It was now day two (Sunday 10th November 2019) of our trip to Victoria for the 2019 KRMNPA Activation Weekend.  Our plan was to activate two Flora & Fauna Reserves for WWFF, and then activate the Wyperfeld National Park for the KRMNPA weekend.

Our first park for the day was the Kattyoong Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2346.  The park is located about 13 km north of the little town of Torrita on the Mallee Highway in north-western Victoria.

This was the first time that the park had been activated.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Kattyoong Flora and Fauna Reserve in north-western Victoria.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

After leaving the cabin at the caravan park we headed to the Cobb & Co Cafe in Murrayville for some breakfast.  Whenever we are in the area we always stop here.  It is good food and good coffee.  The owner is friendly and coincidentally his two sons live in our home town of Mount Barker.

Above:- Marija enjoying some breakfast at the Cobb and Co Cafe at Murrayville.

We left Murrayville after breakfast and headed east on the Mallee Highway.  Our first stop was the little town of Cowangie.  If you are travelling along the Mallee Highway, take the time to detour into this little town.  Cowangie is the birthplace of motorsport legend Larry Perkins.  He is a former racing driver and V8 Supercar team owner.

The Cowangie Post Office opened in July 1912 and was originally known as Kow Plains until 1913.  The Post Office closed in 1994, and not much else remains in Cowangie from its heyday.  The nearby Kopw Plains homestead is well worth a visit.  However, we did not do that on this trip as we have visited there previously.

Above:- an old shop in the main street of Cowangie.

One of the buildings worthwhile having a look at whilst in Cowangie is the old Bush Nursing cottage.  At a meeting of the Cowangie Bush Nursing Centre in August 1917, it was moved that a two-roomed stone cottage be erected so the nurse could live in more comfort and afford privacy to patients.  The cottage was completed in 1918.  The Cowangie Bush Nurse Centre ceased operation in 1924.

Another interesting place is the Cowangie Bakery which opened in 1912.  The bakery closed in 1952 and in 2001 was restored.

We left Cowangie and continued east on the Mallee Highway, stopping briefly to have a look at the lone grave for a railway worker.  The grave which is located in the middle of nowhere is marked on the Mallee Highway.

The highway was quite busy with trucks as this is the main highway between Adelaide and Sydney.

We then stopped briefly at the small town of Underbool.  The town name is thought to come from the German word underbolt given to it by surveyor Dr Neumayer when he camped there in October 1861.  A post office opened on 15 July 1912 when a regular mail service was provided by the opening of the railway from Ouyen to Murrayville a month earlier.  In 1913 a school and public hall were built, while in 1917 a Bush Nursing Centre was established.  By 1918 there were numerous stores and business in Underbool.

The Underbool Hotel was built in 1925 and boasted a large formal dining room, public bar, pool room and accommodation.  Sadly it closed in December 2016.

Above:- The old Undeerbool Hotel.

There are a few things of interest in the town.  One of those being an old mallee scrub roller which was made from a large steam engine boiler with a heavy timber framework attached.  It was used to clear the mallee scrub and was adapted to be used behind a crawler tractor.  It was in use until the early 1960s.

The Pioneer and Early Settler Memorial is in honour of the pioneers of the district.  There is also a replica of the train used by Sailor Salt Co. to transport salt from Lake Becking to the Linga Railway Station in the 1920s.

You can also view Underbool’s police cells that were decommissioned in 2002.

We continued on to the little town of Torrita (don’t blink, you will miss it) and then turned left onto Stones Road and then right onto Cheesmans Road and then left onto Cooke Road.  The park is located at the corner of Cooke Road and Joyce Road.  It is not be confused with the Kattyoong Bushland Reserve which is located nearby.

Above:- An aerial view of Kattyoong Flora & Fauna Reserve, with the Kattyoong Bushland Reserve close by.  Image courtesy of Google maps

The Kattyoong Flora and Fauna Reserve is 39 acres in size and was established in 1990.  It comprises typing mallee scrub.

During our visit to the park, we observed numerous Rainbow Bee Eaters.  They are  a strikingly brilliant bird.  Rainbow bee-eaters mostly eat flying insects, but, as their name implies, they have a real taste for bees.

Marija and I could not find a suitable access point into the park on Cooke Road.  We did, however, find a 4WD track leading into the park on Joyce Road.  There was plenty of room to string out the 20/40/80m dipole antenna.

