I thoroughly enjoyed operating portable during 2016.  I visited some fantastic locations, including Norfolk Island out in the Pacific.  I activated a total of 12 SOTA summits and undertook a total of 98 park activations.  All up I made a total of 6,588 QSOs whilst I was operating portable during 2016.  The highlight of the year was being able to undertake activations with my wife Marija VK5FMAZ, who obtained her Foundation licence in March 2016.

A number of great events took place in 2016.  They included the 2016 VKFF Activation Weekend, the VKFF Team Challenge and the Freeze your Butt Off Contest.

I also operated portable during the RD Contest and the VK Shires Contest.

I was issued a number of awards during 2016.  Some of those are shown below.

Honour Roll 100

Honour Roll 475

Honour Roll 500

VKFF Activator Honour Roll 125

Below is a summary of my SOTA & Park activations…..

Summits on the Air

• 12 unique SOTA activations
• Total of 638 QSOs.

Mount Bryan VK5/ SE-001

Mount Bates Norfolk Island VK9. NO-001

Brownhill Range VK5/ SE-004

1. Mount Bryan South Australia VK5/ SE-001 (31/12/2016)
   • 76 QSOs
2. Brown Hill Range South Australia VK5/ SE-004 (31/12/2016)
   • 56 QSO
3. Point 756 Pyrenees Victoria VK3/ VS-018 (17/11/2016)
   • 33 contacts
4. Blue Mountain Victoria VK3/ VS-015 (17/11/2016)
   • 22 contacts
5. One Tree Hill Victoria VK3/ VS-036 (16/11/2016)
   • 74 contacts
6. Mount Baranduda Victoria VK3/ VE-189 (14/11/2016)
   • 30 contacts
7. Huon Hill Victoria VK3/ VE-237 (14/11/2016)
   • 32 contacts
8. Black Bullock Hill South Australia VK5/ SE-016 (7/8/2016)
   • 65 contacts
9. Mount Bates Norfolk Island VK9/ NO-001(23/5/2016)
   • 25 contacts
10. Mount Arapiles Victoria VK3/ VW-022 (29/3/2016)
    • 50 contacts
11. Mount Gawler South Australia VK6/ SE-013 (26/1/2016)
    • 82 contacts
12. Mount Lofty South Australia VK5/ SE-005 (1/1/2016)
    • 93 contacts

Parks

• 86 unique park activations
• Total of 6,588 QSOs

Coorong National Park

Barmah National Park

Monarto National Park

Peebinga Conservation Park

Totness Recreation Park

Norfolk Island

1. Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary VKFF-1766 (16/12/2016)
   • 56 contacts
2. Monarto Woodlands Conservation Park VKFF-1763 and 5CP-276 (9/12/2016)
   • 73 contacts
3. Ridley Conservation Park VKFF-0932 (27/11/2016)
   • 65 contacts
4. Swan Reach Conservation Park VKFF-0832 (27/11/2016)
   • 54 contacts
5. Marne Valley Conservation Park VKFF-0906 (27/11/2016)
   • 58 contacts
6. Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park VKFF-0919 (26/11/2016)
   • 35 contacts
7. Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park VKFF-1082 (26/11/2016)
   • 94 contacts
8. Ararat Hills Regional Park VKFF-0958 (16/11/2016)
   • 74 contacts
9. Baranduda Regional Park VKFF-0959 (14/11/2016)
   • 30 contacts
10. Wodonga Regional Park VKFF-0980 (14/11/2016)
    • 32 contacts
11. Murray Valley National Park VKFF-1178 (13/11/2016)
    • 72 contacts
12. Barmah National Park VKFF-0739 (13/11/2016)
    • 64 contacts
13. Terrick Terrick National Park VKFF-0630 (12/11/2016)
    • 58 contacts
14. Gunbower National Park VKFF-0740 (12/11/2016)
    • 68 contacts
15. Kerang Regional Park VKFF-0970 (11/11/2016)
    • 36 contacts
16. Leaghur State Park VKFF-0762 (11/11/2016)
    • 55 contacts
17. Montacute Conservation Park VKFF-0910 and 5CP-139 (6/11/2016)
    • 79 contacts
18. Kinchina Conservation Park VKFF-1764 (3/11/2016)
    • 61 contacts
19. John Forrest National Park VKFF-0250 (22/10/2016)
    • 15 contacts
20. Greenmount National Park VKFF-0218 (22/10/2016)
    • 14 contacts
21. Lesmurdie Falls National Park VKFF-0284 (21/10/2016)
    • 8 contacts
22. Monarto Woodlands Conservation Park VKFF-1763 and 5CP-276 (19/10/2016)
    • 60 contacts
23. Monarto Conservation Park VKFF-0829 (16/10/2016)
    • 68 contacts
24. Loch Luna Game Reserve VKFF-1723 (13/10/2016)
    • 10 contacts
25. Peebinga Conservation Park VKFF-0830 and 5CP-173 (12/10/2016)
    • 28 contacts
26. Mount Monster Conservation Park VKFF-0800 and 5CP-149 (11/10/2016)
    • 18 contacts
27. Franklin Harbour Conservation Park VKFF-0807 and 5CP-071 (18/9/2016)
    • 47 contacts
28. Middlecamp Hills Conservation Park VKFF-1059 and 5CP-184 (18/9/2016)
    • 54 contacts
29. Yeldulknie Conservation Park VKFF-1127 and 5CP-020 (17/9/2016)
    • 54 contacts
30. The Plug Range Conservation Park VKFF-1107 and 5CP-231 (17/9/2016)
    • 45 contacts
31. Heggarton Conservation Park VKFF-1037 and 5CP-089 (17/9/2016)
    • 58 contacts
32. Whyalla Conservation Park VKFF-0805 and 5CP-253 (16/9/2016)
    • 50 contacts
33. Ironstone Hill Conservation Park VKFF-0895 and 5CP-095 (16/9/2016)
    • 55 contacts
34. Munyaroo Conservation Park VKFF-0920 and 5CP-154 (16/9/2016)
    • 51 contacts
35. Belair National Park VKFF-0022 and 5NP-001 (11/9/2016)
    • 103 contacts
36. Baudin Conservation Park VKFF-1002 and 5CP-012 (24/8/2016)
    1. 61 contacts
37. Lashmar Conservation Park VKFF-0902 and 5CP-113 (24/8/2016)
    • 49 contacts
38. Pelican Lagoon Conservation Park VKFF-0926 and 5CP-174 (24/8/2016)
    • 45 contacts
39. Lathami Conservation Park VKFF-0903 and 5CP-114 (23/8/2016)
    • 48 contacts
40. Beyeria Conservation Park VKFF-1005 and 5CP-017 (23/8/2016)
    • 71 contacts
41. Nepean Bay Conservation Park VKFF-1067 and 5CP-159 (23/8/2016)
    • 54 contacts
42. Cygnet Estuary Conservation Park VKFF-1130 and 5CP-273 (23/8/2016)
    1. 53 contacts
43. Parndana Conservation Park VKFF-0925 and 5CP-171 (22/8/2016)
    • 60 contacts
44. Dudley Conservation Park VKFF-0809 and 5CP-058 (22/8/2016)
    • 47 contacts
45. Simpson Conservation Park VKFF-1098 and 5CP-213 (22/8/2016)
    • 54 contacts
46. Cape Willoughby Conservation Park VKFF-1014 and 5CP-033
47. Totness Recreation Park VKFF-1754  (13/8/2016 & 14/8/2016)
    • 426 contacts
48. Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve VKFF-1701 (7/8/2016)
    • 73 contacts
49. Tolderol Game Reserve VKFF-1752 (5/8/2016)
    • 71 contacts
50. Totness Recreation Park VKFF-1754 (3/8/2016)
    • 77 contacts
51. Kyeema Conservation Park VKFF-0826 and 5CP-107 (29/7/2016)
    • 46 contacts
52. Cudlee Creek Conservation Park VKFF-1023 and 5CP-050 (23/7/2016)
    • 47 contacts
53. Mowantjie WIllauwar Conservation Park VKFF-0919 and 5CP-152 (16/7/2016)
    • 90 contacts
54. Coorong National Park VKFF-0115 and 5NP-005 (16/7/2016)
    • 25 contacts
55. Ettrick Conservation Park VKFF-1029 and 5CP-267 (26/6/2016)
    • 101 contacts
56. Grass Tree Conservation Park VKFF-0885 and 5CP-080 (13/6/2016)
    • 57 contacts
57. Talapar Conservation Park VKFF-1103 and 5CP-222 (13/6/2016)
    • 54 contacts
58. Fairview Conservation Park VKFF-0879 and 5CP-065 (13/6/2016)
    • 62 contacts
59. Carpenter Rocks Conservation Park VKFF-1108 and 5CP-038 (11/6/2016)
    • 102 contacts
60. Telford Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-0805 and 5CP-226 (11/6/2016)
    • 54 contacts
61. Dingley Dell Conservation Park VKFF-1025 and 5CP-056 (11/6/2016)
    • 56 contacts
62. Aberdour Conservation Park VKFF-0994 and 5CP-001 (10/6/2016)
    • 28 contacts
63. Christmas Rocks Conservation Park VKFF-1020 and 5CP-266 (10/6/2016)
    • 52 contacts
64. Kelvin Powrie Conservation Park VKFF-0899 and 5CP-103 (10/6/2016)
    • 34 contacts
65. Norfolk Island VKFF-0392
    • 216 contacts
66. Norfolk Island VKFF-0392 (27/5/2016)
    • 59 contacts
67. Norfolk Island VKFF-0392 (26/5/2016)
    • 107 contacts
68. Norfolk Island VKFF-0392 (24/5/2016)
    • 120 contacts
69. Norfolk Island VKFF-0392 (23/5/2016)
    • 25 contacts & 56 contacts
70. Lane Cove National Park VKFF-0281 (21/5/2016)
    • 23 contacts
71. Wiljani Conservation Park VKFF-1159 and 5CP-274 (30/4/2016)
    • 101 contacts
72. Ferries McDonald Conservation Park VKFF-0881 and 5CP-067 (25/4/2016)
    • 120 contacts
73. Maize Island Lagoon Conservation Park VKFF-0827 and 5CP-123 (17/4/2016)
    • 57 contacts
74. Cooltong Conservation Park VKFF-0823 and 5CP-046 (17/4/2016)
    • 59 contacts
75. Pooginook Conservation Park VKFF-0929 and 5CP-186 (16/4/2016)
    • 81 contacts
76. Pike River Conservation Park VKFF-0831 and 5CP-180 (15/4/2016)
    • 25 contacts
77. Kenneth Stirling Conservation Park VKFF-0781 and 5CP-104 (10/4/2016)
    • 54 contacts
78. Myponga Conservation Park VKFF-0921 and 5CP-157 (4/4/2016)
    • 57 contacts
79. Eric Bonython Conservation Park VKFF-0877 and 5CP-062 (3/4/2016)
    • 100 contacts
80. Waitpinga Conservation Park VKFF-0940 and 5CP-243 (3/4/2016)
    • 113 contacts
81. Deep Creek Conservation Park VKFF-0780 and 5CP-054 (2/4/2016)
    • 45 contacts
82. Talisker Conservation Park VKFF-0790 and 5CP-223 (2/4/2016)
    • 121 contacts
83. Deep Creek Conservation Park VKFF-0780 and 5CP-054 (1/4/2016)
    • 113 contacts
84. Yulti Conservation Park VKFF-1128 and 5CP-261 (1/4/2016)
    • 53 contacts
85. Wolseley Common Conservation Park VKFF-1125 and 5CP-258 (30/3/2016)
    • 59 contacts
86. Mount Arapiles/Tooan State Park VKFF-0765 (29/3/2016)
    • 50 contacts
87. Kelvin Powrie Conservation Park VKFF-0899 and 5CP-103 (29/3/2016)
    • 31 contacts
88. Scott Creek Conservation Park VKFF-0788 and 5CP-207 (25/3/2016)
    • 102 contacts
89. Monarto Conservation Park VKFF-0828 (19/3/2016)
    • 229 contacts
90. Mark Oliphant Conservation Park VKFF-0782 and 5CP-127 (11/3/2016)
    • 86 contacts
91. Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park VKFF-0897 and 5CP-097 (26/2/2016)
    • 48 contacts
92. Black Hill Conservation Park VKFF-0776 and 5CP-022 (19/2/2016)
    • 73 contacts
93. Charleston Conservation Park VKFF-0777 and 5CP-041 (12/2/2016)
    • 72 contacts
94. Marne Valley Conservation Park VKFF-0906 and 5CP-128 (31/1/2016)
    • 68 contacts
95. The Knoll VKFF-0937 and 5CP-229 (26/1/2016)
    • 60 contacts
96. Ettrick Conservation Park VKFF-1029 (15/1/2016)
    • 89 contacts
97. Mount Billy Conservation Park VKFF-0912 (8/1/2016)
    • 80 contacts
98. Cleland Conservation Park VKFF-0778 and 5CP-042 (1/1/2016)
    • 93 contacts

