After leaving the Tucknott Scrub Conservation Park on 22nd April 2024, I headed to the Murrunatta Conservation Park VKFF-1066. The park is located on the bottom of the Eyre Peninsula, about 677 km (by road) from the city of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Murrunatta Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.

Murrunatta Conservation Park is about 516 hectares in size and was proclaimed on the 29th day of March 1984. The park consists of two parcels of land located on either side of Settlers Road. The northern section is about 424 hectares in size while the southern section is about 92 hectares in size. Murrunatta is derived from two aboriginal words – “’murra’ meaning sand and ‘natta’ meaning ridge.” (Cons Parks Lower Eyre Pen 2007) (Wikipedia 2024)

Above:- An aerial view of the Murrunatta CP showing the 2 sections. Image c/o Google Earth.

The northern section of land was proclaimed in March 1984 for the purpose of conserving “a small area of remnant mallee vegetation dominated by Coast Ridge-fruited Mallee. The southern section of land was originally Crown land proclaimed under the Crown Lands Act 1929 on the 11th day of November 1993 as a conservation reserve for the purpose of conserving “small area of mallee vegetation dominated by Swamp Paperbark. It was added by proclamation on the 7th day of December 2006 to the Murrunatta Conservation Park. (Wikipedia 2024)

The nationally vulnerable Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu Wren can be found in the park. (Cons Parks Lower Eyre Pen 2007)

I set up in a clearing in the scrub on the western side of Settlers Road. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK7AAE
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. IK4IDF
6. VK4NH
7. VK4DXA
8. OH5EP
9. VK4HNS
10. UT5PI
11. Dl1EBR
12. VK2IO
13. VK4EMP
14. VK4TI
15. SP7MW
16. DK4RM
17. OH1MM
18. OH5M
19. VK4SMA
20. IW2BNA
21. VK3APJ
22. VK3PF
23. VK3KAI
24. F4HZR
25. VK3BEL
26. VK5AYL

I worked the following stations on 20m FT8:-

1. F6FDY
2. CT3IQ
3. VK3PF
4. K3RH
5. VK3KAI
6. HB9RJD
7. VK6DS
8. VK3APJ
9. JM8MGU
10. JF7RJM
11. W4NEG
12. K9HOU
13. KD8LO
14. KT7G
15. K2OF
16. VK2HAK
17. F1HFP
18. NP3Y
19. JA9IFF
20. K4QAL

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK5TUX
3. VK4SMA
4. VK3VIN
5. VK5ADPF
6. VK5HS
7. VK3SPG
8. VK5GY
9. VK2YK
10. VK5GA
11. VK3GJG
12. VK3APJ
13. VK4HNS
14. VK2IO
15. VK5LA
16. Vk5KAW
17. VK4HMI
18. VK4NH
19. VK4DXA
20. VK3PF
21. VK3KAI
22. VK3SQ
23. VK2BD
24. VK5FB
25. VK6DS
26. VK3ANL
27. VK2LWK
28. VK4EMP
29. VK4TI
30. VK5PL
31. VK1AO
32. VK2MET
33. VK3KRL
34. VK3HJW
35. VK3SX
36. VK2MG
37. VK3BSF
38. VK7PJM
39. VK6KHZ
40. VK5KVA
41. VK4LES
42. VK4WTZ
43. VK6JQ
44. VK3CEO
45. VK3EJ

References.

1. Department for Environment and Heritage, 2007, Conservation Parks of Lower Eyre Peninsula.
2. Wikipedia Contributors (2021). Murrunatta Conservation Park. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murrunatta_Conservation_Park [Accessed 10 Aug. 2024].‌

My Next activation for 22nd April 2024 was the Tucknott Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-1109. The park is located on the Eyre Peninsula, about 651 km (by road) from Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Tucknott Scrub Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.

