Daily Archives: April 7, 2015

Innes National Park

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From Carribie Conservation Park (afternoon of Saturday 28th March) we travelled in to the little town of Corny Point, where stopped to have lunch at the Howling Dog Tavern.  What a great name for a pub.  Marija and I had eaten here before, back in 2013, during out visit to the Yorke Peninsula for the 6 month anniversary of the VK5 Parks award.  The food is good.  And the Bundy was nice and cold.  We also did some running repairs on the Toyota Hi Lux.  One of the spot lights on the bullbar had come loose.  In fact I had lost the theft proof bolt holding it in place.  It had obviously not been tight enough and had jarred loose on the corrugated roads.

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After lunch we took a scenic drive down to the Corny Point lighthouse and then followed the West Coast Road, stopping off regularly to view the coastline.  We highly recommend this detour.  The West Coast Road will take you all the way down to Point Annie.  From there we headed back inland along the Point Annie Road until we reached the Marion Bay Road and then travelled south.  A number of kms south, we turned right onto Browns Beach Road and headed down to Gym Beach.  The views here are truly amazing.  We travelled into the Innes National Park from here and found a little car park all to ourselves.  We set up the radio gear there, overlooking the ocean (the Spencer Gulf).

Screenshot 2015-04-07 11.35.14

Above: the location of Gym Beach on the north western side of the park.  Image courtesy of mapcarta.com

Screenshot 2015-04-07 11.35.00 Above: Our operating spot at Gym Beach, close to the ocean.  Image courtesy of mapcarta.com

Before calling CQ I had a look around the 40m band and found Andrew VK5MR calling CQ on 7.105 from the Caroona Creek Conservation Park in the Mid North.  Andrew was my first contact and my first park to park contact for this activation (5/9 both ways).  I then found Hans VK5YX operating portable from the Hallett Cove Conservation Park south of Adelaide (5/9 both ways), and then Richard VK5ZRY operating portable from the Minlacowie Conservation Park on the Yorke Peninsula (5/9 both ways).

I then went up to 7.120 and started calling CQ and this was answered by David VK5KC and Roy VK5NRG who were activating the Mark Oliphant Conservation Park in the Adelaide Hills (again 5/9 both ways).  This was followed by a contact with Mark VK5QI in the Coorong National Park.  A few QSOs later I was called by Nigel VK5NIG activating the Sandy Creek Conservation Park north of Adelaide in the Barossa, followed by Arno VK5ZAR in the Port Gawler Conservation Park, and then Greg VK5GJ and Norm VK5GI in the Mount Magnificent Conservation Park on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

But that wasn’t the end of the park to park action.  I then received a call from David VK5NQP in the Red Banks Conservation Park, followed by Tim VK3MTB/5 in the Naracoorte Caves National Park, and then Greg VK5ZGY in the Paranki Lagoon Conservation Park in the South East, Gary VK5FGRY in the Morialta Conservation Park in the Adelaide Hills, and then Peter VK5KX in the Hogwash bend Conservation Park in the Riverland.  All with 5/9 signals.  Wow, the park to park activity was great.

But wait, there’s more, as that guy who sold steak knives used to say.  I also worked Bill VK5MBD in the Clements Gap Conservation Park in the Mid North, Peter VK5FLEX in the Danggali Conservation Park in the Murray Mallee.

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When the callers slowed down I took the opportunity of looking around the band and found Matt Vk1MA portable on SOTA peak VK2/ ST-006 (5/5 sent and 5/7 received).

I then lowered the squid pole and removed the links and headed off to 20m.  I started calling CQ on 14.346 and this was answered by Andy VK5AKH in the Coorong National Park.  And from there a steady flow of European park hunters called me from Italy, Spain, Hungary, Germany, Russia, Slovenia, France, Belgium, Slovak Republic, Austria, England, and the Czech Republic.  Thankyou to everyone that spotted me.  This clearly helped in the Europeans finding me.  I also received a call from Andrew VK1NAM amongst the European pile up.