Above:- An aerial view of the Kattyoong Flora & Fauna Reserve showing our operating spot.  Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

As this was a Sunday morning, the broadcasts for the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) were in full swing, so I was not able to get onto 7.144.  I found 7.120 clear and started calling CQ.   Ken VK3ALA was first in the log, followed by Tony VK5TT with an exceptionally strong signal, and then Mark VK3PI.

My fourth contact was a Park to Park contact with Peter VK3ZPF/p who was in the Dandenong Ranges National Park VKFF-0132.  Scott VK4CZ became my 10th contact, thus qualifying the park for me for VKFF.   I then logged David VK5DG/3 who was in the Coopcrambra National Park VKFF-0113.

Sadly I started to experience QRM from a VK4 station who came up on frequency, unannounced, and started calling CQ DX.  Despite being told by numerous stations that the frequency was in use, he continued to call CQ DX.  I apologise to anyone who was calling who I missed, as the interference was strong.

I persevered and eventually, he got the message and moved off frequency.  I logged a total of 30 stations including three further Park to Park contacts with Peter VK3PF in the Chiltern Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620, and Joe VK3YSP/p & Julie VK3FOWL/p in the Brisbane Ranges National Park VKFF-0055.

I then swapped the mic with Marija.

Marija’s first contacts were with Joe VK3YSP/p and Julie VK3FOWL/p who were in the Brisbane Ranges National Park VKFF-0055.  John VK7FJFD followed, then Ray VK4NH, and then Linda VK7QP.  Marija’s 10th contact was a Park to Park with Gerard VK2IO/p who was activating the Berowra Valley National Park VKFF-1162.  This was followed by another Park to Park with Tony VK3XV/p who was in the Terrick Terrick National Park VKFF-0630.

Marija logged a total of 26 contacts including two further Park to Park QSOs with Peter VK3PF/p in the Chiltern Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620, and David VK5DG/3 in the Coopracamba National Park VKFF-0113.

I then called CQ once again on 7.120 and logged a further 23 stations including Park to Park contacts with Peter VK3PF/p in the Chiltern Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620 (a new contact on a new UTC day), and Gerard VK2IO/p in the Berowra Valley National Park VKFF-1162.

With 53 contacts in the log, I moved to the 20m band and called CQ on 14.310.  I logged a total of 9 stations, all bar one from Queensland.  Brett VK2VW was the exception.

Marija then called CQ on 3.610 for about 5 minutes, but there were no takers.

We packed up and headed off to our next park, the Timberoo Flora and Fauna Reserve.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3FOWL/p (Brisbane Ranges National Park VKFF-0055)
2. VK3YSP/p (Brisbane Ranges National Park VKFF-0055)
3. VK7FJFD
4. VK4NH
5. VK4DXA
6. ZL4TY/VK4
7. VK7QP
8. VK2PKT
9. VK5FANA
10. VK2IO/p (Berowra Valley National Park VKFF-1162)
11. VK3XV/p (Terrick Terrick National Park VKFF-0630)
12. VK2VW
13. VK4TJ
14. VK4/AC8WN
15. VK4/VE6XT
16. VK4SSN
17. VK4HNS
18. VK3PF/p (Chiltern Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620)
19. VK4CZ
20. VK5DG/3 (Coopracamba National Park VKFF-0113)
21. VK3AN
22. VK2LEE
23. VK3AQZ
24. VK2HHA
25. VK4SYD
26. VK3VLY

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3ALA
2. VK5TT
3. VK3PI
4. VK1DI
5. VK3ZPF/p (Dandenong Ranges National Park VKFF-0132)
6. VK1BUB
7. VK2VH
8. VK4AAC/2
9. VK7DW
10. VK4CZ
11. VK5DG/3 (Coopracamba National Park VKFF-0113)
12. VK5FANA
13. VK3MPR
14. VK3DAC
15. VK3BSN/5
16. VK3PF/p (Chiltern Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620)
17. VK2HQ
18. VK2HBG
19. VK4NH
20. VK4DXA
21. ZL4TY/VK4
22. VK2XXM
23. VK3SQ
24. VK2PKT
25. VK2MGM
26. VK4SMA
27. VK3MAB
28. VK2LX
29. VK3YSP/p (Brisbane Ranges National Park VKFF-0055)
30. VK3FOWL/p (Brisbane Ranges National Park VKFF-0055)
31. VK2EXA
32. VK4TJ
33. VK4/AC8WN
34. VK4/VE6XT
35. VK4SSN
36. VK3AQZ
37. VK2YW
38. VK3DBP
39. VK3ZL/m
40. VK2LEE
41. VK7QP
42. VK2HHA
43. VK3VIN
44. VK3AHR
45. VK3UH
46. VK4HNS
47. VK3ANL
48. VK1MIC
49. VK5NJ
50. VK3PF/p (Chiltern Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620)
51. VK3AN
52. VK2IO/p(Berowra Valley National Park VKFF-1162)
53. VK3MDH