As I drove towards the park I saw a fairly large smoke plume that appeared to be coming from the vicinity of the park. Fortunately, it turned out to be a controlled burn in another area of scrub. The Tucknott Scrub Conservation Park was affected by fire during the devastating January 2005 Wangary bushfire. (Cons Parks Lower Eyre Pen 2007)

The Tucknott Scrub Conservation Park is about 360 hectares in size and was proclaimed on the 12th day of January 2006. The park takes its name from the Tucknott family who owned the land. (Birds SA 2024) (Wikipedia 2024)

Above:- Article from the Port Lincoln Times, Thu 10 Oct 2002. Image c/o Trove.

The park is the largest area of Sugar Gum woodland in the Koppio Hills region of the Eyre Peninsula. Birds SA have recorded a total of 23 native birds in the park including the Brown Currawong, Port Lincoln Parrot, Scarlet Robin, and White-throated Geryhone. (Birds SA 2024)

I set up in the southern section of the park and ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK3IDM
2. VK7XX
3. VK5QA
4. Vk2COS
5. VK4GRZ
6. VK4NH
7. VK4DXA
8. VK4XCS
9. VK2HDT
10. ZL2GLG
11. VK4TM
12. VK4JT
13. ZL2BAQ
14. VK3ACZ
15. VK5MAZ
16. UT5PI
17. IW2BNA
18. VK3PF
19. VK3KAI
20. SM1ALH
21. Vk4FO
22. VK1DI
23. VK3VIN
24. VK4EMP
25. VK4TI
26. VK5QA/p
27. VK3CLD/p
28. ZL1TM
29. ON4VT
30. VK3CEO
31. OH6GAZ
32. VK2IO
33. IK1GPG
34. IK4IDF
35. OH1XT
36. DL2ND
37. Vk4HNS
38. OH1MM
39. OH2CGU
40. I4RHP
41. IZ5JMZ
42. M1TES/m
43. Vk3CWF
44. VK2HAK
45. VK1AO
46. VK2MET
47. VK4EHI
48. SM5CBN
49. VK5HS
50. F4HZR
51. VK4KBA
52. VK3APJ
53. VK2GOM/p (VKFF-2517)
54. VK2VAR/p (VKFF-2517)
55. DK4RM
56. VK3MCK
57. VK6DS
58. VK3SPG
59. VK2MG
60. G0VWP
61. VK3GB
62. VK3CJN
63. VK3QHU
64. OH1CM
65. SQ9FMC
66. F1BLL
67. ON3YB
68. VK3ANL
69. VK2IO
70. SQ9CWO
71. OG7J
72. VK3DWL
73. F6EOC
74. ZL3MR
75. IW2NXI
76. OM5TX
77. SP7MW

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5GY
2. VK5LA
3. Vk5KAW
4. VK3PF
5. VK3KAI
6. VK4DNO
7. VK1AO
8. VK2MET
9. Vk4HNS
10. VK2IO
11. VK3KRL
12. VK7AAE
13. VK2YK
14. VK5GA
15. VK5FANA
16. VK3APJ
17. VK5KBJ
18. VK5TUX
19. VK4NH
20. VK4DXA
21. VK2FALL/p
22. VK3CEO
23. VK3SPG
24. VK5PL
25. VK4EMP
26. VK4TI
27. VK3HJW

References.

1. Birdssa.asn.au. (2021). Tucknott Scrub Conservation Park – Birds SA. [online] Available at: https://birdssa.asn.au/location/tucknott-scrub-conservation-park/ [Accessed 10 Aug. 2024].‌
2. Department for Environment and Heritage, 2007, Conservation Parks of Lower Eyre Peninsula.
3. Wikipedia Contributors (2021). Tucknott Scrub Conservation Park. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucknott_Scrub_Conservation_Park [Accessed 10 Aug. 2024].‌

In the last few days, I received in the mail a QSL card from the Voice of Turkey for my reception of their station on 15450 kHz on 17th October 2023

I was also sent a broadcast schedule.

