Over the weekend just gone, I was privileged to be able to use the special call of VI5LWF….LEST WE FORGET.  It is a special call to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the signing of the Armistice, an agreement to stop the hostilities of World War One.

To get away from the ever increasing noise floor at home, on Saturday 3rd November 2018, I headed to my local park, the Totness Recreation Park VKFF-1754, for some action using VI5LWF.  Totness is just a short 5 minute drive from my home in the Adelaide Hills.

I have activated Totness many times in the past, and as such have recorded in other posts, a stack of information about the park.  But briefly, Totness is 41 hectares (101 acres) in size and is divided by the South Eastern Freeway.  The name of the area Totness, was given by William Hannaford when he cut up section 2963, Hundred of Macclesfield, in 1861, by issuing seventy year leases with right of purchase.  Hannaford was born in Totness, Devon, in 1825, and arrived in the Emma in 1845.  The surrounding area was known as Little Totness.

I set up in my normal spot, off  Haines Firetrack.  There is a gate here, which is locked and prevents vehicular access.  However, there is pedestrian access, and a small area to park your vehicle.

I kicked off the activation by self spotting on parksnpeaks and calling CQ on 3.610 on the 80m band.  I normally start off activations on 40m, but this time around I decided to try 80.  John VK5BJE was first in the log with a thumping 5/9 plus signal, followed by Adrian VK5FANA on the Yorke Peninsula, who was equally as strong.  But that was it.  Sadly, despite posts on some of the local VK5 Facebook sites, no further callers.

So I headed off to 7.144 on the 40m band.  I asked if the frequency was in use, and this was answered by Peter VK3PF, who had been waiting for me.  Following Peter I logged Lee VK3FLJD, Brett VK2VW, and then Dennis VK2HHA.  All signals were strong and it appeared the 40m band was in good shape.  I logged a total of 25 before things started to slow down.

I took the opportunity of heading up to 20m, where I found Rob VK4HAT/p on 14.310, activating the Mapleton Falls National Park VKFF-1205.  After logging Rob for a Park to Park contact, I moved down to 14.305 and started calling CQ.  Scott VK4CZ was first in the log, followed by Gerard VK2IO, and then Ray VK4NH.  I was very pleased to be called a few QSOs later by Fred VK4FE operating with the special call of VI100PEACE.  I logged 11 stations before moving back to 40m.

I propped on 7.144 and called CQ, which was answered by Rob VK4HAT/p, for another Park to Park from VKFF-1205, on a second band.  But things were really slow, and I logged just 4 further stations, before heading back to 80m.  I put a call out on the local Crafers repeater to let the VK5’s know that I was in the park, but this resulted in only 1 caller, Hans VK5KHZ.  I also spoke with David VK5KC/p who was in Tailem Bend.

So it was back to 40m.  The band had just started to open up to Europe and was getting a little crowded, so I found 7.140 clear and started calling CQ.  To my great pleasure, I was called by Tex VK1TX operating with the special call of VI1PEACE.  I logged a further 11 stations including my wife Marija VK5FMAZ.

David VK5PL had posted on Facebook that he was keen for a contact, but could not hear me on 40m.  So it was down with the squid pole again, and in with the 80m links, and back to 3.610.  I logged David VK5PL and also Mike Vk5FMWW.  But they were my only callers, so it was again back to 40m where I logged a further 3 stations including Ian VK1DI/2 who was portable in the Broulee Island Nature Reserve VKFF-2546.

I then decided to try my luck again on 20m, and I am pleased I did, as I was called by Patrick FK4WCG in New Caledonia who was 5/9 plus.  Patrick gave me 5/9 plus 20.  Not bade considering I was running 40 watts and little piece of wire.  It was great to log Rick VK4RF/VK4HA who has been a bit quiet of late.

To complete the activation I headed back to 40m and called CQ on 7.150 where I logged a total of 16 stations.  This included Peter VK3YE/p and Tom VK3FTOM/p, both portable on Chelsea Beach in Melbourne, running QRP, for the QRP by the Bay event.

With 82 contacts in the log, it was time to head home and work some DX with the call, using my 5 element yagi.

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5BJE
2. VK5FANA
3. VK5KHZ
4. VK5KC/p
5. VK5PL
6. VK5FMWW

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3FLJD
3. VK2VW
4. VK2HHA
5. VK3JP
6. VK3CA
7. VK3UH
8. VK2PKT
9. VK4NH
10. VK4DXA
11. ZL4TY/VK4
12. VK3HOT
13. VK3OHM
14. VK4SP
15. VK3NSC
16. VK3LTL
17. VK5KC/p
18. VK7ME
19. VK5BJE
20. VK2UXO
21. VK2PEX
22. VK2ZEP
23. VK4TJ
24. VK3FAJH
25. VK3CM
26. VK4HAT/p (Mapleton Falls National Park VKFF-1205)
27. VK2XXM
28. VK3FT
29. VK2KYO
30. VK3FDZE
31. VI1PEACE
32. VK2IO
33. VK5FMAZ
34. VK3ADX
35. VK2USH
36. VK3FLCS
37. VK5KLV
38. VK3ELH
39. VK2UH
40. VK3BBB/m
41. VK3ALN
42. VK2ZVG
43. VK4SMA
44. VK3ARH
45. VK1DI/2 (Broulee Island Nature Reserve VKFF-2546)
46. VK3ANL
47. VK4RF
48. VK4HA
49. VK2LX
50. VK2HMV
51. VK3PAT
52. VK3BAP
53. VK3NBL
54. VK3TJK
55. VK3PWG
56. VK2HBO
57. VK3YE/p
58. VK3FAJO
59. VK3FTOM/p
60. VK2QK
61. VK2NN

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4HAT/p (Mapleton Falls National Park VKFF-1205)
2. VK4CZ
3. VK2IO
4. VK4NH
5. VK4DXA
6. ZL4TY/VK4
7. VK4AAC/m
8. VK4FE
9. VI100PEACE
10. VK4SMA
11. VK4TE
12. VK7KJL
13. FK4WCG
14. VK4RF
15. VK4HA

 

References.

State Library South Australia , 2018, <http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/digitalpubs/placenamesofsouthaustralia/T.pdf>, viewed 7th November 2018

Wikipedia, 2018, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totness_Recreation_Park>, viewed 7th November 2018