My first park activation for Monday 19th August 2024 was the Ginquam I5 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4129. This was to be the first time that I had activated the park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program, and only the second time the park had been activated for WWFF.

The reserve is located about 36 km (by road) south of Mildura in northwest Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Ginquam I5 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

It was a beautiful morning and before leaving the caravan park I enjoyed a coffee overlooking Lake Cullulleraine. Lake Cullulleraine is a natural billabong of the River Murray. Cullulleraine is derived from the aboriginal word kallalla meaning neat. The lake is popular for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, water skiing and jet-skiing. (Victorian Fisheries) (Victorian Place Names)

I then headed down to the roadhouse to fill up the 4WD with diesel and a bacon & egg roll for breakfast. I is always a sign of a good meal when you see trucks parked outside of a roaadhouse.

As I drove along the Sturt Highway I passed many commercial almond orchards.

The reserve is located on the northern side of Ginquam W Road, just to the west of the junction with Scott Lane.

Above:- An aerial view of the Ginquam I5 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 9 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. Ginquam is derived from the aboriginal word gam gam meaning horse. (CAPAD 2022) (Victorian Places Names)

i ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I worked the following station on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-

1. VK3PF (Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve VKFF-3833)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK3PF/p (Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve VKFF-3833)
2. VK3APJ
3. VK3CA
4. VK1AD
5. VK1NAM
6. VK2KYO
7. VK3UAO
8. VK2VW
9. VK2HFI
10. VK2AKA
11. VK2BUG
12. VK3VIN
13. VK3HM
14. VK5GY
15. VK2IO
16. VK2GEZ
17. VK5IS
18. VK3BCM
19. VK3AMO
20. VK3GJG
21. VK5AAF
22. VK5MOS

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK3CA
2. VK3HM
3. VK5GY
4. VK5IS
5. VK3GJG

I worked the following station on 40m FM:-

1. VK3GJG

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK7WN
2. VK2VW
3. VK2HFI
4. VK2AKA
5. VK2BUG
6. VK2IO
7. VK2GEZ
8. VK5QA/4
9. VK3CLD/4
10. VK1AD
11. VK1NAM
12. VK3GJG
13. VK2ISM
14. VK4CXY
15. VK2VOM
16. VK4SMA

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 Oct. 2024].‌
2. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
3. VFA. (2019). Lake Cullulleraine. [online] Available at: https://vfa.vic.gov.au/recreational-fishing/victorias-top-fishing-destinations/sunset-country/where-to-fish-sunset-country/lake-cullulleraine [Accessed 10 Oct. 2024].
4. ‌

My final park for Sunday 18th August 2024 was the Yatpool Tank Bushland Reserve VKFF-4130. This was to be another brand new park for me for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

The park is located about 21 km south of Mildura in northwest Victoria.

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

The reserve is located on the eastern side of the Calder Highway at the junction with Treviso Way.

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

Yatpool is an aboriginal word meaning plain with waterholes. Yatpool once had a State School and its own Australian Rules football team. (Victorian Place Names)

Above:- The Yatpool Football Club, 1920. Image c/o Museums Victoria.

The Yatpool Tank Bushland Reserve is about 58 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 40m SSB:-

1. VK2LQ
2. VK2IO
3. VK2GEZ
4. VK2VAR
5. VK2GOM
6. VK2EXA
7. VK3NI
8. VK3APJ
9. VK3PF/p (Crosby Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2073)
10. VK2XXM
11. VK3CWF
12. VK6ACA
13. VK6JK
14. VK4SMA
15. VK6TWJ
16. VK7PJM
17. VK3CEO
18. VK3SPG
19. VK5LA
20. VK5KAW
21. VK6HC
22. VK3PWG
23. VK3TKK
24. VK4HMI

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK5LA
2. VK5KAW

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5LA
2. VK5KAW
3. VK3FABS
4. VK2IO
5. VK2GEZ
6. VK3PWG
7. VK3TKK
8. VK4YT
9. VK4SMA
10. VK4EMP
11. VK4TI
12. VK4GKO
13. VK3PF/p (Crosby Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2073)
14. VK2WA
15. VK3NRB
16. VK3FREB
17. VK3ILH
18. VK2EXA

I worked the following stations on 80m AM:-

1. VK5LA
2. VK5KAW
3. VK4SMA

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

My next activation for Sunday 18th August 2024 was the Ginquam I4 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4128. This was the first time that I had activated this park and only the second time that the park had been activated for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

The reserve is located about 35 km (by road) south of Mildura in northwestern Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Ginquam I4 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The reserve is located on the northern side of NW Angle Road, west of Austin Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Ginquam I4 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

