I had driven passed the Murray Valley National Park VKFF-1178 on my way in to Barmah on Saturday evening, and had decided to active this park on the afternoon of Sunday 13th November 2016.  Murray Valley National Park is located just outside of Barmah, over the Murray River in New South Wales.  This was to be another unique park for me as an activator for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Murray Valley National Park along the New South Wales and Victoria border.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

So after packing up at Barmah National Park I drove back into the little town of Barmah, and over the Barmah bridge on the Murray River and into New South Wales.  A few hundred metres over the bridge on the northern side of the road is an entry point to the Murray Valley National Park.  It is well signposted.

I drove in to the park on Barmah River Road which is a little dirt track.   Dutring dryer conditions this track could be passed in a conventional vehicle, but certainly not on this occasion.  It was very wet and slippery and was only negotiable via 4WD.  A short distance along the track, Barmah River Road ventures off to the right towards the Murray River.  Ferry Road continues on further into the park and was not passable due to all the rain.

Murray Valley National Park is 41,601 hectares in size (102,800 acres).  It was established to protect the majestic River Red Gum forests of the Riverina region of New South Wales.  The park is part of the largest continuous Red Gum forest in the world and contains over 60 threatened native animal species and 40 threatened plant species.

I headed down close to the Murray River itself which was flowing exceedingly well after all the rain.

As it was still drizzling with rain and the mosquitos were out in force, I decided to operate from the vehicle again.  I set up the 80/40/20m linked dipole, getting very wet in the process and then ran the Yaseu Ft-857d from the passenger seat of my Toyota Hi Lux.

Above:- Map showing my operating spot in the Murray Valley National Park.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

I headed to 7.144 and started calling CQ and this was answered by David VK5PL with a lovely 5/9 signal.  This was followed by Tim VK3MTB who was operating portable in the Morwell National Park VKFF-0626.  I went on to work a total of 57 stations on 7.144 including the following Park to Park contacts:

• Adam VK2YK/p, Tillgerry State Conservation Area VKFF-1377
• Joe VK3SRC/p, Mornington Peninsula National Park VKFF-0333
• Bernard VK3AV/p, Yarra Ranges National Park VKFF-0556
• Tony VK3XV/p, Greater Bendigo National Park VKFF-0623
• Neil VK4HNS/p, Moggill Conservation Park VKFF-1594
• Peter VK3TKK/p, Organ Pipes National Park VKFF-0627
• Peter VK3ZPF/p, Morwell National Park VKFF-0626

I also spoke with Peter VK3PF who was activating Mount Taylor VK3/ VG-142 for the Summits on the Air program, and Gerald VK2HBG who was operating the special call of VI2HQ40 for the 40th anniversary of the Mid South Coast Amateur Radio Club.

When callers slowed I took the opportunity of looking across the 40m band and found Gerard VK2IO on 7.140 activating the Jervis Bay National Park VKFF-0249.  I then headed to 20m and called VQ on 14.310.  This was answered by Rick VK4RF/VK4HA and then Mike VK6MB.  But despite conditions being quite good on 20m, they were my only callers.  My only other company on the 20m band was the Over the Horizon Radar.

So I headed back to 40m and found a clear spot on 7.120 and called CQ again.  This was answered by Allen VK3ARH who was portable in the Errinundra Nationa Park VKFF-0158.  I worked a further 20 stations from VK2, VK5, and VK7 before calling it a day.

After 2 and 1/2 hours in the Murray Valley National Park I had a total of72 contacts in the log, including 10 Park to Park contacts.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5PL
2. VK3MTB/p (Morwell National Park VKFF-0626)
3. VK3SQ
4. VK7CW
5. VK2PKT
6. VK5BJE
7. VK2YK/p (Tillgerry State Conservation Area VKFF-1377)
8. VK5WG
9. VK2NEO
10. VK5FANA
11. VK7ALH
12. VK2KYO
13. VK3FPSR
14. VK2VW
15. VK5GJ
16. VK5KHZ
17. VK2KDP
18. VK3SRC/p (Mornington Peninsula National Park VKFF-0333)
19. VK5FAKV
20. VK3AV/p (Yarra Ranges National Park VKFF-0556)
21. VK4FDJL/2
22. VK5NFT
23. VK3SX
24. VI2HQ40
25. VK2HBG
26. VK2MGA
27. VK3XV/p (Greater Bendigo National Park VKFF-0623)
28. VK3NXT
29. VK4HNS/p (Moggill Conservation Park VKFF-1594)
30. VK7DW
31. VK3PF/p (SOTA VK3/ VG-142)
32. VK7DIK
33. VK3FSPG
34. VK5HYZ
35. VK5KDK
36. VK3PMG/m
37. VK3GGG/m
38. VK5TW
39. VK5FD
40. VK3AN
41. VK1AT
42. VK3BBB
43. VK7FRJG
44. VK5MRT
45. VK3FOTO/m
46. VK7JON
47. VK5LSB
48. VK2FOUZ
49. VK3TKK/p (Organ Pipes National Park VKFF-0627)
50. VK5JK
51. VK5FMID
52. VK5ZGY
53. VK3ZPF/p (Morwell National Park VKFF-0626)
54. VK3UH
55. VK1AD
56. VK5WF
57. VK4RF
58. VK4HA
59. VK2IO/p (Jervis Bay National Park VKFF-0249)
60. VK3ARH/p (Errinundra Nationa Park VKFF-0158)
61. VK5CGM
62. VK2JDR
63. VK5KKT
64. VK7FPLT
65. VK5KLV
66. VK7EV
67. VK2YW
68. VK2GRA
69. VK5TD
70. VK2FSVN

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4RF
2. VK4HA
3. VK6MB

At the end of the activation I headed for the Barmah Hotel, hoping to enjoy a nice steak as I had the night before.  But sadly they did not serve meals on a Sunday evening, so that meant a 60 km round trip to Echuca for a meal.  On the way back from Echuca I spoke with Gerard VK2IO who was portable in the Jervis Bay Marine National Park VKFF-1408.

 

References.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2016, <http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/murray-valley-national-park&gt;, viewed 21st November 2016

Wikipedia, 2016, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray_Valley_National_Park&gt;, viewed 21st November 2016