The first night (10th April 2024) of my trip was to be spent at Kimba in the north of South Australia. Kimba is located about 465 km by road from Adelaide.
Above:- Map showing the location of Kimba, South Australia. Map c/o Google Maps.
I booked into my accommodation, Olive House, in Railway Terrace at Kimba. What a beautiful place. I can highly recommend it.
I then headed around to the Kimba Hotel for a meal and a few refreshments.
The Kinba silo was directly opposite my accommodation, so I decided to do a quick activation of the silo for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program.
The silos at Kinba are operated by Viterra. They were painted in September 2017 by artist Cam Scale. The silo art covers the five silos and features a young girl standing in a wheat field. The silo art took 26 days to complete and 200 litres of paint. (Australian Silo Art 2024)
Below is an excellent video showing the Kimbia silo art from start to finish.
I operated from the 4WD and ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5-metre stainless steel whip.
After leaving Crystal Brook on 10th April 2024, I continued north on the Augusta Highway until reaching Port Augusta where I stopped briefly to stretch my legs. I then drove southwest on the Lincoln Highway before turning off onto the Eyre Highway. The highway is named in honour of the famous explorer Edward John Eyre (b. 1815. d. 1901).
Above:- Edward John Eyre. Image c/o Wikipedia.
My next planned activation for the day was the Lake Gilles Conservation Park.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Lake Gilles Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.
The landscape changed dramatically once I had reached this point in the north of South Australia. The cropping area of the Mid North had disappeared and was replaced by grazing land.
Prior to heading to the park, I detoured in to have a look at the town of Iron Knob located about 377 km north of the city of Adelaide.
Prior to European occupation, the land in this area was occupied by the Banggarla (also known as Parnkalla or Pangkala) aboriginal people. Their traditional land included most of the upper Eyre Peninsula, including Port Lincoln, Whyalla and the lands west of Port Augusta. (Aussie Towns 2024)
The first known European in the area was Captain Matthew Flinders (b. 1774. d. 1814). On the 9th day of March 1802, Flinders surveyed the area around current-day Whyalla. He named about 140 of the prominent landmarks including Mount Middleback, Middle Mount, Hummock Mount and (later Hummock Hill) and Point Lowly. Flinders wrote:
“I have examined on the western side of a squat hill apparently rising directly from a broad bay with a low sandy shore rising gradually. Here the adjacent mud banks appear to be frequented by a large number of ducks and black swans. I have named this spot Hummock Mount.” (Iron Knob 2024)
Above:- Matthew Flinders. Image c/o Wikipedia.
The explorer Edward John Eyre passed through the area in 1839. He recorded in his journals that on the 18th day of September 1840, he climbed a hill and described the area as principally ironstone. It is believed the hill was either Iron Baron or Iron Price. (Iron Knob 2024)
On the 30th day of January 1854, James Patterson established Cooroona Hill, now known as Corunna Station. This lease was taken over by Abraham Scott in 1861 and then in 1868 by John Morphett and Samuel Davenport. (Aussie Towns 2024) (Iron Knob 2024)
Above:- Sir Samuel Davenport. Image c/o State Library South Australia.
In the late 1870s Davenport became aware of the Iron Knob deposits. In 1886 he exhibited specimens of Iron Knob ore at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition in London. The exhibition was held in South Kensington, London. The Prince of Wales stated the objective was to “stimulate commerce and strengthen the bonds of union now existing in every portion of her Majesty’s Empire”. Queen Victoria opened the exhibition which was attended by bout 5.5 million people. (Iron Knob 2024) (Mathur 2007)
Above:- The Queen Opening the Colonial and Indian Exhibition Procession passing the principal entrance to the Indian Palace. Image c/o Wikipedia.
