The main reason for our excursion to the far north was to activate the special call, VK100ANZAC, at the Farina historic village near Farina Station. Farina Station is a pastoral property just off the road which travels from Lyndhurst to Maree. Farina really looked good, especially the camp ground near the creek. We have been to Farina a few times in the past and the camp ground has been a dusty bare area – but not this time.  While waiting for advice about road closures at Parachilna we met up with John, VK2KYO and his wife Sue.  John and Sue camped at the Beltana race track parking area where we and David and Joy camped while waiting for the road to open at Warriota Creek, the barrier to getting to Farina. At Farina we camped in a small group with John and Sue.

We arrived at Farina on Wednesday afternoon in time to set up camp, activate VK100ANZAC and then attend the ceremony at the new memorial recognising the number of persons from Farina who contributed to Australia’s war effort in both the First and Second World Wars. The is a memorial which lists the name of all of these persons.  Of special interest to us was the life of Flight Lieutenant John Bell.

http://www.farinarestoration.com/page4/page7/

You can read all about this man from the Farina Restoration Group’s home page.

RAAF personnel gathering at Farina for ceremony

Remembering FL TL John Napier Bell. JCD photo

The new War Memorial at Farina

Half-masting the Flag

VK100ANZAC, operator Paul, VK5PAS at Farina JCD photo

VK100ANZAC at Farina campground

Stations worked by VK100ANZAC (Operator VK5BJE) 17th June 2015

7.095 02:12Z, VK5PAS/P5, Paul; 7.073 05:03Z, VK5ZTJ/M, Trevor; VK5KAA, Gordon; VK5RM, Phil; VK5ZK, Garry; VK5DC/P5, Dale

Stations worked by VK100ANZAC (Operator VK5BJE) 18th June 2015

10.130 00:06Z, VK5ZK, Garry; VK5TW, Trevor; VK5HS, Ivan; VK5KLD, Les; VK5ZK, Garry; VK5JK, Jeff; VK5RM, Phil; 7.095 00:55Z, VK5FANA, Adrian; VK5PAS/P, Paul; VK5HS, Ivan; VK5KLV, Les; VK5FANA, Adrian; VK2GKA, Karl; VK5NQP, David; VK5IS, Ian; VK5MBD, Bill; VK5FCLK, Chubba; VK5GY/M, Gordon; VK5HS, Ivan; VK2ALH, Ross; VK5VGC, Grant; 10.130 04:35Z, VK3KYF, Garry; VK6WE, Wes; VK5TR, Jim; VK2IX, David; 7.095 23:08 VK5BC and 23:57 VK5PAS/P5 (VKFF-189). All VK100ANZAC logs will be consolidated in due course.

QSL card from Farina

I was pleased to work VK100ANZAC with Paul on the microphone using my own call-sign and thus gain this special qsl card.