After leaving Fort Glanville, Marija and I headed to the Outer Harbour silo VK-OTR5 for an activation for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program.
Above:- Map showing the location of Outer Harbour. Map c/o Google Maps.
Marija and I drove along the picturesque Esplanade and Lady Gowrie Drive to get to the silo. This took us along the beautiful Adelaide coastline and magnificent beaches and passed the historic suburb of Semaphore.
We then stopped by the old Police Academy at Fort Largs, where I had spent 2 years (1982-1984). I had heard that most of the Academy had been bulldozed and that a housing estate was going in, but what I saw really surprised me. Only some of the historic buildings remain, including the Fort itself. I had mixed feelings. I know that everything cannot last forever and there is progress. But I had spent a significant time here and have lived in the dormitories, now bulldozed. It was a little sad to see.
We then made our way to the Outer Harbour silos. The silos are operated by Viterra and are located in close proximity to the mouth of the Port River. Outer Harbor is 11km downstream of the Inner Harbour grain berth. Outer Harbour was custom-built to allow larger vessels to load. A belt leads from the silos to the loading berth. It can handle 2,200 tonnes per hour.
Outer Harbour is located at the northern tip of the Lefevre Peninsula about 22 km northwest of the Adelaide city centre. Outer Harbour includes the headland of Pelican Point. It is bounded to the east by the suburb of Osborne, to the southwest by the suburb of North Haven, and in all other directions by the Port River.
Outer Harbour was established in the early 1900s due to the increasing size of ships visiting Port Adelaide, and the time it took to sail up the Port River to the inner harbour of Port Adelaide. The first ship to dock at Outer Harbour was the RMS Oruba in January 1908.
The harbour can now accommodate Panamax-size ships with the harbour depth being 14.2 metres. Outer Harbour contains a major container berth and the Overseas Passenger Terminal.
We initially set up on Pelican Point Road and made two contacts before moving due to the noise floor. Our new location on Snapper Point Road wasn’t much better. This is a noisy RF location with Outer Harbour consisting of shipping and transport-related infrastructure. Unfortunately, we could not find a spot which was within the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary VKFF-1880.
Above:- The activation zone at the Outer Harbour silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.
After dropping off Hans VK6XN at his accommodation, Marija VK5MAZ and I pondered what we would do for the remainder of the day (Tuesday 31st October 2023). We decided to head north slightly and activate a couple of parks and silos.
Our first activation was a new park for us, the Fort Glanville Conservation Park VKFF-1031.
The park is located in Semaphore Park, a western seaside suburb of Adelaide. The park is 5 hectares (12 acres) in size and was established on the 1st day of January 1951. It consists of a 19th century fort which is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. Interestingly it also includes some adjacent land which is used as a caravan park.
Above:- An aerial view of Fort Glanville Conservation Park. Image c/o Google Earth.
Construction of the fort commenced in 1878, with the fort officially opened in October 1880. Construction was not completed until 1882. Fort Glanville was the first colonial fortification in South Australia. It is the best preserved and most functional fort in Australia.
Fort Glanville was designed by Governor Major General Sir William Jervois and Lieutenant Colonel Peter Scratchley. When constructed, the fort was designed to defend both Semaphore’s anchorage and shipping entering the Port River from potential naval attack.
Above:- Peter Scratchley (left) and William Jervois (right). Images c/o Wikipedia.
During the 1900s the fort was used for various purposes including accommodation, a caravan park, and a boy scout campsite. In 1951 the fort was acquired by the South Australian State Government and it was declared a Conservation Park.
Marija and I parked in the driveway off Bower Road and operated from the vehicle for this activation. We ran the Icom IC7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.
Above:- An aerial view of the park showing our operating spot. Image c/o Location SA Map Viewer.
Our next activation for Tuesday 31st October 2023 was the DB Mack Reserve VKFF-4032. This would be a first-time activation for myself, Marija VK5MAZ, and Hans VK6XN, and only the second time that the park had been activated for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.
