This afternoon (Monday 22nd April 2019) Marija and I decided to do another park activation and chose another one of the newly added South Australian parks to the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  This time we headed to the Knott Hill Native Forest Reserve VKFF-2892.

The reserve is located about 6 km west of the town of Meadows, and about 50 km south-east of the city of Adelaide.

The Knott Hill Native Forest Reserve is located in the Kuitpo Forest Reserve in the Mount Lofty Ranges ‘Adelaide Hills’.  It is 82.3 hectares in size and consists of native vegetation.  The primary management objective for the area is to conserve and enhance native flora and fauna and preserve biodiversity for the long-term benefit of the South Australian community.  The reserve conserves remnant native vegetation characteristic of the Mount Lofty Ranges.  It is estimated that less than 15% of the original vegetation remains.

Over 400 native plant species can be found in the reserve, with 63 of those being of conservation significance.  The Reserve provides a unique habitat for over 50 species of native orchid, including the Dark-tipped sun-orchid which is rates Critically Endangered Nationally.

The reserve takes its name from the area dedicated to Dr John Knott, an early settler in the Kangarilla District.  Mr Knott is credited with pioneering the road over Mount Panorama to ‘the Meadows’.  This road is now known as Stagecoach Lane.

The reserve is integrated with an area of pine plantation which is managed by Forestry SA.  These pine plantations are located to the north, south and west of the reserve, with privately owned land adjoining the eastern section of the reserve.

I travelled along Peters Creek Road which runs off Brookman Road, until I reached Knotts Hill Road.  I turned right and parked in the carpark.  Although google maps show that Knotts Hill Road continues to the east, this is not the case.  There are locked gates at this location.

It would appear from what I saw, there is no vehicular access to the reserve via Kingfisher Road.  This is a narrow dirt track which takes you passed a number of farming properties and then a sign which states ‘authorised vehicles only’.  You could park there and walk up the track to access the reserve.

I collected up all of my gear and then took the 500-metre walk to reach the western boundary of the park.  It took me about 3 trips back to get all my gear, including the fold up table and deck chair.

I set up on the side of a fire access track which dissected the reserve.

First in the log was a Park to Park contact with Ian VK1DI/p who was activated the Macquarie Pass National Park VKFF-0298.  Ian had a beautiful bit 5/9 signal from New South Wales.  The 40m band had certainly been in very good shape over the Easter Break, and today appeared to be no different.

After logging Ian on 7.144 I moved down the band to 7.139 and asked if the frequency was in use, only to get 3 or 4 voices coming back to me to say it was clear.  I picked out Peter VK3PF who was very strong, and then logged Wayne VK2DWP and then Cliff VK2NP.

As this was a brand new park it did not take long for a mini pile up to ensue.  Within 4 minutes I had contact number 10 in the bag and had qualified the park for VKFF.  QSO number ten was with John VK4/VE6XT.

I logged a total of 68 contacts on 40m from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, VK7, New Zealand, and Italy.  This included a Park to Park with Peter VK3ZPF/p who was activating the Traralgon South Flora Reserve VKFF-2465.  And a contact with Max IK1GPG who I have made contact with a few times now on 40m during my recent activations.

I then put out some calls on 14.310 on the 20m band and logged 8 stations from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK6 and New Zealand.  This included Gerard VK2IO/p who was activating SOTA peak VK2/ MN-098 in the Ulidarra National Park VKFF-0504.

It was then off to 80m.  Our first contact there was with Peter VK3ZPF/p in the Traralgon South Flora Reserve VKFF-2465.  We then moved up to 3.615 and started calling CQ.  Stuart VK5STU was first to call back.  It was a pleasure to log Stuey as he had posted on Facebook that he had been listening on 40m but could not hear us.  On 80m he was 5/9 and gave me a 5/5 signal report.

Next was Adrian VK5FANA who is a regular park hunter, followed by Charlie VK5VC.  As I had well and truly qualified the park, it was time for Marija to jump into the operator’s chair.  Marija logged 7 stations, all South Australian stations.

Marija now had 9 contacts in the log, and with no further callers on 80m, we headed back to 40m.  Marija started calling CQ on 7.130 whilst I placed a spot for her on parksnpeaks and on Facebook.  Perrin VK3XPT was first in the log on 40m for Marija, using his Clansman military transceiver.  Perrin had qualified the park for Marija.

