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