Our second park for ANZAC Day was the Bunbury Conservation Reserve VKFF-1691, which is located about 40 km west of the town of Keith, on the western side of Bunbury Road.  This was to be a unique park for both Marija and I for the WWFF program.

Bunbury Conservation Reserve is about 1,945 hectares (4,810 acres) in size and was proclaimed on the 11th November 1993.

The park takes its name from the property ‘Bunbury’ once held by James W.D. Dening (1842-1930) who emigrated to Australia in 1849 with his parents aboard the Louisa Baillie.

The park comprises mainly of white sand dune and watercourses, with Pink Gum, Yellow mallee, Desert Banksia, Sand heath yacca, Swamp paper-bark, Short-leaf honey-myrtle, Round-leaf wilsonia, and Samphire low shrubland.

Birds SA have recorded a total of 54 native species of bird in the park including Superb Fairywren, New Holland Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Inland Thornbill, Australian Golden Whistler, Silvereye, Weebill, Spotted Pardalote, Scarlet Robin, White-browed Woodswallow, and Magpielark

We found a gate leading in to the park off the Bunbury Road and drove about 1 km along the sandy 4WD track and set up alongside of the track.

Prior to calling CQ Marija and I tuned across the 40m band to see if we could find any other park activators.  We found Ian VK1DI/2 on 7.150, activating the Yanunbeyan State Conservation Area VKFF-1400.  After logging Ian I moved up the band to find a clear spot.  As it was now late afternoon (about 4.00 p.m. local time), the 40m band was very busy with lots of VK and European stations.  I found 7.165 clear and started calling CQ.  This was answered by Peter VK3PF, followed by Graham VK7ZGK and then Steve AX5SFA.

The 40m band seemed to still be in good shape, albeit that the number of callers appeared to have dropped off from our previous activation.  However, there was a steady flow of callers from across Australia.  I qualified the park for WWFF with 44 contacts within 30 minutes.  I logged a total of 49 stations on 40m including another Park to Park, with Bill VK4FW/p who was in the  Glastonbury National Park VKFF-1197.  Marija also logged Bill.

Marija and I then swapped the mic.  Marija called CQ on 7.165 and this was answered by John VK4TJ, followed by Mark VK4SMA, and then Keith AX3FMKE.  After a few minutes, Marija had 10 contacts in the log, qualifying the park for VKFF.  Marija’s 10th contact was with Terry VK5ATN.  Marija went on to log a total of 40 stations on 40m, including two New Zealand contacts: Owen ZL4CY and Ken ZL4KD.  And also a further Park to Park, with Gerard VK2IO/p in the Marramarra National Park VKFF-0307.

We then lowered the squid pole and inserted the links for the 80m band and Marija commenced calling CQ on 3.610.  This was answered by John VK5BJE with a big 5/9 plus signal, followed by Steve VK5ST and then Adrian VK5FANA.  Marija logged a total of 9 stations on 80m from VK2, VK3 and VK5.  Adrian VK5FANA was her 44th contact, thus qualifying the park for the global WWFF program.

We then lowered the squid pole again and removed the links and headed to the 20m band.  But I had left it too late.  It was now after 0730 UTC (5.00 p.m. local time) and the band, long path to Europe, had closed.  I had no takers on 20m.  So it was back to 40m for one final round of calls.  I logged a further 15 stations, including Andre ZL1TM, and John AX6NU/p on SOTA peak VK6/ SW-039.

The sun was setting and it was also starting to get a bit chilly, and we had a good 2 hour drive to get back home.  So with a total of 114 QSOs in the log, including 6 Park to Park contacts, it was time to hit the road.  On the way home we worked Nick VK6NDX who was activating the Leschenault Peninsula Conservation Park VKFF-1430.  Nick had an excellent 5/9 signal into the mobile.  I also had a quick chat to my good mate Ted VK6NTE.  I also had a quick listen in on the 7130 DX Net, but could hear very few stations, so I decided not to check in.

We then stopped off at the Riverside Hotel at Tailem Bend for a meal.  We often stop off here and can highly recommend the meal.  During the day you can sit outside on the balcony which overlooks the mighty River Murray.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK1DI/2 (Yanunbeyan State Conservation Area VKFF-1400)
2. VK4FW/p (Glastonbury National Park VKFF-1197)
3. VK4TJ
4. VK4SMA
5. AX3FMLE
6. AX2PKT
7. VK2PKT
8. VK3CDR
9. VK5FANA
10. VK5ATN
11. AX5ATN
12. VK3UCD
13. VK4NH
14. AX4NH
15. VK4DXA
16. AX4DXA
17. ZL4TY/VK4
18. VK4FDJL
19. VK2NP
20. ZL4CY
21. ZL4KD
22. AX2LEE
23. VK2LEE
24. VK2EMI
25. VK3ZD
26. VK3MB
27. VK3UH
28. VK3BBB
29. VK3PF
30. AX3PF
31. VK3KAI
32. AX3KAI
33. VK3SX
34. AX3SX
35. VK7JON
36. VK6PCT/3
37. VK3FIAN
38. VK2YK
39. VK2NEO
40. VK2IO/p (Marramarra National Park VKFF-0307)

Marija logged the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5BJE
2. VK5PF
3. VK5ST
4. VK5FANA
5. VK3SQ
6. VK5VC
7. VK2YK
8. AX3FMKE
9. VK2PH

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK1DI/2 (Yanunbeyan State Conservation Area VKFF-1400)
2. VK3PF
3. AX7ZGK
4. AX5SFA
5. VK3MDH/p
6. VK3GGG
7. VK3PMG
8. AX3GGG
9. AX3PMG
10. AX3MRG/p
11. VK5BJE
12. VK7JON
13. VK2HOT
14. AX2HOT
15. VK2PKT
16. AX2PKT
17. VK3ZZS/p
18. VK2NP
19. VK2LEE
20. AX2LEE
21. VK3UCD
22. VK3FSPG
23. VK3MPR
24. VK5ATN
25. VK3LDB
26. VK2HHA
27. AX2HHA
28. VK4FW/p (Glastonbury National Park VKFF-1197)
29. VK2EIR/p
30. AX2FRKO/p
31. VK2JNG/p
32. VK3TKK/m
33. VK4NH
34. AX4NH
35. VK4DXA
36. AX4DXA
37. ZL4TY/VK4
38. VK4FDJL
39. AX3ANL
40. VK3ANL
41. VK5FANA
42. VK3SQ
43. VK4SMA
44. AX3FMKE
45. VK3FDI
46. VK3KSK
47. VK4PDX
48. VK2BHO
49. VK3BMT
50. VK2IO/p (Marramarra National Park VKFF-0307)
51. VK2NEO
52. ZL1TM
53. VK3ARH
54. AX2PDW
55. VK3OHM/6
56. VK2NP
57. VK3ZPF
58. AX2AKB
59. VK2AKB
60. VK2YK
61. VK3SX
62. AX3SX
63. AX4ITT
64. AX6NU/p (SOTA VK6/ SW-039)
65. VK3BFR

 

References.

Birds SA, 2018, <https://birdssa.asn.au/location/bunbury-conservation-reserve/>, viewed 26th April 2018

State Library South Australia, 2018, <http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/digitalpubs/placenamesofsouthaustralia/>, viewed 26th April 2018