Danggali Conservation Park VKFF-0825

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We enjoyed a brilliant day on Saturday 28th October 2023 for the 2023 VKFF National Get-Together.  There were some excellent guest speakers during the day, and the Saturday evening meal and guest speaker were excellent.

It was now Sunday 29th October 2023 and the day kicked off with a BBQ hosted by the Riverland Radio Club, held at Jarrett Memorial Gardens in Renmark. I had a slightly sore head from the night before, so the bacon and egg roll and a strong coffee were very welcome.

After breakfast, Hans VK6XN, Marija VK5MAZ and I headed out to the Danggali Conservation Park VKFF-0825. We had activated the park previously, but as it was such spectacular countryside out there and very remote, we decided to take Hans for a drive.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Danggali Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.

Our first stop was at the Bookmark Information Bay. There are a number of information boards here with some very interesting information pertaining to the Calperum and Taylorville Stations. 

A little further on is the sign for Calperum Station, a former cattle station, now a 2,386 km2 reserve.

On our way out to Danggali, we worked Chris VK1CHW from the mobile. Chris was activating the Red Hill Nature Reserve VKFF-0860.

We then took the Danggali Road which showed that we had 31km ahead of us before reaching the Danggali Conservation Park.

As we were travelling through the Chowilla Regional Reserve VKFF-1698, we stopped briefly to work Peter VK3PF and Leigh VK3SG from the mobile. Peter and Leigh were activating the nearby Chowilla Game Reserve VKFF-1697. Not surprising we were 5/9 both ways.

We also logged Colin VK2GOM and Bob VK2BYF from the mobile while in Chowilla. Colin and Bob were activating Four Mile Creek Conservation Area VKFF-2904 in Tasmania.

This is spectacular countryside out here and extremely remote. There is no mobile phone coverage, so if you are travelling in the area, be well prepared.

Kangaroos, emus, lizards and snakes were regularly seen on our way out to the park.

After a nice drive out through remote Australian countryside, we reached the sign for the Danggali Conservation Park and Wilderness Protection Area.

We stopped to log Malcom VK3OAK and Peter VK3PWG from the mobile while in Chowilla. Malcolm and Peter were activating Loch Luna Game Reserve VKFF-1723. Signal reports of 5/7 both ways were exchanged. We then drove a short distance into Danggali and logged Malcolm and Peter once again for some more Park to Park contacts.

The Danggali Conservation Park is about 48,417 hectares in size and was established on the 4th day of November 1976. The neighbouring Danggali Wilderness Protection Area is 202,815 hectares in size and was proclaimed in 2009. The park takes its name from the Danggali indigenous people.

We drove on a little further to the campground area and set up our station comprising the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole supported by the 7-metre heavy-duty squid pole. I used the VI10VKFF callsign for this activation.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK5AYL/p (Loch Luna Game Reserve VKFF-1723)
  2. VK3ZPF/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)
  3. VK3CLD/2
  4. VK2EXA
  5. VK3CA
  6. VK5DW/p (Moorook Game Reserve VKFF-1729)
  7. VK5FR/p (Bakara Conservation Park VKFF-0868)
  8. VK7DW/p (Sidmouth Conservation Park VKFF-3393)
  9. VK5NHG
  10. VK5FANA
  11. VK3PF/p (Chowilla Game Reserve VKFF-1697)
  12. VK3SG/p (Chowilla Game Reserve VKFF-1697)
  13. VK5CZ/p (Pooginook Conservation Park VKFF-0929)
  14. VK3UAO/p (Glenmaggie Natural Features & Scenic Reserve VKFF-3706)
  15. VK5AAF
  16. VK3YV/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)
  17. VK2IO/p (Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373)

Marija worked the following station on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK3ZPF/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK5AYL/p (Loch Luna Game Reserve VKFF-1723)
  2. VK3ZPF/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)
  3. VK3JW/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)
  4. VK3CLD/2
  5. VK2EXA
  6. VK3CA
  7. VK5DW/p (Moorook Game Reserve VKFF-1729)
  8. VK3GJG
  9. VK5FR/p (Bakara Conservation Park VKFF-0868)
  10. VK7DW/p (Sidmouth Conservation Park VKFF-3393)
  11. VK5NHG
  12. VK5FANA
  13. VK5TRM
  14. VK3PF/p (Chowilla Game Reserve VKFF-1697)
  15. VK3SG/p (Chowilla Game Reserve VKFF-1697)
  16. VK5LA
  17. VK5KAW
  18. VK3APJ
  19. VK2CDB
  20. VK5CZ/p (Pooginook Conservation Park VKFF-0929)
  21. VK3DL
  22. VK3UAO/p (Glenmaggie Natural Features & Scenic Reserve VKFF-3706)
  23. VK5AAF
  24. VK3UH
  25. VK3AMO
  26. VK5DU
  27. VK3CTM
  28. VK3SQ
  29. VK2BD
  30. VK3YV/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)
  31. VK3TNL/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)
  32. VK1AD
  33. VK1NAM
  34. VK2NP
  35. VK3MHZ
  36. VK3BEL
  37. VK5HYZ
  38. VK2JES
  39. VK3ACZ
  40. VK2IO/p (Murray Sunset National Park VKFF-0373)
  41. VK3KGW

I worked the following station on 40m AM:-

  1. VK3BEL

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK3ZPF/p (Murray River National Park VKFF-0372)
  2. VK4CZ
  3. VK4EW

I worked the following stations on 20m AM:-

  1. VK4EW
  2. VK4CZ

References.

  1. Dept of Environment and Natural Resources, 2011, Danggali Wilderness Protection Area and Conservation Park Management Plan 2011.
  2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calperum_Station_(reserve)>, viewed 15th December 2023.
  3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danggali_Conservation_Park>, viewed 15th December 2023.

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