Our last activation for the trip up to the Mid North of South Australia was to be on Monday 2nd January 2017, at the Red Banks Conservation Park VKFF-1086 and 5CP-195.  The park is located about 181 km north of Adelaide and about 18 km west of Burra.  This was to be another unique park for both Marija VK5FMAZ and I for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program and the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Red Banks Conservation Park in the Mid North of South Australia.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

After breakfast and packing the Toyota Hi Lux, Marija and I headed out of Burra on Kooringa Road and then onto the Goyder Highway.  We then turned left onto Eastern Road and headed towards the park.  Eastern Road is a dirt road but is in good condition and easily passed in a conventional vehicle.  About 9 km along the road, the park sign came into view.  There is an entry point for bushwalkers at this point, but the main entrance to the park is a little further along.

The turn off at the Goyder Hwy

View along Eastern Road

It was quite a cool morning with a lot of cloud cover.  Not dissimiliar to weather conditions the day before, but fortunately no rain.  Marija and I suspected that the cloud cover would burn off and the sun would come out which is what had happened the past few mornings.  And that is exactly what happened.  It was quite slow going out to the park as there were a large number of Western Grey Kangaroos out enjoying their breakfast.

Red Banks Conservation Park is 1,024 hectares in size and contains remnant vegetation of the Mid North region of South Australia.  Two deeply incised meandering creek lines dissect the park.  These display a spectacular array of erosion formations, including vertical banks of up to 30 metres in depth.  They have a distinctly red colouration.  Thus the name of the park.

Red Banks has a permanent water supply was used by the Aboriginals and by stockman at the junction of the four major stock routes.  There was a little bit of water in the creek near where we set up.

The Red Banks Conservation Park has been called by palaontologists as one of the richest megafauna sites in Australia.  One of the prehistoric creatures to have previously called this area home, was the Diprotodon, the largest known maryuspial ever to have lived.  Diprotodon means ‘two forward teeth’.  Diprotodon lived here until around 65.000 years ago.

The largest specimens of Diprotodon were hippopotamus sized, about 3 mtres from the nose to the tail, and standing at about 2 metres tall at the shoulder and weighing about 2,790 kilograms.

The closest surviving relatives of the Diprotodon are the wombats and the koala.  Diprotodon superficially resembled a rhinoceros without a horn. Its feet turned inwards like a wombat’s, giving it a pigeon-toed appearance. It had strong claws on the front feet and its pouch opening faced backwards. Footprints of its feet have been found showing a covering of hair which indicates it had a coat similar to a modern wombat.

We set up in the main visitor carpark area of the park.  A well maintained dirt track leads to this area from the main entrance.  There were no other visitors at this time so we strung out the 80/40/20m linked dipole and set up the fold up table and deck chair underneath the shade of a gum tree, as the sun was starting to poke its head out of the clouds.

Above: – Aerial shot of the park showing our operating spot.  Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

Our first contact was with David VK3IL who was activating the Churchill Island Marine National Park VKFF-0947.  This was David’s first ever park activation.  David was booming in with a 5/9 signal.  We heard David subsequently work Adrian VK5FANA on the Yorke Peninsula and there was not a sign of Adrian on 40m, so Marija and I decided to put a few CQ calls out on 80m prior to calling CQ on 40m.

On 80m we logged Adrian VK5FANA, Tony VK5TT who was operating remote, and Jim VK5JW at Cowell on the Eyre Peninsula.  All had very strong signals, but sadly they were our only callers on 80m.