Ginquam is derived from the aboriginal word gam gam meaning horse. The reserve is about 40 hectares in size and was established on the 1st day of May 1979. (CAPAD 2022) (Place Names)

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5LA
2. VK5KAW
3. VK3VIN
4. VK3HJW
5. VK3KGW
6. VK3CA
7. VK3SPG
8. VK5PL
9. VK2EXA
10. VK3EJ
11. VK2USH/p (Lake Broadwater Conservation Park VKFF-1577)
12. VK2IO
13. VK2GEZ
14. VK7DW
15. VK7ADW
16. VK3ACZ
17. VK4SMA
18. VK4HNS
19. VK3AMO
20. VK5FANA
21. VK1DI
22. VK7PJM
23. L3MR
24. VK1MA
25. VK4MPB
26. VK3RU
27. VK2VE
28. VK3SKS
29. VK4EMP
30. VK4TI
31. VK4GKO
32. VK5AAF
33. VK3CEO
34. VK2MFW
35. VK2DWD
36. VK4KBA
37. VK2HMV
38. VK5AYL
39. VK3APJ
40. VK4PDX
41. VK4IKZ
42. VK3ZK
43. VK3CWF
44. VK4DTS
45. VK2XXM
46. VK3VPM
47. VK5VGC
48. VK6LK

As I packed up I enjoyed a magnificent sunset.

I headed into Red Cliffs after this activation for a bite to eat. I enjoyed a magnificent steak sandwich from one of the take away stores.

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

After booking into my accommodation at Lake Cullulleraine on 18th August 2024, I headed out to activate the Benetook Flora Reserve VKFF-4126. This was the first time that I had activated this park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

The reserve is located about 29 km (by road) southwest of Mildura in northwestern Victoria.

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

The Benetook Flora Reserve, also known as the Benetook Bushland Reserve is located on the northern side of Millewa Road and is divided by Meridian Road.

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

The Benetook Post Office opened c. 1925. In 1929 the building was destroyed by fire. The office was closed in 1946. Benetook was located on the Morkala railway line. In 1924 the station opened with the first section of line. It had facilities for passengers, goods, and grain. It closed in 1970. At one stage Benetook had its own Australian Rules football team. (Wikipedia)

Above:- Article from the Sunraysia Daily, Mildura, Tue 21 Aug 1928. Image c/o Trove.

The Benetook Flora Reserve is about 48 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. Benetook is derived from the aboriginal word barnetuk meaning ankle. (CAPAD 2022) (Place Names 1978).

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

This was a great activation, with a total of 97 contacts logged.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO
2. VK2GEZ
3. VK5QA/4
4. VK3CLD/4
5. OH1MM
6. VK4SMA
7. OH1XT
8. VK6JK
9. LZ3TY
10. VK2XXM
11. EC4AT
12. OH1CM
13. SQ9CWO
14. VK4HNS
15. F1BLL
16. EA3MP
17. DL2ND
18. F6PYI
19. IZ2LVY
20. VK2VW
21. VK2HFI
22. VK2AKA
23. VK2BUG
24. DK4RM
25. VK1RF
26. VK2MK
27. VK4CEE
28. DH1BAS
29. VK7HCK
30. SP7MW
31. VK1AO/p (Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve VKFF-1237)
32. VK2MET/p (Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve VKFF-1237)
33. VK8DNT/p (Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve VKFF-1237)
34. F4ISZ
35. 9A2CD
36. SP6BYC
37. LY4L
38. VK3APJ
39. DH4PSG
40. SQ2LKY
41. S58AL
42. VK8NSB
43. DK9HN
44. ON3VPA
45. VK2BNG
46. OP7M
47. PD5S
48. ON4VT
49. F4HZR
50. VK2EIR/m
51. K5RX
52. LZ1DM
53. VK6ADF/p (Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park VKFF-0283)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3HJW
2. VK3UAO
3. VK5PE/m
4. VK3APJ
5. VK7DW
6. VK1DI
7. VK3CJN
8. VK3QHU
9. VK2BAI
10. VK3CEO
11. VK1MA
12. VK5PL
13. VK3NRB
14. VK2MOE
15. VK1MO
16. VK4SMA
17. VK2HAK
18. VK2IO
19. VK2GEZ
20. VK3LF
21. VK5PCM
22. VK3PF/p (SOTA VK3/ VU-014)
23. VK3EJ
24. VK2TM
25. VK3NL
26. Vk2NCS/p (Lighthouse AU-0033)
27. VK5FB
28. VK2PBC
29. VK5BRU/p (Onkaparinga River National Park VKFF-0402)
30. VK4FDJL
31. VK4WAB
32. VK3MGM
33. VK7PJM
34. VK2USH/p (Lake Broadwater Conservation Park VKFF-1577)
35. VK3VIN
36. VK3HBG
37. VK5LKJ
38. VK2MFW
39. VK3ZK
40. VK3AMOP
41. VK3ERW
42. VK4MQ
43. VK2EXA
44. VK3KGW

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 8 Oct. 2024].‌
2. Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
3. Wikipedia Contributors (2021). Benetook, Victoria. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benetook [Accessed 8 Oct. 2024].‌
   

On 7th September 2024, I activated a VKFF reference area on 2024 National Threatened Species Day, and as a result, I qualified for the certificate below.