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2VW
2. VK4NH
3. VK4DXA
4. ZL4TY/VK4
5. VK4TJ
6. VK4/AC8WN
7. VK4/VE6XT
8. VK4SSN
9. VK4CZ

References.

Protected Planet, 2019, <https://www.protectedplanet.net/kattyoong-f-r-nature-conservation-reserve>, viewed 12th November 2019

Victorian Places, 2019, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/underbool>, viewed 12th November 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Perkins>, viewed 12th November 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowangie>, viewed 12th November 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underbool>, viewed 12th November 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_bee-eater>, viewed 12th November 2019

Our third and final park for Saturday (9th November 2019) was the Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373.  This was to be our first park for the 2019 Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award weekend.

The Murray Sunset National Park is located about 500 km north-west of Melbourne.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Murray Sunset National Park in north-western Victoria.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

After leaving Gnarr Flora & Fauna Reserve we drove back into the town of Underbool and headed west on the Mallee Highway until we reached Linga where we took Pink Lakes Road.  We headed north and about 18 km up the road we reached the park.  Pink Lakes Road is dirt but it is suitable for a 2WD vehicle.

On our way to the park, we logged Nik VK3ZK/p and Peter VK3PF/p from our mobile.  Nik was activating the Dandenong Ranges National Park VKFF-0132, while Peter was activating the Mitta Mitta Regional Park VKFF-0974.

We drove into the park and travelled along Pink Lakes Road passing Lake Hardy.  The lake is made of solid salt and due to the presence of red algae called Dunaliella saline, the lake often gives off a brilliant rosy-pink colour.

The Murray Sunset National Park is the second-largest National Park in the State of Victoria.  The park is about 633,000-hectare (1,560,000-acre) in size and was proclaimed on the 26th day of April 1979.  The park is located in the north-western corner of Victoria and borders South Australia to the west and the Murray River to the north.  The Sturt Highway passes through the northern section of the park.  The majority of the park is in a remote area between the Sturt Highway and the Mallee Highway, west of the Calder Highway.

Above:- Map of the Murray Sunset National Park.  Map courtesy of Parks Victoria.

The majority of the park lies within the Murray-Sunset, Hattah and Annuello Important Bird Area (IBA), which was identified by BirdLife International due to it containing mallee habitat supporting a number of threatened mallee bird species, including the Mallee-fowl, Black-eared Miner and Mallee Emu-wren.  Over 600 species of plants have been recorded in the park, and 300 species of birds.

We travelled the short distance to the main campground at Lake Crosbie.

Above:- A map of the Pink Lakes area of the park showing our operating spot.  Map courtesy of Parks Victoria.

Although there were a number of caravaners and campers there, our favourite shelter shed was free and was the ideal spot to operate from.  It was a very warm afternoon, so the shelter provided some valuable relief from the afternoon sun.

At the campground, you can find the Kline-loop nature walk which is 4.8 lm in length (takes about 2 hours).  The walk is named after Jim Kline who was a worker who lived and worked in the area during the 1930s and 1940s.  The walk follows the shore of Lake Crosbie and across pine-woodland rises to the picturesque Lake Kenyon.

Prior to calling CQ we tuned across the 40m to see if we could find some other park activators.  We found Nik VK3ZK/p on 7.139 calling CQ from the Dandenong Ranges National Park VKFF-0132.  Unfortunately, he was the only park activator we were able to hear, so I headed up to 7.150 and started calling CQ.

First in the log was Keith VK3MKE, followed by David VK5DWC, and then Linda VK7QP.  The 40m band was in very good condition and it didn’t take long for a mini pile up to commence.  I logged a total of 31 stations in a very short space of time, including the two further Park to Park contacts with Peter VK3PF/p in the Mitta Mitta Regional Park VKFF-0974, and Gerard VK2IO/p in the Cattai National Park VKFF-0092.

