Here is my latest DXFF certificate for World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF).  Issued by the YOFF (Romanian) program for working 40 different DXCC entities.

Thanks to Pit YO3JW, the WWFF Awards Manager.

Yesterday afternoon/evening (Friday 28th April 2017) I ventured out to the Monarto Conservation Park 5CP-138 & VKFF-0828, using the special call of VK5WOW.

All contacts with VK5WOW count towards the 2017 WIA AGM & Convention Award.  More details can be found at…..

http://www.wia.org.au/members/wiaawards/agm2017/

This was the third time I have used VK5WOW.  More times as an activator than I have logged the station unfortunately, due to close in propagation being non existant when others have used the call.

Monarto Conservation Park is just a short 20 minute drive down the South Eastern Freeway for me.  The park is situated about 62 km east of Adelaide, and 30 km east of my home.

Map showing the location of the Monarto Conservation Park, east of Adelaide.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

I have activated Monarto Conservation Park many times in the past.  For information on those activations and more information on the park, please see my previous posts at…..

https://vk5pas.org/2016/10/16/2016-vkff-team-championship-and-monarto-cp-vkff-0828/

https://vk5pas.org/2015/04/27/monarto-conservation-park-vkff-828/

https://vk5pas.org/2015/01/31/monarto-cp-and-the-2nd-activation-afternoon/

https://vk5pas.org/2014/12/04/monarto-conservation-park-3/

https://vk5pas.org/2014/05/18/monarto-conservation-park-2/

https://vk5pas.org/2013/06/01/monarto-conservation-park/

Aerial shot showing the park with reference to my home QTH, 20 minutes down the road.  Image courtesy of Google maps

I activated the park from my normal spot, the carpark in the north western corner of the park.  I ran my normal portable station for this activation, consisting of the Yaesu FT-857d, 40 watts output, and the 80/40/20 m linked dipole, inverted vee, supported on the 7m heavy duty telescopic squid pole.

It was a dull and overcast afternoon with the temperature being 19 deg C.  There were some dark clouds in the sky but no forecast of rain.

Aerial shot of the park, showing my operating spot.  Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

I started off on 7.134 on the 40m band.  I could not get onto my nominated operating frequency of 7.144 as there was an EA5 operating there.  Although he was a good strong 5/8 signal, sadly he was unable to hear me.   My first contact was a Park to Park contact with Greg VK4VXX/2 in the Sturt National Park VKFF-0470.  You can always count on some amateurs giving you a shout during an activation, and Rick VK4RF/VK4HA is one of those.  Rick was next in my log with his normal strong 5/9 signal.  I worked 11 contacts into VK2, VK3, VK5 and VK7, and was then asked to QSY as I was causing interference to a European net on 7.137.

I QSYd up the band to 7.170.  It was very hard to find a clear frequency on 40m, with good signals from VK and Europe.  The first station logged on 7.170 was Brett VK2VW.  This was followed by Danny ON4VT in Belgium who was calling in amongst the VK’s.  Danny had a good 5/5 signal and gave me a 4/4 into Belgium.  I went on to work a total of 26 stations on 7.170 from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK7 and Belgium.  This included Gerard VK2IO/p, Park to Park, who was in Karuah National Park VKFF-0596.  I was pleased that a handful of VK5’s appeared in the log, with close in propagation (within 50 km) possible.

My operating spot in the carpark

The shack

I then headed off to 14.310 on the 20m band where I logged 14 stations including a little bit of DX from France, Czech Republic, Italy, and England.  Long path conditions into Europe were less than ideal.  I also had three Park to Park contacts: Gerard VK2IP/p in the Karuah National Park VKFF-0596; Neil VK4HNS/p in the Connondale National Park VKFF-0109; and Simon VK6MSC who was on SOTA peak VK6/ SW-036 in the Helena National Park VKFF-0645.

I then headed back to 7.170 on 40m where I logged a further 22 stations from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, VK7, VK8, and the USA.  This included my good wife Marija VK5FMAZ who had just arrived home from work, and Mark AF6TC in California USA.  Mark was to be my only North American contact for the activation.

I was also called by Simon VK6MSC, for a second band, on SOTA peak VK6/ SW-036 in the Helena National Park VKFF-0645.  It’s always nice to log Western Australian stations.  Here in Australia we take these sort of contacts for granted as local contacts.  Although for me this is a distance of around 2,500 km.

It was now approaching 6.00 p.m. local time and it was almost dark, so I decided to try 80m again.  This time I logged 22 stations on 80m, from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK8.  I was pleased to log my mate Greg VK8GM in Alice Springs who was a strong 5/9.  I also made contact with Gerard VK2IO, for a third band, who was in Karuah National Park VKFF-0596.

As it was nearly 7.00 p.m. local time, I headed back to 40m for the commencement of the 7130 DX Net.  Sadly, band conditions on 40m were less than ideal, and Roy VK7ROY the net control was struggling to hear me.  I made just 6 contacts on the net into VK2, VK6, New Zealand and French Polynesia.

I decided to give 80m one last go before packing up and heading home for dinner.  I called CQ on 3.610 and this was answered by Bill VK4FW, followed by Danny VK4SD/2, and then Zorro VK3ZIP.  Next up was John VK3TCT who was in London in the UK, and was operating remote from his home station in Mildura Victoria.  I logged a further 7 stations, and despite numerous CQ calls I had no further takers.  The temperature was now down to 10 deg C and it was well and truly time to pack up and head home for something to eat.

I had a total of 113 contacts in the log and another successful park activation using VK5WOW, considering pretty average band conditions.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4VXX/2 (Sturt National Park VKFF-0470)
2. VK4RF
3. VK4HA
4. VK2NEO
5. VK3GGG
6. VK3PMG
7. VK5FAKV
8. VK5ST
9. VK7VDL
10. VK2QR
11. VK2SWL
12. VK2BN
13. ON4VT
14. VK5GI
15. VK4PDX
16. VK5KLD
17. VK5PET
18. VK3PAT
19. VK5KLV
20. VK3ARH
21. VK2NP
22. VK7CW
23. VK3FORD
24. VK5FMLO
25. VK3MCK
26. VK3VKT/m
27. VK3GMC
28. VK4TJ
29. VK2IO/p (Karuah National Park VKFF-0596)
30. VK4ARW
31. VK3FOWL
32. VK3SRC
33. VK3ZMD
34. VK5HS
35. VK5FANA
36. VK4FW
37. VK3VEF
38. VK3YSP
39. VK5FMAZ
40. VK4FMAX
41. VK7ZGK
42. VK7JON
43. VK2ZH
44. VK7VZ/p
45. VK1AD
46. VK3FRAB
47. VK4KUS
48. VK7DW
49. VK6MSC/p (SOTA VK6/ SW-036 & Helena National Park VKFF-0645)
50. VK6QM
51. AF6TC
52. VK7FOLK
53. VK3ZD
54. VK3NCC/8
55. VK4FAAJ
56. VK3HKK
57. VK7VDS
58. VK4FAID
59. VK4GMH
60. ZL2ASH
61. VK7ROY
62. VK6VZZ/m
63. FO5JV
64. VK6WB
65. VK2NED

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK5YX
2. F4FEP
3. VK6MAC/p
4. OK2TS
5. IK2ZJN
6. IK8FIQ
7. IU3FBL
8. VK2IO/p (Karuah National Park VKFF-0596)
9. VK4RZ
10. VK4HNS/p (Connondale National Park VKFF-0109)
11. VK6MSC/p (SOTA VK6/ SW-036 & Helena National Park VKFF-0645)
12. VK2ZH
13. F1BLL
14. M5JON

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3FQ
2. VK5FMLO
3. VK4ZD
4. VK3ANL
5. VK5KLV
6. VK5ST
7. VK4MAX
8. VK4DI
9. VK8GM
10. VK5FANA
11. VK5FMWW
12. VK2NED
13. VK3PKY
14. VK5FWMT
15. VK3FLAK
16. VK4RZ
17. VK3FPHG
18. VK2IO/p (Karuah National Park VKFF-0596)
19. VK3ERW
20. VK3LDB
21. VK5ALR
22. VK1DI
23. VK3PAT
24. VK4FW
25. VK4SD/2
26. VK3ZIP
27. VK3TCT
28. VK5FRSM
29. VK6VCK/p
30. VK4QS
31. VK6VET
32. VK6VNZ
33. VK2NCS
34. VK2NEO

On Tuesday 25th April 2017, Marija VK5FMAZ and I headed down to the Tolderol Game Reserve VKFF-1752, which is located about 77 km south east of Adelaide, and about 11 km south east of  Langhorne Creek.  It was ANZAC Day and we had the opportunity of working with the special AX prefix.  Each year, on just 3 occasions, Australian amateurs can replace the VK prefix with AX.  And ANZAC Day is one of those.

Map showing the location of the Tolderol Game Reserve.  Map courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

I have activated Tolderol once before, back in August 2016, and qualified the park on that occasion for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  But this was to be a unique park for Marija as an activator.  For more information on my previous activation, please see my previous post at…..

https://vk5pas.org/2016/08/06/tolderol-game-reserve-vkff-1752/

Tolderol Game Reserve is 428 hectares (4.28 km² ) in size. and is located on the north eastern side of Lake Alexandrina.  It was established on the 1st January 1970 as an experimental area for growing of variety of waterfowl food crops, in particular three-cornered bulrush, with duck shooting permitted during open seasons.  It consists of a series of man made open and shallow basins with connecting channels and levee banks.

Aerial shot showing the park in relation to my home QTH and the city of Adelaide.  Image courtesy of Google maps

Tolderol is a well regarded bird watching location, although on our visit this time we did not see a lot of birds.  The weather was quite poor at times, with very heavy showers, and I suspect this contributed to the lack of birds.  It was also the wrong time of the year.  The best time to make the most of bird watching opportunities is to visit the park in late spring and summer.

There is an excellent Tolderol Game Reserve Community Facebook page, which can be located at…..

https://www.facebook.com/tolderolgamereserve/

One of the down sides of visiting the park is that this is Tiger snake territory.  Tiger snakes have an aggressive nature and toxic venom.  The snake’s large size, often aggressive defence and toxic venom make it extremely dangerous to humans.

Fortunately, the only reptile we encountered during our visit, was the little fella below, a Shingleback lizard.

As we approached the park Marija and I logged from the mobile, Peter VK3PF/2 who was activating the Pilliger West State Conservation Area VKFF-1373.  Peter had a strong 5/8 signal into the mobile.

The park is well sign posted from the Langhorne Creek Road.  Follow Dog Lake Road, down through a few gates until you reach the park.  Please ensure that you leave gates as you find them.  So if they are closed, please close them behind you.  We soon reached the western side of the reserve.

We followed the track down to the northern banks of Lake Alexandrina.  There was a nice cleared area here, giving us plenty of room of vision if there were any snakes approaching us.  And there was a concrete table and benches here.

We ran the usual equipment for this activation comprising the Yaesu FT-857d, 10 watts (for Marija) and 40 watts (for me), and the 80/40/20m linked dipole supported on the 7m heavy duty telescopic squid pole.

Aerial shot of the park showing our operating spot.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

Prior to calling CQ both Marija and I logged Nick VK3ANL on 7.150, who was activating Reef Hills State Park VKFF-0773.  I then moved down to 7.140 and called CQ which was answered by Greg VK2EXA, followed by Bill VK4FW and then VK6MB/4 who was in Bill’s shack.  A mini pile up then ensued with a total of 24 stations logged from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 and VK7, before Marija and I swapped operator spots.  Included in these contacts was a Park to Park with Gerard VK2IO who was mobile in Ghin-Doo-Ee National Park VKFF-0196.