I then headed back to 40m and called CQ on 7.115 and my first taker there was another park to park contact, Andrew VK5MR this time in the Mokota Conservation Park.  Soon after this was followed by another park to park, this time with Ian VK5CZ activating the Spring Gully Conservation Park up in the wine growing region of the Clare Valley.  A handful of QSO’s later, Arno VK5ZAR gave me a shout from the Port Gawler Conservation Park.

But perhaps the highlight of the activation for me, was a contact with Peter VK3YE who was operating true QRP, 100 milliwatts.  Peter’s signal was weak (5/3) as you would expect, but perfectly readable.  Amazing what you can do with QRP!

This was another successful activation, with a 72 contacts in the log on 40m and 20m SSB in 2 & 1/2 hours.

The following stations were worked:-

  1. VK5MR/p (Caroona Creek Conservation park)
  2. VK5YX/p (Hallett Cove Conservation Park)
  3. VK5ZRY/p (Minlacowie Conservation Park)
  4. VK5KC/p (Mark Oliphant Conservation Park)
  5. VK5NRG/p (Mark Oliphant Conservation Park)
  6. VK5QI/p (Coorong National Park)
  7. VK5BW
  8. VK5NIG/p (Sandy Creek Conservation Park)
  9. VK5ZAR/p (Port Gawler Conservation Park)
  10. VK5GJ/p (Mount Magnificent Conservation Park)
  11. VK5GI/p (Mount Magnificent Conservation Park)
  12. VK3ARR
  13. VK5NQP/p (Red Banks Conservation Park)
  14. VK3MTB/5 (Naracoorte Caves National Park)
  15. VK5ZGY/p (Paranki Lagoon Conservation Park)
  16. VK5FGRY/p (Morialta Conservation Park)
  17. VK5LSB
  18. VK5KX/p (Hogwash bend Conservation Park)
  19. VK5FPAC
  20. VK5FMJC
  21. VK5MBD/p (Clements Gap Conservation Park)
  22. VK5FMID
  23. VK5AV
  24. VK5BB
  25. VK5HEL/p
  26. VK5FLEX/p (Danggali Conservation Park)
  27. VK5BJE
  28. VK3OHM
  29. VK3PF
  30. VK3JP
  31. VK3PMG
  32. VK1MA/2 (SOTA VK2/ ST-006)
  33. VK5MR/p (Mokota Conservation Park)
  34. VK5FBFB
  35. VK5FANA
  36. VK5CZ/p (Spring Gully Conservation Park)
  37. VK5TD
  38. VK3TAL
  39. VK3AV
  40. VK5FUZZ
  41. VK5KPR
  42. VK5JDS
  43. VK5APR
  44. VK5ZAR/p (Port Gawler Conservation Park)
  45. VK3TKK
  46. VK5KX/p Hogwash Bend Conservation Park)
  47. VK3FLCS
  48. VK7FGGT
  49. VK7NWT
  50. VK3YE/p (qrp 100mw)
  51. VK2PKT

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK5AKH/p (Coorong National Park)
  2. IK1GPG
  3. EA2KV
  4. I5FLN
  5. VK1NAM
  6. HA6OB
  7. DL2ND
  8. DL1EBR
  9. RA3PCI
  10. S52KM
  11. F1BLL
  12. DL4PT
  13. EA3RP
  14. DL6NDW
  15. DK4RM
  16. ON7AB
  17. OM7OM
  18. OE3PRU
  19. G0RBD
  20. F2YT
  21. OK1ES

 

Carribie Conservation Park

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On Saturday morning, 28th March, Marija and I awoke to the sounds of noisy galahs and a beautiful sunrise.  We cooked up a hot breakfast of bacon and eggs, and enjoyed a nice hot cup of coffee and sat outside on the verandah of the old Post Office at Inneston, taking in the view.  We then packed the 4WD and got on the road and headed for my first proposed activation of the day, Point Davenport Conservation Park.  However, everything went downhill from here.

