Our final trip for our trip away, on Monday 12th June 2017 was the Padthaway Conservation Park 5CP-169 & VKFF-0924.  The park is located about 287 km south east of Adelaide.

We travelled through the little town of Padthaway which is at the centre of the Padthaway wine growing region which is 62 km long and 8 km wide, with the Riddoch Highway running through the middle.  The park is well signposted from the Highway.

The park is situated just 2 km north east of the town of Padthaway.  We accessed the park via Vogelsang Road.

The park which preserves a remnant block of native vegetation, was first proclaimed as the Padthaway National Park on 18th Match 1971.  It became the Padthaway Conservation Park on 27th April 1972.  The park consists of South Australian Blue Gum and Rough barked Manna Gum woodland, and Brown Stringybark low open forest.

More than 95 species of bird have been recorded in the park including Rainbow Lorikeet, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairywren, Brown Thornbill, New Holland Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Mallee Ringneck, Blue-winged Parrot, Fuscous Honeyeater, Black-capped Sittella, Restless Flycatcher, & Eastern Yellow Robin.

Padthaway was the name of the original pastoral station which was established near the town in 1847 by a successful Scottish businessman, Robert Lawson.  In 1882 the Padthaway Estate Homestead was built by Eliza and Robert Lawson.  In 1952 Padthaway became the centre of a soldier settlement scheme.   The first vineyards were planted in the region in 1968 and today Padthaway is a top wine-producing region.

This was to be another unique park for both Marija and I, for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  I had activated the park back in 2014 as part of the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award.

We set up in a clearing just off a track which ran from Vogelsang Road.  We ran our normal operating equipment for this activation: the Yaesu Ft-857d (on 10w for Marija and 40w for me), and the 80/40/20m linked dipole.

As is normally the case when Marija and I activate parks together, Marija started off on the mic first.  Marija called CQ on 7.135 and this was answered by Jonathan VK7JON, followed by Dennis VK2HHA, Geoff VK3SQ, and Rick VK4RF/VK4HA.  It took Marija just 9 minutes to reach contact number 10, qualifying the park for VKFF.  Contact number 10 was with Bill VK2KT.  When Marija had 15 contacts in the log, we swapped the mic.

First taker for me was Gerard VK2NP, followed by Geoff VK3SQ, Lee VK2LEE, and then Mark VK3FOTO mobile.  The 40m band was in excellent condition and had certainly improved since our activation at Glen Roy.  A mini pile up soon ensued.  I had contact number 10 in the log after 9 minutes, with contact number 44 after being on air for 45 minutes.  I worked a total of 69 stations on 40m, until things started to slow down.  This included Park to Park contacts with Rob VK4AAC/2 in Sea Acres National Park VKFF-0606, Stef VK5HSX/2 in the Paroo Darling National Park VKFF-0410, David VK2JDR/p in the Royal National Park VKFF-0435, and Gerard VK2IO/p in the Limeburners Creek National Park VKFF-0597.

I then headed over to 14.310 on the 20m band where I worked a total of 5 stations from VK2 and VK4.  Sadly, no DX.  To complete the activation, I called CQ on 3.610 on the 80m band.  This was answered by John Vk5BJE, then Mick VK3GGG/VK3PMG, and then Geoff VK3SQ.  I logged a total of 10 stations on 80m.

Whilst activating, this little fella, a Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, showed continual interest in our activation.  He continually flew from tree to tree above our operating spot.  The Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike has a very distinctive flight pattern.  It gives a few flaps of its wings, then glides with them by its side for a second or two.  During this glide, the bird loses elevation until it flaps again, giving the flight is characteristic undulating pattern.

This was another successful activation.  Marija had 19 contacts in the log, while I had 84.  This included 10 Park to Park contacts between the two of us.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK7JON
2. VK2HHA
3. VK3SQ
4. VK4RF
5. VK4HA
6. VK5FANA
7. VK2LEE
8. VK3PF
9. VK2GAZ
10. VK2KT
11. VK3ZPF
12. VK3PNG
13. VK2VW
14. VK3CWF
15. VK2NP
16. VK4AAC/2 (Sea Acres National Park VKFF-0606)
17. VK5HSX/2 (Paroo Darling National Park VKFF-0410)
18. VK2JDR/p (Royal National Park VKFF-0435)
19. VK2IO/p (Limeburners Creek National Park VKFF-0597)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2NP
2. VK3SQ
3. VK2LEE
4. VK3FOTO
5. VK2YK
6. VK4AAC/2 (Sea Acres National Park VKFF-0606)
7. VK2CTB/p
8. VK7FOLK/m
9. VK7NWT
10. VK2HHA
11. VK2KT
12. VK4RF
13. VK4HA
14. VK2KYO
15. VK5KLV
16. VK3CM
17. VK2KDP
18. VK1AD
19. VK3PF
20. VK3MVP
21. VK4HNS
22. VK5HSX/2 (Paroo Darling National Park VKFF-0410)
23. VK3MCK
24. VK3ZPF
25. VK3NCR
26. VK3EF
27. VK2YX
28. VKa1AT
29. VK2LAX
30. VK3ELH
31. VK5ZEA
32. VK3FPSR
33. VK3TQ
34. VK7QP
35. VK3ANL
36. VK5ATN
37. VK5APV/p
38. VK2FBJM
39. VK4ZL
40. VK2ALF/m
41. VK2NEO
42. VK4PDX
43. VK3SFG
44. VK3NGD/m
45. VK3FSPG
46. VK3MPR
47. VK3PAT
48. VK7FRJG
49. VK2LX
50. VK7ZGK
51. VK3ZMD
52. VK2JDR/p (Royal National Park VKFF-0435)
53. VK2SVN
54. VK4FADW
55. VK4FE
56. VK2GPT
57. VK7ALB
58. VK3KMH
59. VK2MMM
60. VK3GTS
61. VK7VZ
62. VK2QK
63. VK4TJ
64. VK3MRH
65. VK3HN
66. ZL1TM
67. VK2IO/p (Limeburners Creek National Park VKFF-0597)
68. VK3FORD
69. VK5MA/m

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4BX
2. VK2LEE
3. VK4AAC/2 (Sea Acres National Park VKFF-0606)
4. VK2NP
5. VK2IO/p (Limeburners Creek National Park VKFF-0597)

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5BJE
2. VK3GGG
3. VK3PMG
4. VK3SQ
5. VK5FANA
6. VK3DMD
7. VK2NP
8. VK2LEE
9. VK5QI
10. VK5KDK

After packing up, we continued on our journey home, stopping off at the Riverside Hotel at Tailem Bend for tea.  Marija enjoyed a nice curry, while I had a beautiful steak and a bundy & coke or two.  It was the end of a great few days away.

 

References.

Birds SA, 2017, <http://www.birdssa.asn.au/location/padthaway-conservation-park/&gt;, viewed 15th June 2017

Birdlife, 2017, <http://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/black-faced-cuckoo-shrike&gt;, viewed 15th June 2017

Padthaway Wine Region, 2017, <http://www.padthawaywineregion.com/&gt;, viewed 15th June 2017