Marija then called CQ which was answered by Ian VK3VIN, followed by Ken VK2KYO and then Adrian VK5FANA.  All with good 5/9 signals.  The 40m band appeared to be in very good condition.  Contact number 10, qualifying the park for Marija for VKFF, was with Peter VK3ZPF.

It only took Marija 30 minutes to qualify the park for the global WWFF program, with contact number 44 being Allan VK3BF.  It was great to see so many stations calling in, and many thanks to those that did.  A number of those logged were using the AX prefix to help commemorate ANZAC Day.  Included in the callers were a number of Park to Park contacts: Peter VK3PF/2 in the Pilliger West State Conservation Area VKFF-1373; Gerard VK2IO on SOTA peak VK2/ MN-047 in the Ghin-Doo-Ee National Park  VKFF-0196; and Dave VK2ZK in the Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041.  Marija and I swapped the mic to log the P2P callers.

Marija logged a total of 51 stations before I again jumped onto the mic, calling CQ on 7.140.  I logged 20 further contacts from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK6 before heading up to 14.310 on the 20m band.  First taker there was Rick VK4RF/VK4HA, followed by Mick AX6AY and then Hans VK6XN.  I logged a further 5 stations from VK4 and VK6.  Sadly no DX.  Signals from Western Australia were generally strong.

I then headed to 21.244 where I called CQ for around 5 minutes, with sadly, no takers.  The weather was starting to cloud over and the temperature had dropped significantly, with some strong winds off the lake.  We could see the shower activity to the south of us, and I expected I may have had a 5 minute window before the rain hit us.  So it was back to 40m where I worked Steve VK4QQ on 7.144.  I was just in the middle of a QSO telling Steve that the weather was closing in, when it hit very quickly.  We were caught in the rain and made a mad dash to pack up the gear and head to the comfort of the vehicle.  I had a total of 57 contacts in the log.

Marija and I then went for a drive through the park whilst the rain cleared.  There are a series of tracks through the reeds and along the levee banks.  I was hoping to get some bird photos, but the weather was lousy, and activity was minimal.

As we drove down some of the tracks, we encountered some of the locals.

The rain had cleared and we decided to set up again.  It was now  just before 5.00 p.m. local time and I was hoping to log a little bit of North American DX on 40m.  This time we set up at the information board and used one of the permapine posts as an anchor point for the squid pole, with the help of some trusty octopus straps.  It was now very cool, and there was still the threat of some rain, so rather than setting up the table and deck chair again, I operated from the comfort of the driver’s seat of the Hi Lux.  Although I have the Icom IC-7000 in the vehicle, I ran the Yaesu FT-857, propped up against the steering wheel and the dashboard.

I called CQ on 7.135 and this was answered by Paul AX3KHZ, followed by Rob VK2MZ and then Stephen VK3DQL.  A few QSOs later I was called by Peter AX3HSB/p who advised he was bogged in the Alpine National Park VKFF-0619.  I offered Peter whatever help I could, but he assured me that he had help on the way and would be ok.

I was pleased that we had set up again, as I had a very steady flow of callers from all across Australia and New Zealand.  Kiwi callers included John ZL1API, Oliver ZL1XS, Gavin ZL1TBA, and James ZL3FV.  The band was also wide open to the other side of the country, with a number of Western Australian stations logged includingRich AX6BEC, John VK6NU, Bert VK6/PA3EPA, and Daniel VK6WE.  I also logged Peter VK3PF/2 who was portable in the Timallallie National Park VKFF-0609.  Marija also logged Peter.

I then headed to the 80m band where I made a Park to Park contact with Peter VK3PF/2 in the Timallallie National Park VKFF-0609 on a second band.  I moved up to 3.615 where I called CQ and logged 27 stations from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK7 and New Zealand.  I was pleased to speak with Andrei ZL1TM in Auckland in the North Island of NZ.

I had a total of 121 contacts in the log and it was time to head home.  Marija had also succesfully qualified the park, with a total of 55 contacts.  Thankyou to everyone who called.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. AX3ANL/p (Reef Hills State Park VKFF-0773)
2. VK3VIN
3. VK2KYO
4. VK5FANA
5. VK7PRN
6. VK2STO
7. VK3ZMD
8. VK3VEF
9. VK3FLCS
10. VK3ZPF
11. VK2LX
12. VK5KX
13. VK5FFAU
14. VK3UH
15. VK3FRJD
16. VK5JK
17. VK1AT/3
18. VK3GGG
19. VK3PMG
20. VK2NP
21. VK3IRS
22. VK2YW
23. VK5QI
24. VK7FOLK
25. VK7DW
26. AX5KC
27. VK5KLV
28. VK3FSPG
29. VK3MPR
30. AX7QP
31. VK3SX
32. VK4RF
33. VK4HA
34. VK5MAP
35. VK5NAW
36. VK7EV
37. AX2LX
38. VK3ELH
39. AX5MAP
40. VK3PF/2 (Pilliger West State Conservation Area VKFF-1373)
41. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ MN-047 &Ghin-Doo-Ee National Park VKFF-0196)
42. VK2ZK/p (Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041)
43. VK2JDC/p (Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041)
44. VK3BF
45. VK3AWT
46. AX2HOT
47. VK1RZ
48. AX2LEE
49. VK2LAD
50. VK3ZD
51. VK7VDL
52. VK4FW
53. VK3PF/2 (Timallallie National Park VKFF-0609)
54. AX4DXA

Marija worked the following station on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3PF/p (VKFF-0609)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. AX3ANL/p (Reef Hills State Park VKFF-0773)
2. VK2EXA
3. VK4FW
4. VK6MB/4
5. VK3SIM
6. VK5KLV
7. VK3GGG
8. VK3PMG
9. VK3CWF
10. VK3VIN
11. VK3ARH
12. VK2NP
13. VK2YW
14. VK3FOGY
15. VK3KIM
16. VK2KYO
17. VK2QK
18. VK2GAZ
19. VK7DW
20. VK5FANA
21. VK2IO/m (Ghin-Doo-Ee National Park VKFF-0196)
22. VK5JW
23. VK3FLCS
24. VK7PRN
25. VK3PF/2 (Pilliger West State Conservation Area VKFF-1373)
26. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ MN-047 & VKFF-0196)
27. VK2ZK/p (Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041)
28. VK2JDC/p (Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041)
29. VK1RZ
30. VK1MTS
31. VK3TKK/m
32. VK3ZPF
33. VK4PDX
34. VK3PAT
35. VK7DIK
36. VK4FFAB
37. VK3YX
38. VK3YE
39. VK3FSPG
40. VK3MPR
41. VK4TJ
42. AX2HOT
43. VK3FORD
44. VK3UH
45. VK4RF
46. VK4HA
47. VK7KW
48. VK3HQZ
49. VK4QQ
50. AX3KHZ
51. VK2MZ
52. VK3DQL
53. VK3KMH
54. AX3HSB/p (Alpine National Park VKFF-0619)
55. AX3HN
56. VK3MCK
57. AX3FRAB
58. AX1FWBD
59. AX2JDR
60. VK4SMA
61. VK3SOT
62. VK3HK
63. AX4DXA
64. VK4NH
65. VK2FJ/m
66. VK5FRSM
67. AX2LEE
68. AX7ZGK
69. AX6BEC
70. VK5FAKV
71. AX2LX
72. VK6NU
73. ZL1API
74. VK7JON/m
75. VK3PF/2 (Timallallie National Park VKFF-0609)
76. VK7FOLK
77. VK4CG
78. VK7VZ/p
79. ZL1XS
80. VK6/PA3EPA
81. VK2UMA
82. ZL1TBA
83. ZL3FV
84. VK6WE

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3PF/p (Timallallie National Park VKFF-0609)
2. VK7VZ/p
3. VK3GGG
4. VK3PMG
5. VK7ALB
6. AX7ALB
7. VK5SFA
8. VK5HS
9. VK3FQSO
10. VK4SMA
11. VK5QI/m
12. VK5KLV
13. VK1DI
14. VK2SR
15. VK3YUN/m
16. VK5FANA
17. VK5FMWW
18. VK5FAAT
19. VK3HSB
20. VK3FSLG
21. VK3GK
22. VK7JON
23. VK3LBW
24. VK2NP
25. AX4ITT
26. ZL1TM
27. VK7MPR
28. VK2PH

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4RF
2. VK4HA
3. AX6AY
4. VK6XN
5. VK6NU
6. VK4ARW
7. AX6RC/m
8. AX4QQ
9. AX4DXA

References

Australian Museum, 2017, <https://australianmuseum.net.au/tiger-snake&gt;, viewed 28th April 2017

National Parks South Australia, 2017, <https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find-a-Park/Browse-by-region/Limestone-Coast/tolderol-game-reserve&gt;, viewed 28th April 2017

Wikipedia, 2017, <>, viewed 28th April 2017

After packing up at Hogwash Bend, Marija and I headed off to our second planned park activation for the day, the Morgan Conservation Park 5CP-141 & VKFF-0911.  The park is located about 166 km north east of Adelaide and on the eastern side of the Murray River opposite the town of Morgan.

Map showing the location of the Morgan Conservation Park, north east of Adelaide.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

We travelled along the Morgan-Cadell Road, and soon passed the park on both our left and right.  Sadly, the wet weather which had been predicted, had now hit, and the shower activity was quite persistent.  Before activating the park, we headed across the Murray River on the ferry, and had some lunch at the local take away.

Morgan is a historic little town located on the banks of the Murray River, just downstream of where the Murray turns from flowing roughly westwards, to roughly southwards.  Morgan has a population of around 500 people and boasts two pubs, directly opposite each other.  The town was proclaimed in 1878, the year that the railway line from Adelaide via Kapunda was opened.  The town was named after Sir William Morgan, then Chief Secretary, later Premier of South Australia.

William Morgan.  Image courtesy of Wikipedia

The town has a number of heritage listed buildings, most of which have interpretive signs displaying the history of the building.  At its peak, Morgan was the second busiest port in South Australia, behind only Port Adelaide, with six trains a day carrying freight from the Murray to the sea at Port Adelaide.

After lunch we headed to the small lookout which overlooks the town.  It was a real shame that the showers had set in.

Just down from the lookout is a memorial cairn to commemorate Captain Charles Sturt, who passed by this location during his Central Australian Exploring Expedition in 1844.

We also briefly had a look at the old Morgan Railway station and Station Master’s House, and the old Morgan wharf which at its longest, was 168 metres long.

We then lined up at the ferry, and from the mobile we logged John VK5BJE/p who was activating the Lake Tyers State Park VKFF-0761 in Victoria.  John had a good 5/7 signal into the mobile, and he reciprocated with a 5/9 for us.  We crossed the ferry again and entered the park via a dirt track on the southern side of the Morgan-Cadell Road.  The park consists of a system of lagoons, swamps, creeks and Murray River anabranches bordered by majestic River Red Gum woodlands.  Morgan CP is 361 hectares in size and was first dedicated on 23rd September 1976 to protect the wetlands.  An additional 11 hectares were added on 4th November 1993.

About 150 species of bird have been recorded in the park including Grey Teal, White-faced Heron, Whistling Kite, Australian Darter, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Yellow Rosella, Striped honeyeater, and Zebra finch.

There were already two couples camping on the edge of the Morgan Lagoon, so we drove along the track a little further to the south and set up in a clearing amongst the scrub, right alongside the lagoon.  We ran the Yaesu FT-857d, initially at 10 watts PEP for Marija, and then 40 watts for me, and the 80/40/20m linked dipole, inverted vee @ 7 metres.

Aerial shot of the park, showing our operating spot in the southern section.  Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

As it was still drizzling with rain we set up underneath the awning of the Toyota Hi Lux.  Despite it being quite a miserable afternoon weather wise, it was a sensational operating spot, looking out across the Morgan Lagoon.