Marija soon attracted her own little pile-up, with a steady flow of callers.  Within 35 minutes Marija had qualified the park for the global WWFF program, with 44 contacts in the log.  This included the following Park to Park contacts:-

• Mike VK6MB/3 – Wabba Wilderness Park VKFF-0944
• Mark VK3FAMP/p – Wabba Wilderness Park VKFF-0944
• Gerard VK2IO/p – SOTA VK2/ MN-098 & Ulidarra National Park VKFF-0504

I also logged Mike VK6MB/3 and Mark VK3FAMP in the Wabba Wilderness Park VKFF-0944, and also Gerard VK2IO on SOTA peak VK2/ MN-098 & Ulidarra National Park VKFF-0504.

I then tuned across the band and heard Samuel EA1DLU calling CQ on 7.155 with his normal big signal.  As he was not busy I gave him a call and had a successful QSO.  I had spoken with Samuel yesterday.  Today my signal report was 2 S points lower.

Marija and I had seen a post on Facebook from David VK5PL stating that he was only hearing the park hunters and not us, so we finished off the activation by putting out some CQ calls on 3.610 on the 80m band, hoping to log David.  Alas, it was not to be.  We did not hear from David, but I did log VK3PF, VK5AYL, VK5WU, and VK3FDZE.

It was now freezing cold and time for us to pack up and head back to the vehicle.  It had been another successful activation, with both Marija and I qualifying the park for both VKFF and WWFF.  We made a total of 134 QSOs including 12 Park to Park contacts.

THANKYOU to everyone who called us, and a big thanks to those who took the time to spot us.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3ZPF/p (Traralgon South Flora Reserve VKFF-2465)
2. VK3XPT/p (military tx)
3. VK3SQ
4. VK4AAC/3
5. VK2VH/3
6. VK4SMA
7. VK3OHM
8. VK3PI
9. VK6MB/3 (Wabba Wilderness Park VKFF-0944)
10. VK3FAMP/p (Wabba Wilderness Park VKFF-0944)
11. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ MN-098 & Ulidarra National Park VKFF-0504)
12. VK4RF
13. VK4HA
14. VK2UH
15. VK7FJFD
16. VK2HHA
17. VK3ARH
18. VK3FORD
19. VK5PET
20. VK3MPR
21. VK3FRAB
22. VK4NH
23. VK4DXA
24. ZL4TY/VK4
25. VK5ZEA
26. VK3FSPN
27. VK2NP
28. VK4MWB
29. VK3VKT
30. VK3MAB
31. VK4TJ
32. VK4/AC8WN
33. VK4/VE6XT
34. VK3TKK/p
35. VK5FLEA
36. VK3PF
37. VK4FDJL

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3ZPF/p (Traralgon South Flora Reserve VKFF-2465)
2. VK5VC
3. VK5FANA
4. VK5DW
5. VK5WU
6. VK5KDK
7. VK5BJE
8. VK5FLEA

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK1DI/p (Macquarie Pass National Park VKFF-0298)
2. VK3PF
3. VK2DWP
4. VK2NP
5. VK3SQ
6. VK4RF
7. VK4HA
8. VK4TJ
9. VK4/AC8WN
10. VK4/VE6XT
11. VK3PI
12. VK3AHR
13. VK3MDH
14. VK2HHA
15. VK4SMA
16. VK2VW
17. VK3TKK/m
18. VK3MKE
19. VK2JAZ
20. VK4CZ
21. VK3BSG
22. VK3BYD
23. VK2PKT
24. VK2CEC/m
25. VK5KLV
26. VK4FARR
27. VK3ARH
28. VK4FDJL
29. VK2EXA
30. ZL1TM
31. VK4HNS
32. VK3OHM
33. VK2ADB
34. VK4NH
35. VK4DXA
36. ZL4TY/VK4
37. VK2HOT
38. VK3PAT
39. VK3XL
40. VK5VCR
41. VK4VXX/6
42. VK3DBP
43. VK3DOU
44. VK3FPSR
45. VK2MOP
46. VK3NLK
47. VK5FLEA
48. VK3CM
49. VK3BMT
50. VK7KT/m
51. VK3ZPF/p (Traralgon South Flora Reserve VKFF-2465)
52. IK1GPG
53. VK3MLU
54. VK3FLES/2
55. VK2KEV/m
56. VK7ZGK
57. VK2BLP
58. VK3FRNS/p (military manpack)
59. VK6XC
60. VK5KBJ
61. VK7KR
62. VK7DW
63. VK2FPAR
64. VK3FN
65. VK3DJY
66. VK7HRS
67. VK3JMA/m
68. VK4HAT
69. VK6MB/3 (Wabba Wilderness Park VKFF-0944)
70. VK3FAMP/p (Wabba Wilderness Park VKFF-0944)
71. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ MN-098 & Ulidarra National Park VKFF-0504)
72. VK3MCK
73. EA1DLU

