Our first activation for Saturday, 27th December, 2014, was the Whyalla Conservation Park.  We had bid farewell to Marija’s mum, brother and family, and were enroute to Melrose in the southern Flinders Ranges, for a one night stay.  The Whyalla Conservation Park is located 10 km north of Whyalla off the Lincoln Highway, just passed the Port Bonython turn off.

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

The last time (July 2013) I activated this park, we set up just inside the eastern boundary off the Lincoln Highway.

https://vk5pas.wordpress.com/2013/06/16/whyalla-conservation-park/

So, this time, Marija and I decided to enter the park off Lincoln Highway, but travel along Wild Dog Hill Road for a distance of about 8 km, until we reached the impressive Wild Dog Hill.  It was here that we set up the gear, using the already provided concrete table and bench as the ‘shack’.

map courtesy of mapcarta

I had only just started working stations when Mark VK5QI arrived.  Mark and I had corresponded via email and on air, about catching up in the park.  The band conditions on 40m were very poor, with lots of QSB.  The normal hoards of park hunters were not there on this occasion.  My first contact was with Les VK5KLV in nearby Port Augusta with a very strong 5/9 signal.  This was followed by Larry VK5LY in The Riverland, and then Amanda VK3FQSO.

Mark and I alternated on the radio.  Whilst Mark was making contacts, I was admiring the view.  Although Wild Dog Hill does not qualify for SOTA, as it does not have the required prominence, it is still very impressive and offers spectacular views of the surrounding outback countryside.

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Mark and I were lucky enough to be called by Ben VK5TX, just as we were about to pack up.  Ben was on the top of Mount Gawler, VK5/ SE-013 (5/7 both ways).

Despite the conditions being rather average, we also managed to work a couple of mobile stations.  The first being Tim VK3AV who was mobile at Portland in western Victoria (5/8 sent and 5/6 received), and Matt Vk5ZM who was mobile at Tintinarra in south eastern South Australia (5/7 sent and 5/3 received).

So after one hour in the park, I had a total of about 20 QSO’s in the log from VK3 & VK5, whilst Mark had about the same number of QSOs.

The following stations were worked:-

1. Les VK5KLV
2. Larry VK5LY
3. Amanda VK3FQSO
4. Arnie VK5NEX
5. Peter VK3PF/m
6. Arno VK5ZAR
7. Peter Vk5NAQ
8. Ian VK5CZ
9. David VK5NQP
10. Andy VK5AKH
11. Nev VK5WG
12. John VK5FTCT
13. Col VK5HCF
14. Darrell VK5JDS/p
15. Tim VK5AV/3
16. Ian VK5IS
17. Greg VK5GJ
18. Matt VK5ZM/p
19. Ben VK5TX/p (SOTA-Mount Gawler)
20. Peter VK3TKK