My next activation for Monday 22nd April 2024 was the Cummins silo VK-CMS5. Cummins is located on the Eyre Peninsula about 641 km from Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of Cummins, South Australia.

Prior to European occupation, the Cummins district was the traditional home of the Nauo aboriginal people.

Above:- Map showing the traditional lands of the Nao people. Image c/o Wikipedia.

The town of Cummins is named in honour of William Patrick Cummins (b. 1855. d. 1907) who was an Australian politician. He represented the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Stanley from 1896 to 1906. From 1902 to 1906 he represented the Australasian National League. From 1906 to 1907 he represented the Liberal and Democratic Union. He was born at Virginia in 1855 and died at Redhill in 1907. Cummins was part of the parliamentary inspection team in the Cummins district prior to the 1901 survey. (Flickr 2024) (Place Names 2012) (Wikipedia 2024)

Above:- William P Cummins. Image c/o Wikipedia.

One of the earliest European settlers in the district was James Anderson who took up seven occupation licences from September 1846. Anderson arrived in South Australia in September 1838 aboard the ‘Winchester’. Anderson collected sheep from the Barossa Valley and drove them to the Eyre Peninsula via Port Augusta. He became the occupier of runs near current-day Wanilla with his land extending from White River to Yallunda. His sheep grazed over what is current-day Cummins. Anderson imported rams and ewes from the famous ‘Steiger’ breed in Germany. He achieved a reputation as a very reputable breeder. (Place Names 2012) (State Library 2024)

Above:- James Anderson. Image c/o State Library South Australia.

In 1903 pastoral leases around Cummins were purchased by the government and surveyed for farming settlement. The Hundred of Cummins was proclaimed in 1903 with the sale of land commencing in 1904. Grain farmers commenced purchasing sections of land in the district. By November 1907 the railway had reached Cummins. A local landowner, Mr. Durdin and his partner called Atkinson, subdivided some of his land to create a town at the junction of several roads beside the railway line. He subdivided 13 town blocks in 1907 and a further 28 blocks in 1911. In 1912 a farmer called Mr. Farr on the eastern side of the railway line, subdivided 27 blocks. In 1918 he subdivided a further 5 blocks. Two private towns were created and eventually they merged into one town. (Flickr 2024) (Place Names 2012)

Above:- the mains street of Cummins, c. 1928. Image c/o State Library South Australia.

Today the main industries in the Cummins district are sheep farming and cereal grain growing. (Wikipedia 2024)

The last train to run to Cummins was in 2019. Today not a lot remains of the railway. The old railway workers’ accommodation barracks can be viewed, along with an old crane and the water tank.

Cummins Milling is one of the oldest flour mills in Australia. It has been producing wheat for over 89 years. It was established in 1930 during the Depression by Aubrey Heidenreich. In 1933 the original mill burnt down and the mill was rebuilt in 1934. Cummins Milling 2024)

The foundation stone of the Cummins Uniting Church was laid on the 8th day of May 1912 by Mr. C.H. Potter.

The former Commercial Bank of Sydney building was built in 1932. (Flickr 2024)

In the town centre at Cummins Railway Park Triangle, you can find toilets and picnic facilities. There are also various monuments including one for the Eyre Peninsula Railways, a monument for the Barwell Scheme, a statue of the wheat lumper, and an old tabletop trolley.

The wheat lumper statue is for all of the Eyre Peninsula men who lugged bags of wheat into piles for transport to the ports via rail. The bronze statue was created by Sydney sculptors Gillie and Marc.

The Table Top Trolley was donated by L.K. Jerico. It was owned by Clark Ridgeway, S.G. Illman and F.J. Jerico. It was restored by secondary students of Cummins Area School and Joe Cooper.