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4HAT
2. ZL1BYZ
3. VK3XL
4. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ MN-098 & Ulidarra National Park VKFF-0504)
5. VK6XC
6. VK4SMA
7. VK2ARL
8. VK6NDX

I worked the following stations on 80m SB:-

1.  VK3ZPF/p (Traralgon South Flora Reserve VKFF-2465)
2. VK5STU
3. VK5FANA
4. VK5VC
5. VK3PF
6. VK5AYL
7. VK5WU
8. VK3FDZE

 

References.

Forestry SA, 2016, Mount Panorama, Knott Hill & Christmas Hill Native Forest Reserves Management Plan.

Yesterday (Sunday 21st April 2019) Marija VK5FMAZ and I headed to the Christmas Hill Native Forest Reserve VKFF-2893, one of the newly added parks in the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Thirteen Native Forest Reserves located in the Adelaide Hills and on the Fleurieu Peninsula have been added to the program in the last 48 hours.  This is together with new parks added earlier in the year in VK6 and VK8, and also a number of parks in VK4.  Nearly 200 are to appear soon from VK3.

The Christmas Hill Native Forest Reserve is located in the Mount Lofty Ranges ‘Adelaide Hills’, and is about 8 km southwest of the town of Meadows and about 45 km south-east of the city of Adelaide.

The park is just a short drive from our home.  We travelled to Meadows and then south-west on Brookman Road towards Willunga.  We travelled passed the historic woodcutters cottage on Brookman Road which now offers accommodation, and then passed the Kuitpo Hall built of stone in 1926.  The pickers were out in force in the nearby Kuitpo Forest strawberry farm.

We then turned in to Brookman-Connor Road which took us through the pine forest towards the park.  It was an overcast day but quite mild, following a 32 deg C day on Saturday.

There are some great views to be had of the surrounding countryside along the way.

The Christmas Hill Native Forest Reserve is 309.9 hectares in size and is one of three Native Forest Reserves located in the Kuitpo Forest Reserve in the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges ‘Adelaide Hills’.  Nearby Native Forest Reserves are Mount Panorama and Knott Hill.  These reserves are of high conservation value and contain a rich variety of trees, shrubs and ground cover species which provide significant habitat for native birds, reptiles and mammals.

The Kuitpo Forest Reserve was established in 1989.  It was the first of a number of forest plantations in the Mount Lofty Ranges, established to ensure a sustainable timber resource for South Australia.  The reserve is managed by Forestry SA.

The Christmas Hill Native Forest Reserve is an IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources 2005) Category IV reserve. These category of park are habitat or species management areas, protected and managed mainly for conservation through management intervention to ensure the maintenance of habitats and/or to meet the requirements of species.

The name Christmas Hill is derived from the peak of the same name on the north-eastern boundary of the reserve.  The reserve contains 400 identified native plant species, including 63 with conservation significance.  The entire Christmas Hill area was devastated by the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires.

The Reserve is integrated with various pine plantations managed by Forestry SA.  The reserve’s southern boundary borders the Kyeema Conservation Park.

A large number of native bird species call the park home.  This includes Yellow-tailed black cockatoos, who were in abundance during our visit.

We set up just inside gate CH18 on Christmas Hill Road.

There was plenty of room here to stretch out the 20/40/80m linked dipole, and we were away from other users in the park.

The 40m band was alive with activity and it was quite difficult to find a clear spot.  I found 7.134 clear and started calling CQ whilst Marija placed a spot on parksnpeaks for me.  First in the log was Peter VK3PF with an excellent 5/9 signal, followed by Lee VK3HOT, and then John VK4TJ.