During the late 1880’s, Bill Howie and John Steicke were working on fences on Corunna Station which at the time was owned by two brother, C.E. and J.H. Morphett. Howie and Steicke noticed a massive red outcrop of ironstone on the property. When they returned to their hometown of Caltowie, they talked about their find amongst other locals. One of those was Franz Heinrich Ernst Siekmann. He along with several associates travelled to Coruna Station to investigate. An area around Iron Knob and Iron Monarch was pegged out and the Mount Minden Mining Company was formed. (SA Memory 2008)
Above:- Franz Heinrich Ernst Siekmann. Image c/o Ancestry.com.au
A shaft of about 500 feet was sunk and this established that iron ore existed at the location. They did not locate the gold and silver they were hoping to discover. The only use for iron ore at that time was a flux for smelting lead. The Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP) had a lead smelting plant at nearby Port Pirie. However, transportation to Port Pirie was difficult and interest in the mining of iron ore at Iron Knob waned. In 1893 Ernst became bankrupt due to the general economic depression in Australia. This was followed by notices appearing in the South Australian Government Gazette advising of payments due on the Iron Knob leases. In November 1897, the Mount Minden Mining Company was liquidated. (SA Memory 2008)
John Darling (b. 1852. d. 1914) from BHP then pegged out the leases at Iron Knob in the name of BHP. Darling had become a director of BHP in 1892 and was chairman of directors from 1907 to 1914. (Aust Dict of Biography 2024) (SA Memory 2008)
Above:- John Darling. Image c/o Wikipedia.
The ore was initially used at Port Pirie as a flux during the smelting of silver, lead and zinc ore. The ore was transported to Port Augusta by bullock teams, taking 2 days to reach the destination. The ore was then sent by rail from Port Augusta to Port Pirie. About 100,00 tons of ore was transported in this manner prior to 1900. (Iron Knob 2024) (Whyalla 2024)
Above:- Iron ore being carted from Iron Knob to Port Augusta using horse-drawn wagons, c. 1897. Image c/o State Library South Australia.
The BHP Whyalla Tramway from Iron Knob to Hummock Hill (now Whyalla) was completed in 1901. Hummock Hill was renamed Whyalla in 1914. (Drexel 1982)
In 1922 construction commenced on the Sydney Harbor Bridge. About 21% of the steel required for the bridge’s construction was smelted at Port Kembla in New South Wales from ore that was quarried at Iron Knob. The remaining 79% was imported from England. The total weight of the steelwork of the bridge, is 52,800 tonnes. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- the Sydney Harbour Bridge under construction. Image c/o Wikipedia.
During the 1920s iron ore from Iron Knob was exported to Holland (now the Netherlands) and to the United States of America. The Iron Baron mine was opened in 1933. Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, iron ore from Iron Knob was exported to Japan. During the financial year of 1935-1936, a total of 291,961 tonnes of ore from Iron Knob was shipped to Japan via Whyalla. At this time Japan was considered as an ‘aggressor’ due to acts of war involving China. There were several protests by waterfront workers and seamen who were opposed to the export of iron ore to Japan. This led to several strikes and arrests. (National Museum Australia 2024) (Sydney Morning Herald 2024)
Above:- Article from The Age, Wed 20 Apr 1938. Image c/o Trove.
On the 15th day of November 1938, waterside workers refused to load iron ore on the ship Dalfram. They were concerned that the iron would be turned into bullets by the Japanese and may be used against Australia. They were also concerned that the iron was already being used in Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in China. At the time Australia’s Attorney General was Robert Gordon Menzies. The incident became known as the Dalfram Dispute and resulted in Menzies being known as Pig Iron Bob. (Maritime Union 2012)
Iron Prince and Iron Queen were opened in the 1970s. The Iron Duke mine was opened in 1990. (Iron Knob 2024) (Whyalla 2024)
Mining at Iron Knob finished in April 1998 when the last ore was removed from Iron Monarch. But by 2012, Iron Monarch was reopened and ore was once again transported to Whyalla. (Whyalla 2024)
Today Iron Knob has a post office, a camping ground and a tourist centre.
I drove to the Iron Knob Museum but unfortunately it was closed.
I left Iron Knob and drove 55 km along the Eyre Highway until I reached the Lake Gilles Conservation Park.
The Lake Gilles Conservation Park is about 655.27 km2 in size and was established on the 30th day of September 1971.
Above:- An aerial view of the Lake Gilles Conservation Park showing its boundaries. Image c/o Google Earth.