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We could not find the park.  In fact we drove around aimlessly for numerous hours trying to find our way in.  What we did find was that the GPS in the Toyota Hilux and the mapping system on our i-phones were unreliable.  Many roads were marked on the maps, but when we reached that particular location, no road existed.  Also, a number of the roads had totally different names on the actual road sign, to what appeared on the maps.  And many marked roads were obviously Government roads that were now either very poorly maintained dirt tracks that were fenced off, or totally covered in scrub.  The upshot was that we just could not get into Point Davenport.  The closest we got would have been a few kms, and we were not sure whether we would have to walk across private property, so we cancelled this activation.

Instead we headed for my 2nd planned activation, the Caribbie Conservation Park, which is located south of Corny Point and about 266 km by road from Adelaide.  The park is 19.5 hectares in size and was gazetted in 1972.  It is located beneath the ‘toe’ of the Yorke Peninsula.  It contains a small area of remnant sheoak and mallee vegetation.  The park’s vegetation comprises of open scrub dominated by Coastal White Mallee and Red Mallee.  It has an understorey that includes Acacia and Correas.  Some sections of the park also contain Drooping Sheoak woodland.  There are 81 native plant species recorded from this park.  The only known species of conservation significance is the Western Dady-long-legs.  Carribie is native aboriginal meaning ’emu flat’.  And there are certainly plenty of emus down here at the bottom of the Yorke Peninsula.

Screenshot 2015-04-07 09.45.18

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

Marija and I travelled along the Marion Bay Road and then turned right onto Gleesons Road.  The park was a few kms up on our right.  We set up just over the fenceline, just to the east of Rockleigh Road.  This is in the south western corner of the park.  The last time we activated the park we were set up in the south eastern corner of the park.

For more information on my initial activation back in 2013, please see…..

https://vk5pas.org/2013/10/21/carribie-conservation-park/

Screenshot 2015-04-07 09.45.46

 

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

What was very pleasing about this particular activation was the lack of flies.  When we activated this park back in 2013, the bush flies were out in force and it was almost impossible to be out in the open without a head netting.  But this time around, they were few and far between I am pleased to report.

As per usual, for this activation I ran the Yaesu FT-857d, 40 watts and the 40m/20m linked dipole, supported on the top of my 7 metre telescopic squid pole.

Unlike the previous night’s activation at the Innes National Park, there was absolutely no noise at all on the band here in Carribie.  It was dead quiet.  I called CQ on 7.095 and this was immediately answered by Adrian VK5FANA who was portable on the western side of the Yorke Peninsula in the Bird Islands Conservation Park.  Not a bad start, a park to park contact.  This was followed by Tim VK5AV at Mount Gambier, and then another park to park contact, this time with Tom VK5FTRG who was portable in the Reedy Creek Conservation Park in the South East.  Signals were very good and the 40m band seemed to be in very good condition.

My next park to park contact was with David VK5NQP who was portable in the Mid North of South Australia in the Mokota Conservation Park (5/9 both ways).  This was immediately followed by another park to park contact, with Peter VK5PET operating portable in the Bullock Hill Conservation Park on the Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide (also 5/9 both ways).  And this was followed by a call from Arno VK5FO in the Angove Conservation Park in the north eastern suburbs of Adelaide (5/9 both ways), and then David VK5AAH portable in the Cleland Conservation Park in the Adelaide Hills.  David was also doing a Summits on the Air activation from Mount Lofty, VK5/ SE-005 (5/9 both ways).

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A few QSO’s later I was called by Richard VK5ZRY who was portable in the Ramsay Way Conservation Park on the eastern side of the Yorke Peninsula (5/9 both ways as you would expect).

I had a steady flow of callers from VK3 and VK5, and I was then called by Tim VK3MTB who was portable in the Grampians National Park in western Victoria.  Tim was on his way to South Australia to activate some VK5 Parks for the anniversay weekend.  As was the case with the VK5 activators, Tim had a lovely 5/9 signal from the Grampians.