As I had qualified the park now for VKFF, I took the opportunity of telling all stations to stand by and swapped the mic with Marija.

Marija’s first contact was with Peter VK3PF/p in the Mitta Mitta Regional Park VKFF-0974, followed by Mike VK5FMWW, Scott VK4CZ, and then Paul VK3DBP.  It didn’t take long before Marija had ten contacts in the log and the park qualified for VKFF.  Contact number ten was with Greg VK2EXA.

Marija logged a total of 22 stations before handing me back the mic.

I again called CQ on 7.150 and logged a further 10n stations before callers dried up.  I now had 42 contacts in the log and was just 2 short of the 44 required to qualify the park for the global WWFF program.  I headed over to the 20m band where I logged 3 stations: Scott VK4CZ, Mark VK4SMA, and Murray VK4MWB.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF/p (Mitta Mitta Regional Park VKFF-0974)
2. VK5FMWW
3. VK4CZ
4. VK3DBP
5. VK2PKT
6. VK5BW
7. VK5kLD
8. VK3MPR
9. VK5BJE
10. VK2EXA
11. VK5ZZ
12. VK4GSF
13. VK5FANA
14. VK5VBR
15. VK3FCMC
16. VK4NH
17. VK4DXA
18. ZL4TY/VK4
19. VK7FJFD
20. VK3PF/m
21. VK2HPN
22. VK2YK

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3ZK/p (Dandenong Ranges National Park VKFF-0132)
2. VK3MKE
3. VK5DWC
4. VK7QP
5. VK3SQ
6. VK5FANA
7. VK5TT
8. VK3PF/p (Mitta Mitta Regional Park VKFF-0974)
9. VK2IO/p (Cattai National Park VKFF-0092)
10. VK3DAC
11. VK3MPR
12. VK2PKT
13. VK2HPN
14. VK5FMWW
15. VK5BW
16. VK7KT
17. VK5KLV
18. VK4SMA
19. VK4MWB
20. VK4NH
21. VK4DXA
22. ZL4TY/VK4
23. VK5FSPJ/m
24. VK7JON
25. VK7FRJG
26. VK4CZ
27. VK2LX
28. VK5KLD
29. VK2HDX
30. VK2VW
31. VK1ACE
32. VK2YK
33. VK5GA/2
34. VK6GA/2
35. VK2LEE
36. VK7FOLK
37. VK7FJFD
38. VK3PF/m
39. VK3KAI/m
40. VK3BSA/m
41. VK2JDS/m
42. VK4GSF

I worked the following station on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4CZ
2. VK4SMA
3. VK4MWB

After packing up Marija and I decided to have a drive along Pioneer Drive.  We have done this before, but it is a very nice drive through the park.

We stopped briefly to have a look at the outdoor salt museum on the eastern side of Lake Crosbie.   There was once a thriving commercial salt industry here, which commenced in 1916 and concluded in 1979 when the area was declared as a State Park.

Lake Crosbie is the largest of four large salt lakes in the Pink Lakes area of the Murray Sunset National Park.

Above:- Lake Crosbie

We then stopped at Lake Kenyon which was named after A.S. Kenyon who was appointed engineer-in-charge of improvements to the northern Mallee.

A little further along the drive are a number of interpretive signs which detail the history of salt mining within the park.  During the 1920s and 1930s there was a small township at this location for the salt workers and their families.  This included houses, a school, and Otto the cook’s underground house.  Seasonal workers and local farmers also came on foot or by bicycle, horse, or car to work on salt harvesting.  Camels carried sale to the railway at Underbool and Linga.  A short-lived tramway was constructed but later abandoned and replaced by trucks.  Salt was shovelled into bags weighing up to 180 pounds (abt 60 kg) and loaded onto trucks by hand.  Very little remains today.

We then drove back to Murrayville and went out for tea at the local pub.  We then headed back to the caravan park where Marija had an early night.  I stayed up and watched Die Hard for about the 20th time before heading off to bed.

References.

Wikipedia, 2019, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray-Sunset_National_Park>, viewed 12th November 2019

Our second park for Saturday (9th November 2019) was the Gnarr Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2324.  The park is located about 8 km north of the town of Underbool in north-western Victoria.

This would be a first-time activation of this park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Gnarr Flora & Fauna Reserve in western Victoria.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

To access the park we travelled north out of Underbool on Mamengorook Road.  We then turned right onto Rowan Road and then turned left onto an un-named road which headed north to the park.  The road travels through farming properties until you reach the south-eastern corner of the park.