The park was originally proclaimed as the Lake Gilles National Park on the 30th day of September 1971. On the 27th day of April 1972, it was proclaimed the Lake Gilles Conservation Park. On the 5th day of August 2010, the Lakes Gilles Conservation Reserve which had been created in 1994, was added to the Conservation Park. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- proclamation of the Lake Gilles National Park. Image c/o South Australian Government Gazette, 30 September 1971.
The park is named in honour of Osmond Gilles (b. 1788. d. 1866) who was a settler, pastoralist, mine owner, and the first Colonial Treasurer in the Colony of South Australia. Gilles was born in London in August 1788. He emigrated to South Australia in 1836 aboard the HMS Buffalo. In 1837 he had the largest holdings of any settler in the new colony. Other than the park, other localities are named in his honour including Gilles Street in Adelaide, the OG Hotel a Klemzig, O.G. Road, and the suburb of Gilles Plains. (Aust Dict of Biography 2024)
Above:- Osmond Gilles. Image c/o Wikipedia.
The park consists of sparse and semi-arid mallee landscape. The saline lake in the park is surrounded by low sandy rises, gypsum dunes and isolated stony hills. (Parks SA 2024)
I set up in the park on the southern side of the Eyre Peninsula. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole, inverted v, supported by a 7 metre heavy duty telescopic squid pole.
I logged a total of 148 stations, with an excellent opening on the 20m band, long path into Europe. I also made 4 Park to Park contacts.
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK4JT
VK4NH
Vk4DXA
VK7XX
VK3SX
KH6KW
VK5QA
VK1AO
VK2MET
IK1GPG
VK3CEO
VK3NDG/p (Mitchell River National Park VKFF-0321)
VK3YV/p (Mitchell River National Park VKFF-0321)
IW2BNA
VK3PF/p (SOTA VK3/ VG-121)
OH1MM
DL1EBR
KG5CIK
OH6GAZ
IK4IDF
UT5PI
F1BLL
VK6LK
ON3UA
VK3ACZ
SP7MW
VK3SPG
F4JJS
I4RHP
GM1SDK
IU1RLJ
ON3YB
M7CBI
VK4EHI
ZL3MR
ON6ZV
VK2EXA
SQ9CWO
IZ8VYU
F4GYG/m
VK6NU
ZL1TM
VK3PWG
EA3MP
PD2BA
EC5CSW
EA5G
F5IYO
2E0VRX
SQ2WKQ
DL3WB
DL7HU
F4GYM
KG8P
MI6OLJ
RC5F
VK3ALF
F6EOC
DK7RD
OK2TS
VK3GJG
VK3SO
OH2NC
EA5IQN
VK3CWF
M0UCK
VK3APJ
EA1GIB
VK2MG
VK1ARQ
VK4FOX
VK4SMA
ZL3ASN
VK6KMS
ON8ON
OM5TX
DK4RM
VK3MLT
EA3AGQ
OM3CND
VK5AYL
VK2XGB
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK3PF/m
VK5TUX
VK5AYL
VK5JA
VK3VIN
VK5FANA
VK5AAF
VK4SMA
VK6JQ
VK5MOS
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK3PWG
VK1CHW
VK3DL
VK4HMI
VK2IO/p (Deua National Park VKFF-0138)
VK5WU
VK2XGB
VK3UAO
VK3HJW
VK2EFM
VK7MAT
VK5BRU
VK4EMP
VK4TI
VK3ABQ
ZL2STR
VK7WUU
VK4PDX
VK3SO
VK3SFG
VK2XO
VK5HS
VK5LKJ
VK2MOE
VK3CMA/p (Whroo Natural Features Reserve VKFF-2229)
VK6LK
VK6LMK
VK1AAF
VK3BBB
VK2CCP
Vk3AN
VK3APJ
VK2EXA
VK4NH
VK4DXA
VK4VCO
VK2WE
VK5AAY
VK6AAX
VK5GY
VK3BKO
VK7IAN
KD1CT
VK1ARQ
VK4DTS
VK3ANL
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK5DGR/p
VK5MAZ
VK3SPG
VK3PY
VK4FOX
VK3BSF
I then headed off to Kimba where I planned to spend 2 nights.
After leaving Redhill I continued north to the town of Crystal Brook to activate the Crystal Crook silo VK-CRK5. Crystal Brook is located about 201 km north of the city of Adelaide.