The Barwell Scheme monument commemorates the 1922-1924 initiative by the South Australian Premier Sir Henry Barwell, that brought more than 1,400 British teenage boys to South Australia to be apprenticed to farmers. It helped solve a rural labour shortage following the First World War. They became known as the ‘Barwell Boys’.

The Cummins silos are located on the eastern side of Tod Highway. They are operated by Viterra.

The Cummins silos were constructed in late 1961. This saw the commencement of bulk handling taking over from the labour-intensive process of grain being bagged and lumped into stacks. (Cummins 2024)

Above:- Article from the Port Lincoln Times, Thu 2 Nov 1961. Image c/o Trove.

I set up alongside the silos and I ran 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 of the Cummins silo. Map c/o SiOTA website.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK5TUX
3. VK5HS
4. VK3PF
5. VK5GY
6. VK3UCD
7. VK3AXH
8. VK5FIVE
9. VK5AAF
10. VK3NBL

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK7XX
2. VK3PF
3. VK4HNS
4. VK4ALE
5. VK4NH
6. VK3NBL
7. VK2IO
8. VK3CEO

References.

1. Cummins Mill South Australia. (2019). Cummins Milling Flour in Cummins on the Eyre Peninsula South Australia. [online] Available at: https://cumminsmill.com.au/ [Accessed 8 Aug. 2024].
2. ‌Explorecummins.com.au. (2016). Discover – Explore Cummins. [online] Available at: https://explorecummins.com.au/discover/ [Accessed 8 Aug. 2024].
3. ‌Flickr. (2024). Flickr. [online] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/50670795757 [Accessed 8 Aug. 2024].
4. ‌State Library of South Australia. (2024). [Early settlers, Port Lincoln and Western Districts – series 3] : James Anderson. [online] Available at: https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+8505/2A [Accessed 8 Aug. 2024].
5. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2023). William Patrick Cummins. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Patrick_Cummins [Accessed 8 Aug. 2024].‌
6. Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Cummins. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cummins [Accessed 8 Aug. 2024].‌‌

Last month on 21st July 2024, I worked Michael N7AVN aeronautical mobile on 14.238 mHz on the 20m band.

Above:- Image c/o Flightradar24

Michael was flying from Anchorage Alaska, USA to Chicago Illinois, USA.

He was in the cockpit at the controls of a Boeing 747 at 39,000 feet.

Above:- Michael’s flight GTI8710 over Alaska. Image c/o Flightradar24

The image below shows all of the aircraft in the sky at the time. Amazing!

Above:- All aircraft in the sky at the time of our QSO. Image c/o flightradar24.

Below is a short video of my reception of Michael. Unfortunately, his signal had dropped quite a bit by the time I got the iPhone out.

A few days ago I picked up the item below in an on-line auction.

But what is it?

It was advertised as a Morse key.

It is in fact a Telegraph sounder.

It was only with some help with John VK5BJE, Chris VK3QB, and Ian VK5CZ, and trusty Google, that I confirmed what this little device was.

A telegraph sounder is an antique electromechanical device used as a receiver on electrical telegraph lines during the 1800’s. The device was invented by American Alfred Lewis Vail (b. 1807. d. 1859) in c. 1850 to replace the previous receiving device known as the Morse register. (Wikipedia 2024)

The telegraph sounder converts electrical pulses into audible sounds and was used to receive Morse code messages. It was the first practical application of the electromagnet. When a telegraph message is received, the telegraph sounder receives an audible clicking sound representing the short and long keypresses “dots” and “dashes” that are used to represent text characters in Morse Code. A telegraph operator would interpret the sounds into characters representing the telegraph message. (Wikipedia 2024)

The telegraph sounder was used at the receiving end. It was used to make the Morse code message audible. The device consisted of an electromagnet attached to the telegraph line, with an iron armature near the magnet’s pole balanced on a pivot, held up by a counterweight. (Wikipedia 2024)

When current flowed through the electromagnet’s winding, it created a magnetic field that attracted the armature, pulling it down to the electromagnet, resulting in a “click” sound. When the current ended, the counterweight pulled the armature back up to its resting position, resulting in a “clack” sound. Thus, as the telegraph key at the sending end makes and breaks the contact, the sounder echoes the up-and-down state of the key. (Wikipedia 2024)

Below are some excellent videos explaining the telegraph sounder.