I recently received this electronic QSL card from Radio New Zealand for my reception of their station on 17675 kHz on 13th August 2024.

I received these two QSL cards from Radio Free Asia in the mail recently.

9330 kHz – 29th June 2024.

13580 kHz 29th June 2024.

On Sunday morning 18th August 2024, I headed to McDonalds at Renmark for some breakfast and also filled the 4WD up with diesel. I then headed towards the Victorian border with the intention of crossing over into VK3 and attending the Werrimul Hotel with members of the Riverland Radio Club and the Sunraysia Radio Group.

As I approached the Victorian border, I stopped to take a photograph of the big Dunlop Tyre. It was constructed when Adelaide held the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

I then drove a short distance and reached the South Australian and Victorian State border.

I soon entered into the Karween district in Victoria. I stopped off briefly to visit Andy VK5LA who was activating the Morkala Bushland Reserve VKFF-4119. We had a quick chat before I hit the road once again.

I then drove a short distance down Millewa Road to the Karween Bushland Reserve VKFF-4120, where I stopped to undertake an activation for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

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

Karween is located in the Millewa region of northwestern Victoria. Millewa is an aboriginal name for the Murray River. In 1923 the Millewa region was opened up for selection. Settlement commenced from Red Cliffs and extended west until 1928. (Aussie Towns 2024) (Millewa The First 50 Years)

Karween is an aboriginal word meaning ‘grass tree’. Virtually nothing remains here nowadays. But in its day this was a thriving little community. The Karween State School opened on the 7th day of May 1928. From 1928 to 1943, a total of 97 children attended the school. (Millewa The First 50 Years) (Place Names Victoria)

Above:- Article from The Sun, Tue 23 Aug 1927. Image c/o Trove.

The Karween Bushland Reserve is located on the northern and southern side of Millewa Road at the intersection with Karween S and Karween N Road.

The Karween Bushland Reserve is about 78 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. (CAPAD 2022)

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

I found a clearing in the mallee scrub and set up my station. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m, linked dipole for this activation.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3ZPF
2. VK3JW
3. VK3BAP
4. VK4DNO
5. VK5PE/m
6. VK5LA/p (Morkala Bushland Reserve VKFF-4119)
7. VK5KAW/p (Morkala Bushland Reserve VKFF-4119)
8. VK5PX
9. VK3APJ
10. VK2OKR/p (Lighthouse AU-0033 & Myall Lakes National Park VKFF-0375)
11. VK2AUS/p (Lighthouse AU-0033 & Myall Lakes National Park VKFF-0375)
12. VK2YAK/p (Lighthouse AU-0033 & Myall Lakes National Park VKFF-0375)
13. VK4YAK/p (Lighthouse AU-0033 & Myall Lakes National Park VKFF-0375)
14. VK3ASU
15. VK3CEO
16. VK5MWW
17. VK3GJG
18. VK2IO
19. VK2GEZ
20. VK3SQ
21. VK2BD
22. VK3HJW
23. VK3SO
24. VK3SFG
25. VK3KRL
26. VK2UGB/p ((Lighthouse AU-0033 & Myall Lakes National Park VKFF-0375))
27. VK1DI
28. VK2VAR
29. VK2GOM
30. VK3MTV

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK1DI
2. VK3SQ
3. VK2BD
4. VK2VAR
5. VK2GOM
6. VK3OAK
7. VK3GUM
8. VK2IO
9. VK2GEZ
10. VK3CEO
11. VK4AAC/p (Goomboorian National Park VKFF-0722)
12. VK2VH/p (Goomboorian National Park VKFF-0722)
13. VK3VIN
14. VK6LK
15. VK5LA/p (Morkala Bushland Reserve VKFF-4119)
16. Vk5KAW/p (Morkala Bushland Reserve VKFF-4119)
17. VK3ALK
18. VK3UAO
19. VK4HNS
20. VK3TU
21. VK3ATL/p
22. VK2MW
23. VK3EMF
24. VK2EXA
25. VK4CXY
26. VK1RF
27. VK2MK
28. VK4CEE
29. VK7EE

I needed to get to Werrimul so I packed up and headed east along Millewa Road. I stopped briefly at the little town of Meringur. Meringur is an aboriginal word meaning grey female kangaroo. Meringur was once known as The Hut. In October 1924 a survey of the Parish of Meringur was made by Rickley L. Turner. The layout of allotments included a town reserve of 100 acres. In March 1926 Robert Poole subdivided this area into nine sections allowing for a recreation and a school reserve. (Millewa The First 50 Years) (Place Names Victoria)

Meringur was once a thriving community with its own Australian Rules football team.