The DB Mack Reserve is located on the Sturt Highway at Stockyard Plain, about 165 km northeast of the city of Adelaide.
Above:- Map showing the location of DB Mack Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
D.B. Mack Reserve is owned by the National Trust of South Australia. It comprised about comprises about 265 hectares of mallee scrub and has been held by the National Trust since 1965. At that time the land was purchased from Mr. F.J. Fettke. It was initially held by the National Trust under perpetual lease, but since that time it has been converted to a freehold title.
Above:- An aerial view of the D.B. Mack Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
The reserve is named in honour of Mr David Batten (D.B.) Mack (b. 1922. d. 2010), who was the District Officer for the Department of Lands during the 1960s. He was a strong supporter of the National Trust of South Australia.
The Reserve adjoins the 1,870-hectare Stockyard Plains area which is managed by SA Water.
About 109 native plant species have been recorded in D.B. Mack, with about 25% being of regional importance and three rated as significant at a State level. Birds SA have recorded about 76 native species or bird in the Reserve including Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, Spotted Pardalote, Weebill, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Australian Magpie, Grey Shrike-thrush, and Jacky Winter.
We parked at the main gate on Sturt Highway and climbed through the fence. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
Other than the bands being in very poor condition, we also experienced very loud traffic noise, particularly from the trucks travelling along the Sturt Highway.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK2GOM/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
VK2VAR/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
VK2BYF/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
VK2VT/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
VK3BBB
VK2CCP
VK3APJ
VK7XX
VK3MTT
VK5LA
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK2GOM/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
VK2VAR/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
VK2BYF/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
VK2VT/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
It was now Tuesday 31st October 2023 and time for us to head home after a brilliant time in the Riverland. This included the 2023 VKFF National Get Together which was a resounding success.
After having breakfast in Renmark, we stopped at Wilabalangaoo Reserve which is owned by National Trust South Australia. Hans and I went for a walk through the Reserve which sadly does not qualify for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program. Wilabalangaloo covers 92 hectares on the western bank of the River Murray between Renmark and Berri. Some very impressive views can be had of the ochre-coloured sandstone River Murray cliffs which stretch for about 1 km at this location.
We then stopped briefly in Berri for Hans to enjoy some views of the mighty River Murray.
The Riverland is prime citrus and vineyard country. We stopped to get a bag of oranges.
Our next stop was Lake Bonney at Barmera, a freshwater lake that is fed and drained by the River Murray. The lake was named Lake Bonney by Joseph Hawdon, a pioneer settler and overlander, in honour of his friend, Charles Bonney in 1838.
On the shoreline of the lake, you can find a plaque that commemorates the 1964 attempt by Englishman Donald Campbell to break the world water speed record on Lake Bonney. Lake Bonney proved to be too small and the waves created were deemed to be dangerous. His boat Bluebird reached a speed of 347.5 kmh, however the world record was not broken at Lake Bonney. Later that year, Campbell was successful in breaking the world record at Lake Dumbyleyung, Western Australia, travelling at a speed of 444.7 kmh.
The video below runs for about 15 minutes and is extremely interesting.
We continued west along the Sturt Highway and stopped briefly at the police memorial. On the 7th day of May 1847, Police Corporal William Murray Wickham and Mounted Constable John Dunning Carter drowned while crossing the River Murray at Wigley Reach. They were en route to Overland Corner for police duty in response to disturbances in the area. Wickham and Carter were the first police officers to die in the course of their duty in South Australia.
We then took some time out at the Holder Bend lookout.
We then drove into Waikerie and had a quick look at the Waikerie Cliff Top Walk.
Just down the road is Nippy’s Waikierie, a very well-known South Australian family-run producer of fresh citrus fruit juices and flavoured milk products.
It was then time for a quick silo activation for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program at the Waikerie silo.