Marija started off on air first, and was just keen to get her 10 contacts to qualify the park for VKFF.  Her first 2 contacts were Park to Park QSOs with Jonathan VK7JON/p and Helen VK7FOLK/p who were activating the Hellyer Gorge State Reserve VKFF-1139.  I also logged Jonathan and Helen.

Marija then moved up to 7.150 and called CQ.  Her first taker was Michael VK3FCMC, followed by Mark VK3FOTO and then John VK5BJE/3 who was activating Lake Tyers State Park VKFF-0761.  We started to experience a little bit of European QRM and pondered on whether we should remain on the frequency of QSY.  We decided to stay and battle it out.

Marija was then called by Peter VK3TKK/p who was activating the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park VKFF-0955, and this was followed by another Park to Park (P2P) contact, this time with Derek VK3FAFC/p who was in the French Island National Park VKFF-0622.  Marija and I swapped the mic to log the P2P contacts.

About 7 contacts later, two further Park to Park log entries.  This time with Greg VK4VXX who was in the Mutawintji National Park VKFF-0374, and this was followed by Peter VK3TKK who was activating the Port Campbell National Park VKFF-0420.

Marija had 16 contacts in the log and had qualified the park for VKFF.  She kindly handed the mic over to me.

I called CQ on 7.150 and this was answered by Damien VK3FRAB, followed by Geoff VK3SQ, Lee VK3FLJD, and then Steve VK3FSPG/VK3MPR.  Despite it being a holiday, it was quite slow going on 40m, with just a steady flow of callers from VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK7.  No VK5’s appeared in the log at this stage, with close in propagation on 40m, again not working.

About 30 contacts into the activation and OZ8BV came onto the frequency and started calling CQ.  He was a strong 5/8 and at times was drowing out some of the VK callers.  I battled on for a few more minutes, but with 36 contacts in the log I decided it was time to QSY up to 7.135.  I there spoke with Nick Vk3ANL/p who was on SOTA peak Mount McKay VK3/ VE-007.  Marija also logged Nick.

With a total of 40 contacts in the log I decided to try my luck on 3.610 on the 80m band.  First taker there was Roy VK5NRG in Adelaide with a strong 5/8 signal (5/8 received).  This was followed by Les VK5KLV at Port Augusta.  It was nice to log some VK5’s.  But despite the 80m band being open around South Australia, they were the only VK5 callers.  I logged a further 4 stations on 80m from VK2 and VK3.  Contact number 44 for me was the ever reliable Mick VK3GGG from western Victoria.

I then QSYd to 14.310 on the 20m band and called CQ.  Sadly the only station logged there was Bill VK4FW in Queensland.  No DX.

I had my 44 contacts and it was time for me to do a bit of bird watching/photography, of the feathered variety.  I encouraged Marija to try her luck again on 40m to see if she could pick up 44 contacts.  Whilst I was off on my walk, Marija managed to add a further 11 stations to her log from VK2, VK3, and VK4.  Unfortunately the magical number of 44 wasn’t reached, with numerous CQ calls going unanswered.

Marija and I packed up and hit the road.  It was 4.00 p.m. local time and we wanted to call into the Mount Mary Hotel for a drink.  We still had a 2 hour drive to get home.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK7JON/p (Hellyer Gorge State Reserve VKFF-1139)
2. VK7FOLK/p (Hellyer Gorge State Reserve VKFF-1139)
3. VK3FCMC
4. VK3FOTO
5. VK5BJE/3 (Lake Tyers State Park VKFF-0761)
6. VK3TKK/p (Twelve Apostles Marine National Park VKFF-0955)
7. VK3FAFC/p (French Island National Park VKFF-0622)
8. VK3SQ
9. VK3FSPG
10. VK3MPR
11. VK2HOT
12. VK3BQ
13. VK4HNS
14. VK3KMH
15. VK4VXX/2 (Mutawintji National Park VKFF-0374)
16. VK3TKK/p (Port Campbell National Park VKFF-0420)
17. VK3ANL/p (SOTA Mount McKay VK3/ VE-007)
18. VK2EJW
19. VK1FWBD
20. VK3TKK/m
21. VK3FRAB/p
22. VK3GRW
23. VK2NP
24. VK3VIN
25. VK4SMA
26. VK3HQZ
27. VK3NBL
28. VK1AT/3

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK7JON/p (Hellyer Gorge State Reserve VKFF-1139)
2. VK7FOLK/p (Hellyer Gorge State Reserve VKFF-1139)
3. VK5BJE/3 (Lake Tyers State Park VKFF-0761)
4. VK3TKK/p (Twelve Apostles Marine National Park VKFF-0955)
5. VK3FAFC/p (French Island National Park VKFF-0622)
6. VK4VXX/2 (Mutawintji National Park VKFF-0374)
7. VK3TKK/p (Port Campbell National Park VKFF-0420)
8. VK3FRAB
9. VK3SQ
10. VK3FLJD
11. VK3FSPG
12. VK3MPR
13. VK2NP
14. VK3BQ
15. VK4HNS
16. VK3FOTO/p
17. VK3SFG
18. VK4RF
19. VK4HA
20. VK4MAD
21. VK2FOUZ
22. VK3ARH
23. VK2IO/m
24. VK2JNG/p
25. VK7DW
26. VK3KMH
27. VK3VFR
28. VK3MIJ
29. VK3CWF
30. VK4TJ
31. VK4/VE6XT
32. VK4/AC8WN
33. VK4WID
34. VK3ZMD
35. VK5FD/p
36. VK3FCMC/p
37. VK3ANL/p (SOTA Mount McKay VK3/ VE-007)
38. VK1RZ
39. VK1MTS
40. VK2HOT

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5NRG
2. VK5KLV
3. VK3PAH
4. VK3GGG
5. VK3PMG
6. VK2EXA

I worked the following station on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4FW

After packing up, we crossed the ferry again and headed west on the Thiele Highway.  We stopped briefly at the old Eba railway siding.  In days gone by Eba had its own school, a post office, blacksmith, grocery store, sawmill, and even a race track.  Today little remains.  Sadly, a sign of the times……someone has stolen the lady cutout from the old railway siding.

We continued on to the little town of Mount Mary, formerly Krichauff and then Beatty,  which is located on the Thiele Highway between Eudunda and Morgan.  The town was originally surveyed in 1883 and features the historic Mount Mary Hotel.  We stopped in for a couple of drinks.  This is a must if you are driving through the area.  The pub is currently for sale and the current owners did their best to try to convince me to buy the pub.

We continued on our way home, travelling along Bower Boundary Road, a dirt road between the Thiele Highway and the Sturt Highway.  It was very slow going as there were kangaroos everywhere.  Along the way I chatted with a number of stations from the mobile including Peter VK7PRN, Peter VK2STO, John VK6VZZ/m and Mark AF6TC.  We stopped off at the Mount Pleasant Hotel for a meal and then drove the final 45 minutes back home.  It was the end of a very enjoyable 4 days away.

References.

Birds SA, 2017, <http://www.birdssa.asn.au/location/morgan-conservation-park/&gt;, viewed 27th April 2017

National Parks South Australia, 2017, <http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find-a-Park/Browse-by-region/Murray-River/morgan-conservation-park&gt;, viewed 27th April 2017

Wikipedia, 2017, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan,_South_Australia&gt;, viewed 27th April 2017

Wikipedia, 2017, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Mary,_South_Australia&gt;, viewed 27th April 2017

Marija and I had two planned park activations for Monday 24th April 2017, the final day of our Riverland trip.  The first being the Hogwash Bend Conservation Park 5CP-092 & VKFF-0892 which is located about 183 km north east of Adelaide and just a few km north west of the little town of Cadell.

Map showing the location of the Hogwash Bend Conservation Park.  Map courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

We had a 110 km drive from Renmark to the park, which took us along the Sturt Highway to Waikerie, and then out along the Ramco Road through Qualco and on to the park via the Cadell Valley Road.  Along the way Marija and I stopped briefly to have a look at the memorial cairn which commemorates police officers, Corporal William Murray Wickham and Mounted Constable John Dunning Carter, who drowned on the 7th day of May 1847.  They were enroute from Mourundee, near Blanchetown, to Overland Corner for police duty in response to disturbances in the area.  They were the first police to die in the line of duty in South Australia.

Sadly, the memorial had been desecrated.  I have photo shopped the photo below and removed the grafitti.

We continued on to Waikerie and stopped briefly at the Pooginook lookout at Waikerie.  There are some great views of the mighty Murray River from here.  It was along these cliff tops that the village settlers walked between the settlements of Holder and Waikerie.

We soon reached Hogwash Road which runs off the northern side of the Cadell Valley Road.  The park sign, which had been at this intersection on our previous visit, was no longer there, so we initially missed the turnoff.  Not sure what has happened to the sign?

I have activated the park once before, back on April 2015, but this was prior to the park being allocated a VKFF reference number for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  The previous activation only qualified for the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award.  This was to be a unique park for Marija as an activator.

https://vk5pas.org/2015/04/23/hogwash-bend-conservation-park/

Hogwash Bend Conservation Park was proclaimed on the 6th day of September, 2012.  The park contains some majestic River Red Gums.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The park is 286 hectares in size and comprises three sections.  We operated from the section which is adjacent to the eastern side of the Murray River.

Aerial shot showing showing the park (indicated by the arrows.  Image courtesy of Google maps.

The park was acquired by the South Australian State Government and the Australian Federal Government under the National Reserve System program to protect the largest breeding colony of Regent Parrots in South Australia.  There are thought to be only 300 breeding pairs of Regent parrots along the Murray.  And in Hogwash Bend, around 50 pairs use the ideal breeding habitat of mature river red gums, nesting sites and large areas of mature mallee scrubland.  Hogwash Bend plays an important role in the bird’s future which is listed as vulnerable at both State and National level.

Regent Parrot.  Image courtesy of Birdlife.

There is an excellent website dedicated to Regent parrots which can be found at…..

http://regentparrot.org

In fact, the group is very keen to hear from people who sight a Regent Parrot.  You can telephone 1800PARROT.

Our operating spot was on the southern side of Hogwash Road, adjacent to the main camping area.  We ran the Yaesu FT-857d, initially set at 10 watts PEP, and later 40 watts for me, and the 80/40/20m linked dipole.

Aerial view of the park showing our operating spot.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

Marija started off on air first, with her first contact being Cliff VK2NP, followed by Russell VK4ARW, and then Geoff VK3SQ.  Wade VK1FWBD/p then called in from SOTA peak Black Mountain VK1/ AC-042 in the Black Mountain Nature Reserve VKFF-0834.  Marija and I swapped the mic so I could log Wade.  Marija continued on and soon reached 10 contacts, with contact number 10 being John VK4/AC8WN.

Contact number 12 was another Park to Park, this time with Gerard VK2IO/m who was activating the Watagans National Park VKFF-0522.  Five QSOs later Andrew VK1AD/2 called in from SOTA peak Mount Marulan VK2/ ST-039 east of Goulburn.

Marija logged a total of 17 contacts, qualifying the park for VKFF and threw the mic over to me.  Marija headed off to take some photographs and explore the park.

My first contact after calling CQ was regular park hunter Rick VK4RF/VK4HA, followed by Peter VK3TKK/m, then Geoff VK3SQ, and then Allen VK3ARH.  It was a warm day, about 30 deg C, and an idealic location, not far from the banks of the Murray River.  During contact number 12 with Helen VK7FOLK, the magnificent paddlesteamer, PS Murray Princess came into view, cruising along the Murray.

The PS Murray Princess is the largest inland paddlesteamer in the southern hemisphere and can cater for around 120 passengers.