Above:- The Meringur Football team 1926. Image c/o Millewa History Photos Facebook page.

I had a little bit of time up my sleeve so I stopped at the Milliewa Pioneer Park. I have visited here before, but it is such an interesting place I wanted to have another quick look. It was established in 1986 to recognise the efforts of the early settlers of the district.

I then drove into the town of Werrimul which is about 65 km west of Mildura. Werrimul is an aboriginal word meaning emu. It is now the main centre of the Millewa district. (Place Names Victoria)

I then attended lunch at the historic Werrimul Hotel. It lays claim to being Victoria’s most outback hotel. It was a very nice meal and a great afternoon chatting with hams from the Riverland the Mildura region.

After leaving Werrimul I headed to my accommodation at Lake Cullulleraine. Along the way, I passed the Cullulleraine weather radar that services northwestern Victoria. Work commenced on the project in 2020. (ABC 2020)

I booked into my accommodation at the Bushmans Rest Caravan Park at Lake Cullulleraine.

I then headed out to activate a few more parks.

References.

1. Aussie Towns. (2020). Milawa, VIC – Aussie Towns. [online] Available at: https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/milawa-vic [Accessed 6 Oct. 2024].
2. ‌BOM set to build new $5 million Cullulleraine weather radar to service north-west Victoria – ABC News. (2020). ABC News. [online] 8 May. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-05-08/cullulleraine-weather-radar-to-service-north-west-victoria/12227390 [Accessed 6 Oct. 2024].
3. ‌Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
4. ‌Welcome Back to the Millewa Committee, 1975, Millewa The First 50 years.

My next activation for Saturday 17th August 2024 was the Wunkar silo VK-WNR5 for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program.

Wunkar is located about 232 km northeast of the city of Adelaide.

Above: The map shows the location of Wunkar, South Australia. Map c/o Google Maps.

Wunkar is about 27 km west of Loxton in the Riverland region of South Australia. Wunkar is an aboriginal word meaning ‘grass’.

The area was taken up by pastoral leases during the mid-1850s and was known as Walker’s Dam. It appears the name came from three brothers named Walker who were shepherds in the area. (Flickr 2024)

The town was proclaimed on the 3rd day of March 1927 and was originally known as Walkers Dam. The School was originally known as Walkers Dam and was changed to Wunkar in 1926. The school closed in 1974. (SA Place Names 2012)

The Wunkar silos are located at the former railway station on the old Wanbi to Moorook railway line which was also known as the Yinkanie Railway Line. The line was opened on the 4th day of September 1925 and was closed on the 1st day of May 1971. (Wikipedia 2024)

Above: The map shows the Yinkanie Line. Image c/o Wikipedia.

The Wunkar silos were the only silos located on the Yinkanie Line. They were opened in 1960. This followed an announcement in mid-1959 by the General Manager of South Australian Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd. (Flickr 2024) (Pt Lincoln Times 1959) (Wikipedia 2024)

I last activated the Wunkar silos in January 2023.

I parked adjacent to the silos and operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5-metre stainless steel whip.

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

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF/p (Moorabbee Shoreline Geological Reserve VKFF-3774)
2. VK5FANA
3. VK5FBIC
4. VK2R (Sydney Harbour National Park VKFF-0473)
5. VK3ZPF/p (Upper Beaconsfield Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2219)
6. VK4FDJL
7. VK1CHW

After leaving Wunkar I drove into Renmark and booked into my accommodation. That evening I enjoyed a great meal, a few bundy and cokess, and plenty of laughs with Ivan VK5HS and Peter VK5PE.

References.

1. Flickr. (2024). Wunkar In the Murray Mallee. All the remains of the Wunkar railway station and railway yards.The Wanbi to Yinkanie railway line was put through in 1925 and closed in 1971. [online] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/51116031572 [Accessed 5 Oct. 2024].
2. ‌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 5 Oct. 2024]
3. ‌Trove. (2014). EIGHT SILOS MAY BE BUILT IN S.A. – Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 – 1988; 1992 – 2002) – 11 Jun 1959. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/266936415?searchTerm=wunkar%20silo [Accessed 5 Oct. 2024].
4. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Yinkanie railway line. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yinkanie_railway_line [Accessed 5 Oct. 2024].‌