The Waikerie Silo Art is the work of Jimmy Dvate and Garry Duncan. They were the fifth silo in South Australia to feature silo art, and the 25th to be included in the Australian Silo Art Trail Collection. THey are unique in that they are the second silo to be painted on both sides, giving a land view and a river view. Various native flora and fauna appear on the silos, including the Rainmoth, which is the origin of the name of Waikerie – many wings in the aboriginal language.
The Waikerie silo art took about 16 weeks to complete along with almost 500 litres of paint. Garry Duncan used exterior enamel paints exclusively, while Jimmy Dvate mainly used aerosol spray cans.
Our sixth and final activation for Monday 30th October 2023 was the Pirlta Bushland Reserve VKFF-4125 and the Pirlta silo VK-PRT3. Pirlta is about 34 km west of Mildura.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Pirlta Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
Pirlta is a locality situated in the Millewa district of northwest Victoria. It is well signposted on the Millewa Road.
It is believed that Pirlta is an aboriginal word for opossum. The Pirlta Post Office opened on the 14th day of August 1924 (closing in 1964).
Above:- Students at the Pirlta school, 1934. Image c/o Millewa History Photos Facebook page.
The Pirlta Bushland Reserve is about 46 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990.
The Bushland Reserve is divided into two large and three small sections of land on the northern side of Millewa Road. The two larger sections are located on the western and eastern sides of Pirlta North Road.
The Pirlta silos are located on the northern side of Millewa Road, just to the east of Pirlta South Road.
Our fifth activation for Monday 30th October 2023 was the Merrinee Bushland Reserve VKFF-4124 and the Merrinee silo VK-MRE3. Merrinee is about 34 km west of Mildura in northwest Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of Merrinee. Map c/o Google Maps.
Merrinee is a locality situated in the Millewa district of northwest Victoria. It is believed that Merrinee is an aboriginal word meaning south or wallaby.
Above:- Map showing the locality of Merrinee. Image c/o Mapshaire Victoria.
The locality is well-signposted on the Millewa Road.
On the 10th day of April 1924, the railway reached Merrinee which had a goods, grain and passenger siding. The Merrinee Post Office opened on the 30th day of May 1924.
Above:- 1923 plan of the township of Merrinee. Image c/o State Library Victoria.
The Merrinee Bushland Reserve is about 51 hectares in size and was established on the 8th day of May 1990.
Above:- An aerial view of the Merrinee Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.
The park is well-signposted and is divided into several different sections of land on the northern side of Millewa Road.
The old Merrinee silos are located on the northern side of Millewa Road.
We operated from a dirt track that ran off the Merrinee North Road. This was within the activation zone for the Merrinee silo.
Above:- the activation zone at the Merrinee silo. Image c/o SiOTA database.
We operated from the vehicle for this activation as the flies outside were relentless. Our antenna was the 20/40/80m linked dipole.
Our next activation for Sunday 30th October 2023 was the Karawinna Bushland Reserve VKFF-4123 and the Karawinna silo VK-KRA3. Karawinna is about 53 km west of Mildura in northwest Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Karawinna Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
It is believed that Karawinna is an aboriginal word meaning emu. Karawinna once had stores, a school, a public hall and a football club. None of this is evident in current-day Karawinna.
Above:- A plan of the township of Karawinna. Image c/o State Library Victoria.
Regular dances were held in the Karawinna hall.
Above:- Article from the Sunraysia Daily, Tue 3 Dec 1935. Image c/o Trove.
During the 1930s the Karawinna area was in the wheat belt production area in the Millewa region.
Above:- Article from the Sunraysia Daily, Tues 27 Jan 1931. Image c/o Trove.
The Karawinna Bushland Reserve was established on the 1st day of May 1979 and consists of 24 hectares.
The reserve consists of five different sections on the northern and southern sides of Millewa Road.
The Karawinna silos are located on Karawinna North Road, alongside the former railway line.
We drove a short distance along Karawinna North Road and operated from the northern section of the Karawinna Bushland Reserve.
