D.B. Mack Reserve VKFF-4032

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Our next activation for Tuesday 31st October 2023 was the DB Mack Reserve VKFF-4032. This would be a first-time activation for myself, Marija VK5MAZ, and Hans VK6XN, and only the second time that the park had been activated for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

The DB Mack Reserve is located on the Sturt Highway at Stockyard Plain, about 165 km northeast of the city of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of DB Mack Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

D.B. Mack Reserve is owned by the National Trust of South Australia. It comprised about comprises about 265 hectares of mallee scrub and has been held by the National Trust since 1965. At that time the land was purchased from Mr. F.J. Fettke. It was initially held by the National Trust under perpetual lease, but since that time it has been converted to a freehold title.

Above:- An aerial view of the D.B. Mack Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is named in honour of Mr David Batten (D.B.) Mack (b. 1922. d. 2010), who was the District Officer for the Department of Lands during the 1960s. He was a strong supporter of the National Trust of South Australia.

The Reserve adjoins the 1,870-hectare Stockyard Plains area which is managed by SA Water.

About 109 native plant species have been recorded in D.B. Mack, with about 25% being of regional importance and three rated as significant at a State level. Birds SA have recorded about 76 native species or bird in the Reserve including Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, Spotted Pardalote, Weebill, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Australian Magpie, Grey Shrike-thrush, and Jacky Winter.

We parked at the main gate on Sturt Highway and climbed through the fence. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

Other than the bands being in very poor condition, we also experienced very loud traffic noise, particularly from the trucks travelling along the Sturt Highway.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK2GOM/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
  2. VK2VAR/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
  3. VK2BYF/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
  4. VK2VT/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
  5. VK3BBB
  6. VK2CCP
  7. VK3APJ
  8. VK7XX
  9. VK3MTT
  10. VK5LA

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK2GOM/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
  2. VK2VAR/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
  3. VK2BYF/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
  4. VK2VT/p (Greens Beach Conservation Area VKFF-2906)
  5. VK3BBB
  6. VK2CCP
  7. VK3APJ
  8. VK7XX
  9. VK3MTT
  10. VK5LA
  11. VK3APT
  12. VK3UAO
  13. VK2IO/m
  14. VK5HS
  15. VK2USH
  16. VK3CEO

References.

  1. Ancestry, 2023, <https://www.ancestry.com.au/>, viewed 18th December 2023.
  2. Birds SA, 2023, <https://birdssa.asn.au/location/db-mack-reserve/>, viewed 18th December 2023.
  3. National Trust South Australia, 2023, <https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/d-b-mack-reserve/>, viewed 18th December 2023.

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