We then moved back to 40m and started calling CQ on 7.144.  This was answered by Mick VK3GGG/VK3PMG, followed by Geoff VK3SQ, and Steve VK3FSPG.  Marija and I had soon clocked up our 10 contacts required for the Australian (VKFF) chapter of WWFF.

I pushed on and worked a total of 22 stations on 40m including Ian VK1DI/2 on SOTA peak Big Badja Hill VK2/ SM-059 which is located in the Deua National Park VKFF-0138.  I also spoke with Peter VK3YE who was using a Bitex kit transceiver and running just 5 watts (5/5 both ways).

I then moved to 20m and called CQ on 14.310.  The first taker there was Karl VK2GKA, followed by Rick VK4RF/VK4HA and then Matt VK1MA.  I worked a total of 18 stations on 20m in VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK6 and VK7.  This included another contact with Ian VK1DI/2 on Big Badja Hill andDeua National Park and Peter VK3PF who was activating SOTA summit Huon Hill VK3/ VE-237 in the Wodonga Regional Park VKFF-0980.

The Victorian stations were quite strong on 20m and quite low down on 40m, so I suspected the 15m band would probably be open.  Marija and I took down the linked dipole and put up the 15m dipole.  I headed to 21.244 and called CQ and this was answered by Ori VK3NRG who was a strong 5/8.  This was followed by Gerard VK2IO, Mike VK2IG, and then Neil VK4HNS/2.  I worked a total of 11 stations on 15m in VK2, VK3, and VK4.  This included a Park to Park contact with Marcus VK3TST who was in the Reef Hills State Park VKFF-0773.

We had a BBQ to attend later in the day so we packed up and got back on the road.  I had a total of 55 stations in the log, whilst Marija had a total of 11 stations in the log.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3IL/p (Churchill Island Marine National Park VKFF-0947)
2. VK3GGG
3. VK3PMG
4. VK3SQ
5. VK3FSPG
6. VK3MPR
7. VK3SFG
8. VK3ANL
9. VK4RF
10. VK4HA
11. VK3HN
12. VK3GMC
13. VK5ZGY
14. VK3ARH
15. VK3FPSR
16. VK5HCF
17. VK3YE
18. VK5EE
19. VK5AA
20. VK2IG
21. VK1DI/2 (SOTA Big Badja Hill VK2/ SM-059 & Deua National Park VKFF-0138)
22. VK2GKA
23. VK5NFT/m

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5FANA
2. VK5TT
3. VK5JW

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2GKA
2. VK4RF
3. VK4HA
4. VK2YK
5. VK1MA
6. VK4HNS/p
7. VK2VW
8. VK7LTD
9. VK1DI/2 (SOTA Big Badja Hill VK2/ SM-059 &Deua National Park VKFF-0138)
10. VK2IO
11. VK3UH
12. VK3SFG
13. VK6XL
14. VK1RX/2
15. VK1AD
16. VK4MNM
17. VK4QD
18. VK3PF/p (SOTA Huon Hill VK3/ VE-237 & Wodonga Regional Park VKFF-0980)

I worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

1. VK3MRG
2. VK2IO
3. VK2IG
4. VK4HNS/p
5. VK3TST/p (Reef Hills State Park VKFF-0773)
6. VK2PKT
7. VK3FPSR
8. VK4RF
9. VK4HA
10. VK4NH
11. VK2YK

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3IL/p (Churchill Island Marine National Park VKFF-0947)
2. VK3GGG
3. VK3PMG
4. VK3SFG
5. VK3VZX
6. VK3SG
7. VK2FENG

Marija worked the following station on 15m SSB:-

1. VK3TST/p (Reef Hills State Park VKFF-0773)

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5FANA
2. VK5TT
3. VK5JW

After packing up we decided to take a different route home, and we headed down the Worlds End Highway through Robertstown, Point Pass, and Eudunda.  A unique name indeed for a Highway.  The locality at the northern end of the Highway is known as Worlds End, leading to the name of the Highway.  It was said that ‘to venture beyond that spur of the Flinders Range, was considered to be courting ruination’.

This is prime grain growing country and there were a lot of farmers out harvesting.  We also noted quite a few emus in the paddocks.

We continued on to Truro and then Angaston in the Barossa Valley, and then down through Eden Valley, Springton, Mount Pleasant, Mount Torrens, and eventually back home to Mount Barker.

Thankyou to everyone who called us during our time away in the Mid North of South Australia.  We had a terrific time.

References.

Cockburn; R, 2002, ‘South Australia.  What’s in a Name?”

Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2011, ‘Parks of the Mid North’.

National Parks South Australia, 2016, <https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/Clare_Valley/red-banks-conservation-park&gt;

Wikipedia, 2016, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diprotodon&gt;

Our third and final activation of the day was to be the Mokota Conservation Park, but we were running way behind schedule, so Marija and I decided to pop in and activate the Pandappa Conservation Park VKFF-1131 & 5CP-180, instead.  This was to be another unique park activation for both Marija and I for both the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program and the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Pandappa Conservation Park in the Mid North of South Australia.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

The park was relatively well signposted.  Not from the road, but there was a park sign inside the park boundary  which Marija spotted out of the corner of her eye as we were travelling along the Pandappa Road.  As we approached the gate we saw a ‘Park closed’ sign and thought ‘Oh no’.  Fortunately as we got closer we read the finer print which said the park was closed between 3rd January – 9th January 2017 due to feral animal control.

We drove a few hundred metres into the park and found a clearing in amongst the mallee scrub and started to set up.  The usual equipment was used for this activation: the Yaesu FT-757d, and the 80/40/20m linked dipole.

Above:- Map showing our operating spot in the northern section of the Pandappa Conservation Park.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

Pandappa Conservation Park is 1,051 hectares in size and is a semi arid park offering varied vegetation and wildlife.  The park was proclaimed on the 20th December 1973.  The vegetation within the park consists of red and white mallee, yorrell, hopbush, daisy bushes, saltbush and an area of low open woodland mallee box, sugarwoods, acacias and Bullock Bush.  The park is largely surrounded by cleared agricultural land.

A large amount of birdlife can be found in the park.  A total of 87 species have been recorded including Brown Treecreeper, Variegates Fairywren, Yellow-plumed honeyeaster, Southern Whiteface, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Red-rumped parrot and Crested Bellbird.

The park was named after the nearby Pandappa Homestead, which was settled in 1859 by Peter Waite (1834-1922), a South Australian pastoralist, businessman, company director and public benefactor.  In 1913 Waite presented to the University of Adelaide his Urbrae estate which comprised 134 hectares of land, and his house.  In 1915, the adjoining Claremont and Netherby estates of 67 hectares were added.  As a result the Waite Agricultural Research Institute was established.  The donation remains one of the largest public benefactions in South Australian history.  Waite also gave an adjoining estate of 114 acres to the South Australian Government for the purpose of founding an agricultural high school.  This became Urrbrae Agricultural High School.

Above:- Peter Waite (left) and an article from the Observer, 1922, re his death (right).  Images courtesy of wikipedia & Trove.

Unfortunately we did not have any mobile telephone coverage in the park so we were unable to self spot.  I headed to 7.144 hoping that some of the dedicated park hunters would be monitoring that frequency.  Unfortunately there was a ZL on 7.144 calling CQ, so I headed up the band to 7.150 and started calling CQ.  My CQ call was answered by Peter VK3KCD with a very strong 5.9 + signal.  This was followed by Mal VK3CWM, and then Joe VK3YSP and his wife Julie VK3FOWL.  Joe kindly spotted me and this resulted in some of the regular park hunters finding me including Mick VK3GGG/VK3PMG.

Thirteen QSOs into the activation I was called by Neil VK4HNS who was portable at Goondiwindi at his sister’s house.  Neil got his 8 year old nephew Kyne on the radio for a short while, and I explained to Kyne where I was and what I was doing.  It is great to hear youngsters up on air and fascinated by the hobby of amateur radio.

I had soon qualified the park for the Australian (VKFF) chapter of WWFF, as had Marija.  It was quite slow going, but I was slowly heading towards the required 44 contacts for the global WWFF program.  I worked a total of 31 stations on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7, before heading off to 20m.