It was quite slow going on the band, with signals from Victoria being well down compared to normal.  Having said this I was pleased to log Nick VK3ANL who was activating SOTA peak Mount Nelse VK3/ VE-004 which is located in the Alpine National Park VKFF-0619 with a good 5/7 signal.  Sadly Marija was still off on her walk so she missed working Nick.

Soon after I was called by Bob VK2AOR/p and Rod VK2LAX/p who were activating Popran National Park VKFF-0417.  Bob and Rod were running a magnetic loop and although quite weak, 5/3, they were very readable as there was no man made noise on the band from the park.  Marija must have heard Park to Park, because she picked up her stride and made it back in time to log Bob and Rod.  A few QSOs later Nick called back in to log Marija.

About 8 QSOs later, Gerard VK2IO/p called in from SOTA peak Barraba Trig VK2/ HU-065 with a very nice 5/7 signal.

With 36 contacts in the log for me, and 21 contacts in the log for Marija, we decided to try the 80m band and hopefully log some VK5 stations, as it was clear that close in propagation on the 40m band was not working.  I called CQ on 3.610 and this was answered by Ivan VK5HS who was 5/7.  Ivan had tried to make contact with us earlier on 40m but we couldn’t successfully exchange signal reports.  So it was a pleasure to get Ivan in the log on 80.  Marija and I swapped the mic for our 80m contacts, and logged a total of 7 stations from VK2 and VK5.

I was now sitting on 43 contacts, just 1 short of qualifying the park for the global WWFF program, so with no further callers on 80m, we headed to 14.310 on the 20m band.  I put out 10 minutes of CQ calls and did not log a single station.  So it was back to 7.144 on 40m.  I called CQ and this was answered by Bill VK3CWF.  Bill earnt the packet of smarties, being my 44th contact.  I was then called by Peter VK3TKK/p who was activating the Bay of Islands Coastal Park VKFF-0743.  As I now had my 44 contacts I handed the mic back to Marija who logged Peter and then called CQ.

It was another 20 minutes, and Marija had picked up the remaining 15 contacts, to get over the line with 44 contacts, thus qualifying the park for the global WWFF awards.  Contact number 44 was with Mark VK3FOTO/m.

It was coming up to 12.30 p.m. local time.  We packed up and headed off to Morgan for some lunch, with our next activation being the Morgan Conservation Park.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. Vk2NP
2. VK4ARW
3. VK3SQ
4. VK1FWBD/p (SOTA Black Mountain VK1/ AC-042 & VKFF-0834)
5. VK3FRAB
6. VK3HBG
7. VK4RF
8. VK4HA
9. VK4TJ
10. VK4/AC8WN
11. VK4/VE6XT
12. VK2IO/m (Watagans National Park VKFF-0522)
13. VK7JON
14. VK3TKK/m
15. VK3QB
16. VK3ARH
17. VK1AD/2 (Mount Marulan SOTA VK2/ ST-039)
18. VK2AOR/p (Popran National Park VKFF-0417)
19. VK2LAX/p (Popran National Park VKFF-0417)
20. VK3ANL/p (SOTA VK3/ VE-004 & Alpine National Park VKFF-0619)
21. VK2IO/p (SOTA Barraba Trig VK2/ HU-065)
22. VK3TKK/p (Bay of Islands Coastal Park VKFF-0743)
23. VK7CW
24. VK3GGG
25. VK3PMG
26. VK3CWF
27. VK3SFG
28. VK1AT/3
29. VK2QR
30. VK2SWL
31. VK4QQ
32. VK5FD/p
33. VK2GGA
34. VK3ELH
35. VK3TJC/m
36. VK7DW
37. VK3FOTO/m

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5HS
2. VK5FDEC
3. VK2AWJ
4. VK5YX
5. VK5KLV
6. VK5FANA
7. VK5PET

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK1FWBD/p (SOTA Black Mountain VK1/ AC-042 & VKFF-0834)
2. VK2IO/m (Watagans National Park VKFF-0522)
3. VK1AD/2 (SOTA VK2/ ST-039)
4. VK4RF
5. VK4HA
6. VK3TKK/m
7. VK3SQ
8. VK3ARH
9. VK4ARW
10. VK2NWB
11. VK2FADV
12. VK7FOLK/m
13. VK3FMPB
14. VK4HNS
15. VK7BC
16. VK3ANL/p (SOTA VK3/ VE-004 & Alpine National Park VKFF-0619)
17. VK2RH/p
18. VK2LAX/p (Popran National Park VKFF-0417)
19. VK2AOR/p (Popran National Park VKFF-0417)
20. VK3QB
21. VK5HS
22. VK4TJ
23. VK4/AC8WN
24. VK4/VE6XT
25. VK4WID
26. VK2RI
27. VK2IO/p (SOTA Barraba Trig VK2/ HU-065)
28. VK2QR
29. VK7VZ/p
30. VK3KMH
31. VK2KT
32. VK3KMB/p
33. VK2GKA
34. VK1AT/3
35. VK7DW
36. VK3CWF
37. VK3TKK/p (Bay of Islands Coastal Park VKFF-0743)

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5HS
2. VK5FDEC
3. VK2AWJ
4. VK5YX
5. VK5KLV
6. VK5FANA
7. VK5PET

On our way to Morgan, from the mobile, Marija and I both logged Peter VK3TKK/p who was activating the Bay of Islands Coastal Park VKFF-0743.  Peter had a strong 5/9 signal into the mobile.

References.

Monument Australia, 2017, <http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/government—state/display/98413-corporal-william-murray-wickham-and-mounted-constable-john-dunning&gt;, viewed 27th April 2017

Government of South Australia, 2014, River Murray-South East Nature Link

Marija and I had one planned park activation for Sunday (23rd April 2017).  That being the Cooltong Conservation Park 5CP-046 & VKFF-0823 which is located about 257 km north east of Adelaide, and just a few km to the west of the town of Renmark.

Map showing the location of the Cooltong Conservation in the Riverland region of South Australia.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

Marija and I have activated this park previously, for both the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award and the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  We visited the park together back in April 2015 when Marija had made 15 contacts, qualifying the park for VKFF, but falling a bit short of the 44 QSOs required for the global WWFF program.  So Marija was hoping to pick up a few more contacts to get over the 44 line.

https://vk5pas.org/2016/04/20/cooltong-conservation-park-5cp-046-and-vkff-0823/

And I had activated the park back in May 2015 and well and truly had qualified the park for both VKFF and WWFF.

https://vk5pas.org/2015/05/12/cooltong-conservation-park-vkff-823/

However, I had been given permission to use the special call of VK5WOW, issued to help celebrate the upcoming 2017 WIA AGM & Convention in Handorf.

We made an early start and had breakfast at the motel and then headed to the home of Ivan VK5HS.  As it turned out my wife Marija and Ivan had secretly arranged to instal a BHI noise eliminating speaker in the Toyota Hi Lux.  Many thanks to both Marija and Ivan.  It is a really welcome addition to the vehicle.  Peter VK5PE also popped around.

Whilst there we all worked Andrew VK1AD who was on SOTA summitBobbara Mountain VK2/ ST-044, and then John VK5BJE/3 who was portable in the Snowy River National Park VKFF-0455.  And we also worked VK5WOW on the callback after the VK5 WIA Broadcast.

Marija and I then headed across the historic Paringa bridge into the little town of Paringa.  The bridge was constructed in 1927 for the railway extension over the River Murray to Renmark.  It is one of South Australia’s significant engineering monuments and is a State Heritage Place protected by the Heritage Places Act 1993.

We then headed out to Lock 5 which was built during the 1920’s to regulate the flow and the levels of the Murray River.  There are a number of information boards here explaining how the lock was installed.  You can also view the 80 ton barge, the Bunyip.  Along the way we workd Nick VK3ANL who was activating SOTA peak Mount Torbreck VK3/ VN-001.

Our next stop was the Black Stump at Paringa, the largest of 11 known black stumps in Australia.

We then visited the Olivewood historic homestead and museum.  This was the home of the Chaffey Bros, founders of Australia’s first irrigation settlement in Renmark in 1887.  The old homestead is open for inspection and is furnished from this period.

The adjacent museum contains numerous early photos and memorabillia, including an amount of old radio gear.

We then called in to the Twenty Third Distillery in Renmark for some lunch….wood fire oven pizzas and a few cold Ciders.

It was now approaching 1.30 p.m. local time and we headed out to the Cooltong Conservation Park.  We accessed the park via Santos Road which runs off the Sturt Highway.  There are no signs on the Highway indicating the park.   But a few km up Santos Road we reached the park which is signposted.

Cooltong Conservation Park was dedicated in 1993 and comprised 3,681 hectares of mallee vegetation.  The name Cooltong is derived from a local aboriginal name meaning ‘lizard place’.  A large number of native birds can be found in the park including the rarely seen Malleefowl.

Marija and I drove a short distance in the park and found a clearing in amongst the scrub off Santos Road.  It was a hot da7, 29 deg C, so we erected the awning on the Toyota Hi Lux and set up the deck chairs and fold up table underneath the awning.  We ran the Yaesu FT-857d for this activation, initially set at 10 watts PEP for Marija, and then at 40 watts for me.  The antenna was the 80/40/20m linked dipole supported on the 7m telescopic squid pole.

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

Marija started off first, with contact number one on 40m SSB being Mark VK5QI/m who was mobile on his way home from the Riverland.  Mark is an active member of AREG and had taken part in the balloon launch the day previous.  Contact number two for Marija was Jonathon VK7JON, followed by Damien VK3FRAB/p, Bruce VK3FBNG, and then Bill VK5MBD/p who was portable near Overland Corner.  Contact number 7 was a Park to Park contact with Greg VK4VXX/2 who was activating the Mutawintji National Park VKFF-0374.

The band was in good shape and there were a lot of amateurs about due to it being the Easter weekend.  Marija very soon had the required 29 contacts in the log (to add to her previous 15) to qualify the park for WWFF.  The honour of contact 29 goes to Ian VK3VIN in Corio.

Marija worked a total of 66 stations on 40 from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7.  This included further Park to Park contacts with John VK5BJE/3 who was portable in the Lake Tyers State Park VKFF-0761, David VK5HYZ/p in the Scott Creek Conservation Park VKFF-0788, Peter VK3PF/4 on SOTA peak VK4/ SE-043 in the D’Aguilar National Park VKFF-0129, Bill VK4FW/p in the Nour Nour National Park VKFF-0701, and Bill VK3CWF/p in the Brisbane Ranges National Park VKFF-0055.

Craig VK3CRG streamed Marija’s contacts via VK3RTV, Digital Amateur TV in Melbourne.

Marija swapped the mic with me, allowing me to log the Park activators.

It was my turn to jump on the mic and operate as VK5WOW.  And WOW (sorry for the pun), what a pile up.  I reached contact number 44 in just 30 minutes (Kevin VK2VKB).  In around 1 hour & 20 minutes I had contact number 100 in the log (Ray VK3RW).  I logged a total of 104 contacts on 40m with most contacts around Australia into VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7.  I logged 2 DX stations on 40m: Brian ZL2ASH in Wellington, New Zealand, and Vicente EA3GP in Tarragona, Spain.  I made one Park to Park contact, and that was with Peter VK3PF/4 who was in the D’Aguilar National Park VKFF-0129.

During my time on 40m, Shaun VK5FAKV called me.  Shaun lives very close by to the park and I gave him directions on how to find me.  I have spoken with Shaun many times on air, and it was a pleasure to meet him finally in person.

I then gave the 20m band a crack, but had very little success there.  Long path propagation into Europe was non existant.  I logged just 6 stations on 20m from VK2, VK4, VK6 and Japan.

I then moved back to 40m where I logged a further 20 stations from VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK6.  This included a Park to Park with Bill VK4FW who was in the Nour Nour National Park VKFF-0701.