At this stage, I’m unsure who made this sounder or its history. I am still researching on the internet.

References.

1. Smithsonian Institution (2024). Telegraph Sounder | Smithsonian Institution. [online] Smithsonian Institution. Available at: https://www.si.edu/object/nmah_713674 [Accessed 7 Aug. 2024].
2. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2022). Telegraph sounder. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegraph_sounder [Accessed 7 Aug. 2024].‌

I received the following three QSL cards in the mail in the past couple of days from WWCR in the USA, along with a WWCR sticker.

9980 kHz – 22nd June 2024.

13845 kHz – 10th June 2024.

13845 kHz – 3rd July 2024.

Sticker.

After leaving Wanilla I headed north on the Tod Highway towards Cummins where I planned to have some lunch. Along the way I came across the little town of Edillilie and a silo, so I stopped briefly to activate the Edillilie silo VK-EDE5 for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of Edilillie

Edilillie is located about 20 km south of the town of Cummins on the Eyre Peninsula. It was proclaimed on the 18th day of June 1908. The origin of the name of the town has a number of versions. (Pt Lincoln Times 1956)

Above:- The proclamation of Edilillie in the SA Govt Gazette, Thu 18 Jun 1908.

Records from the Surveyor-General’s office indicate that the town was named by his Excellency the Governor Sir George Ruthven LeHunte after Edillilie Creek. The records also show Edillilie being an aboriginal name for ‘two springs close together.’ (Pt Lincoln Times 1956)

Above:- George LeHunte. Image c/o Wikipedia.

The meaning of the word Edilillie has been accepted as ‘two springs close together’. It is believed to be a combination of the aboriginal word ‘Ithi’ or ‘Idi’ meaning spring, water, or drinking place and that the correct spelling would have been ”Ithilili’. (Pt Lincoln Times 1956)

An 1876 E.S. Wigg & Son atlas shows a spring, southwest of Kopio Head Station, but it is unnamed. An 1890 map also shows this spring and again it is unnamed. A Lands Office plan from February 1890 with various manuscript alterations, records Edilillie Springs, Edilillie Creek, and Edilillie Flat. It appears these were placed on the plan in 1902/1903 when this area was surveyed. Note the slight difference in the spelling of the town. (Pt Lincoln Times 1956)

In 1905 the Hundred of Koppio was surveyed and one of the plans shows Edillilie Creek. It is not known why the difference in the spelling. In 1905 plans for the proposed Port Lincoln Railway were released. The Hundred of Mortlock showed Edillilie Creek, whilst the Hundred of Koppio had Edilillie Spring and Edilillie Creek. (Pt Lincoln Times 1956)

Just one week after the proclamation of the town, the resident Engineer and Superintendent of Railways Port Lincoln recommended that the station name be altered from Mortlock to Edilillie. It is believed this was to conform with the proclaimed name of the township. This was approved by the Railways Commissioner Mr Alan G. Pendleton and the name change came into effect in c. November 1908. (Pt Lincoln Times 1956)

Above:- Alan Pendleton. Image c/o Wikipedia.

Geoffrey Manning’s publication ‘The Place Names of Our Land: a South Australian Anthology’ states that when a name for the town was being selected, the aboriginal names of ‘Warunda’ and ‘Carratucka’ were submitted. (Place Names 2012)

It is also reputed that Mr. Archibald Henry Peake (b. 1859. d. 1920) who was deputising for the South Australia Premier chose Edilillie, a combination of the Christian names of two of his nieces, Edith and Lillian Dickins. (Place Names 2012)

Above:- Archibald Peake. Image c/o Wikipedia.

