After packing up at VK5/ HSE-042 and having a chat with John VK5HAA, the VK5 HEMA Manager, I decided to head to Heatherdale Hill VK5/ HSE-009 for another HEMA activation.

The summit is located about 71 km (by road) south of the CBD of the city of Adelaide.

Heatherdale Hill is easily accessible via Reservoir Road at Myponga. The exact summit itself is on private road, but you are well and truly within the activation zone if you operate from the side of the road.

Heatherdale Hill is 353 metres above sea level and has 112 metres of prominence.

Once at Heatherdale Hill, you can enjoy some terrific views north, back along the coastline of Adelaide and Gulf St Vincent.

And to the east there are some nice views of the township of Myponga and across the valley to VK5/ HSE-042.

During my activation I had a couple fo Wedge Tailed Eagles soaring above in the thermal currents. I also managed to snap a few photographs of a Black shouldered Kite.

It was extremely windy at Heatherdale Hill and I set up on the side of the road, right alongside of the farmer’s gate which leads into the actual summit.

First in the log was John VK5HAA with a lovely 5/9 signal, followed by Tony VK3YV, and then Marija VK5MAZ. I logged a total of 11 stations on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK5. Contact number 4, qualifying the summit for me for HEMA, was with Nev VK5WG.

I then moved to 3.610 on the 80m band where I logged 8 stations from VK3 and VK5. This included Marija VK5MAZ who was super strong from Ashbourne (gave me 5/9 plus 50) and Tony Vk5MRT at Strathalbyn who gave me 5/9 plus 30. Adrian Vk5FANA was also very strong and gave me a 5/9 plus 25 signal report.

I decided to have a quick listen on 20m on 14.310 where I logged 3 stations from VK4, VK5, and Vk6.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5HAA
2. VK3YV
3. VK5MAZ
4. VK5WG
5. VK5FANA
6. VK3PF
7. VK4JAL/m
8. VK3SX
9. VK4NH
10. VK2MET
11. VK2IO

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5HAA
2. VK5MAZ
3. VK5MRT
4. VK5PL
5. VK5CZ
6. VK5FANA
7. VK3SX
8. VK3BHR

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK5HAA
2. VK4NH
3. VK6NU

References.

HEMA, 2021, <http://hema.org.uk/fullSummit.jsp?summitKey=59858>, viewed 27th May 2021.