After calling CQ on 14.310, Mark VK4SMA responded, followed by Keith VK2PKT, and then Lawrie VK4SQ.  I worked a total of 14 stations on 20m, getting me over the line with my 44 QSOs.  This included a couple of nice QSOs with Western Australian mobile stations.  The first being Martin VK6ZMS who was mobile at Fremantle and then another Martin, VK6RC, who was also mobile at Fremantle.  Both Martin’s had strong 5/8 signals coming out of their mobiles.  One DX station was logged, and that was Gerard F1BLL in France.

It was fast approaching 6.00 p.m. local time and we still had a little bit of a drive ahead of us, so Marija and decided to pack up.  We would have liked to have tried 15m and 80, but we were pushed for time.  I had a total of 45 contacts in the log and Marija had 10 stations logged.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3KCD
2. VK3CWM
3. VK3YSP
4. VK3FOWL
5. VK3GGG
6. VK3PMG
7. VK5FMWW
8. VK5FVSV
9. VK5AA
10. VK5EE
11. VK3CD/p
12. VK3ZPF
13. VK4HNS/p
14. VK3FSPG
15. VK3MPR
16. VK5KLV
17. VK5ZGY
18. VK3FRAB
19. VK3FPHG
20. VK7DW
21. VK3JP
22. VK3ARH
23. VK3HSB
24. VK2LEE
25. VK3SFG
26. VK2IG
27. VK3KBC/p
28. VK2PKT
29. VK2FENG
30. VK3VLY
31. VK3IO

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4SMA
2. VK2PKT
3. VK4SQ
4. VK6ZMS/m
5. VK6XL
6. VK6RC/m
7. VK6XN
8. VK2IF
9. VK4RF
10. VK4HA
11. VK2LEE
12. VK4AAV
13. F1BLL
14. VK4HNS/p

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3YSP
2. VK3FOWL
3. VK3GGG
4. VK3PMG
5. VK5FMWW
6. VK5FVSV
7. VK5EE
8. VK3FRAB
9. VK5AA
10. VK3CD/p

After leaving Pandappa we continued along Pandappa Road and then on to Franklyn Road.  We stopped briefly to take a photograph of a Statton gate.  These sturdy gates were built at Ned Statton’s blacksmith shop in Hallett during the late 1800’s.  The business flourished and up to 12 men were employed.  The business closed in 1957 and the building was sadly demolished.  However many of these Statton gates can still be found in the local area.

We continued on to the little town of Terowie, which in the local aboriginal language means ‘hidden water’.  Terowie, also formerly known as Gottliebs Well and Shebbear, is located halfway between Adelaide and Broken Hill.  What an amazing town this is.  It is like stepping back in time, with many historic buildings in the main street dating back to the 1880’s.  In 1985 the town was declared a ‘historic town’

Terowie is a very famous railway town.  The broad gauge railway reached Terowie in 1880  from Adelaide, and as a result the town of Terowie boomed.  Terowie was the break of gauge for trains heading north and south.  As a result all passengers and freight changed at Terowie.  From 1940 to the 1950’s, Terowie had a population of about 2000 people.  In 1969 the broad gauge was extended to Peterborough and this resulted in a decline of the town.  Many people left the area and businesses closed.  In 1989 the last train left Terowie and the line was ripped up.

On the 20th March 1942, whilst transferring trains in Terowie, General Douglas MacArthur delivered his famous speech during which he stated: “I came out of Bataan and I shall return”, referring to the Battle of the Philippines.  There is a plaque and an interpretive sign on the old railway platform re this speech.

Marija and I then headed south on the bitumen, along the Barrier Highway, back to Burra.  It had been a very interesting day.

References.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2011, ‘Parks of the Mid North’.

Birds SA, 2017, <http://www.birdssa.asn.au/location/pandappa-conservation-park/&gt;, viewed 4th January 2017

Wikipedia, 2017, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Waite_(philanthropist)&gt;, viewed 4th January 2017

Wikipedia, 2017, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Waite_(philanthropist)&gt;, viewed 4th January 2017

Wilmapaustralia, 2017, <http://www.wilmapaustralia.com.au/sa/satowns/hallett/&gt;, viewed 4th January 2017

Wikipedia, 2017, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terowie,_South_Australia&gt;, viewed 4th January 2017

After leaving Mount Bryan, Marija and I continued on the Dares Hill Tourist drive.  Our next planned stop was the Caroona Creek Conservation Park VKFF-0875 and 5CP-037.  The park is situated about 200 km north of Adelaide and around 35 km north east of Burra.  This was to be a unique park for both Marija and I for both the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program, and the VK5 National and Conservation Parks Award.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Caroona Creek Conservation Park in the Mid North of South Australia.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

We access the park via Dare Road which runs off Mount Bryan Road East.  The park is well signposted.  Please note that access to the park is via 4WD only.  The signs indicate this, and we soon found out why.

To reach the park you need to cross a handful of small creek crossings.  Depending on what time of the year you are travelling to the park, they can be flowing extremely well.  The track is also very rocky and I would definitely not recommend trying this in a conventional vehicle.  From what I have read on the internet it appears that access could be made via car from the eastern side of the park.

We soon reached the gate at the park boundary.

Caroona Creek Conservation Park is 4,630 hectares in size and is situated on the western edge of the Olary Plain.  It was gazetted on the 16th October 2014.  The park contains a range of landforms from steep rocky ridges and calcrete hills extending to alluvial plains.  Caroona Creek conserves a representative sample of the transitional zone between the rounded hills of the Mid North to the beginning of the rocky gorge country of the Flinders Ranges.  The northern area of the park contains the beautiful Tourilie Gorge and its surrounding rugged hilly terrain.

Although the park appears remote and desolate, there is a lot of life here.  Kangaroos, emus, Euros, and a large amount of birdlife can be found in the park.  A number of the plants were in flower during our visit.

There are no major facilities in the park.  Touralie Gorge hut can be found towards the northern side of the park.  There is a small shelter in the southern section of the park, and in the south eastern corner there is the main camp ground which contains an old shed.

As we were a bit short of time we set up a few hundred metres inside the park boundary from the gate we entered.

Above: Map showing our operating spot in the park.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

It was a warm day and there were no trees to afford any shade, so we rolled out the awning on the Toyota Hi Lux and operated from underneath the shade of the awning.  For this activation Marija and I ran the Yaesu FT-857d, and the 80/40/20m linked dipole, supported on the 7m telescopic squid pole.  I ran 40 watts and Marija ran her 10 watts.

I was not optomistic about getting my 44 contacts to qualify the park for WWFF program, but Marija kept encouraging me to be positive.  I started off first on the mic and called CQ on 7.144.  This was answered by Adrian VK5FANA on the Yorke Peninsula, with a beautiful 5/9 signal.  Brett VK3FLCS followed, along with Ivan VK5HS and Les VK5KLV.  It wasn’t long before I had my 10 contacts and I had qualified the park for the Australian chapter (VKFF) of WWFF.

It was now Marija’s turn to qualify the park.  Marija’s first contact was with David VK5HYZ, followed by Greg VK5ZGY, Les VK5KLV, and Ivan VK5HS.  Marija also racked up her 10 contacts quite quickly, which included a contact with Matt VK1MA who was on Mount Ginini VK1/ AC-008 in the Namadgi National Park VKFF-0377, and Gerard VK2IO who was on the top of Mount Elliot VK2/ HU-093.

I then took over the reigns of the mic again and slowly worked towards my 44 contacts.  And it was slow going!  The band conditions seemed to be quite good, with good signals from VK2, VK3, VK5 and VK7.  But there wasn’t a consistent flow of callers.  The 40m band was even open down to Adelaide, with a number of VK5’s logged, including Damien VK5FDEC who was running just 2.5 watts.   I worked a total of 33 stations on 40m, before deciding to try my luck on 20m.

