On Wednesday 31st July 2024, I activated the Manning Flora Reserve VKFF-4044 for World Ranger Day.
Each year on the 31st of July, World Ranger Day is held to commemorate Rangers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty and to celebrate all of the hard work undertaken by Rangers. A total of 140 Rangers from 37 countries have lost their lives whilst on duty. (IRF 2024)
It was a short 30-minute drive to the park. This was to be the first time that I had activated this park.
It was a beautiful drive to the park into the McLaren Flat wine-growing region.
The park is located on the corner of Kays Road and Whitings Road.
Above:- An aerial view of the park showing its boundaries. Image c/o Google Earth.
The reserve is owned by The Field Naturalists Society of South Australia Incorporated and is about 45 hectares in size. The reserve was bequeathed to the Society by Sydney Britton Henry Manning upon his death in December 1955. He was a keen bird watcher and very interested in natural history and astronomy. Due to his love of birds, the reserve was known as the “Bird Sanctuary”. (Birds SA 2024)
Above:- An aerial view of the park looking north towards the city of Adelaide. Image c/o Google Maps.
Birds SA have recorded about 97 species of native birds in the park including Adelaide Rosella, New Holland Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Thornbill, Australian Magpie, Black-winged Currawong, Grey Fantail, Little Raven, Red-browed Finch, Silvereye. (Birds SA 2024)
The park is also home to Western Grey Kangaroos, Echidnas, and various reptiles.
I set up along the walking trail off the Whitings Road entrance. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.
I ended up with 125 QSOs in the log, including 7 Park to Park contacts.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK5MAZ
- VK5BJE/p (Belair National Park VKFF-0022)
- VK2VW
- VK2HFI
- VK2AKA
- VK2BUG
- VK3SQ
- VK2BD
- VK5AEC
- Vk3APJ
- VK5AAF
- Vk3FRC
- VK3ZSC
- VK3CEO
- VK3AMO
- VK3PF/p (Traralgon South Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2464)
- VK3HJW
- VK5LA
- VK5KAW
- VK5WU
- VK3CA
- VK3RM
- VK3YE/p
- VK3PWG
- VK5KVA
- VK2EXA
- VK3TKK/p (Organ Pipes National Park VKFF-0627)
- VK2VAR
- VK2GOM
- VK3KRL
- VK3KGW
- VK5FB
- VK1DI/p (Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve VKFF-0855)
- VK2MOE
- VK1MO
- VK3VIN
- VK5FANA
- VK7FEAT/m
- VK2SLB
- VK2BRN
- VK2KBT
- VK5VZ/m
- VK3VMM
- VK5TR
- VK2GRB
- VK2GDX
- VK2ALY
- VK2IO
- VK2GEZ
- VK5YL
- VK1AO
- VK2MET
- VK2YW
- VK5LKJ
- VK3BAP
- VK4FDJL
- VK5PE/m
- VK7PJM
- VK3PAH
- VK5HS
- VK5HAA
- VK5MSA
- VK4NH
- VK4DXA
- VK3ACZ
- VK7IAN
- VK3CJN
- VK3WQHU
- VK5FBIC/p (Anstey Hill Recreation Park VKFF-1683)
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
- VK1AO
- VK2MET
- F5PYI
- VK5MAZ
- Vk2IO
- VK2GEZ
- KG5CIK
- ZL1HIM
- ZL2EF/p (Tararua Forest Park ZLFF-0069)
- VK2ALX
- VK2VAR
- VK2GOM
- VK4EMP
- VK4TI
- VK4GKO
- VK3PF/p (Traralgon South Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2464)
- SQ9CWO
- VK2DML
- EC4AT
- VK2EG
- SP7MW
- I5JFG
- OH1CM
- K5OHY
- IU2IDU
- IW2BNA
- F1BLL
- Vk7XX
- IK4IDF
- VK2MOE
- VK1MO
- VK5HAA
- IK1GPG
- EA1GIB
- G0VWP
- VK4EW
- Vk4BT
- VK4KTX
- VK4IO
- OH1MM
- VK4NBP
- VK2SLB
- VK2BRN
- VK2KBT
- VK4NH
- VK4DXA
- VK2HAK
- KK7RHF
- OH6GAZ
- DK4RM
- ZL3MR
- VK2VH
- VK4AAC
- IW2NXI
- VK2XD
- F5NZO
References.
- Birdssa.asn.au. (2015). Manning Fauna & Flora Reserve, McLaren Flat – Birds SA. [online] Available at: https://birdssa.asn.au/location/manning-fauna-flora-reserve-mclaren-flat/ [Accessed 26 Aug. 2024].
- International Rangers Federation. (n.d.). 2023 World Ranger Day. [online] Available at: https://www.internationalrangers.org/world-ranger-day/. [Accessed 26 Aug. 2024]
VK5PAS 