Our second park for 20th November 2022 was the Rokewood Common Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2182. Due to the flooding and heavy rain Marija and I had to detour significantly to get to there.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Rokewood Common NCR. Map c/o Google maps.

The Rokewood area commenced as a crossing place on the Kuruk A Ruc Creek, aboriginal for place of the frog. It was gazetted as a town in June 1853. It is believed that the name of the town was inspired by English miners after the Rokewood family in Suffolk, although this is not confirmed. In 1854 a hotel was opened. The Rokewood Post Office opened on 1 October 1857. Rokewood became the main town for the gold mining are which included Dereel and Rokewood Junction.. By the early 1870s there were 54 dwellings and three hotels in Rokewood. The 1871 census has 276 people living in Rokewood.

Above:- Shearers at Rokewood, c. 1905. Image c/o collections.museumsvictoria.com

Do not confuse the Rokewood Common NCR with the Rokewood Reserve. This is not part of VKFF-2182.

The park can be located to the south of Wilson Street and adjacent to the Rokewood Golf Club, and on the eastern and western side of Meadows Road.

Above:- Aerial view of the Rokewood Common NCR. Image c/o Google Earth.

The Rokewood Common MCR protects a remnant Plains Grassland which was once widespread across the Victorian Volcanic Plains. Less than 1% of its original extent remains today. The Reserve also contains historical sites from Rokewood’s gold mining days which are listed in the State Heritage Register.

We set up on the western side of Meadows Road and ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

Above:- An aerial view of the park showing our operating spot. Image c/o Google maps.

We made a total of 76 QSOs, including 18 Park to Park contacts.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK2VH
3. VK4AAC
4. VK3NBL
5. VK5MRD
6. VK7XX
7. VK3PF/m
8. VK3GRX
9. VK2MET/p (Tomaree National Park VKFF-0490)
10. VK1AO/p (Tomaree National Park VKFF-0490)
11. VK3TKK/p (Macedon Regional Park VKFF-0972)
12. VK1ACE/p (Old Naas Travelling Stock Route (TSR) Nature Reserve  VKFF-0992)
13. VK3ZPF/p (Arthurs Seat State Park VKFF-0750)
14. VK2APC/p (Burragorang State Conservation Area VKFF-1292)
15. VK2LP/p (Burragorang State Conservation Area VKFF-1292)
16. VK2EG/p (Medowie State Conservation Area VKFF-1349)
17. VK3TUN/p (Tooloy Flora Reserve VKFF-2459)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK2VH
3. VK4AAC
4. VK3NBL
5. VK5MRD
6. VK7XX
7. VK3PF/m
8. VK3GRX
9. VK2MET/p (Tomaree National Park VKFF-0490)
10. VK1AO/p (Tomaree National Park VKFF-0490)
11. VK5WU
12. VK3BBB/5
13. VK2CCP/5
14. VK3SH
15. VK3VIN
16. VK3VRA
17. VK1DI
18. VK5FANA
19. VK7JFD
20. VK2HHA
21. VK2YK
22. VK5GA
23. VK3CWF
24. VK3TKK/p (Macedon Regional ParkVKFF-0972)
25. VK3VB
26. VK4FW
27. VK8MM
28. VK1ACE/p (Old Naas Travelling Stock Route (TSR) Nature Reserve  VKFF-0992)
29. VK3GJG
30. VK3ZPF/p (Arthurs Seat State Park VKFF-0750)
31. VK2APC/p (Burragorang State Conservation Area VKFF-1292)
32. VK3HBD
33. VK2LP/p (Burragorang State Conservation Area VKFF-1292)
34. VK3MRG
35. VK3UH
36. VK2EG/p (Medowie State Conservation Area VKFF-1349)
37. VK3LSR
38. VK5DW
39. VK2JES
40. VK3MDC/m
41. VK3FMRC
42. VK5IS
43. VK3PMV
44. VK3UAO
45. VK3ABI
46. VK5FB
47. VK5CZ
48. VK3UN
49. VK3TUN/p (Tooloy Flora Reserve VKFF-2459)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. ZL3MR
2. VK4NH
3. VK4DXA
4. VK4SMA
5. VK2MET
6. VK1AO
7. VK4TJ
8. VK4KC
9. VK4MAD
10. VK4DOG

Once we packed up we had a quick look around the town of Rokewood. The Rokewood Uniting church is one of the impressive structures in the town and was built in 1866.

References.

1. Discover the Kuruc a ruc trail brochure
2. Victorian Places, 2023, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/rokewood>, viewed 8th January 2023.
3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rokewood,_Victoria>, viewed 8th January 2023.