But I was to be sadly let down.  I only worked two stations on 14.310 and they being Barry VK3LBW and Adam VK2YK mobile.  We really needed to pack up and hit the road, and I had fallen short of the 44 required QSOs, by just 9 contacts.  Oh well, a good excuse to come back to this park for the final contacts and further exploring in the 4WD.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5FANA
2. VK3FLCS
3. VK5HS
4. VK5KLV
5. VK5FDEC
6. VK5PL
7. VK5BB
8. VK5AFZ
9. VK3GGG
10. VK3PMG
11. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ HU-093)
12. VK5KHZ/p
13. VK3SQ
14. VK2IG
15. VK5JK
16. VK5ST
17. VK3SFG
18. VK2HHA
19. VK7CW
20. VK2PKT
21. VK5ZRY
22. VK3UH
23. VK5MBD
24. VK3DAZ
25. VK2YK/p
26. VK5ZZ/m
27. VK3PAT
28. VK3FSPG
29. VK3MPR
30. VK5DC
31. VK5FLEX
32. VK7ALB
33. VK5KDK

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK3LBW
2. VK2YK/m

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5HYZ
2. VK5ZGY
3. VK5KLV
4. VK5HS
5. VK1MA/p (SOTA VK1/ AC-008 & VKFF-0377)
6. VK4RF
7. VK4HA
8. VK5FANA
9. VK5BB
10. VK5FDEC
11. VK3SQ
12. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ HU-093)

After leaving Caroona Creek we continued our trip along the Dare Hill circuit, travelling north east on Mount Bryan Road East and then along Wilkins Drive to the now restored Wilkins Homestead.

Sir George Hubert Wilkins was born at Mount Bryan East in 1888, the youngest of 13 children.  He went to the local school and then continued his studies at the School of Mines in Adelaide where he studied electrical engineering.  In 1909 he travelled to England where he became interested in aviation.  Wilkins spent 3 years with an Arctic expedition as a photographer, and in 1916 he joined the Great War.  He was awarded the Military Cross for his efforts in rescuing wounded soldiers during the Third Battle of Ypres.

Following the war, he took part in the famous England to Australia air race.  This won fame for Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, but unfortunately Wilkins crashed his aircraft named ‘Kangaroo’ at Crete and was unable to complete the race.

In 1927 he made several unsuccessful attempts to fly over the Arctic and was stranded on an ice pack, having to walk for 13 days to reach habitation.  He was later successful, and made several flights over the Arctic, receiving a Knighthood for his efforts.

Wilkins died in the USA in 1958.  The US Navy later took his ashes to the North Pole aboard the submarine USS Skate on 17 March 1959 and his ashes were scattered at the North Pole in accordance with his wishes.  The Wilkins Sound, WIlkins Coast and Wilkins Ice Shelf in Antractica are named after him, as are the airport at Jamestown in the Mid North of South Australia, and a road at the Adelaide Airport.

Australian entrepeneur Dick Smith provided financial support and inspiration for the restoration of the Wilkins homestead.  Smith stated:

“In practically any other country other than Australia, his birthplace would be a national shrine.  But here, many people don’t even know that it exists.  Well, we’re going to change that”.

More information on Wilkins can be found at……

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/wilkins-sir-george-hubert-9099

Above: Sir George Hubert Wilkins (left) and the Detroit Arctic Expedition (right).  Images courtesy of wikipedia.

We then stopped at the old Mount Bryan East township, which is now desterted.  The old school which operated between 1885 to 1919, and the church are all that is now left.

We then reached the Dare’s Hill summit which offers amazing views.  Dares Hill is named after William Dare, a Mid North pastoralist.  He was born in 1824 in London and migrated to Australia at age 14.  After working at grubbing trees in Adelaide, he was employed as a shepherd in the Barossa Valley.  In 1852 he went to the Victorian goldfields and made good.  On returning to South Australia, he secured a lease on 50 square miles of country known as Pilitimitappa which, with the help of the local aborigines, he fences and stocked with sheep.  He ran this property for 35 years.  The ruins of the Dare homestead are located in the valley below the lookout.  Dare died in 1892, having survived three wives.

We then entered into the Collinsville Station property, over the stock grid.  Out next stop was the Pilitmitiappa homestead ruins, which were established by William Dare in the 1850′.  It was one of the earliest homesteads in the area.

Coillinsville Station was established by John Collins in 1889.  The Collinsville property is world renowned for its stud rams and excellent wool.  The stud wasresponsible for about one third of the genetics in the Australian sheep flock.   In 2011, following floods in a nearby creek, the bones of a Diprotdon were found on the property.  A team from the South Australian Museum subsequently found a full adult skeleton nearby.   More information on Collinsville can be found at…..

http://collinsville.com.au/about/our-history

We then stopped at the old Ketchowla Station which was established in 1852 by Christopher Giles, father of explorers Ernest and Alfred.  Christopher Giles had only arrived in the colony of South Australia in 1849.   The old shearing shed was extremely interesting with the names and dates of various shearers painted on the wall of the shed.

As we continued along the circuit, the old wooden telegraph poles came into view.  It was also quite slow going, as there were plently of kangaroos out and about.  We also briefly stopped to have a look at Dave’s Hut ruins.  This little hut was built by David Dearlove if Ketchowla in the 1930’s and it became a popular stopover for travellers.  Sadly all that remains now is the fireplace and chimney.

References.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2011, ‘Parks of the Mid North’

Wikipedia, 2017, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collinsville_Station&gt;, viewed 4th January 2017

Wikipedia, 2017, <https://en.wikipedia&gt;, viewed 4th January 2017

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It was nice to wake up on New Years Day without a hangover.  Our New Years Eve had been very quiet.  A meal at one of the local pubs in Burra and then me crashing on the sofa in the cottage watching the end of the Big Bash cricket on TV.  Today (Sunday 1st January 2017), Marija and I had one planned SOTA activation and two planned park activations.  We had also intended on completing the Dare Hill 4WD circuit (Tourist drive 21), a 128 km drive north of Burra.

After breakfast Marija and I headed to our first planned activation of the day, Mount Bryan, VK5/ SE-001.  This is about 50 km by road, north of Burra, and about 209 km north of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of Mount Bryan VK5/ SE-001 in the Mid North of South Australia.  Map courtesy of google maps.

It was quite a cool morning, with light drizzle and lots of cloud cover.  It did not look particularly great for the activation, and both Marija and I commented that we hoped it would clear up by the time we reached Mount Bryan.

Just outside of Burra (about 3 km) on the Barrier Highway, we made a brief stop to take a photo of a little farmhouse which is rather famous.  The 1920’s cottage featured on the cover of Midnight Oil’s ‘Diesel and Dust’ chart topping album released in 1987.  The cottage itself was voted number 2 in the 100 Best Views in Australia by Australian Traveller magazine.

In 2013 the locals realised the importance of saving this little house, and commenced a preservation fund to restore and repair the house.  Click on the link below to listen to a very interesting article from ABC Radio about the restoration process…..

http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2013/04/16/3737929.htm

We continued north along the Barrier Highway and it wasn’t long before Mount Bryan came into view.

We then entered Mount Bryan township, about 18 km north of Burra.  The town itself was named after the nearby peak.  Mount Bryan was once a busy hub of rail transport where 44 trains per week rolled to a halt.  Shunting lines to the cattle and shee yars,  cream and egg shed, a cloakroom, good sheds, the Station Master’s Office and wheat stack yard all previously existed.  In addition to the daily passenger train services to Adelaide, the train line provided fresh fruit and vegetables, mail and health services to the district.  Passenger services departed from 1880 to 1968.  Sadly that is all long gone, and there is not much in Mount Bryan, other than a few houses and the historic pub.

We did stop briefly to have a look at one of the wind turbine blades and the associated interpretive signs.

Marija and I then drove north east out of Mount Bryan along the Mount Bryan East Road, which is the commencement point of the Dare Hill circuit.  We stopped to have a look at the Mount Bryan Bible Christian Chapel ruins.  The chapel was built in 1871 and was the place of worship of Henry Collins (1832-1929, a pastoral pioneer of the district who established the Lucerndale sheep stud.  Collins arrived here in 1859 and too up 80 acres of land on which he built a single room pine and daub cottage.  He engaged in carting wood to the Burra mine.  In 1879 as an experiment, he was the first to plant lucerne on his property which flourished.  As a result of this valueable crop, in 1884 he was able to buy a stud ram and quality ewes, on which he based the development of his successful sheep breeding venture.

The following is an extract from The Advertiser, Saturday 19th October 1929 re his death

We continued along Mount Bryan Road East, with the weather still looking very ominous.  This area is dotted by various ruins, a reminder of the very difficult and remote life that the pastoralists led during the 1800’s and early 1900’s.

Marija and I detoured from the Dare Hill route, and turned left onto Glen View Road and then on to Banbury Road and headed north west towards the summit.  About 3 km up the road we reached the gate which we needed to go through to get up to Mount Bryan.  This is private property, so please DO NOT enter the property unless you have the specific permission of the landowner, which Marija and I had.  I had received some information from Ian VK5CZ and Hugh VK5NHG that the gates may have been locked and they gave me some clues on where to find the key.  But fortunately the gates were not locked on this occasion.