Again for this activation, we ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.
Our next activation for Monday 30th October 2023 was the Werrimul Bushland Reserve VKFF-4122 and the Werrimul silo VK-WRU3.
Above:- Map showing the location of Werrimul in northwest Victoria. Map c/o Google Maps.
Werrimull is a small town and locality in Millewa district of northwest Victoria. The town is located about 79km west of Mildura and 13 km south of the Sturt Highway opposite Lake Cullulleraine.
Above:- Map showing the locality and town of Werrimul. Image c/o Mapshare Victoria.
Werrimull is an indigenous Australian word believed to mean Eagle. Werrimull is sometimes misspelled Werrimul perhaps due to being confused with an indigenous group from the Wimmera region of Victoria.
The Millewa district was first opened up for farming during the 1920s. The railway reached Werrimul in 1923 after a branch line was opened from the Mildura line. The Werrimul Post Office was opened on the 24th day of June 1924. The majority of the settlement in the area was Soldier Settlement with blocks of about one square mile being allocated.
Above:- loading wheat bags at Werrimul, c. 1935. Image c/o Museums Victoria.
At its peak the township of Werrimul had a Bush Nursing Hospital, resident Doctor, Government Offices, S.R & W.S.C. and Lands Department Offices, Police Station, Public Hall, Baby Health Centre, Catholic, Methodist and Anglican churches, C.B.A. Bank and by the late 1930s a Hotel. In 1933 the population of Werrimul was 590 people.
Above:- the opening of a church at Werrimul, c. 1935. Image c/o Museums Victoria.
The Werrimul Bush Nursing Hospital was opened in July 1927. The first Doctor was Dr. Davis, followed by Dr. Buxton. In 1945 it became a Bush Nursing Centre with a nurse in charge, but closed in 1947. Hundreds of babies were born at the Bush Nursing Hospital. The Werrimul Police Station now stands on the former site of the hospital.
Above:- Article from the Murray Pioneer, Fri 21 Oct 1927. Image c/o Trove.
Today the main industry in the Werrimul district is grain harvesting including wheat, barley, and oats. The sheep and cattle industry also thrive in the area.
Werrimul still has a Public Hall, Hotel, two Churches, a police station, a swimming pool, a Parks Victoria office, and the P12 School, which is now a P12 School, with many new buildings and a swimming pool.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church can be found on the Werrimull South Road. The church was opened in 1934 and is constructed of local limestone to a design replicating the Romanesque Churches in Italy. It is registered as a Heritage building by the National Trust.
At the eastern entrance of Werrimil on Millewa Road, you can find the Pioneer Plantation. It contains individual trees marked with the names of the early settlers and their descendants.
Werrimul once had a recreation oval where Agricultural Shows and sports events were held. This has been transformed by local school students into Mandala: Trail of Discovery. It records the achievements of the past and natural features of the Werrmul district through artwork and poetry.
In Werrimul you can find a Bills horse trough. George Bills was born in 1859 in Brighton, England. He migrated with his family to New Zealand and then Australia in 1873. In 1882 George had opened up a bird dealers shop in Brisbane. It was here that George met and subsequently married Annis Seann. They moved to Sydney where George worked with his brothers in an innerspring mattress manufacturing company.
His wife Annis died in 1910, just 2 years after he had retired. In 1924 George became a Life Governor of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
George and Annis did not have any children and following the death of George in 1927, a Trust Fund of about £70-80,000 was established. One purpose of the trust, as set out in the will of George Bills, was to:
“…construct and erect and pay for horse troughs wherever they may be of the opinion that such horse troughs are desirable for the relief of horses and other dumb animals either in Australasia, in the British Islands or in any other part of the world subject to the consent of the proper authorities being obtained.”
Initially the troughs were individually designed and constructed. Each trough cost £13 plus transport and installation. By the early 1930’s a relative of the Bills family, J.B. Phillips became the head contractor for the construction of the troughs. Each trough contained an inscription:
“Donated by Annis & George Bills Australia”.