Above:- Map showing the location of Crystal Brook, South Australia. Map c/o Google Maps.
Prior to the arrival of the Europeans, the Crystal Brook area was home to the Nukunu Aboriginal people. (Aussie Towns 2024)
In 1839 explorer Edward John Eyre (b. 1815. d. 1901), passed through the district in May 1839 during his expedition to explore the interior of South Australia. The colony of South Australia was only three years old at this time. Eyre’s party consisted of five men, two teams of horses and provisions for three months. Eyre discovered and named the Rocky River, known by the aboriginals as Wongabirie. He then discovered a clear running stream and named it Chrystal Brook (note the spelling). Crystal Brook was known by the aboriginal people as Mercowie meaning ‘clear water’. (Aussie Towns 2024) (Cockburn 1999) (Monument Australia 2024) (SA History articles 2024)
Above:- Edward John Eyre. Image c/o Wikipedia.
There is a monument at Crystal Brook in Heysen Park on Eyre Road to honour Edward Eyre.
The monument was erected in September 1951 during Crystal Brook’s Jubilee celebrations.
Above:- Article from The Advertiser, Adelaide, Tue 25 Sep 1951. Image c/o Trove
The spelling of Crystal Brook was subsequently corrected following the establishment of a pastoral run ‘Crystal Broom Run’ owned by William Younghusband and Peter Ferguson. The run covered an area of 145,000 hectares and extended to Port Pirie, then known as Samuels Creek. (Aussie Towns 2024) (SA History articles 2024)
Above:- Younghusband and Ferguson. Images c/o State Library South Australia.
In about 1856 Younghusband and Ferguson sold Crystal Brook Run to John, William and Thomas Bowman. The main street of Crystal Brook is named in their honour. Bowman Park which contains some of the original buildings is located just to the northeast of Crystal Brook. (SA History articles 2024)
Above:- John, William, and Thomas Bowman. Images c/o State Library South Australia.
The first known store in the Crystal Brook district was established by P.M. Kelville in the 1870s on the Rocky River. A grog shop also existed with the owner creating stories that a mythical bunyip lived in the nearby Wirrawirra waterhole. The bunyip is a creature from the aboriginal mythology reputed to live in swamps, billabongs, creeks and waterholes. Local settlers at Crystal Brook were so convinced of its existence that parties were often formed to shoot the bunyip. (SA History articles 2024)
Above:- Illustration of a Bunyip by J. Macfarlane (1890). Image c/o Wikipedia
The settlement of Narridy was the first in the district. Narridy is located just a few kilometres west of current-day Crystal Brook. The Hundred of Crystal Brook was established on the 3rd day of March 1873. The area which was still held by the Bowmans was opened up for selection as farming blocks under the Strangways Land Act with a price of £2 per acre.
The Strangways Land Act was passed in January 1869. It enabled the purchase of land for farmers, allowing for closer settlement in areas of South Australia suited to more intensive agriculture, rather than vast pastoral runs. It was named in honour of Henry Strangways, the Premier and Attorney General of South Australia when the legislation was passed. (Mr Strangways 1917)
Above:- Henry Strangways. Image c/o Wikipedia.
On the 11th day of November 1882, the District Council of Crystal Brook was proclaimed. (SA History articles 2024)
Above:- Crystal Brook, c. 1910. Image c/o State Library South Australia.
According to the 2021 Census, Crystal Brook has a population of 1,322 people.
The Crystal Brook silos are located alongside the railway line in Railway Terrace in the heart of Crystal Brook.
I parked directly opposite the silos and operated from the 4WD for this activation, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5-metre stainless steel whip.
As I pulled up, a council vehicle pulled up behind me with its orange lights flashing. I was a little concerned I may have done something wrong. But it was a council worker who wanted to ask me about the roof racks and awning on my Toyota Hi-Lux as he was looking to purchase something similar.
Above:- The activation zone at the Crystal Brook silos. Image c/o SiOTA website.
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK2IO/p (Macanally State Conservation Area VKFF-1344)
I recently acquired several microphones through an online auction run by Evans and Clarke. The microphones came from a collection held by the South Australian Police Historical Society.