In 1915, Alfred N. Day released a publication entitled ‘Names of South Australian Railway Stations with the Meanings and Derivations’. He claimed that Edilillie meant ‘two springs together’. However an anthropologist from the South Australian Museum stated that he found no such connection in the aboriginal Parnkalla language. (Place Names 2012)

The Edilillie School was opened in 1909 and closed in 1942. The Edilillie Post Office was opened prior to October 1910 as ‘Mortlock’. (Place Names 2012)

The Edillilie silos are located on the eastern side of Tod Highway opposite Main Street.

I set up directly alongside the silos. I ran 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 silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.

The best contact I made during this activation was with Tim VK3IFR who was aeronautical mobile near Tamworth, New South Wales. Below is a short video I took of one of his overs on my iPhone.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5HS
2. VK5TUX
3. VK5MAZ
4. VK3PF
5. VK3APJ
6. VK5AYL

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK7XX
2. VK2IO
3. VK3PF
4. VK6DS
5. VK2VAR
6. VK2GOM
7. VK3IFR/am
8. UT5PI
9. VK3DL
10. VK7RG
11. VK1AO
12. VK2MET
13. VK4KLA
14. VK4ALE
15. VK4HNS

References.

1. ‌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 2 Aug. 2024]‌
2. Wikipedia. (2023). James Dugald Somerville. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dugald_Somerville [Accessed 2 Aug. 2024].‌

Following my activation of the Wanilla Conservation Park on 22nd April 2024, I drove back down Charlton Gully Road into Wanilla and I activated the Wanilla Land Settlement Conservation Park VKFF-1118.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Wanilla Land Settlement Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.

Following the Second World War, soldier settlers were the recipients of War Service Perpetual Lease Blocks. In 1946 the Commonwealth Government purchased 18,600 hectares (46,000 acres) of land with the majority from three large estates of Mortlock, Morgan and Byles. After being cleared of scrub it was subdivided into 39 farms by the State Government. The Wanilla War Service Land Settlement was then allocated in 1949 to returned servicemen from World War II.

Above:- Article from the Chronicle, Adelaide, Thu 9 Oct 1947. Image c/o Trove.

On The Tod Highway, outside of the Wanilla Land Settlement Conservation Park, you can find a monument to the Wanilla Land Settlement.

The Wanilla Land Settlement Conservation Park is about 17 hectares (42 acres) in size and was established on the 14th day of November 1985 to protect regionally threatened Sugar Gum woodlands. It was initially a Conservation Reserve and proclaimed a Conservation Park on the 7th day of December 2006. (Wikipedia 2024)

The park’s western border is the Tod Highway. Its northern border is Charlton Terrace, whilst its southern border is a Heritage Agreement.

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

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. VK5MAZ
2. VK5HS
3. VK5MRS
4. VK5PET
5. VK3APJ
6. VK3PF
7. VK3KAI
8. VK3UCD
9. VK3CEO
10. VK3WSG
11. VK5FANA
12. VK3ANL
13. VK5PTL
14. Vk5CZ
15. VK3MTT
16. VK5IS
17. VK5WU
18. VK5BL

I worked the following stations on 40m FT8:-

1. VK5MAZ
2. VK3PF
3. VK5WU
4. VK6DS
5. VK2IO
6. VK3KAI
7. VK7XX
8. VK3APJ

I worked the following stations on 20m FT8:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK1AO
3. VK5LA
4. VK7XX
5. VK3KAI
6. VK3ANL
7. VK2MET
8. VK5KAW
9. RV9CX
10. VK6DS
11. VK3APJ

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK7XX
2. VK5MAZ
3. VK6DS
4. VK4EMP
5. VK4TI
6. ZL3MR
7. VK7HBR
8. ZL1TM
9. VK6JQ
10. VK3PF
11. VK3KAI
12. VK6HAF
13. VK2MG
14. VK7WN
15. VK7AAE
16. VK4HNS
17. VK3TKK/p (Silo VK-WRH3)
18. VK5DGR/m
19. KG5CIK

References.