It was starting to get dark, 5.30 p.m. local time, and I decided to give the 80m band a shot.  I called CQ on 3.610 and this was answered by Bernie VK4KX who had followed me down from 40.  This was followed by Ivan VK5HS at nearby Renmark who was of course 5/9 +++.  I worked a total of 19 stations on 80m from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7.

I decided to give 40m one last try, hoping to get some North American DX in the log.  Sadly, this was not to happen.  But I did log a further 12 stations from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK6.

It was now 6.30 p.m. local time and it was time to pack up and head back into Renmark for a bite to eat.  I had a total of 161 contacts in the VK5WOW log.  Thanks to everyone who called, and I apologise to those who missed out in the pile up.  Be patient and persistent and I am sure to work you.

In the Cooltong CP

At the end of the activation Marija and I enjoyed a very nice meal at the Renmark Club and it was then back to the motel room, for another early start in the morning.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5QI/m
2. VK7JON
3. VK3FRAB/p
4. VK3FBNG
5. VK5MBD/p
6. VK3CGB
7. VK4VXX/2 (Mutawintji National Park VKFF-0374)
8. VK3YXC
9. VK1AT/p
10. VK5KLV
11. VK5HS
12. VK5PE
13. VK7FOLK
14. VK3FSPG
15. VK3MPR
16. VK2HPN/m
17. VK5AYD
18. VK7DW
19. VK2NP
20. VK2PDW
21. VK2GAZ
22. VK3FOWL
23. VK3SQ
24. VK2QK
25. VK5WG
26. VK2OD
27. VK3TKK
28. VK3AXF
29. VK7AU
30. VK3VIN
31. VK3HKV
32. VK5BJE/3 (Lake Tyers State Park VKFF-0761)
33. VK3ZLD
34. VK2LX
35. VK5HYZ/p (Scott Creek Conservation Park VKFF-0788)
36. VK3PF/4 (SOTA VK4/ SE-043 & D’Aguilar National Park VKFF-0129)
37. VK3FPSR
38. VK3FAJH
39. VK3FLJD
40. VK3FPHG
41. VK5TR
42. VK5AFZ
43. VK2KYO
44. VK3YSP
45. VK5YL
46. VK3CRG
47. VK3PAT
48. VK5MA/p
49. VK4FW/p (Nour Nour National Park VKFF-0701)
50. VK3CWF/p (Brisbane Ranges National Park VKFF-0055)
51. VK3ZZS/p
52. VK5FANA/m
53. VK7NWT
54. VK5IS
55. VK5CP
56. VK2HI
57. VK5HEL
58. VK3GGG
59. VK3PMG
60. VK5FMJC
61. VK4RF
62. VK4HA
63. VK2GPT/p
64. VK3TL
65. VK3MIC
66. VK3ZL

I worked the following stations (under VK5PAS) on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4VXX/2 (Mutawintji National Park VKFF-0374)
2. VK5BJE/3 (Lake Tyers State Park VKFF-0761)
3. VK5HYZ/p (Scott Creek Conservation Park)
4. VK3PF/4 (SOTA VK4/ SE-043 & D’Aguilar National Park VKFF-0129)
5. VK4FW/p (Nour Nour National Park VKFF-0701)
6. VK3CWF/p (Brisbane Ranges National Park VKFF-0055)

I worked the following stations (under VK5WOW) on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK3HSB
3. VK3PF/4
4. VK4RF
5. VK4HA
6. VK5MBD/p
7. VK3FOWL
8. VK5MA/p
9. VK3TKK
10. VK5NE
11. VK3TL
12. VK5WG
13. VK2HOT
14. VK3ZLD
15. VK3PAT
16. VK5HEL
17. VK2LX
18. VK3GYH/p
19. VK5KLV
20. VK2GAZ
21. VK2FRKO
22. VK3CRG
23. VK2VW
24. VK3FRAB/p
25. VK3FPHG
26. VK3YSP
27. VK3SRC
28. VK2EJW
29. VK3YQS
30. Vk5FANA/m
31. VK7JON
32. VK3BL
33. VK7VZ/p
34. VK3GGG
35. VK3PMG
36. VK5JK
37. VK3VLY
38. ZL2ASH
39. VK3JM
40. VK2PDW/m
41. VK2NP
42. VK3MNZ
43. VK4HNS
44. VK2VKB
45. VK2SK
46. VK2EXA
47. VK7FOLK
48. VK3ZPF
49. VK3FADM/2
50. VK2JXA/p
51. VK3YSP/p
52. VK4FFAB
53. VK4BX
54. VK4ARW
55. VK3FAJH
56. VK5DJW
57. VK5ZGY/m
58. VK2NSS
59. VK2VOL
60. VK5FAKV
61. VK4QQ
62. VK3PLP
63. VK5PE
64. VK3VIN
65. VK3BSG
66. VK7DW
67. VK4VXX
68. VK5WF
69. VK3PI
70. VK2IO/m
71. VK4SMA
72. VK1RZ
73. VK7FEAT/m
74. VK7AN
75. VK3RU
76. VK3TJS
77. VK3MCK
78. VK5KFB
79. VK2ZQ
80. VK2BMU
81. VK5BC
82. VK5NJ
83. VK2UCT
84. VK3FSPG
85. VK3MPR
86. VK2NWB
87. VK4ND
88. VK2YW
89. VK3BGE
90. VK5NAW
91. EA3GP
92. VK5HS
93. VK3MAB
94. VK5ZKU
95. VK3FMPC
96. VK7AU
97. VK3ZD
98. VK3MJR
99. VK3ELH
100. VK3RW
101. VK3STU
102. VK3MCD
103. VK5YX
104. VK3HBG
105. VK2QQ
106. VK3TJK
107. VK2HHS
108. VK4FW/p (VKFF-0701)
109. VK2QK
110. VK2HBT
111. VK3UH
112. VK3SOT
113. VK4HHA
114. VK3WAR
115. VK2FSAV
116. VK5FD/p
117. VK6WC
118. VK2SOL
119. VK3SX
120. VK3NLK
121. VK3FMDC
122. VK4DA
123. VK2BTO
124. VK4KX
125. VK4GAZ
126. VK3FEVT
127. VK3AND
128. VK3FLES
129. VK4FSCC
130. VK4FRAL/m
131. VK6NU
132. VK3LBW
133. VK2TMC
134. VK2SVN
135. VK2WWV
136. VK5FDEC

I worked the following stations (under VK5WOW) on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4QQ
2. VK2MI
3. VK5BC
4. JA1VRY
5. VK2CMP
6. VK6GLX

I worked the following stations (under VK5WOW) on 80m SSB:-

1. VK4KX
2. VK5HS
3. VK3NLK
4. VK4VCO/p
5. VK5FANA
6. VK5HYZ
7. VK3STU
8. VK5FD/p
9. VK7JON
10. VK5ATQ
11. VK3GGG
12. VK3PMG
13. VK3VLY
14. VK3SQ
15. VK5MG
16. VK4TJ
17. VK3DQL
18. VK5FMAZ/m
19. VK2MTM

References.

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

Discover Murray, 2017, <http://www.murrayriver.com.au/paddleboats/river-boat-trail-renmark/&gt;, viewed 27th April 2017

Renmark Paringa Visitor Information Centre, 2015, ‘Renmark, Paringa & Lyrup Visitor Guide’

Wikipedia, 2017, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooltong,_South_Australia&gt;, viewed 27th April 2017

On Saturday morning (22nd April 2017) Marija and I headed out to the historic Overland Corner Hotel for the 2017 BRL Gathering, hosted by the Riverland Radio Club.  This was the third year that the club had held the event.  And this year was special as the Amateur Radio Experimenters Group (AREG) were going to conduct a High Altitude Balloon launch at the gathering.

So after breakfast at the motel, Marija and I made the 30 minute journey from Renmark out to the Overland Corner Hotel.

Map showing the location of the Overland Corner Hotel in the Riverland region of South Australia.  Map courtesy of google maps.

The Overland Corner Hotel is located about 21 km from Barmera, and is situated off the Goyder Highway.  The hotel was originally established as a watering hole for drovers and overlanders operating between New South Wales and Adelaide in the colony of South Australia.  It also served as a temporary camping ground for steamers passing through the area along the mighty Murray River, about 600 feet from the hotel.  The hotel was erected in 1859 and since that time has served as a staging point, a general store, a police station and a local Post Office.

The Overland Corner Hotel, c. 1910.  Courtesy of Trove.

The Brand brothers, Henry, William, George and James who migrated to Australia from Kent, England in 1851 were commissioned by John Chambers, the enterprising pastoralist to build the Overland Corner Hotel in 1859.   The hotel’s original construction was almost entirely of locally available materials, including limestone, red gum and native pine timbers, a dirt floor, and thatched roof of river reeds.  A nearby quarry provided the stone for the hotel.  The rock is composed almost entirely of fossils. Corals, shellfish and the occasional shark’s tooth give evidence that this area was once covered by warm, shallow seas, long before man walked on the earth, some fifteen million years ago.  That the building remains is a tribute to these pioneer builders and their skills of construction.

The Brand brothers.  Courtesy of Barmera Visitor Information Centre

The National Trust purchased the building in 1965 and the fossilised limestone building was completely restored.  It is the oldest structure remaining in the area.

There is a small museum in the hotel displaying various relics, even an old morse key.

It is reputed that the bushranger Henry Arthur ‘Harry’ Readford, visited the hotel.  Readford was imortalised in the 1882-83 novel ‘Robbery Under Arms’.  The character ‘Captain Starlight’ in the book was a composite of several bushrangers including Readford created by the author Rolf Boldrewood.  It is reported that Readford and his gang came to Overland Corner, and after stopping in at the nearby police station, where they locked the police in the cells, retired to the Overland Corner for a drink.  Stories abound that Readford even rode his horse into the bar and before leaving he carved his name onto the hotel’s wall.  Sadly no trace of this remains today.

Harry Readford.  Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

The carpark at the rear of the hotel offered plenty of room for those staying for a few nights at Overland Corner for the BRL Gathering.

The BRL Gathering is a terrific social function, and if you have never attended, I highly recommend that you do.  It is a great day of catching up with old mates and sitting around in the pub’s gardens enjoying a frothy or two and a great pub meal.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Without a doubt the highlight of this years BRL Gathering was a High Altitude Balloon launch by the Amateur Radio Experimenters Group (AREG).

Below is a short video of the balloon launch…….

This was the first test flight of a new experimental cross band voice repeater: Input- 147.500 MHz, Output- 438.850 MHz.  A number of contacts were logged on the repeater, with the special call of VK5WOW being used.  Marija and I were lucky enough to make contact via HT.

Ivan VK5HS logging contacts via the repeater

Marija VK5FMAZ making contact with VK5WOW via the repeater

Ron VK5MRE making contact via the repeater

An interested group of onlookers

I had a small display table erected, promoting the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award and the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  I also delivered three short talks on these two programs, and operating portable.

Frank VK3VEF was awarded the BRL Net Award, while Dennis VK2HHA was issued with a special award certificate for assisting as a relay station on the Riverland Radio Group Net.

A great day had by all.  Marija and I will certainly be there again next year.

After leaving we popped in just up the road to have a look at a historic BlackBox tree dating back to 1780.   The species has fibrous roots that were chewed by Aboriginal women to make a tough fibre. The fibre was used to make netting to trap birds, animals and fish.  Nets were up to 50 metres long and could take a year or more to make.

We then stopped in to have a look at the Overland Corner cemetery, which is the largest cemetery in the area and is still used today.  Members of the Brand family and other residents of the early European settlement lie here.

We also visited the lookout from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the flats, river cliffs and the hotel.

We then stopped off at Chocolates and More at Monash which is located opposite the Monash Adventure Park.  Plenty of calories here to be enjoyed.