About 700 horse troughs were distributed by the trust in Australia and about 50 in several other countries.
Also in Werrimul, you can find the Werrimul Mobile SIlos which have silo art. They are the work of Jimmy Dvate and Justin Fennelseed, who painted the silos in August 2023. The theme is local flora and fauna.
The Werrimul Bushland Reserve is about 79 hectares and was established on the 8th day of May 1990. The park is in three separate sections on the northern and southern side of Millewa Road.
The concrete wheat silo at Werrimul was constructed in about 1940.
We set up in the northern section of the Werrimul Bushland Reserve and ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.
Above:- An aerial shot of the Werrimul Bushland Reserve showing our operating spot. Image c/o Google Maps.
We were well within the activation zone of the Werrimul silo.
Above:- the activation zone at the Werrimul silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK2VH
VK4AAC
VK5HS
VK3BBB
VK2CCP
VK3TKK/m
VK5KVA
VK3APJ
VK5KLV
VK1AO/p (Mount Ainslee Nature Reserve VKFF-0850)
VK2MET/p (Mount Ainslee Nature Reserve VKFF-0850)
VK3PF/p (Boonoornar Bushland Reserve VKFF-4146)
VK2IO/p (Cooltong Conservation Park VKFF-0823)
Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK2BYF/p (Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1156)
VK2VT/p (Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1156)
VK2GOM/p (Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1156)
VK2VAR/p (Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1156)
VK1AO/p (Mount Ainslee Nature Reserve VKFF-0850)
VK2MET/p (Mount Ainslee Nature Reserve VKFF-0850)
VK2IO/p (Cooltong Conservation Park VKFF-0823)
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
VK5HS
VK2VH
VK4AAC
VK3BBB
VK2CCP
VK3TKK/m
VK5KVA
VK3APJ
VK5KLV
VK1AO/p (Mount Ainslee Nature Reserve VKFF-0850)
VK2MET/p (Mount Ainslee Nature Reserve VKFF-0850)
VK5IS
VK3PF/p (Boonoornar Bushland Reserve VKFF-4146)
VK2EXA
VK2GQR
VK3SQ
VK2BD
VK2IO/p (Cooltong Conservation Park VKFF-0823)
VK3CTF
VK3MTT
VK3CWF
VK3ZSC
VK5CZ
VK3CEO
VK3KRL
VK3PF/m
VK3FABS
VK3KAI/m
VK5FANA
VK3VMM
VK3CJN
VK3MCA
VK3UH
I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-
VK5HS
VK3VMM
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
VK2BYF/p (Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1156)
VK2VT/p (Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1156)
VK2GOM/p (Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1156)
VK2VAR/p (Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1156)
After packing up at Yarrara (30th October 2023), we made the decision to head back down the road the short distance to activate the Merringur silo.
The Morkala-Red Cliffs Railway Bushland Reserve is within the activation zone of the Meringur silo.
Meringur is a locality in northwestern Victoria in the Millewa district. It is located at the western end of the Red Cliffs-Meringur Road towards the South Australian border. Meringur is an aboriginal word believed to mean grey kangaroo.
The railway to Meringur opened in 1925. The station had facilities to handle passengers, sheep and grain. In 1926 land was subdivided and the township of Meringur was born.
Above:- A plan of the township of Meringur. Image c/o State Library Victoria.
The Meringur Post Office opened on the 2nd day of February 1926. The town steadily grew and soon had a population of about 150 people. The town had an open-air Palais theatre, general store, post office, milk bar, tea rooms, bakehouse, dressmaker, mechanics shop, hardware store, guest house, hairdresser, saddlery store, greengrocer, tobacconist, timber yard, blacksmith, butchers, billard room, ice works, hall and a school.
An old store in Meringur, c. 1925. Image c/o Museums Victoria.
