Mount Charlie Flora Reserve VKFF-2396

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On our way into Melbourne (28th November 2023), Marija and I decided to activate the Mount Charlie Flora Reserve VKFF-2396.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Mount Charlie Flora Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

To get to the park Marija and I drove through the beautiful Macedon Ranges which is well known for its thriving food and wine industry, native forests and other natural attractions.

Mount Macedon which is contained within the Ranges was named by the explorer, Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell (b. 1792. d. 1855), in 1836. On the 30th day of September 1836, he climbed the mountain and named it after Philip II of Macedon (359 BC-336 BC), the father of Alexander the Great. (Aussie Towns 2024) (Monuments Australia 2024)

Above:- Major Thomas Mitchell. Image c/o Wikipedia.

The Mount Charlie Flora Reserve is bordered to the south and the west by Mount Charlie Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Mount Charlie Flora Reserve. Image c/o Google Maps.

The reserve is about 318 hectares in size and was established on the 20th day of March 1979. (CAPAD 2022)

An aerial view of the park showing its boundaries. Image c/o Google Earth.

Marija and I parked on Mount Charlie Road and we found a clearing in the scrub and set up our station comprising the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts and the 20/40/80m linked dipole. I used the special call of VI10VKFF.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK3KAI
  3. VK2EXA
  4. VK3ZSC
  5. VK3UAO
  6. VK3ZMD

Marija worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK3KAI
  3. VK2EXA
  4. VK2HAK

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK3KAI
  3. VK2EXA
  4. VK3ZSC
  5. VK3UAO
  6. VK3ZMD
  7. VK3KRL
  8. Vk3ZZS/p
  9. VK3VIN
  10. VK1RF
  11. VK2MK
  12. VK4CEE
  13. VK5CZ
  14. VK3MAP
  15. VK7ALB
  16. VK3HJW
  17. VK3TKK/m
  18. VK3DAC
  19. VK4FE/3
  20. VK1AO
  21. VK2MET

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

  1. VK3PF
  2. VK3KAI
  3. VK2EXA
  4. VK2HAK

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK1AO
  2. V K2MET
  3. VK2IO
  4. ZL4NVW
  5. VK4EW
  6. KG5CIK

I worked the following station on 20m AM:-

  1. VK4EW

References.

  1. Dcceew.gov.au. (2023). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2022 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2022 [Accessed 1st May 2024].‌
  2. monumentaustralia.org.au. (n.d.). Major Thomas Mitchell | Monument Australia. [online] Available at: https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/exploration/display/32766-major-thomas-mitchell- [Accessed 1 May 2024].‌
  3. Verheyen, M. (n.d.). Mount Macedon, VIC. [online] Aussie Towns. Available at: https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/mount-macedon-vic. [viewed 1st May 2024]‌

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