We had a little bit of time before dinner, so we also visited the small lookout tower on the outskirts of Renmark, and enjoyed the sunset.

That evening, a number of us, including Ivan VK5HS and his wife Cheryl, Peter VK5PE and his wife Nat, and Mick VK3GGG and his wife Anne, had dinner at the Renmark Hotel.  Plenty of laughs were had.

References.

Barmera Visitor Centre, 2009, ‘Historic Overland Corner Hotel’

State Library South Australia, <http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/murray/content/didyouknow/bushrangers.htm&gt;, viewed 27th April 2017

Bright and early on Good Friday morning (21st April 2017) my wife Marija VK5FMAZ and I, left home headed for the Riverland region of South Australia.  We had booked in to stay three nights at Renmark, with our main reason for heading to the Riverland, to attend the BRL Gathering at the historic Overland Corner Hotel.  The BRL Gathering is held each year and is organised by the Riverland Radio Club.

Marija and I had planned to activate one park on our way up on Friday, the Ramco Point Conservation Park 5CP-193 and VKFF-0930.  The park is situated about 180 km north east of Adelaide, and is located just to the north west of the town of Waikerie.

I had activated Ramco Point back in April 2015 as part of the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award.  But this was prior to Ramco Point being added to the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program, so this was to be a unique park for WWFF for both Marija and myself.

Map showing the location of the Ramco Point Conservation Park in the Riverland region of South Australia.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

It is a 2 hour drive from our home in the Adelaide Hills to Waikerie.  Our drive took us out through Woodside and Birdwood and on to Mount Pleasant.  We then travelled along the Angas Valley Road, admiring the view of the surrounding countryside as we left the hills and down to the eastern flats of the Mallee.  We then travelled north on Ridley Road, passing through the towns of Cambrai and Sedan until we reached the Sturt Highway.  We then travelled east towards Waikerie, passing the Brookfield Conservation Park, and crossing the mighty Murray River at Blanchetown.

The Ramco Point Conservation Park was proclaimed in June 2006 and is located just to the north of Ramco Lagoon, on the southern side of the Murray River.  The little town of Ramco is located nearby.  Today the town has a population of about 200 people and just a Post office, Lutheran church, a total hall and a school.  The current town of Ramco waas surveyed in 1940, however there was an earlier Ramco village which was founded in July 1894 by 18 disgruntled settlers from the Waikerie village settlement.

Ramco originates from the aboriginal word ‘Bogorampko’.  The word ‘bogo’ means dead, a spirit or a giant from mythology and ‘rampk’ means going towards or referring to the route used by mythical creatures to get to the river for water at night.  It was an aboriginal belief that there was a class of beings, Bogo, who lived at Bogorampko.  They were considered large and human-like and had the power of invisibility.  The Bogo were thought to come to the Murray River at night from the inland scrubby country to get water and inflict sorcery.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The road into the park, Ramco Point Road is initially bitumen, but then becomes dirt.  Last time we were here at Ramco back in 2015, there had been a lot of rain, making the track very boggy.  And on this occasion it was no different.  There had been quite a bit of rain overnight, and the track was very slippery and boggy in parts.

The first section of Ramco Point Road.  It was wet but was easily passable.

There were a number of caravaners alongside the Murray River who had obviously been there prior to the rain.  By the time we had passed Ramco Lagoon, the track had become extremely slippery and boggy.  Although it didn’t look bad, the soil here alongside the river, once wet, becomes quite treacherous.  Fortunately we had been able to get inside the park boundary.

The section close to the park boundary.  A little more tricky.

As you can see from the photo below, even though we have light truck tyres on the Toyota Hi Lux, the mud was not being dispersed from the tread.  It was very sticky.

Marija and I found a small clearing on the western side of Ramco Point Road, right alongside the Murray River.  We set up the deck chairs, the fold up table, and ran the Yaesu FT-857d at 10 watts PEP, and the 80/40/20m linked dipole, supported on the 7m telescopic squid pole.  We had the shade of a large gum tree, which was welcome as it was a warm 26 deg C and very humid.

Aerial shot of the Ramco Point Conservation Park showing our operating spot.  Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

Marija started off on air first, calling CQ on 7.140.  The first station in the log was Greg VK4VXX/2 with a very strong 5/9 plus signal.  Les VK5KLV in Port Augusta followed, with an equally strong signal, then Ken VK2KYO, followed by Bill VK4FW.  Marija had contact number 10 in the log after being on air for 14 minutes.  The honour of the 10th contact and thus qualifying the park for Marija for VKFF, went to Les VK3FLES.

As we were pushed a little for time, Marija handed over the mic to me after making a total of 11 contacts into VK2, VK3, VK5 and VK7.  Marija was happy that she had qualified the park for VKFF, and I was hoping to pick up my 44 contacts to qualify the park for the global WWFF awards.

Whilst operating, we were kept company by literally dozens and dozens of Welcome Swallows who were flying around the gum tree alongside of us.  It was quite a sight (as you can see in the video at the end of this post).

We almost had to get the vehicles snatch straps into action, as a couple in their Mazda BT50 decided to go a little further along the track and very nearly got bogged.  Fortunately they made their own way out safely.

Welcome Swallows by the dozens

The antenna with the swallows in the background

I called CQ on 7.140 and this was answered by Les VK5KLV, followed by Ken VK2KYO and then Fred VK3JM.  All had very strong 5/9 + signals.  Sadly I soon started to experience QRM from a ZL station on 7.138 who was chatting to friends in the UK.  The bleedover was extremely bad, so I apologise to those who may have been calling that I could not hear.

Contact number 10, qualifying the park for me for VKFF, was with regular park hunter Rick VK4HA.  Soon after I was called by Ken ZL4KD/p who was portable in the Okarito Conservation Area ZLFF-0034 on the South Island of New Zealand.  Ken was quite low down, and copy was made worse by the QRM from 7.138.  I moved up to 7.142 and away from the QRM, where I comfortably worked Ken and his wife Margaret ZL3YF/p, Park to Park (P2P).  Unfortunately Marija had gone for a walk to take some photos so she missed out on the New Zealand Park to Park opportunity with Ken and Margaret.

Fortunately I had a steady flow of callers and I soon reached 20 contacts, and then 30.  Although by contact number 39, callers had slowed down.  Band conditions on 40m were very good, with QSOs being logged into New Zealand, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK6 and VK7.  Other than Les VK5KLV, there were no South Australians logged by me, with close in propagation not working on 40m SSB.  Additional to the P2P contact with Ken and Margaret, I also logged a P2P contact on 40m with Hans VK6XN/p who was in the Bramley National Park VKFF-0636 in the south western region of Western Australia.  Hans was a good 5/5 and reciprocated with a 5/7 for me.

I then headed to 14.310 on the 20m band and called CQ.  This was answered by John VK6NU in Western Australia.  Signals from VK6 on 20m have been quite low of late.  And today was no different, with John’s signal being 5/4 (5/3 received).  Steve VK4QQ then called in with a strong 5/8 signal, followed by Phil VK6ADF and then Mark VK4SMA.  But despite 5 minutes of further CQ calls, I had no further callers on 20m, leaving me on 43 contacts.  Just 1 QSO short of qualifying the park.

I then moved to 3.610 on the 80m band and called CQ which was answered by Laurie VK2GZ, my 44th contact, qualifying the park for WWFF.  I then worked Jim VK3UFO who was out gold prospecting near Bendigo, followed by Hans VK5KHZ/p who was at Thiele Flat near Mannum.

I had a total of 46 contacts in the log and a new park qualified for WWFF.

After packing up, we stopped off briefly at Ramco Lagoon to take some photographs of the waterbirds including Herons, Spoonbills, and Plovers.

We also enjoyed a quite spectacular sunset.  On our way back to the motel we both worked Hans VK6XN, from the mobile.  Hans was in the Bramley National Park VKFF-0636.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4VXX/2
2. VK5KLV
3. VK2KYO
4. VK4FW
5. VK5QI/m
6. VK3SQ
7. VK3XL
8. VK2HOT
9. VK5PL
10. VK3FLES
11. VK7

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5KLV
2. VK2KYO
3. VK3JM
4. VK4VXX/2
5. VK7JON
6. VK3XL
7. VK2GPT
8. VK2LDN
9. VK4RF
10. VK4HA
11. VK2HOT
12. VK1AT/3
13. ZL4KD/p (Okarito Conservation Area ZLFF-0034)
14. ZL3YF/p (Okarito Conservation Area ZLFF-0034)
15. VK3MCK
16. VK2IO
17. VK3HSB
18. VK7DIK
19. VK2NEO
20. VK3SOT
21. VK4PDX
22. VK3SFG
23. VK3ADM/m
24. VK4FW
25. VK2NP
26. VK4QQ
27. VK2MOR/m
28. VK3UT
29. VK3VEK
30. VK6XN/p (Bramley National Park VKFF-0636)
31. VK3FSPG
32. VK3MPR
33. VK4SMA
34. VK2JXA/p
35. VK2ND
36. VK3FLJD
37. VK3AXF
38. VK2HPN/m
39. VK2HEY/m

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK6NU
2. VK4QQ
3. VK6ADF
4. VK4SMA

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK2GZ
2. VK3UFO/p
3. VK5KHZ/p

Below is a short video of the activation, showing the Welcome Swallow activity…..

References.

Jennings, John T,  2009, ‘Natural History of the Riverland and Murraylands’

State Library South Australia, 2017, <http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1356&gt;, viewed 26th April 2017

Wikipedia, 2017, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramco,_South_Australia&gt;, viewed 26th April 2017

On Easter Sunday (16th April 2017), Marija VK5FMAZ and I activated the Scott Creek Conservation Park 5CP-207 & VKFF-0788.   This was to be a unique park for Marija for both the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award, and the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  I have been to Scott Creek a number of times previously and I have qualified the park for WWFF.  But for this occasion I had been given permission to use the special call of VK5WOW.  The call has been issued to help celebrate the upcoming Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) AGM & Convention in Hahndorf South Australia.  A special award is on offer for working VK5WOW and/or VI5WOW.

The Scott Creek Conservation Park is located about 20 km south east of Adelaide, and around 24 km west of my home in the Adelaide Hills.

Map showing the location of the Scott Creek Conservation Park, south east of Adelaide.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

On our way to the park, from the mobile, both Marija and I logged Bob VK5AFZ/p who was activating the Lawari Conservation Park VKFF-1767.  Bob had a strong 5/8 into the mobile.  This was whilst we were doing 110 kph on the South Eastern Freeway at Hahndorf.

Prior to activating the park Marija and I visited the Alamanda mine ruins on Dorset Vale Road.  During the early 1840’s the Scott Creek area was settled by the Hill and Mackareth families.  They cut timber to be used in buildings in Adelaide, and cleared the land for the cultivation of onions and potatoes.  They used bullock drays to haul the produce to Adelaide via Coromandel Valley.  In 1850, the wheels of a dray broke off pieces of rock which were recognised to contain copper.  Soon after a shaft was sunk to 9 metres, and was named Wheal Maria.  The shaft was soon abandoned after a small quantity of ore was removed.

During 1862, new leases were acquired and a new shaft, named Wheal Mary Anne, was sunk to a depth of 27 metres.  A few dray loads of ore were produced but again the mine was abandoned by 1865.

In 1868, a German assayer, William Ey, noticed abandoned copper ore from Wheal Mary Anne at Port Adelaide.  He recognised that the ore contained silver.  As a result he and James Gawen acquired leases at Scott Creek in June 1868, with the Alamanda Silver Mining Association being formed in July 1868.  A trial crushing of ore produced two ingots of silver weighing 131 ounces (4 kg).  A rush for claims at Scott Creek followed the announcement of rich silver ore at the Alamanda mine.