Above:- the track which follows the eastern boundary of the park.

The Gnarr Flora and Fauna Reserve is shown on some maps as the Gnarr Nature Conservation Reserve.  It is a piece of remnant mallee scrub which is surrounded by cleared farming land.

Above:- An aerial shot of the Gnarr Flora & Fauna Reserve showing our operating spot.  Image courtesy of Google maps

The park is located just to the south of the very large Murray Mallee National Park.

Above:- Aerial shot of the Gnarr Flora & Fauna Reserve, looking north.  The very large Murray Sunset National Park is also visible.  Image courtesy of Google maps

Cropping land on the western side of the park

The western boundary of the park

The park was established in 1990 and is 301 acres in size.

After setting up I commenced calling CQ on 7.144.  First in the log was Liz VK2XSE, followed by Geoff VK3SQ, and then Mark VK3PI.  This was followed by Peter VK3ZPF/p who was activating the Morwell National Park VKFF-0626.  This was followed by another Park to Park with Rob VK4AAC/3 who was in the Warby Ovens National Park VKFF-0742.

I worked a total of 17 stations from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 and VK7.  This included a further Park to Park contact with Peter VK3TKK/p who was activating the Organ Pipes National Park VKFF-0627.

I had qualified the park for VKFF so it was time to swap operating spots with Marija.  Marija commenced calling CQ on 7.144. First in the log was Peter VK3TKK/p in the Organ Pipes National Park VKFF-0627.  This was followed by Dennis VK2HHA and then David VK5DG/3 who was in the Lind National Park VKFF-0287.  A few contacts later Marija spoke with Peter VK3PF/p who was activating SOTA peak VK3/ VE-138 in the Mitta Mitta Flora Reserve VKFF-2400.

Marija logged a total of 18 stations on 40m from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7.

I then took charge of the mic again in the hope that I could get to my 44 QSOs, required to qualify the park for the global WWFF program.  I logged a further 24 stations including the following Park to Park QSOs:-

• Nik VK3ZK – Dandenong National Park VKFF-0132
• Gerard VK2IO/p – Cattai National Park VKFF-0092
• David VK5DG/3 – Lind National Park VKFF-0287
• Peter VK3PF/p – Mitta Mitta Flora Reserve VKFF-2400)

I was now just 2 QSOs short of 44, but callers had dried up on 40m, so I headed to the 20m band.

First in the log was Gerard VK2IO/p who was activating the Cattai National Park VKFF-0092.  I then moved up to 14.315 and started calling CQ.  Scott VK4CZ came back to my call with a strong 5/9 signal, followed by Ray VK4NH and then Paul VK2PAA.  I had now qualified the park for WWFF.

I logged a total of 12 stations on 20m from VK2, VK4, VK5 and New Zealand.  To conclude the activation I moved to the 80m band and called CQ on 3.610.  Adrian VK5FANA was first in the log on that band, followed by Peter VK3TKK/p in the Organ Pipes National Park VKFF-0627, followed by John VK5BJE, and finally Geoff VK3SQ.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3TKK/p (Organ Pipes National Park VKFF-0627)
2. VK2HHA
3. VK5DG/3 (Lind National Park VKFF-0287)
4. VK2PKT
5. VK5FANA
6. VK7QP
7. VK3PF/p (SOTA VK3/ VE-138 & Mitta Mitta Flora Reserve VKFF-2400)
8. VK3UCD
9. VK5BJE
10. VK1DI
11. VK4NH
12. VK4DXA
13. ZL4TY/VK4
14. VK5QD
15. VK5FSAM
16. VK5PL
17. VK4SYD
18. VK3VIN

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2XSE
2. VK3SQ
3. VK3PI
4. VK3ZPF/p (Morwell National Park VKFF-0626)
5. VK4AAC/3 (Warby Ovens National Park VKFF-0742)
6. VK2VH/3 (Warby Ovens National Park VKFF-0742)
7. VK5FANA
8. VK4NH
9. VK4DXA
10. ZL4TY/VK4
11. VK4HNS
12. VK3UCD
13. VK3MCK
14. VK3MPR
15. VK7JON
16. VK2VW
17. VK3TKK/p (Organ Pipes National Park VKFF-0627)
18. VK3VIN
19. VK3BSA/m
20. VK3ZK/p (Dandenong National Park VKFF-0132)
21. VK5KLV
22. VK3UH
23. VK3HK
24. VK7QP
25. VK2IO/p (Cattai National Park VKFF-0092)
26. VK2MOP
27. VK7FRJG
28. VK4CZ
29. VK5DG/3 (Lind National Park VKFF-0287)
30. VK5HS
31. VK2LEE
32. VK3FGFG
33. VK3BCM
34. VK3PF/p (SOTA VK3/ VE-138 & Mitta Mitta Flora Reserve VKFF-2400)
35. VK2EXA
36. VK2PKT
37. VK5HDW
38. VK3KRH
39. VK7LTD
40. VK5KLD
41. VK3ARH