As this was a new park it did not take long for a small pile up to develop.  Within an hour I worked a total of 65 stations from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 and VK7.  This included the following Park to Park contacts:-

• Mark VK4SMA/p – Spicers Gap Road Conservation Park VKFF-1651
• Jonathan VK7JON/p – Eugenana State Reserve VKFF-1800
• Helen VK7FOLK/p – Eugenana State Reserve VKFF-1800

I had qualified the park for both VKFF and WWFF, and now it was Marija’s turn to get onto the microphone.  Mike VK5FMWW was first in Marija’s log, followed by Danny VK5DW, Mike VK6MB/3, and then Ivan VK3OHM.  It took Marija just 8 minutes to get her 10 contacts.  QSO number ten was with Brian VK5TBC.

It took Marija just 45 minutes to qualify the park for WWFF.  The 40m band was in great shape.  Marija’s contacts were from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7.  This included the following Park to Park contact:-

• Mark VK4SMA/p – Spicers Gap Road Conservation Park VKFF-1651

Marija was extremely happy to have qualified the park for the global WWFF program, and it was my turn now to ramp up the power and make a few more contacts.  David VK3UCD came back to my CQ call, followed by Greg VK4VXX/6, and then Rick VK4RF.  I worked a further 9 stations, taking my total contacts for the activation to 77 QSOs.

Marija and I then lowered the squid pole and we removed the links for the 20m band.  I called CQ on 14.310 and it wasn’t long before John VK4TJ came back to my call.  This was followed by another regular park hunter Ray VK4NH.  I logged a total of 17 stations on 20m SSB which included Greg VK4VXX/6 who suggested we also try AM which we did.  It was my first ever AM contact on 20m.

The real highlight of 20m was a Park to Park contact with Kent K7CAR/p in the Dixie National Forest KFF-4395 in the USA.  The photographs below are courtesy of Kent.

Marija and I then returned to 40m logging the following Park to Park contacts:-

• Adam VK2YK/p – Hat Head National Park VKFF-0230
• Andy VK5LA/p – Jallumba Marsh Flora Reserve VKFF-2338
• Ian VK1DI/2 – Barren Grounds Nature Reserve VKFF-1885

I then moved down to the 80m band and called CQ on 3.610.  Mike VK5FMWW was my first taker, followed by Danny VK5DW, and then Linda VK7QP.  Band conditions were excellent on 80m.   But sadly I only logged 6 stations.

I then moved back to 40m where I logged a further 24 stations on 7.158, including Max IK1GPG in Italy.  Unfortunately, DC5ZVU came up on the frequency and started calling CQ, which made it impossible to copy any callers, as he was a 5/8 signal.  So I moved down to 7.156 where I made a further 4 stations.

To complete the activation I had a tune across the band and found Manuel EA1DLU/p in Spain on 7.175 calling CQ with a strong 5/9 signal.  I was very lucky to have Manuel come back to my first call.  Manuel gave me a 5/7 signal report into Spain with my 40 watts and small wire antenna.

Below is a short video of part of my QSO with Manuel.

I then found Craig VK3CRG/p on 7.170.  Craig was portable at Little River and had a friend Debbie with him, who was a budding ham.  Marija had a chat with Debbie and explained to her where we were operating from, and a little bit about Marija’s history in the hobby.  Sadly the rain started tumbling down at Craig’s location which resulted in Craig having to go clear.

David VK5LSB then called me to say hi, followed by Perrin VK3XPT/p who was operating portable on the beach at Sandy Point using his military transceiver.  Marija was keen to pack up and head home, so I apologise to anybody else who may have wanted to call into this new park.  We will be back.

Below is a short video taken by Perrin of our contact.

Below is a video I took on the iphone showing some of Marija’s contacts during the activation.

This had been an amazing activation.  Marija had qualified the park for VKFF and WWFF, and had 49 contacts in the log.  I had also qualified the park for VKFF and WWFF, and had a total of 136 contacts in the log.  This included ten Park to Park contacts between the two of us, including the Park to Park into the USA.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5FMWW
2. VK5DW
3. VK6MB/3
4. VK5HS
5. VK3OHM
6. VK3PF
7. VK7ALH
8. VK3SH
9. VK5KLV
10. VK5TBC
11. VK7QP
12. VK3SQ
13. VK2PKT
14. VK4CZ
15. VK5WU
16. VK3FDZE
17. VK3MPR
18. VK4SMA/p (Spicers Gap Road Conservation Park VKFF-1651)
19. VK4HNS
20. VK2KJJ
21. VK3BYD
22. VK3XPT
23. VK2HHA
24. VK5PE
25. VK3AB/p
26. VK2YMU
27. VK4FARR
28. VK3FAMPT
29. VK2UTL
30. VK3BNC
31. VK4VXX/6
32. VK2WQ
33. VK3NCR/p
34. VK3YBP
35. VK3BSG
36. VK3IL/p
37. VK4RF
38. VK4HA
39. VK4TJ
40. VK4/AC8WN
41. VK4/VE6XT
42. VK1MCW
43. VK5IS
44. VK3KAI
45. VK3GV
46. VK5MK/m
47. VK5LA/p (Jallumba Marsh Flora Reserve VKFF-2338)
48. VK1DI/2 (Barren Grounds Nature Reserve VKFF-1885)
49. VK3CRG/p