A treatment mill comprising a battery and mill were erected.  However, operations proved uneconomic and by early 1870, work was suspended.  The mine was reworked in 1877, 1881, and 1887.  Total production was 10,000 ounces (310kg) from 2,000 tones of ore.

The Alamanda mine, c. 1868.  A drawing by W.A. Cawthorne.  Courtesy of Department of Mines and Energy.

Today, little remains, although there are a number of intepretive signs.  Sadly, many of the buildings have come under attack by vandals.

Marija in front of the old dairy

Enginehouse ruins. Erected 1869.

Despite the site being severely vandalised, it was pleasing to see a number of people visiting the old Alamanda mine during our visit.

Stone chimney, erected 1869.  Was connected by an underground stone-lined flue to the boilerhouse.

We then crossed over Dorset Vale Road to have a look at Ey’s Workings and Tunnel.  The tunnel was previously open for people to visit with a torch, but it is now fenced off.

We then visited Mackareth cottage on Matthew Road.  I had been here years previous and was very saddened to see the state it was in, considering its historical significance.  The cottage is located on SA Water land, who I contacted a number of years ago about the state of disrepair the cottage was in.  They seemed totally disinterested.

The cottage dates back to 1839/1840, just 3-4 years after the proclamation of South Australia.  So it is a very historical buidling.  It was built by George Mackareth who had emigrated to South Australia in 1838 from England.  The cottage was continually lived in between 1840-1976, when the National Trust took control of the property.

For many years it housed a museum and on occasions provided Devonshire teas on weekend openings to visitors.  In 1984 the National Trust relinquished its interests and the cottage was closed.  It has since fallen into the disgraceful condition it is in today, covered in grafitti.

Mackareth cottage in better days.

The Scott Creek Conservation Park itself is 706 hectares in size and was established in November 1985.  The land at Scott Creek was purchased by the South Australian State Government in the early 1970’s by the State Planning Authority and in 1985 the area was recognised as an important part of the southern Mount Lofty Ranges, and adopted as a Conservation Park.

The park contains one of the most diverse areas of native vegetation near Adelaide.  It contains steep sloped valleys, lush creeklines and rounded ridgetops.The main upper canopy species is Messmate Stringy bark, South Australian Blue Gum, Pink Gum, Cup Gum, River Red Gum, and Manna Gum.  Other native plants include Silky Tea-tree, Swamp wattle, Golden wattle, and Silver Banksia.  A considerable number of the 108 plant species in the park are classified as rare, vulnerable or endangered.

About 15 species of native mammals call the park home, including the Western Grey kangaroo, Yellow footed antechinus, echidna, Brush-tailed possum, Ringtail possum, and Koala.  The endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot has been recorded in the park.

Over 125 species of birds have been recorded in the park including New Holland Honeyeater, White-naped honeyeater, Crimson Rosella, Purple-crowned lorikeet, Kookaburra, and Rainbow lorikeet.  The park is also home to the endangered Beautiful Firetail and the vulnerable Bassian Thrush.

Marija and I parked at gate number 8 and operated from a clearing about 20 metres in from the gate.  I have operated from her previously, including with John VK5BJE who lives closeby.  His wife Jenny is involved in the active ‘Friends of Scott Creek Conservation Park’ group.  They have an excellent website.

There is plenty of room here to string out a dipole.  We used the Yaesu FT-857d for this activation, along with the 80/40/20m linked dipole, @ 6 metres, inverted vee.  We initially ran 10 watts PEP for Marija with her Foundation licence, and when I operated as VK5WOW I ran 40 watts output.

Prior to calling CQ we tuned across the 40m band and worked Marc VK3OHM who was on 7.140, activating the Lower Goulburn National Park VKFF-0741.

Marija then headed up to 7.145 and called CQ.  It didn’t take long, and Marija had a mini pile up going, which she handled exceedingly well.  I assisted her with logging and prompting her with the names of the callers.  Within 8 minutes Marija had the required 10 contacts in the log to qualify the park for the VKFF program, and within 45 minutes, she had the required 44 contacts to qualify the park for the global WWFF program.  Contact number 10 was with Bill VK4FW.  Contact number 44 was with Keith VK5OQ who was portable at Mount Bryan.

Marija made a total of 53 contacts which included 7 Park to Park contacts.

• Marc VK3OHM/p (Lower Goulburn National Park VKFF-0741)
• Mike VK3XL/p (Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park VKFF-0747)
• VK1DI/p (Woodstock Nature Reserve VKFF-0988)
• John VK5BJE/3 (Kinglake National Park VKFF-0264)
• Phil VK6ADF/p (Hilliger National Park VKFF-0646)
• Margaret ZL3YF/p (Lake Pearson Conservation Area ZLFF-0029)
• Ken ZL4KD/p (Lake Pearson Conservation Area ZLFF-0029)

Another interesting contact Marija made was with Craig VK3CRG who was streaming Marija’s QSOs through VK3RTV, amateur TV repeater.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3OHM (Lower Goulburn National Park VKFF-0741)
2. VK3GGG
3. VK3PMG
4. VK3FRAB
5. VK5HCF
6. VK2HHA
7. VK3SFG
8. VK3SQ
9. VK3PF
10. VK4FW
11. VK3FQSO
12. VK5HS
13. VK2KYO
14. VK2NP
15. VK7EV
16. VK3FOTO/m
17. VK5KC/p
18. VK3FJAE
19. VK3TKK/m
20. VK5NFT/m
21. VK2GAZ
22. VK3FSPG
23. VK3MPR
24. VK3XL/p (Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park VKFF-0747)
25. VK4ARW
26. VK1DI/p (Woodstock Nature Reserve VKFF-0988)
27. VK5IS/3
28. VK3NCR
29. VK3CRG
30. VK5KLV
31. VK3FCMC
32. VK2EXA
33. VK7QP
34. VK4RF
35. VK4HA
36. VK3ARH
37. VK6MAC
38. VK3SL/p
39. VK3MNZ
40. VK2FGJW/3
41. VK3ELH
42. VK3RU
43. VK3HN
44. VK5OQ/p
45. VK5PE
46. VK3BFR
47. VK5YX
48. VK5GY/m
49. VK3FHCT
50. VK5BJE/3 (Kinglake National Park VKFF-0264)
51. VK6ADF/p (Hilliger National Park VKFF-0646)
52. ZL3YF/p (Lake Pearson Conservation Area ZLFF-0029)
53. ZL4KD/p (Lake Pearson Conservation Area ZLFF-0029)

I occasionally picked up the mic to log a few of the park activators.  I worked the following stations on 40m SSB under VK5PAS:-

1. VK3OHM/p (Lower Goulburn National Park VKFF-0741)
2. VK1DI/p (Woodstock Nature Reserve VKFF-0988)
3. VK5BJE/3 (Kinglake National Park VKFF-0264)
4. VK6ADF/p (Hilliger National Park VKFF-0646)
5. ZL4KD (Lake Pearson Conservation Area ZLFF-0029)
6. ZL3YF/p (Lake Pearson Conservation Area ZLFF-0029)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK6ADF/p (Hilliger National Park VKFF-0646)

Just after 0535 UTC (2.05 p.m. South Australian local time) I took over as VK5WOW.   Contact number one in the log was with John VK5BJE who was portable in the Kinglake National Park VKFF-0264.  Rather appropriate, as John lives very close to the Scott Creek Conservation Park.

I ended up with a total of 157 contacts as VK5WOW, on the 20, 40 and 80m bands, including 11 Park to Park contacts.  A small amount of DX was logged from New Zealand, Croatia, Finland, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, and Belgium

In the Scott Creek CP

I worked the following stations as VK5WOW on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5BJE/3 (Kinglake National Park VKFF-0264)
2. VK6ADF/p (Hilliger National Park VKFF-0646)
3. VK3KRH
4. VK3CRG
5. VK3RU
6. VK3TKK/m
7. VK5KLV
8. VK7QP
9. VK5HS
10. VK2EXA
11. VK3SFG
12. VK5HCF
13. VK3NCR
14. VK4HNS/p (Kwiambi National Park VKFF-0274)
15. VK3OHM/p (Lower Goulburn National Park VKFF-0741)
16. VK3FRAB
17. VK3ANL
18. VK1AD
19. VK3FHCT
20. VK5MLB/p
21. VK4FW
22. VK4RF
23. VK4HA
24. VK1DI/p (Woodstock Nature Reserve VKFF-0988)
25. VK4FFAB
26. VK3SQ
27. VK3HN
28. VK3BQ/m
29. VK3FCEK/m
30. VK3PF
31. VK3FNQS
32. VK5YX
33. VK2EJW
34. VK2NP
35. VK5IS
36. VK3GGG
37. VK3PMG
38. VK5GJ
39. VK3KMH
40. VK3FOTO
41. VK4FADW
42. VK2VW
43. VK3BFR
44. VK4ARW
45. VK4SMA
46. VK4PDX
47. VK4FEMO
48. VK3FORD
49. VK7CW
50. VK7JON
51. VK5NFT/m
52. VK2HHA
53. VK2NEO
54. VK3FQSO
55. VK3VEK
56. VK3FCMC
57. VK3FSPG
58. VK3MPR
59. VK3TEZ
60. VK5PL
61. VK7KW
62. VK7FOLK
63. VK5ALR/p (Morgan Conservation Park VKFF-0911)
64. VK7MHZ/p
65. VK7VEK
66. VK3DQ
67. VK2LAD
68. VK3HAK
69. VK3FVKI
70. VK3YW
71. VK2HJW
72. VK3PI
73. VK3HSB
74. VK3TJS
75. VK2QK
76. VK4QQ
77. VK3MRG
78. VK4FAAJ
79. ZL4KD (Lake Pearson Conservation Area ZLFF-0029)
80. ZL3YF/p (Lake Pearson Conservation Area ZLFF-0029)
81. VK3FMJP
82. VK3MNZ
83. VK4BX
84. VK2WOW
85. VK2ARA
86. VK4ZD
87. VK4DI
88. VK4FARR
89. VK5NJ
90. VK2RL
91. VK2MT/p
92. VK2FOUZ
93. VK2VVV
94. VK3UH
95. VK2HPN
96. VK2CCR
97. ZL1XS
98. VK2IO/m
99. VK5HH
100. VK2SK
101. VK4MWB
102. VK5FTCT
103. VK7PRN
104. VK6BEC
105. VK7FPRN
106. VK2UMA
107. VK6FFAR
108. VK4TJ

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB under VK5WOW:-

1. VK6ADF/p (Hilliger National Park VKFF-0646)
2. VK4FW
3. VK4QQ
4. VK4RF
5. VK4HA
6. VK6MAC/m
7. VK4HNS/p (Kwiambi National Park VKFF-0274)
8. 9A3NM
9. OH2BAD
10. 9A7W
11. IW3IBK
12. I5FLN
13. F2YT
14. VK4NSA
15. VK4SMA
16. VK7JON
17. VK6SN
18. IZ4RCQ
19. DL2ND
20. IU5HIV
21. JH7WER
22. ON4VT
23. VK6NU
24. JA1VRY
25. VK6XL
26. JG4AKL
27. JH7CVM

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB under VK5WOW:-

1. VK5HS
2. VK3XL/p
3. VK3PF
4. VK2GGA
5. VK2YW
6. VK5NJ
7. VK3GGG
8. VK3PMG
9. VK5BW
10. VK5FANA
11. VK1AT
12. VK3XBC/p (Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373)
13. VK3SQ
14. VK3PI
15. VK5DC
16. VK5NFT/m
17. VK2QM
18. VK3ZE
19. VK3RW
20. VK5HYZ
21. VK2MT/p

Whilst I was operating Marija went for a walk along Cup Gum Track.  There are some great views to be had along this track out across the Mount Lofty Ranges.