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/p (Cattai National Park VKFF-0092)
2. VK4CZ
3. VK4NH
4. VK4DXA
5. ZL4TY/VK4
6. VK2PAA
7. VK2LEE
8. VK4HNS
9. VK5KLV
10. ZL1TM
11. VK4SMA
12. VK4PHD

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5FANA
2. VK3TKK/p (Organ Pipes National Park VKFF-0627)
3. VK5BJE
4. VK3SQ

References.

Protected Planet, 2019, <https://www.protectedplanet.net/gnarr-f-r-nature-conservation-reserve>, viewed 12th November 2019

Each year in November, a special activation weekend is held for the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award (KRMNPA).  The KRMNPA has existed since the 1970s and was originally known as the Victorian National Parks Award.  A driving force behind the park’s award was the late Keith Vidmore Roget, VK3YQ, who had served on the WIA Victorian Division Council as the President, Secretary and Treasurer.   Roget died in 1981 and following his death, his widow Jean agreed that it was fitting that the park’s award be renamed in his memory and to honour his contribution.

Above:- One of the original Victorian National Parks Award certificates.  Image c/o Amateur Radio Victoria.

Marija and I had planned to support the 2019 KRMNPA event, which we do each year.  We headed to north-western Victoria to activate the Murray Sunset National Park and the Wyperfeld National Park.  Whilst away we also planned to activate a number of Flora Reserves for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  Many of these would be first-time activations for VKFF/WWFF.  We had booked to stay at the Murrayville Caravan Park for 2 nights.

We left home at about 6.30 a.m. local time on Saturday morning (9th November 2019) and headed east along the South Eastern Freeway to Murray Bridge.  Along the way we joined the Mid South Coast Amateur Radio Net which was run by John VK2NJP.  Marija and I then travelled east along the Dukes Highway to Tailem Bend where we stopped briefly for a coffee and an egg & bacon roll.  We then drove east along the Mallee Highway joining the BRL Riverland Net on 7.115.

Above:- Map showing our route to Murrayville.  Map courtesy of Google maps.

Our next stop was the little town of Geranium on the Mallee Highway.  Geranium’s history dates back to 1906 when the State Government sank a bore in the locality.  The town takes its name from the wild geraniums which grow in abundance in the area.

Sadly this is another town which has suffered as a result of the closure of the railway.   The railway was the lifeline of Geranium and other towns in the Mallee area of South Australia.  Everything came or went via the railway.  Incoming were the supplies for the local businesses, farm machinery and fertiliser.  Outgoing was cream, eggs, grain, and stock.  The line opened in 1906 and was closed in 2015.  Passenger service to Geranium was closed in 1964.  In later years the line was only used to transport grain.  You can view some history of the railway down by the silos along the old line.

Whilst in Geranium we also had a look at the old Geranium Bore.  The windmill commemorates the original bore which was constructed in the 2-acre site of the 10 acre ‘Water Reserve’ in March 1906.  A short walk away from the windmill is an old Table Top Trolley which dates back to 1921.

I mentioned above, ‘the Mallee’.  The Mallee is an area in the semi-arid areas of north-western Victoria and north-eastern South Australia.  It takes its name from the Mallee, a growth habitat of certain eucalypt species that grow with multiple stems spring from an underground lignotuber.

Above:- The Mallee region highlighted in yellow.  Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

We continued east and stopped briefly in Pinnaroo to top up some diesel in the Toyota Hil Lux and to have a quick look at the Pinnaroo Animal Park & Bird Aviary.  The park contains Red Kangaroos, Western Grey kangaroos, emus, and numerous other parrots and cockatoos and is well worth a visit.

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After leaving Pinnaroo we soon reached the South Australian-Victorian State Border.  We stopped briefly for a photograph and continued east into Victoria.