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3HOT
3. VK4TJ
4. VK4/AC8WN
5. VK4/VE6XT
6. VK3SQ
7. VK3DAC
8. VK2MY/3
9. VK4AAC/3
10. VK2VH/3
11. VK5KLV
12. VK4HNS
13. VK4SMA/p (Spicers Gap Road Conservation Park VKFF-1651)
14. VK5FANA
15. VK3ANL
16. VK3FPSR
17. VK2YMU
18. VK4CZ
19. VK4NH
20. VK4DXA
21. ZL4TY/VK4
22. VK3DBP
23. VK7JON/p (Eugenia State Reserve VKFF-1800)
24. VK7FOLK/ (Eugenia State Reserve VKFF-1800)
25. VK3TKK/m
26. VK3MPR
27. VK2FAAA/3
28. VK7ALH
29. VK2VW
30. VK3ARH
31. VK3NDX
32. VK2IO/m
33. VK3WAR
34. VK3EAC
35. VK2AB
36. VK7EE
37. VK2JDS
38. VK3MCK
39. VK4NKL/p
40. VK4FARR
41. VK5FMWW
42. VK4FDJL
43. VK3VBC
44. VK2FHIT
45. VK7EK
46. VK1TX
47. VK5MK/m
48. VK5WU
49. VK5DW
50. VK3FDZE
51. VK5VGC
52. VK3TNL
53. VK3STU
54. VK3ZNK
55. VK5AUS
56. VK5TBC/m
57. VK5HS
58. VK7QP
59. VK6CP
60. VK5PE
61. VK6MB/3
62. VK2OD
63. VK5FBUD
64. VK5GP
65. VK2EMI
66. VK3UCD
67. VK4VXX/6
68. VK4RF
69. VK4HA
70. VK7LH
71. VK2GAZ
72. VK5FLKJ
73. VK3NBL
74. VK1MCW
75. VK5MAS
76. VK5PW
77. VK5WF
78. VK2YK/p (Hat Head National Park VKFF-0230)
79. VK5LA/p (Jallumba Marsh Flora Reserve VKFF-2338 )
80. VK1DI/2 (Barren Grounds Nature Reserve VKFF-1885)
81. VK3AHR
82. VK3CWF
83. ZL1TM
84. VK3KMH
85. VK2HHA
86. VK3SX
87. VK3IRM
88. VK3MLU
89. VK3MKE
90. VK2HBO
91. IK1GPG
92. VK3CGB
93. VK3IL/p
94. VK7KT
95. VK2PKT
96. VK2GJC
97. VK2CAF
98. VK7FRJG
99. VK2HRX/3
100. VK2PBC/p (QRP)
101. VK4RG
102. VK2XXM
103. VK6LG
104. VK1JP/2
105. VK7HAM
106. VK7PAK
107. VK6SKY
108. VK3VGB
109. EA1DLU
110. VK3CRG/p
111. VK5LSB
112. VK3XPT/p (military tx)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4TJ
2. VK4/AC8WN
3. VK4/VE6XT
4. VK4NH
5. VK4DXA
6. ZL4TY/VK4
7. VK2GZ
8. VK6MAC
9. VK4CZ
10. VK4PDX
11. VK4VXX/6
12. VK2HDX
13. VK4TMZ
14. K7CAR/p (Dixie National Forest KFF-4395)
15. VK4AS
16. VK2JON
17. VK4HNS

I worked the following station on 20m AM:-

1. VK4VXX/6

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5FMWW
2. VK5DW
3. VK7QP
4. VK5HS/m
5. VK5YX
6. VK3AHR

 

 

References.

Forestry SA, 2016, Mount Panorama, Knott Hill & Christmas Hill Native Forest Reserves Management Plan.