Yesterday I received the WWFF Activator Points Award 308. The award is to encourage longer activations of and revisits to, WWFF references.
More information on the WWFF Points award can be found on the wwff.co website.
Last night I attended the South Coast ARC and delivered a presentation on my recent WWFF/IOTA DXpedition to Flinders Island.
Thanks for the invite. It was a pleasure to catch up with all those down south. There were about 15 people in attendance.
Last night (Thursday 5th September 2024) I tuned in to Air Traffic Control on 8822 kHz and 8866 kHz.
For civil aviation HF communication, Australia is divided into 6 HF network areas known as Regional Domestic Air Route Areas (RDARA’s) and Major World Air Route Areas (MWARA’s). These are FLIGHTWATCH frequencies and are all controlled from Brisbane, Queensland. (Swld.com 2024)
Above:- RDARA areas.
The 8822 kHz frequency is the Southern area.
The 8866 kHz is in the Brisbane International area.
Below is a short video showing my reception.
References.
Last night (Thursday 5th September 2024) I tuned in to Air Traffic Control on 11285 kHz.
The 11285 kHz frequency is part of the Major World Air Route Areas (MWARA), which support HF Radio communications to aircraft outside of VHF range. The transmissions operate on Upper Sideband (USB). The world is divided into 11 areas. (Wiki 2024)
Colombo SRI LANKA and Chennai INDIA operate on the same frequency of 11285 kHz.
Above:- Map showing the location of Chennai India and Colombo Sri Lanka. Map c/o Google Maps.
Below is a short video of my reception.
References.
Electronic QSL card received from the BBC World Service for my reception of their station on 15310 kHz on 10th August 2024.
After leaving Galga on Saturday 17th August 2024, I headed to the Mantung Conservation Park VKFF-1055, to activate the park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.
Prior to activating the park, I stopped to have a look around the little town of Mantung which is located about 140 km east of Adelaide.
Above:- Map showing the location of Mantung. Map c/o Google Maps.
Mantung is an aboriginal word meaning ‘water on a native road’. Nomadic aboriginal people followed sandhills from near Swan Reach via Bakara to Loxton in the Riverland region, obtaining water from mallee trees. The sandhills also contained root foods. When the Hundred of Mantung was proclaimed on the 15th day of June 1893, the name was shown as an Aboriginal waterhole on an 1864 land tenure plan. (Place Names 2012)
The town of Mantung was proclaimed on the 8th day of July 1915. The Post Office was opened as Mantung Railway in September 1915. It became Mantung on the 1st day of September 1966. The Mantung School opened in 1921 and closed in 1944. The school reopened in 1961 and was conducted in the Mantung Hall. (Place Names 2012)
The town was one of several towns along the Waikerie railway line following its opening in 1914. The line branched from the Barmera railway line at Karoonda, which was also the junction for the Peebinga railway line. It extended north, northeast, and north again to Waikerie. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- 1914 map of railway lines in South Australia, showing the Waikerie line. Image c/o railmapsa.au
Mantung once had its own Agricultural Show.
Above:- Article from the Observer, Adelaide, Sat 10 Oct 1914. Image c/o Trove.
If you are in the district, please take the time to have a look around Mantung. There are several information signs detailing the history of the town and some of the remaining historic buildings.
At the Mantung Hall, you can pick up a ‘Mantung Centenary Walk’ brochure that details a very interesting walk around what was once a bustling town.
The Mantung Hall was built in 1918. It is the last country hall between Karoonda and Waikerie that is still being used regularly.
The community hall toilet block at the rear of the hall has been painted by Jarrod Loxton. It features some of the local wildlife including a Wedge Tailed Eagle, Mallee fowl, and a Major Mitchell Cockatoo. (Karoonda 2024)
Adjacent to the hall is the Mantung War Memorial. It includes an avenue of pine trees to commemorate the men and women of the district who have served in the various conflicts in which Australia has been involved (Monument Australia 2024)
The Mantung Conservation Park is about 1,695 hectares in size and was proclaimed on the 16th day of October 2014. (Wikipedia 2024)
Above:- An aerial view of the park looking north. Image c/o Google Maps.
The park contains the largest intact remnant of deep sand habitat in the Northern Murray Mallee. It supports several rare plant species including the rasp daisy bush. It is also contains significant habitat for several endangered bird species including malleefowl, southern scrub-robin, shy heathwren, inland thornbill, white-browed babbler and purple-gaped honeyeater. (Nat Resources 2014)
I set up in a cleared area of the scrub and ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.
I ended up logging a total of 91 QSOs including 9 Park to Park contacts.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
References.
Amateur Radio, Short Wave Listening, travel and history
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The rantings of VK2GAZ on his SOTA experiences in Australia
A survivor, with minor cuts and abrasions.
The Art and Craft of Blogging
The latest news on WordPress.com and the WordPress community.
Blog of Justin Giles-Clark VK7TW's SOTA and amateur radio adventures.
Occasional SOTA & Microwave operation
VK5PAS 