We arrived in Murrayville and booked into the Murrayville Caravan Park in a self-contained cabin.  We have stayed here before and can highly recommend it.

After offloading some gear we headed east on the Mallee Highway to our first park of the day, the Dunstans Flora Reserve VKFF-2310.

This would be a first-time activation of this park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Dunstans Flora Reserve in north-western Victoria.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

The maps we were in possession of, including Google maps, show that this park is called Dunstans Nature Conservation Reserve or the Dunstans Flora and Fauna Reserve.  But this was thrown into confusion when we visited the park as Marija found a park sign which read ‘Bunstans Flora and Fauna Reserve’.  To confuse matters more, the park is located on Bunstun Road.  The Parks Victoria website and Protected Planet shows that the park is called Dunstans Flora and Fauna Reserve.

Above:- An aerial shot of the Dunstans Flora and Fauna Reserve.  Image courtesy of Google maps.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find out much information about this park on the internet.  The Parks Victoria website link is ‘dead’ as are most of their links.

Protected Planet shows that the park was established in 1985 and is 313 acres in size.  It is typical dry mallee countryside.

Just before reaching the little town of Linga, we turned off the Mallee Highway onto Lockett Road and travelled north.  We then turned left on Bunstun Road.  We found a small clearing in amongst the scrub on Bunstun Road and set up our station which comprised the Yaesu FT-857d and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

Above:- An aerial shot of the park showing our opeating spot.  Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

I kicked off the activation by making contact with Rob VK4AAC/3 who was activating the Warby Ovens National Park VKFF-0742 in north-eastern Victoria.  Rob had a strong 5/9 signal.  I then tuned down the band and made contact with Brett VK3FLCS/p who was in the Barmah National Park VKFF-0739.

With two Park to Park contacts to commence the activation, I moved down to 7.130 and started calling CQ while Marija placed a spot up for me on parksnpeaks.  Ray VK4NH in Queensland was first to call in with a good 5/6 signal.  This was followed by Adrian VK5FANA, and then Shane VK2LUV/p in the Werekata State Conservation Area VKFF-1391.  Peter VK3PF/p then gave me a shout from SOTA peak VK3/ VE-093 & Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park VKFF-0069.  This was followed by Mike VK6MB/p in the Powalup Nature Reserve VKFF-2840, Andrew VK1DA/p at SOTA peak Black Mountain VK1/ AC-042 & Black Mountain Nature Reserve VKFF-0834, and then Alan VK3ALN/p who was activating the Point Nepean National Park VKFF-0628.

I had ten contacts in the log (including seven Park to Park contacts) and had qualified the park for VKFF, so I swapped the mic with Marija.

Marija’s first contact was with Alan VK3ALN/p in the Point Nepean National Park VKFF-0628.  Next was Geoff VK3SQ, followed by Steve VK3MPR and Neil VK4HNS.  Just 6 minutes into the activation and Marija had her 10 contacts in the log and had qualified the park for VKFF.

Marija logged a total of 29 stations from VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK5.  Other than her Park to Park contact with Alan, Marija also logged Peter VK3PF/p Park to Park from the Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park VKFF-0069.

I then jumped back into the operator’s chair and logged a further 33 stations on 40m including the following Park to Park contacts:-

• Ian VK5CZ/p – Charleston Conservation Park VKFF-0777
• Norm VK3XCI/p – Hattah Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231
• Gerard VK2IO/p – Scheyville National Park VKFF-0444
• Rob VK2VH/3 – Warby Ovens National Park VKFF-0742

Contact number 44, qualifying the park for me for WWFF, was with Craig VK2FFLL.

We were hopeful that Marija might be able to get her 44 QSOs and qualify the park for the global WWFF program, so Marija jumped back into the hot seat and called CQ on 7.130.

Marija logged a further 7 stations and now had 36 contacts in the log.  We lowered the squid pole and inserted the links for the 80m band and then headed to 3.610.  First, in the log, there was Norm VK3XCI/p who was in the Hattah Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231, followed by John VK5BJE, Ivan VK5HS, and then Rob VK4AAC/3 who was activating the Warby Ovens National Park VKFF-0742.

With callers having completely dried up and Marija just 1 short of her 44, I took a drive a km or so down the road and gave Marija her 44th contact from my mobile.  Adrian VK5FANA then called in to make it number 45.