We followed the dirt track right up to the summit, passing through a number of closed gates, ensuring we closed the gates and left them as we found them.  I would not recommend this track in a conventional vehicle as there are some very rocky spots and a number of washaways.

There were some great views to be had through the mist of the surrounding countryside and the paddocks were alive with kangaroos.

We reached the top of the summit and parked the Toyota Hi Lux and walked a short distance to the trig point.  Mount Bryan is 933 metres above sea level and is the highest point on the Razorback Range.  It is worth 8 points for the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program.  All that is left of the trig point now are three 1.5 metre pole painted in bright blue.   There is also a stone chair which I am sure would be a welcome site for those climbing up the summit along the famous Heysen Trail.

There is quite a bit of communications equipment on top of Mount Bryan, but I have found that it has never caused any interference during my previous activations of the summit.

There are some fantastic views to be had of the surrounding countryside from the top of Mount Bryan.

Mount Bryan was first sighted by explored Edward John Eyre (1815-1901), who explored the area in July 1839.

Above:- Edward John Eyre.  Courtesy of wikipedia.

The area was next explored in December 1839, by Lieutenant-Colonel George Gawler (1795-1869) the second Governor of S.A. & Captain Charles Sturt (1795-1869), and their party.  This included a young man called Henry Bryan, in whose honour, Gawler named the summit.

replica by John Michael Crossland,painting,circa 1853

Above:- Captain Charles Sturt (left) & Governor Gawler (right).  Images courtesy of wikipedia

In 1842, the Colonial Surveyor, Lieutenant Edward Frome (1802-1890) , further explored the area and he erected a cairn on the summit.  He is reported to have been the first European to have climbed the summit.   Frome later visited the area, at which time he climbed the summit and made a number of sketches.  He also erected a stone cairn.  Sadly in 1970, when Mount Bryan summit became a Government Water Reserve, the S.A. Water Authority demolished Frome’s historic cairn, to make way for other engineering works.  I am sure this would not happen nowadys!

Above:- Edward Frome and one of his sketches.  Images courtesy of wikipedia

In December 1839, Governor Gawler and Captain Charles Sturt set out ‘to examine the land along the Murray river, with the hope of finding fertile country; and also to determine the capabilities of river and lake for inland navigation’.  We know a lot about this expedition due to the efforts of Sturt’s biographer, Beatrix Sturt, who was also Sturt’s daughter in law.  Sturt informed her directly re the expedition, and she also had access to all of his private papers.

The expedition was first discussed by Gawler and Sturt in November 1839.  They proposed to cross Lake Alexandrina from Currency Creek, near the present town of Goolwa.  They were to proceed up the Murray to the Great Bend, and then return overland to Adelaide.  The expedition party consisted of Governor Gawler, his 15 year old daughter Julia, Captain Charles Sturt and his wife Charlotte, Eliza Arbuckle who was Charlotte Sturt’s maid servant, Henry Inman Superintendent of Police, Henry Bryan a house guest of Gawler, WIlliam Pullen the Colonial Marine Surveyor, Arthur Gell who was Gawler’s Personal Secretary, John Craig Aide to Gawler, Isaac Hearnshaw Aide to Gawler, and local aboriginal interpreters.

Above:- Map of Gov Gawler’s expedition to Mount Bryan in 1839.  Courtesy of http://www.charlesturtmuseum.com

The Party set off from near present day Goolwa, and sailed in 4 little boats across Lake Alexandrina from Currency Creek, and proceeded up the Murray River to current day Morgan.  After their arrival on Tuesday, the 10th December, at what was described as the ‘Great bend’ in the river at Morgan, they set up camp at the entrance of Bryan (Burra) Creek.  The following day on Wednesday the 11th December, Gawler, Sturt, Inman, Craig, and Bryan, set off on horseback with a week’s provisions and 2 barrels of water to explore the country.

It was at approximately 12 noon on the 11th December, 1839, on a small hill to the north east of the campsite, that Gawler saw a mountain in the distance and immediately named it Mount Bryan after his young friend, Henry Bryan.

However by the first night, when about ’32 miles’ from the river, it was discovered that the barrels had leaked and much of the water had evaporated in the extreme heat.

A second day of extreme weather left barely a trace of water in the barrels and the situation was critical.  Smoke was seen in the vicinity of Mount Bryan and the Party assumed that this indicated the presence of aboriginals, and thus water.  Gawler later stated:-

“While contemplating the scene about us, smokes were observed to arise on Mount Bryan.  Smokes indicate Natives, and Natives indicate the neighbourhood of water.  Our casks had leaked, the bung had escaped from one of them, and the consequence was that our stock of water was just exhausted…..On the following morning, leaving Captain Sturt and Mr H Bryan in charge of our provisions and packhorses, I and Mr Inman set out in search of the Natives and water, but after toiling over the spurs and through the gullies during the morning of another hot day we could not find either.  We found an extinguished Native fire and a ruined Native hut, but that was all, and we returned to the party to say that no alternative remained but to press through the night for our station on the Murray….”

It was at this time that Sturt bled one of the remaining three horses and all partook in this desperate attempt at survival.

On Friday the 13th of December, with all of their water gone and the temperatures rising, Sturt recommended that Gawler and Bryan set off on the strongest horses to seek help.  They were about ’65 miles’ (110 kms) from the camp on the river.  It was organised that Sturt, Inman, and Craig would follow a short time later.

On Saturday the 14th of December, Gawler and his horse could not proceed any further due to the heat and lack of water.  Gawler and Bryan then swapped horses so that Bryan could ride the Governor’s horse slowly for the remaining ’12 miles’ to the camp, and Gawler would ride ahead.

By Sunday the 15th December, Gawler had reached the camp, however he had lost sight of Bryan at this time.  He was followed soon after by Sturt, Inman and Craig.  But there was no sign of Byran.

On Monday the 16th with the assistance of a local aboriginal, the group tracked the hoof prints of Bryan’s horse, about ‘five miles’ through the bush.  They located Bryan’s blankets, coat, and stockings, and Gawler’s saddle, bridle, and telescope.  On a scrap piece of paper, dated 9 p.m. Sunday 15th, Bryan had written that he ‘had been detained by exhaustion‘ but was going to the south-southeast.

Above – Henry Bryan’s letter.  Courtesy of http://www.murrayriver.com.au

Beatrice Sturt wrote:-

“A second careful search at this spot disclosed the tree to which he had tethered his horse.  The animal on escaping had taken a course due west to the hills with his rope trailing after him, and he eventually found his way back to Adelaide.  But not search could disclose even to a native’s piercing eye any footprint or other mark in the direction indicated.  Repeated efforts were made; they examined every bush, fired at intervals, constantly shouted; but to no purpose, nor was any further trace of ‘Bryan’ ever found”.

Bryan’s horse amazing eventually made its way back to Adelaide, with its hoofs grown to enormous lengths.  And as for Bryan, he was never seen again, and has not been declared missing or presumed dead, nor has a death certificate been issued.

Gawler later wrote:-

“I never had so deep a regard for any young man that I had known for the same length of time, his character, looking at it with the severity of a Christian eye, was more faultless that that of any other individual of the same age”.

Marija and I were running about 30 minutes behind schedule and our advertised operating time of 2300 UTC.  It was extremely windy and I was very concerned that if I set up near the trig point, the squid pole would snap.  So we walked a few metres down hill from the trig point, trying to get out of the wind.  We chose a spot behind some moss rocks and some small shrubs, which afforded some protection from the wind.  But as you can see from the photographs below, the wind was extremely strong and the squid pole certainly had some flex in it.

Above: Aerial shot of the summit, showing our operating spot.  Image courtesy of google maps.

For this activation Marija and I ran the Yaesu FT-857d and the 80/40/20 m linked dipole on the top of the 7 m heavy duty telescopic squid pole.  We decided to run the transceiver at 10 watts, rather than going in and out of the menu and increasing the power for me.  As a Foundation licence holder, Marija is only permittted to run 10 watts PEP.