My next activation for Wednesday 10th April 2024 was the Redhill silo VK-RDL5 for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program. Redhill is about 178 km north of the city of Adelaide.
Above:- Map showing the location of Redhill, South Australia. Map c/o Google Maps.
Redhill was established in the late 1800s and was originally known as Redbanks but was changed due to the clash with Redbanks on the River Light. It was then known as Broughton.The town hada hotel, blacksmith, general store and other businesses. The town was officially renamed Red Hill in 1940, but it was known as Red Hills many years prior to this. (Cockburn 1984) (New Town Names 1940)
Above:- Article from The Advertiser, Fri 26 Jul 1940. Image c/o Trove.
Redhill came into existence following the opening of the northern areas of South Australia to farmers. It was initially little more than a ‘roadside stopping place.’ In 1875 Redhill was described as having only 20 houses, two machinist shops, a roomy hotel and a flour mill. By this time Redhill was the centre of traffic between Clare and Port Pirie. Travellers from Adelaide journeyed by rail to Saddleworth and then by coach to Clare, Koolunga, Redhill, Merriton and Port Pirie. (Redhill Railway Town 1925)
Early residents of Redhill included W.B. Wilkinson, G.F. Claridge, C.G. Adley, L.R. Wake, and G.F. Pearce.(Redhill Railway Town 1925)
George Frederick Claridge was born in 1852 in Oxfordshire, England. He emigrated as a child to Australia in 1854 and initially worked in a drapery shop and then his father’s general store at Auburn which prospered with branches opening at Redhill and Crystal Brook. He founded a branch of the District Trained Nursing Society and became involved in politics. He became Mayor of Port Pirie 1898-1899. He was a member of the Destitute Board and an active member of the Home for Incurables. He was a member of the Adelaide and Midland Licensing Benches and the Special Licensing Bench, the Adelaide Hospital advisory board; and the State Children’s Council. He died in 1931. (Death of Mr GF Claridge 1931)
Above:- George Frederick Claridge. Image co State Library South Australia.
Sir George Foster Pearce (G.F. Pearce), was born in 1870 at Mount Barker. During his early childhood he the family lived in various rural locations in South Australia, including Redhill where he was educated. Pearce went on to serve as a Senator for Western Australia from 1901 to 1938. Although he commenced his political life with the Labor Party, he later joined the National Labor Party, the Nationalist Party and the United Australia Party. He served as a cabinet minister under Prime Ministers from all four parties. (Aust Dict of Biography 2024) (Redhill Railway Town 1925)
Pearce died in 1952 in Victoria, aged 82 years. Several places are named in his honour including RAAF Base Pearce, the electoral Division of Pearce in Western Australia, Pearce Peak in Antarctica, and the Canberra suburb of Pearce. Australia’s longest-serving Prime Minister, Robert Menzies stated that he had “never sat with an abler man than George Pearce” in cabinet. (Biog Dict of Australian Senate 2024)
Above:- Sir George Foster Pearce. Image c/o Wikipedia.
William Birkinshaw Wilkinson, commonly referred to as W.B. Wilkinson, was born in 1854 in England, and emigrated to Australia in 1875. He was initially employed with the National Bank of Australasia, but soon after founded Davey and Wilkinson auctioneers of Redhill with John Francis Davey. Wilkinson then became Senior partner in a firm Wilkinson, Harrison & Porter. Wilkinson often travelled overseas and founded the Australasian Club in London. He subsequently commenced a real estate business Wilkinson, Sando & Wyles Ltd. Wilkinson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He was a councillor for Robe Ward in the Adelaide City Council, President of the General Employers Union, President and founder of the Licensed Land Brokers and Auctioneer’ Association, President and a founder of the North Adelaide branch of the Liberal Union, member of the Board of Governors of the Public Library, Museum, and Art Gallery, chairman and trustee of the Kindergarten Union, member of the executive and past chairman of St. John Ambulance Association, founder, past President, and member of the executive of the Commonwealth Club of Adelaide, member of the executive and honorary treasurer of the Queen’s Home, founder and member of the executive of the Town Planning Association, President of the North Adelaide circle of the Australian Division (men’s section) of the British Red Cross Society and President of the Men’s Tobacco Auxiliary (South Australian division) of the Australian Comforts Fund. Wilkinson died at his home in North Adelaide in 1927. (Prominent Businessman 1927)
Above:- W.B. Wilkinson. Image c/o Wikipedia.