About half a dozen QSOs later, I had my eighth VK5 Park to Park contact in the log from Carribie.  This time it was with Greg VK5ZGY who was operating portable from the Martin Washpool Conservation Park in the Mallee (5/9 both ways).  And what an interesting history that park has.  It is named after Malachi Martin, who was convicted murderer.  For more information please see…..

https://vk5pas.org/2013/09/12/martin-washpool-conservation-park/

A few QSOs later I was called by Chris VK4FR/5 who was portable on Kangaroo Island in the Beyaria Conservation Park (5/9 both ways).

When things started to slow down a little, I took the opportunity of QSYing from 7.095 and tuning around the 40m band.  I found Tony VK3CAT calling CQ on 7.100 from SOTA peak Basalt Knob, VK3/ VE-074 (5/7 both ways).

I then propped on 7.090 and called CQ and this was answered by Mike VK6MMB (5/2 sent and 4/8 received).  This was my first VK6 park hunter for Carribie.  Mark VK5QI then called in from the Coorong National Park with a very strong 5/9 signal.  Next up was Matt VK1MA, my first VK1 hunter.  I went on to work a further 3 VK5 stations, before lowering the squid pole and removing the links in the dipole, so I could operate on 20m.

I put out numerous CQ calls on 14.314 but there were no takers.  I had no phone coverage so I was unable to spot myself on parksnpeaks.  But my CQ call was finally answered by Dane VK2LDF (5/9 both ways), followed by Wayne VK3XF and then Brian VK3BBB.  But this was the end of callers on 20m, so I headed back to 40m.

First up I worked Tom VK5FTRG who was portable in the Furner Conservation Park (5/9 both ways).  Tom was calling CQ on 7.090.  I then settled on 7.095 and called CQ and this was answered by Peter VK3TKK, followed by Nick VK3ANL, and then Mick VK3PMG.  Peter, Nick and Mick are all very active park activators and hunters.  I then bagged my 13th park to park contact, this time with David VK5NQP, who had now moved to the Caroona Creek Conservation Park in the Mid North of South Australia.

Again, when things slowed down, I cruised around the band and found David VK5HDW calling CQ on 7.060 with a very very big signal, from the Lake Frome Conservation Park in the South East.  David was certainly the strongest activator signal on the band.

I then went back to 7.095 and put out a few final CQ calls and worked a further 8 stations, including another two park to park contacts.  The first was with Tony VK5ZAI who was portable in the Mount Scott Conservation Park in the South East (5/9 both ways), and then Tony VK3VTH/5 who was portable in the Far North of South Australia in the Gammon Ranges National Park (5/9 sent and 5/7 received).  My last caller was Ron VK3JP, who is a regular park hunter.

Whilst I was activating, one of the locals arrived at the scene.  He had seen our 4WD parked on the side of the road and wanted to check on our welfare.  But it was clear that this old fella also liked a chat.  Whilst I hid behind the radio, Marija spoke to this old timer for over an hour, even being introduced to his dog Molly on the back of the Ute.  And the local Constabulary also arrived.  They had a report of a crashed car a little further up the road, which we went to have a look at after we had packed up.