Prior to lobbing on a frequency and calling CQ we scouted around the 40m band and worked a few of the SOTA activators.  The first in the log was Andrew VK1AD, running QRP 5 watts from SOTA peak Mount Stromlo VK1/ AC-043.  Andrew was an excellent 5/8 to us and he reciprocated with a 5/9 signal report for Marija and I.  We then worked Rik VK3EQ on Mount Strickland VK3/ VN-030, followed by  Mitch VK7XDM/p on Mount Field West VK7/ WC-003, and then Tony VK3CAT/p, VK3/ VC-037.  As we were signing with Tony Haucke VK1HW called me and we arranged to QSY down the band.

Marija and I had soon very quickly qualified the summit, exchanging the microphone for contacts.  After getting her 4 contacts to qualify the summit, Marija predominantly just worked the SOTA activators, racking up a significant number of Summit to Summit points.

The 40m band was in excellent condition and there was virtually no atmospheric noise on the band, and certainly no man made noise from Mount Bryan.  Contacts were made into VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 and VK7.  The pile ups at times were quite significant, so I apologise to anyone who was calling and who was not logged by Marija and I.

I made a total of 70 contacts on 40m before heading over to the 20m band where I worked 6 stations, including 4 Summit to Summit contacts.  I was pleased to be able to get John VK6NU in the log, who was on the top of Mount Randall VK6/ SW-039 (5/3 both ways).

S2S contacts for me before the UTC rollover:-

• Andrew VK1AD/p, Mount Stromlo VK1/ AC-043 (1 point)
• Rik VK3EQ/p, Mount Strickland VK3/ VN-030 (6 points)
• Mitch VK7XDM/p, Mount Field West VK7/ WC-003 (10 points)
• Tony VK3CAT/p, VK3/ VC-037 (1 point)
• Andrew VK3ARR/p, Mount Buller VK3/ VE-008 (8 points)
• Peter VK3PF/p, Mount Cope VK3/ VG-001 (10 points)
• Allen VK3ARH/p, Ben More VK3/ VS-027 (2 points)
• Nick VK3ANL/p, Arthurs Seat VK3/ VC-031 (1 point)
• Andrew VK1MBE/2, Mount Cowangerong VK2/ ST-001 (8 points)
• Paul VK3HN/p, Mount Disappointment VK3/ VC-014 (4 points)
• Adam VK3AGD/p, Mount Donna Buang VK3/ VC-002 (8 points)
• Adam VK2YK/p, Berrico VK2/ MN-132 (6 points)
• Matt VK1MA/p, Mount Ginini VK1/ AC-008 (8 points)
• Ian VK5CZ/p, Black Rock VK5/ NE-035 (8 points)
• Hugh VK5NHG/p, Black Rock VK5/ NE-035

A total of 81 points Summit to Summit points.

S2S contacts for me after the UTC rollover:-

• Adam VK3AGD/p, Mount Donna Buang VK3/ VC-002 (8 points)
• Tony VK1VIC/2, Mount Tumanang VK2/ SM-049 (8 points)
• Mitch VK7XDM/p, Mount Field West VK7/ WC-003 (10 points)
• Peter VK3PF/p, Mount Cope VK3/ VG-001 (10 points)
• Nick VK3ANL/p, Arthurs Seat VK3/ VC-031 (1 point)
• Peter VK3ZPF/p, Mount Vinegar VK3/ VC-005 (6 points)
• Paul VK3HN/p, Mount Disappointment VK3/ VC-014 (4 points)
• Ian VK1DI/2, The Cascades VK2/ SM-014 (10 points)
• Nick VK2AOH/p, VK2/ CT-012 (6 points)
• Bernard VK2IB/p, Wagra Mountain VK2/ RI-003 (6 points)
• Andrew VK1MBE/2, Mount Cowangerong VK2/ ST-001 (8 points)
• Ian VK5CZ/p, Black Rock VK5/ NE-035 (8 points)
• Hugh VK5NHG/p, VK5/ NE-035
• Andrew VK3ARR/p, Mount Buller VK3/ VE-008 (8 points)
• Adam VK2YK/p, Berrico VK2/ MN-132 (6 points)
• Matt VK1MA/p, Mount Ginini VK1/ AC-008 (8 points)
• Allen VK3ARH/p, Ben More VK3/ VS-027 (2 points)
• VK1ATP/p, Yellow Rabbit Hill VK1/ AC-039 (1 point)
• Andrew VK1AD/p, Mount Stromlo VK1/ AC-043 (1 point)
• Gerard VK2IO/p, Mount Elliott VK2/ HU-093 (1 point)
• Marcus VK3TST/p, Mount Mcleod VK3/ VE-034 (10 points)
• Tony VK3CAT/p, VK3/ VC-037 (1 point)
• Adam VK2YK/p, Berrico VK2/ MN-132 (20m)
• Matt VK1MA/p, Mount Ginini VK1/ AC-008 (20m)
• John VK6NU/p, Mount Randall VK6/ SW-039 (2 points)
• Tony VK1VIC/2, Mount Tumanang VK2/ SM-049 (20m)

A total of 125 Summit to Summit points

Marija made a total of 15 Summit to Summit contacts before the UTC rollover (81 points) and a total of 22 S2S contacts after the UTC rollover (114 points).

After 2 hours on the summit it was time for us to pack up.  It was now midday local time, and we had quite a drive ahead of us on the Dare Hill drive, and also two planned park activations.  I had a total of 76 QSOs in the log including 41 S2S contacts.  Marija had a total of 39 QSOs in the log including 37 S2S contacts.

As a result of this activation, Marija has now qualified for the following SOTA certificates:

• SOTA Chaser 100 points
• SOTA Chaser 250 points
• SOTA Summit to Summit 250 points

I worked the following stations:-

Marija worked the following stations:-

After getting down off the summit we took a short detour before leaving the property to have a look at an old ruin.  Hugh VK5NHG had told us it was worth a look as there was an old mural inside the cottage.  We soon found the old stone cottage amongst the gum trees.  Above the fire place there are the words which read “God Save the King’.  I have spoken with Tony Brooks, the owner of the property and he has advised he does not know a lot about the history of this little cottage.  He did advise it was a shepherds cottage and that it was referred to as ‘Angels Rest’.

Marija and I then left the property and drove back down along Banbury Road and on to Mount Bryan Road East.  The drizzle and cloud had cleared and there were now some very nice views to be had of the summit.

We continued on to our next activation of the day, the Caroona Creek Conservation Park.

References.

<http://www.charlessturtmuseum.com.au/&gt;, viewed 4th January 2017

Discover Murray, <http://www.murrayriver.com.au/morgan/mt-bryan-expedition/&gt;, viewed 4th January 2017.

Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burra,_South_Australia&gt;, viewed 4th January 2017

My wife Marija VK5FMAZ and I decided that for 2016/2017, we would have a quiet New Years Eve and head up to Burra in the Mid North of South Australia.  Whilst there we would activate Mount Bryan on New Years Day, and a few other summits and parks during our stay.  We did this a few years ago and had a lot of fun.  New Years Day activations for the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program down here in Australia have become very popular in the last few years and there are plenty of Summit to Summit opportunities up for grabs.

We were on the road by 7.00 a.m. local time and headed north towards Burra, a pastoral centre and historic tourist town, about 160 km north of Adelaide.  We live in the Adelaide Hills, so the first part of our journey was through Woodside and Lobethal and then on to Cudlee Creek and Kersbrook.  We decided to take the scenic route, rather than travel down to Adelaide and through the suburbs.  We then reached Gawler, north of Adelaide, and continued our journey north on the Horrocks Highway.

We stopped briefly near Tarlee for me to stretch my legs and to view the trig point and information sign for the Tarlee baseline and the National Australian Mapping Programme of 1934.  Not a SOTA summit, but a nice view of the surrounding countryside.

We continued on to the little town of Tarlee and saw this great sign for the Sir James Ferguson Hotel at Tarlee.

We soon reacheed Giles Corner, the intersection of the Horrocks Highway and the Barrier Highway.  The name is in honour of Thomas Giles, one of the 15 sons (and 6 daughters) of Williams Giles, Colonial Manager of the South Australian Company.  He was a buy man!  The Barrier Highway branches off from Horrocks Highway at this location, and heads north towards Riverton, Burr and eventually Broken Hill.  Horrocks Highway continues north to the towns of Rhynie, Auburn and Clare.  We turned right onto the Barrier Highway and headed north towards Riverton where we stopped briefly for a coffee.