The main highway bypasses Redhill. The town is located adjacent to the Broughton River which flows about 110 km from south of Spalding to the Spencer Gulf.
The Broughton River was named by explored Edward John Eyre (b. 1815. d. 1901) in May 1839 in honour of the Right Rev. William Grant Broughton, the first and only Bishop of Australia of the Church of England. (Cockburn 1984)
Above:- William Grant Broughton. Image c/o Wikipedia.
On the edge of the highway is a sculpture of a pioneer farmer and his horse working the land. It is a tribute to those who settled in the Redhill district.
As you enter the town there is a monument dedicated to the pioneers of Redhill and commemorating the 150 year celebrations 1869-2019.
Redhill contains several historic buildings.
The corner store and post office can be located in Bowman Street.
The Redhill Institute Soldiers Memorial Hall can be found in Barr Street. The foundation stone was laid on the 24th day of September 1919.
Sadly the town’s hotel, the Eureka Hotel is now closed. The first hotel, a single-storey building g opened in 1874 but closed in 1899. The impressive two-storey Eureka Hotel opened in 1878.
Mr. W.J. Reynolds built the hotel. (Redhill Railway Town 1925)
Above:- the Eureka Hotel, Redhill. Image c/o State Library South Australia.
The former St. Andrews Church of England was built in 1881 and was designed by Red Hill Bank Manager William Kingsnorth Mallyon. He had no formal training in architecture, draughtsmanship or building. Mallyson went on to design several churches, predominantly for the Diocese of Willochra. (State Library 2024)
The former Methodist church is located in Ellis Street.
The old Redhill Council Chambers built in 1898 now serve as a museum. The school bell from the old Redhill Primary School can be found outside the museum.
The broad gauge railway from Adelaide reached Redhill in 1925. In 1969 the standard gauge line was built. Below are some photos of the old platform, the most recent railway station, and the old crane.
When the railway was opened in 1925, The Mail Adelaide newspaper reported:-
“Situated as it is in the centre of the richest wheat growing area in South Australia, Redhill despite the lack of railway facilities has always been a prosperous and thriving township. Today, with a population of 250, and 64 houses, it has three fine churches, two banks, a hotel, a school, an institute, and a post office…” (Redhill Railway Town 1925)
Below is the article in full. It makes for some very interesting reading.
A monument can be found in the town to commemorate the opening of the first bridge over the River Broughton at Redhill. It was built in October 1876 of wooden construction.
In 1909 the original bridge was washed away and replaced with the present steel structure. Only the stone abutments of the original bridge remain.
Above:- Article from The Express and Telegraph, Adelaide, Fri 30 Jul 1909. Image c/o Trove
The silos at Redhill are located on the southern side of the town, alongside the railway line.
I parked on Hydon Road and operated from the 4WD for this activation. I ran the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.
Above:- The activation zone at the Redhill silos. Image c/op SiOTA website.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK5DGR/m
VK5IS
VK5LA
VK3ZSC
VK3YV/p (Mitchell River National Park VKFF-0321)
VK3NDG/p (Mitchell River National Park VKFF-0321)
VK5KFB
Vk3PF/p (HEMA VK/ HVK-042)
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK2USH/p (Mole Creek Karst National Park VKFF–0322 VKFF-0322)
VK1AO
VK2MET
VK3AHM/p
VK1AD
VK3SO
VK3SFG
References.
Anon, (n.d.). PEARCE, Sir George Foster (1870–1952) Senator for Western Australia, 1901–38 (Labor Party; National Labour Party; Nationalist Party; United Australia Party) | The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. [online] Available at: https://biography.senate.gov.au/pearce-george-foster/. [Accessed 12 May 2024]
Back on the 19th of February 2024, I made contact on the 20m band with Dave VK5MRD who was aeronautical mobile in a Flying Doctor aircraft in the Northern Territory.
The aircraft was a Pilatus PC-24 VH-FMP, callsign FlyDoc501.
VK5PAS 