After packing up at Mumbunnar Conservation Park, Marija and I headed to our second park activation for the day, the Piccanninie Ponds Conservation Park 5CP-178 & VKFF-0927.  The park is located about 30 km south east of Mount Gambier.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Piccanninie Ponds Conservation Park in the lower south east of South Australia.  Map courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

The Piccanninie Ponds Conservation Park is  862 hectares (2,130 acres) in size and was established on the 16th October 1969.  It is located in the locality of Wye and overlooks Discovery Bay, which was named by explorer Thomas Mitchell in August 1836.

The park is located in close proximity to the State border with Victoria and is part of the Discovery Bay to Piccaninnie Ponds Important Bird Area, identified by BirdLife International as being of global significance for several bird species.  It is a listed Ramsar site.  The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.

Above:- An aerial view of the Piccanninie Ponds Conservation Park.  Image courtesy of google maps.

Piccanninie Ponds is a very popular site for snorkelling and cave diving.  In 1964–1965, prior to its proclamation as a conservation park, underwater explorer Valerie Taylor described the ponds as “one of the most beautiful sights in Australia”.

The park contains three main features of interest to cave divers. The ‘First Pond’ is an open depression about 10 metres (33 ft) deep with a silt floor and vegetated fringe supporting much aquatic life. The ‘Chasm’ is a sinkhole with a depth of over 100 metres (330 ft), and the ‘Cathedral’ is an enclosed area with limestone formations and a depth of about 35 metres (115 ft).  Underwater visibility is excellent and may exceed 40 metres (130 ft). Snorkelling and cave diving at Piccaninnie Ponds is by permit only.  Several divers have died whilst exploring the caves.

After leaving Mumbannar we travelled back into South Australia via the Princes Highway and then travelled south along Dry Creek Road following the State border.  We soon reached the town of Donovans, where there are some nice views (through the trees) of the Glenelg River.

The Glenelg River at Donovans

Donovans landing, Glenelg River

Looking across the river to the Lower Glenelg Conservation Park

We then crossed the State border and continued along the Glenelg River Road and then on to the Piccanninie Ponds Road.

It wasn’t long before we reached the park, which is clearly signposted, and has a number of information boards.

Before setting up, Marija and I stopped off to have a look at the ponds themselves.  They were absolutely crystal clear and were very inviting.  There was a young couple in the carpark putting on their wetsuits, getting ready for a dive.

We drove further along Piccanninie Ponds Road until we reached the section which takes you down onto the beach.  As we were running short a little of time, we decided not to lower our tyre pressure and drive down onto the sand.

Instead, we parked the vehicle and set up along a walking trail which cut its way through the scrub.  There was plenty of room to string out the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

Above:- Aerial view of the Piccanninie Ponds Conservation Park, showing our operating spot.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

We were set up a little after 0500 UTC and had around 1 hour of the VK Shires Contest remaining.  I kicked off the activation, calling CQ on 7.133.  This was answered by Ian VK5IS in the Mid North of South Australia, followed by Andrew VK3AB/p, and then Andrew VK3MUD/p.  Contact number ten, qualifying the park for me for VKFF, was with Sam VK5ASK/m.

Above:- Our operating spot down along the walking track.

After I had qualified the park for VKFF, Marija jumped on the mic and called CQ on 7.133.  This was answered by Adrian VK5FANA, followed by Cliff VK2NP, and then Adam VK2YK.  Marija’s 10th contact was with Geoff VK3SQ in Beechworth.  Marija was very pleased to log Greg VK8GM in Alice Springs, and Greg VK4VXX/8 near the South Australian/Northern Territory border.

With Marija having qualified the park for VKFF, I jumped back on the mic.  I logged a total of 34 stations before the VK Shires Contest concluded at 0600 UTC, and a further 11 stations after the contest.  This included a Park to Park contact with Marc VK3OHM/p in the Greater Bendigo National Park VKFF-0623.

I then moved to 3.610 on the 80m band where I logged 6 stations from VK3, VK5, and VK7.  This included a Park to Park with Duncan VK3XBC/p in the Wyperfeld National Park VKFF-0549.  Whilst I was on 80m two park rangers arrived on the scene.  One of the rangers I had met earlier in the year during an activation at the Little Dip Conservation Park.

Time was marching on and Marija and I needed to pack up and head back into Mount Gambier.  That evening we were to attend the SERG Convention dinner.  Between us we had 63 contacts in the log.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK1DI/2 (Livingstone National Park VKFF-0292)
2. VK5FANA
3. VK2NO
4. VK2YK
5. VK3VCE/4
6. VK2LEE
7. VK4VXX/8
8. VK8GM/p
9. VK2VW
10. VK3SQ
11. VK3ABP
12. VK4TJ

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5IS
2. VK3AB/p
3. VK3MUD/p
4. VK7QP
5. VK4VXX/8
6. VK6QM
7. VK2HPN
8. VK2DEK
9. VK1DI/2 (Livingstone National Park VKFF-0292)
10. VK5ASK/m
11. VK5FANA
12. VK4TJ
13. VK4/AC8WN
14. VK4/VE6XT
15. VK2NP
16. ZL2AYZ
17. VK3SQ
18. VK2VW
19. VK8GM/p
20. VK3GK
21. ZL1TM
22. VK2YK
23. VK7KR
24. VK3PF
25. VK2HHA
26. VK5KLV
27. VK2NEO
28. VK2TTL
29. VK2KTG
30. VK2JDR
31. VK3ELH
32. VK7FMAC
33. VK4FDJL
34. VK2WA
35. VK2ZVG
36. VK2FJMM
37. VK7AN
38. VK2QM
39. VK5NAW
40. VK5MK
41. VK2QK
42. VK2QE
43. VK6MN
44. VK5PL
45. VK3OHM/p (Greater Bendigo National Park VKFF-0623)

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK7AN
2. VK3XBC/p (Wyperfeld National Park VKFF-0549)
3. VK5BJE
4. VK3AWG
5. VK3PF
6. VK5RM

We returned to Mount Gambier and freshened up and headed to the Scout Hall where we listened to Joe VK3YSP and Julie VK3FOWL deliver a presentation on youth in our hobby.  This was followed by a presentation on aerial photography and drones.

We then enjoyed a great evening at the SERG Dinner.

Marija with Tanina (John VK5NJ’s wife)

with John VK5NJ, Brian VK3BBBm Joe VK3YSP, Greg VK5ZGY, Rob VK4AAC and Andrew VK5MAS

Joe VK3YSP and Brian VK3BBB

Rob VK4AAC delivering a presentation on his travels around Australia.

References.

Wikipedia, 2018, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsar_Convention>, viewed 18th June 2018

Wikipedia, 2018, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccaninnie_Ponds_Conservation_Park>, viewed 18th June 2018