Following the reallocation of the farms in 1948, the Millewa district decreased in population. Werrimull located in the middle of the Millewa district became the district centre, and many of Meringur’s stores closed. Meringur’s current population is about 20 people and the sole remaining business is the Meringur Post Office.
Our first activation for Monday 30th October 2023 was the Morkalla-Red Cliffs Railway Bushland Reserve VKFF-4217 and the Yarrara silo VK-YRA3.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Morkalla-Red Cliffs Railway Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.
After breakfast at McDonalds in Renmark, we headed over the South Australian State border into the State of Victoria.
Along the way, we logged David VK5DG who was activating the Cooltong Conservation Park VKFF-0823. Signal reports of 5/9 both ways were exchanged. A short distance further along the Sturt Highway we pulled in quickly to the Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373 to make a Park to Park contact with David VK5DG.
A little further along the Sturt Highway, we logged Tony VK3YV who was activating the Hattah Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231. We then spoke with Peter VK3PF who was activating Carwarp West I12 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4143.
We turned off the Sturt Highway and travelled south along the Merringur North Road until we reached the little town of Merringur in the Millewa district of northwest Victoria. The Merringur Post Office opened on the 2nd day of February 1926, with the railway reaching the area the year prior in 1925.
The Millewa is a large strip of land situated between sections of the Murray Sunset National Park. Its boundaries are the Murray River to the north, Mildura to the east, the South Australia state border to the west, and the Murray Sunset National Park to the south. It was once inhabited by the Latje Latje aboriginal people.
During the 1920s the Millewa region was opened up for settlement. Prior to this, only large pastoral holdings existed in the region. Prospective settlers were allocated an average of 750 acres of land as purchase leases for agriculture. By 1928 a total of 600,000 acres of land had been taken up by 708 settlers. This was not easy living. The land was semi-arid and experienced about 250mm of rain annually.
Above:- Article from the Countryman, Melbourne, Fri 28 Nov 1924. Image c/o Trove.
Today the Millewa region is a successful grain growing district, producing high protein quality wheat and malting grade barley. Much of this success has been due to the piping of water from the Murray River.
It was often slow going on the roads with farm machinery traversing the roads between farming properties.
We continued on to Yarrara, as I had not initially planned to activate the silo at Merringur. Our plans were to activate the Yarrara silo which was in the activation zone of the Morkalla-Red Cliffs Railway Bushland Reserve.
Above:- The activation zone at the Yarrara silo. Image c/o SiOTA website.
Morkalla is a locality in the Sunraysia region of Victoria. It is located at the farthest west point on the Redcliffs-Meringur Road. Morkalla is an aboriginal word meaning night. Following the end of the First World War, the Morkalla district was opened up to soldier settlers.
Above:- a plan of the township of Morkalla. Image c/o State Library Victoria.
To assist the settlers, the branch line west from Red Cliffs on the Mildura railway line was extended to Morkalla in 1931. It had been extended to Werrimull in 1924 and to Meringur in 1925. Morkalla was the furthest railway station from Melbourne.
Above:- An article from the Ouyen Mail, Wed 24 Jun 1931. Image c/o Trove.
There were stations/sidings at the following locations along the branch line (their aboriginal names are also included):
Thurla opened 10th April 1924, closed 5th June 1939.
Benetook – opened 10th April 1924, closed 5th June 1939 – ankle
Pirlta – opened 10th April 1924, closed 5th June 1939 – opossum
Merrinee – opened 10th April 1924, closed 5th June 1939 – south or wallaby
Karawinna – opened 10th April 1924, closed 5th June 1939 – eaglehawk
Werrimul – opened 10th April 1924, closed 5th June 1939 – emu
Bambill – opened 30th October 1925, closed 5th June 1939 – box tree
Yarrara – opened 30th October 1925, closed 5th June 1939 – wood
Merringur – opened 30th October 1925, closed 5th June 1939 – Grey female kangaroo
Karween – opened 16th June 1931, closed 5th June 1939 – grass tree
Morkalla – opened 16th June 1931, closed 5th June 1939 – night.