IMG_0949 So after about 2 and 1/2 hours in the park I had a total of 54 stations in the log.  It was time to pack up and head back to the Innes National Park.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK5FANA/p (Bird Islands Conservation Park)
  2. VK5AV
  3. VK5FTRG/p (Reedy Creek Conservation Park)
  4. VK3AFW
  5. VK3FQSO
  6. VK5TN/m
  7. VK4FR/5
  8. VK5NQP/p (Mokota Conservation Park)
  9. VK5PET/p (Bullock Hill Conservation Park)
  10. VK5FO/p (Angove Conservation Park)
  11. VK5AAH/p (Cleland Conservation Park & SOTA VK5/ SE-005 Mt Lofty)
  12. VK3JAP/m
  13. VK5ZRY/p (Ramsay Way Conservation Park)
  14. VK5GJ
  15. VK3ARR
  16. VK3PF
  17. VK3OHM
  18. VK3MTB/p (Grampians National Park)
  19. VK5ZAR
  20. VK5FMID
  21. VK5JK
  22. VK5SFA
  23. VK5HEL
  24. VK5HCF
  25. VK5ZGY/p (Martin Washpool Conservation Park)
  26. VK3DAC
  27. VK3JP
  28. VK4FR/5
  29. VK3CAT/p (SOTA Basalt Knob VK3/ VE-074)
  30. VK6MMB
  31. VK5QI/p (Coorong National Park)
  32. VK1MA
  33. VK5FBFB
  34. VK5KAA
  35. VK5FMJC
  36. VK5FTRG/p (Furner Conservation Park)
  37. VK3TKK
  38. VK3ANL
  39. VK3PMG
  40. VK5NQP/p (Caroona Creek Conservation Park)
  41. VK5STU
  42. VK5TD
  43. VK5HDW/p (Lake Frome Conservation Park)
  44. VK5IS
  45. VK5MBD
  46. VK5FBUD
  47. VK5TR
  48. VK5ZAI/p (Mount Scott Conservation Park)
  49. VK5APR
  50. VK3VTH/5 (Gammon Ranges National Park)
  51. VK3JP

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK2LDF
  2. VK3XF
  3. VK3BBB

 

References.

Department for Environment and Heritage Management Plan, Mainland Conservation Parks of the Yorke Peninsula 2009

 

Innes National Park VKFF

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My first park activation for the 2nd year anniversary was the Innes National Park, on Friday 27th March 2015.  Marija and I had a 315 km drive ahead of us from the Adelaide Hills down to the bottom of the Yorke Peninsula.  We initially drove through the bushfire devastated area of the Mount Lofty Ranges ‘Adelaide Hills’.  This is the area around Kersbrook which was severely affected by the bushfires back in January 2015, with 30 homes being destroyed.  We were very pleased to see a lot of regrowth with the scrub, but there is a long, long way to go.

We continued north on to the little town of Ardrossan on the western side of the Yorke Peninsula.  Ardrossan is a beautiful little town of about 1,200 people, which faces the Gulf St Vincent.  Prior to arriving there, Marija and I had arranged to meet Adrian VK5FANA at the local cafe.  Adrian is a very keen park activator and hunter.  I had spoken with Adrian many times on air, but I had never met him in person.  So we headed for the ‘Stump Jump Cafe’ in the main street of Ardrossan.

IMG_0831

After having a coffee and a morning hotdog, and a chat with Adrian, we had a quick look around Ardrossan.  I mentioned the ‘Stump Jump Cafe’ above.  I hear you saying now, ‘what a strange name for a cafe’.  Well it was named after the stump jump plough.  Ardrossan was the home of Clarence Smith’s plough factory where he manufactured the stump jump plough between 1880 to 1935,  This South Australian invention was vital in opening mallee country throughout Australia to the plough.  Ploughing was difficult using a single furrow plough.  These were satisfactory where land had been adequately cleared, but were mallee roots and rocks were found, the ploughs would jump off course.  In 1876, Richard Bowyer Smith was ploughing on his farm when one of the bolts on the plough broke.  He discovered that it worked much better as it rode over the stumps.  This accident produced the concept of the stump jump plough.  If you would like some more information on this very unique South Australian invention, have a look at…..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stump-jump_plough

IMG_0838

After leaving the town of Ardrossan, we took the quick detour up to the dolomite mine lookout where we enjoyed some great views of Ardrossan and along the coastline.  We then hit the road again and continued south down the Yorke Peninsula.

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Our next stop was the little inland town of Minlaton which is another very interesting little town on the Yorke Peninsula.  Minlaton has a population of about 800 people and is known as the “Barley capital of the world”.  Minlaton was the home town of Harry Butler, a World War flying ace, who also flew an air mail run from Adelaide across Gult St Vincent to Minlaton back in 1919.  His mail run was the first over-water flight in the Southern Hemisphere.  Butler’s Bristol M1C monoplane has been restored and is on display in the town.  There is also a wildlife park here which is worth a look, which is exactly what we did, whilst we had morning tea.  We also called in to the Minlaton Tourist Information Centre which is located in the old Harvest Corner building, which was originally a fuel and fodder store, and a saddlery.  The building later became the district’s main shoe store, and in the 1930’s a cafe and delicatessen.