Before heading off to our next park I decided to try the 20m band.  I had seen a post on Facebook from Stuie VK8NSB in Darwin to say that he would be waiting on 14.310.  I headed there and logged Stuie who was a good 5/6 signal.  This was followed by Jason VK6YTS, Rob VK4SYD, Murray VK4MWB, and Scott VK4CZ with a very strong 5/9 signal.

We were in the throws of packing up when we saw on parksnpeaks that Alan VK2MG/p was in a park on 7.150.  So we re-hoisted the squid pole and logged Alan Park to Park from Bunyaville Conservation Park VKFF-1493.

It was time to pack up and head off to our next park.  Between us, we had 94 QSOs in the log, including 21 Park to Park contacts

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3ALN/p (Point Nepean National Park VKFF-0628)
2. VK3SQ
3. VK3MPR
4. VK4HNS
5. VK2KYO
6. VK2EXA
7. VK5FANA
8. VK4NH
9. VK4DXA
10. ZL4TY/VK4
11. VK2LX
12. VK2YK
13. VK3VIN
14. VK5KC
15. VK3PF/p (SOTA VK3/ VE-093 & Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park VKFF-0069)
16. VK2LEF
17. VK5TR
18. VK5BAR
19. VK6BW
20. VK5TW
21. VK5BJE
22. VK5TBC
23. VK5KLD
24. VK5TAW
25. VK5NRG
26. VK5VCR
27. VK5PL
28. VK5KLV
29. VK2IO/p (Scheyville National Park VKFF-0444)
30. VK3WAC/m
31. VK5BMC
32. VK3SX
33. VK3FLCS
34. VK2PKT
35. VK3MCK
36. VK5CZ/p (Charleston Conservation Park VKFF-0777)
37. VK2MG/p (Bunyaville Conservation Park VKFF-1493)

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3XCI/p (Hattah Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231)
2. VK5BJE
3. VK5HS
4. VK4AAC/3 (Warby Ovens National Park VKFF-0742)
5. VK2VH/3 (Warby Ovens National Park VKFF-0742)
6. VK5PAS/3
7. VK5FANA

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1.  VK4AAC/3 (Warby Ovens National Park VKFF-0742)
2. VK3FLCS/p (Barmah National Park VKFF-0739)
3. VK4NH
4. VK4DXA
5. ZL4TY/VK4
6. VK5FANA
7. VK2LUV/p (Werekata State Conservation Area VKFF-1391)
8. VK3PF/p (SOTA VK3/ VE-093 & Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park VKFF-0069)
9. VK6MB/p (Powalup Nature Reserve VKFF-2840)
10. VK1DA/p (SOTA Black Mountain VK1/ AC-042 & Black Mountain Nature Reserve VKFF-0834)
11. VK3ALN/p (Point Nepean National Park VKFF-0628)
12. VK5KLD
13. VK5KLV
14. VK2EXA
15. VK3XPT
16. VK3JAP
17. VK5CZ/p (Charleston Conservation Park VKFF-0777)
18. VK3VIN
19. VK3XCI/p (Hattah Kulkyne National Park VKFF-0231)
20. VK5BJE
21. VK2KYO
22. VK3PI
23. VK3ZSJ
24. VK2VW
25. VK3SQ
26. VK2FSDU
27. VK7EI
28. VK4HNS
29. VK4SYD
30. VK2IO/p (Scheyville National Park VKFF-0444)
31. VK2AWS
32. VK3VKT/m
33. VK3WAC/m
34. VK5LTD/p
35. VK5WG
36. VK4CZ
37. VK3SX
38. VK3IC
39. VK2VH/3 (Warby Ovens National Park VKFF-0742)
40. VK5VBR
41. VK3GMC
42. VK3PGK
43. VK5BMC
44. VK2FFLL
45. VK2MG/p (Bunyaville Conservation Park VKFF-1493)

I logged the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK8NSB
2. VK6YTS
3. VK4SYD
4. VK4MWB
5. VK4CZ

References.

Amateur Radio Victoria, 2019, <https://www.amateurradio.com.au/awards>, viewed 12th November 2019.

Discover Murray Mallee, 2019, <http://www.malleehighway.com.au/html/geranium.html>, viewed 12th November 2019

Protected Planet, 2019, <https://www.protectedplanet.net/dunstans-f-f-r-nature-conservation-reserve>, viewed 12th November 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallee_(Victoria)>, viewed 12th November 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallee_(habit)>, viewed 12th November 2019