By 1939 Railway passenger facilities had been removed at Morkalla and in 1964 the line was closed. Not much remains at Morkalla apart from a few old sleepers indicating where the railway line once ran and the goods platform existed. Just the old railway platform exists at Karween. The old silos still exist at Merringur, along with the excellent Millewa Pioneer Park. This excellent pioneer park is well worth the visit if you are in the area. Nothing is evident at Bambil. The old silos still stand at Werrimul along with an old platform. Silos and the old good platform exist at Karawinna. Silos exist at Merinee and Pirlta. No sign of the railway exists at Benetook and Thurla.
Above:- Train crew posing next to the milepost indicating 403 miles (648 km) by rail from Melbourne on the Morkalla-Red Cliffs line. Image c/o Newport Railway Museum Facebook page.
Today, a two-kilometre section of the old 1600 mm gauge railway line has been converted to 610 mm gauge for a tourist train that operates on the line run by the Red Cliffs Historical Railway.
The remainder of the line is now the Morkalla-Red Cliffs Railway Bushland Reserve which is about 565 hectares in size and was established in May 1990.
We set up at Yarrara in the Reserve and within the activation zone of the Yarrara silo.
Yarrara, once a thriving community, is an aboriginal word meaning wood.
Above:- Plan of the township of Yarrara. Image c/o State Library Victoria.
Above:- harvesting at Yarrara, c. 1927. Image c/o Museums Victoria.
The Yarrara station opened on the 30th day of October 1925 and closed on the 5th day of June 1939.
Image c/o Millewa History photos Facebook page.
Today very little remains of Yarrara. There are a few scattered houses and the silos of course. The town once flourished and had a Country Women’s Association, its own football club and an oval. The Yarrara Hall which was opened in 1935 and closed in 1944, is now located in the Millewa Pioneer Village at Meringur.
Above:- An aerial view of Yarrara. Image c/o Google Maps.
Other than the Railway Bushland Reserve, Yarrara also has the Yarrara Nature Conservation Reserve in close proximity.
The Yarrara silos are constructed of steel and have 50,000 bushel capacity.
Above:- part of an article from The Horsham Times, Tue 14 Mar 1933. Image c/o Trove.
Above:- article from the Sunraysia Daily, Tues 7 Mar 1933. Image c/o Trove.
We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation, in an inverted v configuration, supported by a 7-metre heavy-duty telescopic squid pole.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-
VK2USH
VK2EXA
VK3CLD
VK2GOM/p (Kate Reed Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1141)
VK2VAR/ (Kate Reed Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1141
VK2BYF/p (Kate Reed Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1141)
VK2VT/p (Kate Reed Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1141)
VK3OAK/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)
VK3PWG/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)
VK2IO/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)
VK3PF/p (Carwarp West I12 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4143)
VK3YV/p (Hattah-Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231)
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-
VK1DI/p (Hattah-Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231)
VK3PF/p (Boonoornar Bushland Reserve VKFF-4146)
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-
VK2USH
VK2EXA
VK3CLD
VK2GOM/p (Kate Reed Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1141)
VK2VAR/ (Kate Reed Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1141
VK2BYF/p (Kate Reed Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1141)
VK2VT/p (Kate Reed Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1141)
VK3OAK/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)
VK3PWG/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)
VK2IO/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)
VK3PF/p (Carwarp West I12 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4143)
VK3APJ
VK3YV/p (Hattah-Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231)
VK5AHZ
VK5AYL
VK3TKK/m
VK3VIN
VK5HOL/m
VK3CWF
VK3CEO
VK3SO
VK5HS
VK5IS
VK3NAD
VK5FIVE
VK5AAF
VK3VMM
VK3UH
VK1AD
VK1NAM
VK1DI/p (Hattah-Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231)
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-
VK5PAS 