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We then headed down to Yorketown, a small town of about 685 people, again with a very interesting history.  Yorketown was built on the junction of five roads, and this rather unique junction remains today.  Many of the original buildings exist, including the Yorke Hotel built in 1876, and the Melville Hotel built in 1872.  Here is how the intersection looks today…..

IMG_0876

And here is how the intersection looked at the turn of the century…..

B42056-1

 

Image courtesy of the State Library South Australia.

After leaving Yorketown, we continued south through the town of Warooka and then on to Marion Bay, which is the gateway to the Innes National Park.  Marion Bay is set at the foot of the Yorke Peninsula and has some excellent surf and fishing beaches.  It is a very popular tourist destination and its population swells during the holiday periods.

Screenshot 2015-04-06 22.15.47

Above:- the lcoation of Innes National Park.  Image courtesy of mapcarta.com

We drove into the park and after a short photo stop, we headed for the Innes National Park Tourist Centre, where we needed to collect our accomodation key.  Marija and I had visited Innes back in 2013 for the 6 month anniversary of the parks award, and we had fond memories of the park and the visitor centre which had quite a bit to see.  However we were saddened to see that the Visitor Centre was closed ‘Until Further Notice’.  Now, I normally do not like getting political.  But I am going to here.  Innes National Park is one of the most popular park in South Australia, with tens of thousands of visitors each year.  And the Visitor Centre would not have been cheap to construct.  And here it is closed until further notice.  My own personal experience with DEWNR is that they are sadly lacking in funds.  All I can say is that the South Australian State Government should hang their head in shame.

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And further, to enter the park, you are no longer blessed with a friendly ‘ranger’ to provide you with a permit and advice on where to go and what to see.  Now you book on line prior to entry to the park.  Clearly a cost cutting exercise.  Recently whilst up at the Mount Remarkable National Park, we were viewing an information board at the entrance to the park, when a Victorian couple drove in and asked us where they were to pay.  We told them about the on-line booking system, and because there was no internet coverage, they drove off.  Perhaps our friends in Parliament are trying to disuade visitors to our parks?  See the interesting story below about visitors to Innes.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/new-park-rules-deter-visitors-to-innes-national-park/story-e6frea6u-1226550718598

Enough of the negative comments.  As we drove towards Inneston, there were some spectacular photo opportunities.  Initially we took a detour to Stenhouse Bay to view the historic jetty and the beautiful blue waters of the Bay.  We then headed to the Cape Spencer lighthouse, and also enjoyed the amazing views of Chinamans Hat Island, Cable Bay, Althorpe Islands, and across the water to Kangaroo Island.

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After settling in at the old Post Office, Marija helped me set up my radio gear.  Initially I set up my station at the back of the Post Office as it was a nice sheltered and enclosed area, but after turning on the radio I was saddened to hear that the noise floor was S8.  It was pretty much impossible to operate, so down came the antenna and I moved location, amongst the scrub, about 30 metres from our accommodation, close to some of the Inneston ruins.  Unfortunately the noise level was not much better.  Nearby was an ETSA power line running through the park, to supply power to the accomodation.  I suspect this is where the noise was coming from.

I called CQ on 7.088 and this was answered by park stalwart, Peter VK3TKK who was mobile (5/9 both ways).  This was followed by Doug VK2FMIA who was portable in the Somerton National Park, VKFF-607, in New South Wales (also 5/9 both ways).  So despite the high noise I was experiencing, the band seemed to be in very good condition.

