10. VK4YAK
  11. VK3APJ
  12. VK5PL
  13. VK3MTT
  14. VK2EXA
  15. VK2HAK
  16. VK3PWG
  17. VK3TTK
  18. VK3GJG
  19. VK3ANL
  20. VK5CZ
  21. VK7PJM
  22. VK4FDJL
  23. VK4WAB
  24. VK2BW
  25. VK4HMI
  26. VK3PF
  27. VK3HJW
  28. VK4HNS
  29. VK3ALF
  30. VK3CA
  31. VK7DIK
  32. VK5FANA
  33. VK3MKE
  34. VK7AAE
  35. VK7DWS
  36. VK3HM
  37. VK1AAF
  38. VK3SWA

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

  1. VK5FANA
  2. VK2IO
  3. VK2GEZ
  4. VK7DIK
  5. VK3MKE
  6. VK7AAE
  7. VK7DWS
  8. VK4HNS
  9. VK3APJ
  10. VK5CZ
  11. VK3ANL
  12. VK4EMP
  13. VK4TI
  14. VK4GOZ
  15. VK3MBW
  16. VK3GJG

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 10 Nov. 2024].‌

Nunga Bushland Reserve VKFF-4241 and Nunga silo VK-NNG3

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The next activation for Tuesday 20th August 2024, was the Nunga Bushland Reserve VKFF-4241 and the Nunga silo VK-NNG3.

Nunga is about 7 km south of Ouyen on the Calder Highway in northwest Victoria.

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

Nunga is an aboriginal word for ‘day. Interestingly it is also a term of self-identification for Aboriginal Australians and was originally used by Aboriginal people in the southern settled areas of South Australia. (Blake 1978) (Wikipedia 2024)

At one time Nunga had a State School and also had its own cricket club.

Above:- The State School, No. 3756, at Nunga. Image c/o Museums Victoria.

During the 1940’s Nunga saw a significant mice plague.

Above:- Article from The Inverell Times Wed 9 Apr 1947. Image c/o Trove.

The Nunga silos are located on Dunkley Road on the western side of the Calder Highway

The Nunga Bushland Reserve is located on the eastern side of the Calder Highway.

Above:- An aerial view of the park. Image c/o Google Earth.

The park is about 14 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

I accessed the park via a 4WD track that led into 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:-

  1. VK2VW
  2. VK2HFI
  3. VK2AKA
  4. VK2BUG
  5. VK3PF/m
  6. VK5GY
  7. VK2TOT
  8. VK7PJM
  9. VK3VIN
  10. VK2IO
  11. VK2GEZ
  12. VK4SMA
  13. VK2EXA
  14. Vk2TM
  15. VK3BEL
  16. VK4HMI
  17. VK3CA
  18. VK3ACZ
  19. VK3MTT
  20. VK5PL
  21. VK1DI
  22. VK5WU
  23. VK3HJW
  24. VK2GQR
  25. VK3SQ
  26. VK2BD
  27. VK4EMP
  28. VK4TI
  29. VK4GKO
  30. VK5UV
  31. VK5JK
  32. VK3MJR
  33. VK3SO
  34. VK3SFG
  35. VK3PWG
  36. VK3TTK
  37. VK3ANL
  38. VK3APJ
  39. VK4HNS
  40. VK2SLB
  41. VK2BRN
  42. VK2KBT
  43. VK5LA
  44. VK5KAW
  45. VK4FDJL
  46. VK4WAB
  47. VK2MOE
  48. VK1MO
  49. VK3BBB
  50. VK2CCP
  51. VK3CJN
  52. VK3QHU
  53. VK2PBC
  54. VK2YAK
  55. VK4YAK
  56. VK3GJG
  57. VK3UAO
  58. VK2WGW
  59. VK5PE/m
  60. VK3GB
  61. VK6DS
  62. VK3MGM
  63. VK1ARQ
  64. VK4LGC
  65. VK2KDA

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

  1. VK3CA
  2. VK3HM

I worked the following stations on 40m FM:-

  1. VK3CA
  2. VK3HM

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 10 Nov. 2024].‌
  2. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
  3. Wikipedia Contributors (2022). Nunga. Wikipedia.‌

Kulwin Flora Reserve VKFF-2354

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After leaving the Kulwin Flora & Fauna Reserve, I headed to the similarly named but different park, the Kulwin Flora Reserve VKFF-2354.

The park is located about 27 km east of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Kulwin Flora Reserve VKFF-2354. Map c/o Google Maps.

The park is located on Boland Road, Kulwin.

Above:- An aerial view of the park. Image c/o Google Earth.

The park is recorded as the Kulwin Nature Conservation Reserve on Google Maps.

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

However, it is accurately named on MapShare Victoria.

Above:- Screenshot from MapShare Victoria showing the park. Image c/o MapShare Victoria.