Riverton is a small town which was first settled in  1856, as a settlement along the bullock track between Burra and Adelaide.  I have fond memories of attending an annual model fair in Riverton many years ago with my son, who is now nearly 24.  For whatever reason, these are no longer held.

Marija and I briefly had a look at the buildings in Scholz Park.  August Scholz established a wheelwright business here in 1872.  In 1886 he purchased the blacksmith shop next door.  These buildings remained in the Scholz family until 1966, and are now run as a museum by the local council.

I wanted to show Marija the grand old railway station at Riverton, and along the way I saw this old FJ Holden shell, rusting away in a paddock.

The old Riverton Railway Station was completed in 1875.  It is now privately owned and access is obviously restricted, but you can get some nice views of this majestic old buidling from the creekline on Bruce Road.

The building gained notoriety when in 1921, a passenger who was travelling on the Broken Hill Express from Adelaide fired a number of shots into the dining room.  Percy Brookfield, the Member of Parliament for Broken Hill, was shot and killed when he tried to disarm the gunman.

We continued on towards Burra, reaching this little historic copper mining town, about 45 minutes later.

Marija and I stopped off at the Burra Information Centre and collected the key for the Burra Passport, which allowed us access to nine locked sites, including the Monster Mine area, Redruth Gaol, the underground Unicorn Brewery and the Dugouts.

We then headed north out of Burra on the Barrier Highway towards our first activation of the trip, Brownhill Range VK5/ SE-004.  Brown Hill Range is 755 metres above sea level and is worth 4 points for SOTA program.

Above:- Map showing the location of Brownhill Range VK5/ SE-004 in the Mid North of South Australia.  Map courtesy of google maps.

It was a short drive out of Burra until we reached the Goyder Highway intersection.  We turned left here onto the Goyder Highway and headed west until we reached North Booborowie Road.  We soon reached the little town of Booborowie, which is named after the nearby waterhole.  Booborowie means ’round waterhole’ in the local Ngadjuri aboriginal language.

The Brownhill Range dotted with wind turbines was very evident from here.  This is one of four windfarms in the area.  The windfarm on the Brownhill Range is known as the Hallet 1 Wind Farm.  It has a capacity of 95 MW and has been operational since June 2008.

We continued north on Booborowie Road until we reached The Willows Road.  The substation for the adjacent windfarm is located here.  Adjacent to the substation on Sven Trees Road is a set of double gates which have various signs on them including ‘Unauthorised access.  Tresspassers will be prosecuted”.  The land is privately owned, but I had sough permission from the landowner before heading up to the summit.

After passing through a number of open gates we reached the ridgeline on the top of the Range, and turned left and headed south on the dirt road towards the trig point.  We then reached a closed gate and a beautiful dry stone wall.  We passed through the gate and parked the Hi Lux just off the track.  The trig point is a short walk up hill from this point.

For this activation Marija and I ran the Yaesu FT-857d, powered by the 44 amp hour power pack.  Yes, a bit heavy, but it is an easy climb up to the trig point. With the help of an octopus strap, we secured the 7 metre telescopic squid pole to one of the trig point poles and ran out the 80/40/20 metre linked dipole.  Both ends were weighted down by moss rocks.

Above:- Aerial view of the summit.  Courtesy of google maps.

As is the case with many other hills in South Australia, the summit no longer has its original trig point.  It is however marked with three 1.5 metre poles painted in bright blue.  The survey mark can be seen in the centre.

Brownhill Range also contains a magnificent dry stone wall which was once continuos from Farrell Flat in the south, to Old Canowie in the north.  The 65 km wall runs along the Camel’s Hump and then along the Brown Hill Ranges, making it the longest stone wall in South Australia.  The first section of the wall marks the boundary of what was Hill River Station, once the largest pastoral run in South Australia, and Claremont.  It also delineates Clare-Gilbert and Goyder District Councils.

We were about half an hour ahead of schedule and we were all set up and ready to go by just before 0130 UTC (12.00 midday South Australian local time).  I called CQ on 7.090 and it didn’t take long for my first contact to be logged.  That was with Mike VK2IG in Gundaroo, just north of Canberra.  Mike had a strong 5/8 signal and gave me a 5/2 signal report.  This was followed by Col VK3LED, Ian VK5IS, and Nev VK5WG.  Both Ian and Nev are also located in the Mid North of South Australia, and not surprisingly were strong 5/9 signals to Brown Hill Range.  I had my four contacts and had qualified the summit.

I went on to make a total of 16 contacts on 40m into VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 and VK7.  This included a Summit to Summit contact with Peter VK3PF who was activating SOTA peak The Hump VK3/ VE-019.

It was Marija’s turn to take the mic and qualify the summit.  Marija’s first contact was with Helen VK2FENG (5/3 both ways).  This was followed by Adrian VK5FANA on the Yorke Peninsula with a beautiful 5/9 signal, Allen VK3ARH, and then Peter VK3ZPF.  Marija had a smile on her face as she had also qualified the summit.  Marija worked a total of 22 stations on 40m into VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK5.  This included a Summit to Summit contact with Peter VK3PF/p, and Simon VK3ELH who was portable in the Greater Bendigo National Park VKFF-0623.

Once Marija’s callers had slowed down I got back on to 40m and worjed Peter VK3ZPF, Nick VK3ANL, and Geoff VK3SQ.  I then headed over to 14.310 on 20m where I worked a total of 22 stations.  First up was Allen VK6XL with a good 5/7 signal, followed by Gerard VK2IO who was 5/9 and then John ZL1BYZ in Pukekohe on the North Island of New Zealand.  Not long after Jacky ZL1TZW also called in.  Band conditions on 20m were very good.  This included some very strong signals from VK3.  It was also nice to be able to work into Western Australia, logging Allen VK6XL, Hans VK6XN, and John VK6NU.

I then put a few CQ calls out on 3.610 on 80m, but it was very difficult as the noise floor was strength 8.  I suspect the noise eminating from the wind turbines.  So we lowered the linked dipole and put up the 15m dipole.  I called CQ on 21.244 and this was answered by Paul VK2KTT which a beautiful 5/9 signal.  This was followed by Allen VK6XL (5/6 sent and 5/2 received), John VK4TJ and then Matt VK6QS/p on SOTA peak Mount Trio VK6/ SW-005 in south western Western Australia.  Matt was booming in at 5/9 and also gave me a 5/9 signal report.

I went on to work a total of 15 stations on 15m from VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK6.  Band conditions on 15m were excellent.  A number of QRP stations running just 5 watts were worked.  They included Rick VK4RF, Robert VK3FRRR, and Adam VK3SFG.

After around 90 minutes on Brown Hill Ranges it was time to head down and back into Burra for some sightseeing.  On the way down we encountered some of the locals, Western Grey kangaroos.

As we travelled back towards Booborowie we passed the Old Bungaree Station and the historic and heritage shearing shed and wool room.

It was now quite a warm day and we stopped briefly to watch a group of Welcome Swallows hovering around a puddle of water for an afternoon drink.

Prior to heading back into Burra we decided to stop off for a drink at the Booborowie Hotel.  It was now about 11.20 a.m..  Sadly the sign said the pub opened at 11.30, and just as we were about to drove off, the licencee came out to say he was now open.  This is a great little pub.

I worked the following stations:-

Marija worked the following stations:-

We headed back into Burra where we booked in to our accomodation, one of the Paxton Square cottages which date back to 1849.  These two, three, and four roomed cottages wgere constructed by Cornish masons for the South Australian Mining Association to encourage mining families to leave their dugouts along Burra Creek.

We then spent the remainder of the afternoon sightseeing around Burra.

Burra’s 2nd motor fire engine

Redruth Gaol

Underground in the old Unicorn Brewery

Miners dugout

View of Burra

The Burra Mines

That evening, for New Years Eve, we headed to the Royal Exchange Hotel at Burra for a meal and a few drinks.  It was a very quiet but enjoyable New Years Eve.

References.

Munday; B, 2013, ‘those dry-stone walls’

Wikipedia, 2017, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burra,_South_Australia&gt;. viewed 4th January 2017

Wikipedia, 2017, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giles_Corner,_South_Australia&gt;, viewed 4th January 2017

Wikipedia, 2017, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverton,_South_Australia&gt;, viewed 4th January 2017