A few calls later I was called by my first VK5 park for the weekend, Chris VK4FR/5 who was in the Dudley Conservation Park, VKFF-809, on Kangaroo Island OC-139.  Chris had a great 5/9 signal.  Chris was not to be my last park to park contact for this activation.  About 15 QSO’s later I was called by Greg VK5ZGY who was portable in the Mount Boothy Conservation Park in the Mallee region of South Australia.  Greg also had a nice 5/9 signal.

About a dozen contacts later I was called by Glenn VK6KY/5 who was mobile at Moonta at the top of the Yorke Peninsula.  I found out that Greg was travelling with a group of other VK6 amateurs and their wives, and in fact they had been at Inneston earlier in the day and had been standing right outside the old Post Office, reading the information board.  It is a small world.

Soon after I took a break for dinner, and when I returned my second caller was Steve VK5RU.  I was quite surprised when Steve told me that many years earlier he had lived at Inneston.  What is the chance of that?  A VK6 who had visited this remote location earlier in the day, and now an amateur who had actually lived at Inneston.  It was starting to get dark after quite a beautful sunset, and the Tamar wallabies were out in force.  Tamar wallabies were classed as extinct in the Australian wild until recently, and have now been reintroduced to Innes National Park.

 

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I went on to work a dozen or so VK3, VK5 & VK7 stations, and I was then called by Owen ZL2OPB in New Plymouth on the South Island of New Zealand (5/9 both ways).

At about 0935 UTC (8.05 p.m.) I headed off to 7.130 for the 7130 DX Net, run by Roy VK7ROY.  I worked a total of 15 stations on the Net including William FO5JV in French Polynesia, John ZL2BH in Blenheim, and Brian ZL2ASH in Wellington.

Following the net, I headed to 7.135 and called CQ and this was answered by Mike VK3AUR, followed by Dennis VK5LDM with a huge signal.  I worked a further 3 stations, until I decided it was time to head inside and enjoy a bottle of red.

I had a total of 69 contacts on 40m SSB which I was very pleased with.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

  1.  VK3TKK/m
  2. VK2FMIA/p (Somerton National Park)
  3. VK3PF
  4. VK5EE
  5. VK5GJ
  6. VK5FANA
  7. VK5KLV
  8. VK4FR/5 (Dudley Conservation Park)
  9. VK4CPS
  10. VK5ND
  11. VK7NWT
  12. VK5FMID
  13. VK5FLEX
  14. VK3FQSO
  15. VK2YK
  16. VK5KPR
  17. VK3OHM
  18. VK5NAQ
  19. VK2LEE
  20. VK3FLCS
  21. VK5BMC
  22. VK3DAC
  23. VK3FMOL
  24. VK5ZGY/p (Mount Boothby Conservation Park)
  25. VK1DI
  26. VK3PMG
  27. VK5ZAR
  28. VK3VIN
  29. VK5CZ
  30. VK5NPP
  31. VK5HOS
  32. VK5GW
  33. VK3FSPG
  34. VK5FTRG/m
  35. VK3ANL
  36. VK6KY/5
  37. VK5YX
  38. VK5WG
  39. VK5FADS
  40. VK7VAZ
  41. VK5RU
  42. VK5FDEC
  43. VK3JP
  44. VK5JK
  45. ZL2OPB
  46. VK4NAI/p
  47. VK5ZRY/m
  48. VK3HK/5
  49. VK3KHZ
  50. VK5PET
  51. VK5TR
  52. VK2HFS
  53. VK3ADD
  54. VK7XX
  55. FO5JV
  56. ZL2BH
  57. VK6LCK
  58. VK2PKT
  59. VK3FMHY
  60. ZL2ASH
  61. VK7VEK
  62. VK5FAKV
  63. VK1AT/3
  64. VK5FMID
  65. VK3AUR
  66. VK5LDM
  67. VK7FGGT
  68. VK5WG
  69. VK5SFA

 

References.

Wikipedia, 2015, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardrossan,_South_Australia&gt;, viewed 7th April 2015

Wikipedia, 2015, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minlaton,_South_Australia&gt;, viewed 7th April 2015