The park is about 109 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. (CAPAD 2022)

I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. There was plenty of room off Boland Road to set up. I started the activation on 20m by booking into the ANZA DX Net. However I did not get many callers, so I moved up to 14.300 and within a minute ended up with a mini pileup.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. LX/DL1FAB
  2. VK7XX
  3. VK5QA/4
  4. VK3CLD/4
  5. VK3ZGJG
  6. VK2VW
  7. VK2HFI
  8. VK2VW
  9. VK2AKA
  10. VK2BUG
  11. VK4EMP
  12. VK4TI
  13. VK4GKO
  14. F5PYI
  15. OH2CGU
  16. VK6DS
  17. VK2SLB
  18. VK2BRN
  19. VK2KBT
  20. VK2HDT

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3BEL
  2. VK3HJW
  3. VK3CA
  4. VK3GJG
  5. VK2EXA
  6. VK3PF/m
  7. VK3SMW
  8. VK3CJN
  9. VK3QHU
  10. VK5IS
  11. VK2TM
  12. VK3PWG
  13. VK3TTK
  14. VK5WU
  15. VK3ZPF
  16. VK3JW
  17. VK3MGM
  18. VK2VW
  19. VK2HFI
  20. VK2AKA
  21. VK2BUG
  22. VK4HNS
  23. VK3CEO
  24. VK3AMO
  25. VK7AN
  26. VK3EJ
  27. VK7PJM
  28. VK3SO
  29. VK3SFG
  30. VK3MCK
  31. VK5JK
  32. VK4HMI
  33. VK2YAK
  34. VK4YAK
  35. VK5FANA
  36. VK4EMP
  37. VK4TI
  38. VK4GKO
  39. VK4FDJL
  40. VK4WAB
  41. VK5GY
  42. VK3UAO
  43. VK2IO
  44. VK2GEZ
  45. VK3WRD
  46. VK5CX
  47. VK4KLA
  48. VK1AD
  49. VK1NAM
  50. VK3LJZ
  51. VK2KYO
  52. VK5LA
  53. VK5KAW
  54. VK3APJ
  55. VK2BDS
  56. VK2HBG
  57. VK2GRB
  58. VK2GDX
  59. VK2ALY
  60. VK4AAC/p (Burrum Coast National ParkVKFF-0070)
  61. VK2VH/p (Burrum Coast National Park VKFF-0070)
  62. VK2TOT

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 10 Nov. 2024].‌

Kulwin Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2353

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My next activation for Tuesday 20th August 2024 was the Kulwin Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2353. The reserve is located about 30 km east of Ouyen in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Kulwin Flora & Fauna Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

This park is not to be confused with the Kulwin Flora Reserve VKFF-2353 which is located on Boland Road.

I travelled east along the Mallee Highway and soon reached the area of Kulwin. Kulwin is an aboriginal word meaning throwing stick. (Black 1978)

The Kulwin Post Office opened on the 16th day of August 1920 following the arrival of the railway. The Post office closed in 1974. The Kulwin State School (No. 4375) opened in the Kulwin Soldiers’ Hall on the 8th day of January 1929. In April 1933 a standalone building, formerly at Nowingi State School, was re-erected and occupied. In 1934 an additional workroom was erected by parents in 1934. The school closed in 1950, with the building being removed to the Robinvale Consolidated School. (Wikipedia 2024)

Above:- Plan of the town of Kulwin. Image c/o State Library Victoria.

Kulwin once had a hall that held dances and other functions. Kulwin also had its own cricket team and football team.

Above:- An article from the Ouyen Mail, Wed 25 May 1927. Image c/o Trove.

Today little remains at Kulwin. I visited the site of the old tennis courts which today are in a state of disrepair and covered with weeds.

The Kulwin Flora & Fauna Reserve is located on the northern and southern sides of the Mallee Highway.

Above:- An aerial view of the Kulwin Flora & Fauna Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 170 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.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK7XX
  2. VK2IO
  3. VK2GEZ
  4. ZL3MR
  5. VK5QA/4
  6. VK3CLD/4
  7. VK6DS/p (Westralia Conservation Park VKFF-1442)
  8. F5PYI
  9. UT5PI
  10. VK2VW
  11. VK2HFI
  12. VK2AKA
  13. VK2BUG
  14. VK7AAE
  15. F1BLL
  16. DL2ND
  17. SQ9CWO
  18. OH1MM
  19. OH2CGU
  20. VK4HNS

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK2LQ/p (Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area VKFF-1353)
  2. VK3PF/m
  3. VK2KA
  4. VK2EXA
  5. VK5LA
  6. VK5KAW
  7. VK5FANA
  8. VK3CA
  9. VK3APJ
  10. VK2SLB
  11. VK2KBT
  12. VK2BRN
  13. VK2VW
  14. VK2HFI
  15. VK2AKA
  16. VK2BUG
  17. VK3NBL
  18. VK2IO
  19. VK2GEZ
  20. VK3SO
  21. VK3SFG
  22. VK3TV
  23. VK3HJW
  24. VK3CEO
  25. VK3CJN
  26. VK3QHU
  27. VK3ZPF
  28. VK3JW
  29. VK5NHG
  30. VK3UAO
  31. VK5WU
  32. VK5MSA
  33. VK5GY
  34. VK3MGM
  35. VK3BCM/p (SOTA VK3/ VN-007)
  36. VK3PXS/p (SOTA VK3/ VN-007)
  37. VK5IS

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 7 Nov. 2024].‌
  2. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
  3. Wikipedia Contributors (2023). Kulwin, Victoria. Wikipedia. [Accessed 7 Nov. 2024].‌‌