1. Wikipedia. (2021). Wanilla Land Settlement Conservation Park. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanilla_Land_Settlement_Conservation_Park [Accessed 2 Aug. 2024].‌

My first park activation for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) on 22nd April 2024 was the Wanilla Conservation Park VKFF-1117. The park is located about 37 km northwest of Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Wanilla Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.

On the way to the park, I stopped at the Hawson Monument. On the 5th day of October 1840, 12-year-old Francis Tapley Hawson was fatally speared by aboriginals whilst hut keeping for his brother.

Francis Hawson did not die immediately. He was taken to Port Lincoln about 4.8 kms away and died of his wounds there on the 10th day of October 1840. (Port Lincoln Times 1938)

Above:- Article from the Adelaide Chronicle, Wed 14 Oct 1840. Image c/o Trove.

The incident marked the first fatal clash between European settlers and aboriginal people since landing day on 19th March 1839, when Port Lincoln was first officially settled. Fierce and determined uprisings followed over the years as aboriginal people hit back against the European settlers at the peak of which settlers were forced to retreat to the Port Lincoln township for protection, some even crossing over to Boston Island.

Above:- Monument erected at Port Lincoln in honour of Frank Hawson, c. 1911. mage c/o State Library South Australia

Wanilla is an aboriginal word for ‘water spring’. The ‘Wanilla Run’ was named by G.W. Bagot c. 1888. The land had previously been held by Price Maurice and W.R. Mortlock. (Place Names 20212)

Above:- Price Maurice. Image c/o State Library South Australia.

The Hundred of Wanilla, County of Flinders, was proclaimed on the 10th day of August 1871. In 1882 the town of Wanilla was surveyed by H.J. Cant. The Wanilla School was opened in 1950 and closed in 1990. (Place Names 2012)

The Wanilla Conservation Park is about 281 hectares in size and was proclaimed on the 27th day of April 1978. It was established to protect Sugar Gum woodland habitat. (Eyre Pen Man Plan 2007)

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

The park is directed by Charlton Gully Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Wanilla Conservation Park. Image co Google Maps.

Wanilla Conservation Park is dominated by Sugar Gum woodland with heath understorey. The park is characterised by rolling hills and relatively steep gullies. (Eyre Pen Man Plan 2007)

Western Grey Kangaroos, Painted Button Quail, and Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos call the park home. (Eyre Pen Man Plan 2007)

For this activation, I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole. I set up on a little track running off Charlton Gully Road.

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

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK5MAZ
4. VK5AYL
5. VK5GY
6. VK3HJW
7. VK3CEO
8. VK3VIN
9. VK2YK
10. VK5GA
11. VK3BEL
12. VK3MTT
13. VK2USH

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

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK5FIVE
4. VK3CEO
5. VK5MAZ
6. VK5GY
7. VK5MK/m
8. VK5WE
9. VK3HJW
10. VK3WSG
11. VK3VIN
12. VK3LK
13. VK2YK
14. VK5GA
15. VK5FANA
16. VK5HS
17. VK5AAF
18. VK5IS/m
19. VK5LA

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO
2. VK3PF
3. VK3KAI
4. VK1AO
5. Vk2MET
6. VK5HS
7. VK5MAZ
8. VK3CEO
9. VK3SQ
10. VK2BD

I worked the following stations on 20m FT8:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK3CEO
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK2IO
6. VK5LA

References.

1. Department for Environment and Heritage, 2007, Management Plan Conservation Parks of Lower Eyre Peninsula.
2. Hawson’s monument January, 1938. (1986). Port Lincoln Times. [online] 19 Feb. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/276097624 [Accessed 2 Aug. 2024].
3. ‌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 2 Aug. 2024]‌