We packed up just after 6.30 p.m. local time.  It had been a very succesful and enjoyable afternoon in the park.  Marija had qualified a new park, and VK5WOW had been put on air promoting the upcoming AGM/Convention and the VK5 Parks Award.

Below is a short video of me operating as VK5WOW……

References.

Department of Mines and Energy, 1991, ‘Alamanda Silver Mine.  A guide to the walking trail’

National Parks South Australia, 2017, <https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/Adelaide_Hills/scott-creek-conservation-park&gt;, viewed 18th April 2017

National Parks and Wildlife SA, 1999, ‘Scott Creek Conservation Park Management Plan’.

Wikipedia, 2017, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Creek_Conservation_Park&gt;, viewed 18th April 2017

The weather on Easter Saturday (15th April 2017) was warm and sunny, so I decided in the afternoon to undertake a park activation.  I had a look at the list of parks I have previously activated, and chose the Anstey Hill Recreation Park VKFF-1683.  This was to be a unique park for me as an activator.  Anstey Hill is located about 16 km to the north east of Adelaide.

Map showing the location of the Anstey Hill Recreation Park, north east of Adelaide.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

To get to the park it was a 48 km drive for me, through the towns of Lobethal and Cudlee Creek and then along Gorge Road, Paracombe Roaad and onto Range Road South.

Aerial shot of the park, looking to the west out towards Gulf St Vincent and across the north-eastern and northern suburbs of Adelaide.  Image courtesy of Google maps.

Anstey Hill Recreation Park was established in 1989 and comprises 362 hectares of steep gullies, creek lines with some terrific views of the city of Adelaide.  It was dedicated as park in response to public demand that the State Government protect the land from development.  The Anstey Hill summit which is located within the park is 371 metres above sea level.

Anstey Hill was named after George Alexander Anstey (1814-1895), a South Australian pastoral and horticultural pioneer.  He was born in London and emigrated to Australia in 1827 at age 13.  In 1840 Anstey purchased two sections of land at Highercombe and commenced to establish his estate which he named after his father’s birthplace in Somerset England.  His property which contained vineyards, orchards and extensive botanical gardens, was in the vicinity of the current Highercombe Gold Club which is located just over the crest of the range east of the Anstey Hill Recreation Park.

George Alexander Anstey

About 290 native flora species have been recorded in Anstey Hill.  The western end of the park is dominated by Pink Gums, while the eastern end is dominated by the Box Tree, a species which has rarely been rpeserved in Adelaide.  A number of plants which are now rare on the Adelaide plains are found in the park.  This includes Leamon beauty-heads, Pussy-tails, Dwarf Hakea, Silky guinea-flower and Black Rapier sedge.  The steep areas of the park support native pine, Drooping Sheaok and Pink Gums.  Understorey species include Kangaroo thorn, Rock Grass-tree, Sticky Hop-bush, and Heath Tea-tree.  Manna Gums which are found mostly in the east of the park are home to koalas.  Over 39 species of native orchids have been recorded in Anstey Hill, including the King Spider-orchid and Wax-lip orchid.

Over 145 species of native birds have been recorded in the park, including the Superb Fairy Wren.

Native animals found in the park include Western Grey kangaroos, echidnas, koalas, and Brush-tailed possums.  Up to 35 species of reptiles and amphibians call the park home including Brown Tree frogs, Bearded Dragons, and the rarely seen Cunninghams Skink.

Prior to activating, I parked at gate 13 and went for a 1 km walk to the old Newmans nursery ruins.  The walk is downhill all the way.  As it was a warm day, the climb back up to the carpark was not as easy.

The Newmans Nursery was established in 1854 by Carl and Margaretha Neumann and was once the largest nursery in the southern hemisphere.  In 1912, the nursery waas devastated by floods and as a result never really recovered.  It was used as a dairy from 1932 and from 1935 assets from the buildings were salvaged and the property was used for sheep grazing.  The 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfire destroyed the remaining buildings.  Some of the Newman family established the current day Newmans Nursery on North East Road.

The nursery, c. 1880

Inside a greenhouse at the nursery, c. 1912

Today, only ruins of the nursery remain.  It is well worth a visit.  For more information on the nursery please see….

http://www.newmansnursery.com.au/about/history/

I set up just to the south of gate 16 on Range Road South.

Aerial shot of the park showing my operating spot.  Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

There was a ladder here allowing access to the park over the barbed wire fence.

It was a warm day, around 26 deg C, so I set up underneath the shade of a gum tree.  I ran my normal set up for this activation comprising the Yaesu FT-857d, 40 watts, and the 80/40/20m linked dipole.  It was only up at 6 metres inverted vee, as the first section of my squid pole had split during my recent visit to Victoria.  I asked if the frequency was in use and Dennis VK2HHA came back to advise that the frequency was clear.  Dennis was number one in the log.  My fourth contact was with Gerard VK2IO who was activating SOTA peak Mount Banks VK2/ CT-032 which is located within the Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041.

Sadly, during my sixth QSO, I started to experience deliberate QRM.  It consisted of replaying a recorded message from VK3FVKI re his experimental antenna tests.  I strongly suspect I know where this is coming from and I made a recording of the interference which I have provided to ACMA.  This is the same interference which the 7130 DX Net has been experiencing of late.  And I heard the same culprit deliberately QRMing a VK/USA contact later in the evening.

Fortunately the culprit only stuck around for about 6 contacts and it was back to a completely quiet frequency, with no man made noise.  Contact number 12 was another Park to Park, with Rob VK4FFAB who was activating the Great Sandy National Park VKFF- 0216.  About 12 contacts later I was called by Phil VK6ADF/p who was activating the Beedelup National Park VKFF-0021 in Western Australia.  Phil was quite low down, only 3/1, but we managed to exchange signal reports.

Two QSOs later I logged John VK5BJE/3 who was activating SOTA peak West of England Fire tower VK3/ VW-16 located in the Kara Kara National Park VKFF-0269.  John had a beautiful strong 5/9 signal.

I continued to log a steady flow of callers.  About 12 contacts later I logged Rob VK4FFAB who had now moved into the Tuchekoi Conservation Park VKFF-1667, and shortly after Anthony VK3VAK/p who was in the Gunbower National Park VKFF-0740.  Then later in the activation I was called by John VK6NU who was portable on SOTA peak Mount Randall in the Monadnocks Conservation Park VKFF-1459.

I logged a total of 83 contacts on 40m from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, and VK7.  I was pleased to log Adrian VK2FNAD.  I was Adrian’s first contact on HF since he gained his Foundation call.

I then moved to 14.310 on the 20m band where my first contact was with Phil VK6ADF who was portable in the Beedelup National Park VKFF-0021, and then John VK6NU/p on SOTA peak Mount Randall VK6/ SW-039 &Monadnocks Conservation Park VKFF-1459.  I logged 11 stations on 20m from VK5, VK6, and Croatia.  Just 2 DX stations worked: Ozren 9A7W and Sasa 9A3NM.

I then headed to 3.610 on the 40m band.  It was now approaching 5.30 p.m. and the sun was starting to set.  My first contact on 80m was with Ivan VK5HS in the Riverland who was booming in, 5/9 plus.  I logged a total of 13 stations on 80m from VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK5.  This included Toby VK3PNF who was portable in the Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373, Keith VK5OQ who was portable at Mount Bryan East, and Rob VK5TS who was mobile on Googs Track near Ceduna on the far West Coast.

Although there are signs that dogs must be on a leash, there were numerous people walking their dogs in the park off leash, during my activation.  One of the two Golden Retrievers in the photo below, jumped up on me almost knocking my table over, while the other grabbed hold of the fallen limb that was holding down one of the ends of the dipole, almost bringing the squid pole crashing down.  Not surprising though, as in all the activations I have done over the years, I have hardly seen a park ranger.

It was now almost dark and headed back to 40m for one last hooray.  The band was very busy with lots of North American and South East Asian stations.  I eventually found 7.136 clear and called CQ which was immediately answered by Hauke VK1HW with a massive 5/9 plus signal.  I logged just a further 10 stations on 40m, with the deliberate QRM culprit returning to make a nuisance of himself.  Yes, it’s a he.  Identity withheld at this time.

I had a total of 107 contacts in the log.  An amazing afternoon/evening in the park.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2HHA
2. VK7AN
3. VK3HOT
4. VK2IO/p (SOTA Mount Banks VK2/ CT-032 & Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041)
5. VK7CW
6. VK3KMH
7. VK3RU
8. VK3CWF
9. VK3SFG
10. VK3MRG/p
11. VK3PAT
12. VK4FFAB/p (Great Sandy National Park VKFF-0216)
13. VK5HYZ
14. VK3SQ
15. VK2SVN
16. VK2NP
17. VK1AT
18. VK2FGJW/3
19. VK2BGL
20. VK5FMWW/3
21. VK3STU
22. VK3HPG
23. VK3PF
24. VK6ADF/p (Beedelup National Park VKFF-0021)
25. VK2KYO
26. VK5BJE/3 (SOTA VK3/ VW-016 & Kara Kara National Park VKFF-0269)
27. VK3FHCT
28. VK1RZ
29. VK1MTS
30. VK2JDR
31. VK5FMAZ
32. VK3ZMD
33. VK4NH
34. VK7FPLT/8
35. VK3TKK/m
36. VK2YW
37. VK2VW
38. VK4FFAB/p (Tuchekoi Conservation Park VKFF-1667)
39. VK2XSE/p
40. VK2QK
41. VK4HNS/p
42. VK2WOW
43. VK3VAK/p (Gunbower National Park VKFF-0740)
44. VK5FDWB
45. VK1DI
46. VK2FNAD
47. VK5YX
48. VK7ALB
49. VK3MBW
50. VK3TZE/m
51. VK3GGG
52. VK3PMG
53. VK5BB
54. VK3FOTO/m
55. VK4ATH
56. VK3VIN
57. VK4PDX
58. VK3FSPG
59. VK3MPR
60. VK3ANL
61. VK3VEF
62. VK3FRAB
63. VK3VFR
64. VK2FRKO
65. VK3CBP
66. VK3ELH
67. VK2ARL
68. VK4FARR
69. VK6FSEA
70. VK6NU/p (SOTA Mount Randall VK6/ SW-039 &Monadnocks Conservation Park VKFF-1459)
71. VK6AY
72. VK3PI
73. VK1HW
74. VK6MAC/m
75. VK4SMA
76. VK6LGF
77. VK4TJ
78. VK5KLD
79. VK4FW
80. VK6NTE
81. VK6BEC
82. VK5FPAC
83. VK2EIR

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1.  VK6ADF/p (Beedelup National Park VKFF-0021)
2. VK6NU/p (SOTA Mount Randall VK6/ SW-039 &Monadnocks Conservation Park VKFF-1459)
3. VK6MSC/p
4. 9A7W
5. VK4SMA
6. 9A3NM
7. VK6AY
8. VK6XN
9. VK6NTE
10. VK5GR
11. VK6RZ

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5HS
2. VK2EME/p
3. VK3PNF/p (Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373)
4. VK4FW
5. VK5FANA
6. VK5OQ
7. VK3ANL
8. VK5TS/m
9. VK3CAH
10. VK5FDEC
11. VK3FSLG
12. VK3SQ
13. VK4SMA

References.

National Parks South Australia, ‘Anstey Hill Recreation Park’ brochure

Tea Tree Gully & District Historical Society, 2017, <http://ttghistoricalsociety.org.au/history/ansteys-hill/&gt;, viewed 17th April 2017

Walking SA, 2017, <https://www.walkingsa.org.au/walk/find-a-place-to-walk/anstey-hill-loop/&gt;, viewed 17th APril 2017