Our third and final park for the 2024 VKFF Team Championship on Saturday 12th October 2024, was the Cox Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-0824.

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

Due to a previous poor encounter with a park ranger at this park, Marija and I decided to activate the park on its western side. To get there we travelled along Ridge Road and were rewarded with some very nice views of the surrounding countryside.

Cox Scrub Conservation Park is about 563 hectares in size and was established on the 5th day of March 1970. It is one of the larger parks that are located on the Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide. (CAPAD 2022) (NPWS 2024)

The park contains open stands of stringybark with banksia under­sto­ry. The park consists of gently undulating land. It also includes a short section of the Finniss River. There is also a steep-sided valley in the southeastern corner of the park that contains a spring-fed creek. (Friends of Cox Scrub) (NPWS 2024)

Above:- An aerial view of the Cox Scrub Conservation Park. Image c/o Google Maps.

Over 80 species of birds, 15 species of mammals, 11 species of reptiles, and 6 species of frog can be found in the park. Over 350 plant species have been recorded in the park including the vulnerable Marsh Gum. (Friends of Cox Scrub)

The park is home to some vulnerable and endangered species. These include Southern-brown Bandicoot, Rosenberg’s Goanna, and Southern Emu-wren. (Friends of Cox Scrub)

A number of the native plants in the park were flowering during our visit.

Most of the Cox Scrub Conservation Park was pre­vi­ous­ly owned by the late Mr Victor Cox of Ash­bourne. He preserved the area in a nat­ur­al state for over­win­ter­ing his hon­ey bees. In 1969 the land was pur­chased from Mr Cox, on the condition that he was permitted to keep bees in the park for as long as he required. This agreement was upheld until his passing. (NPWS 2024)

Victor Haines Cox was born on the 27th day of October 1987 at Strathalbyn. In 1935 he married Jessie Evelyn Moore at Victor Harbour, South Australia. They had two children. Victor died on the 2nd day of April 1973 at Giles Flat, South Australia. He is buried at the Ashbourne cemetery, South Australia. (ancestry.com.au)

Above: the headstone of Victor Haines Cox at the Ashbourne cemetery. Image c/o Find a Grave

The park was proclaimed on the 5th day of March 1970 as Cox’s Scrub National Park. On the 27th day of April 1972, the park was reconstituted as Cox Scrub Conservation Park. In 1977, and then again in 1982, further smaller additions were added to the park. (NPWS 2024) (Wikipedia)

Above:- Proclamation of the Cox Scrub National Park, SA Govt Gazette, 5 March 1970

Marija and I set up just inside the gate at gate 5 on Boronia Track. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

We logged a total of 72 stations before packing up and heading off for dinner at the Greenman Inn at Ashbourne.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3VIN
2. VK3SQ
3. VK2BD
4. VK2MOE
5. VK1MO
6. VK1AO
7. VK2MET
8. VK5TUX
9. VK3MGM
10. VK4NH
11. VK4DXA
12. VK3YE/P
13. VK4EMP
14. VK4TI
15. VK4GKO
16. VK5HOS
17. VK5AR
18. VK5VK
19. VK4SUN
20. VK7WN
21. VK5ZYL
22. VK5HW
23. VK4HNS
24. VK3APJ
25. VK4IDK
26. VK2BYF
27. VK2VT
28. VK3GP
29. VK5GMH
30. VK2WE

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5TUX
2. VK3LF
3. VK3GJG
4. VK5DW
5. VK5GMH
6. VK5FANA

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3VIN
2. VK3SQ
3. VK2BD
4. VK2MOE
5. VK1MO
6. VK1AO
7. VK2MET
8. VK5TUX
9. VK3MGM
10. VK4NH
11. VK4DXA
12. VK3YE/P
13. VK4EMP
14. VK4TI
15. VK4GKO
16. VK5HOS
17. VK5AR
18. VK5VK
19. VK4SUN
20. VK7WN
21. VK5ZYL
22. VK5HW
23. VK4HNS
24. VK3APJ
25. VK4IDK
26. VK2BYF
27. VK2VT
28. VK3GP
29. VK5GMH
30. VK2WE

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5TUX
2. VK3LF
3. VK3GJG
4. VK5DW
5. VK5GMH
6. VK5FANA

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 16 Dec. 2024].‌
2. Friends of Cox Scrub Conservation Park, A guide for the Cox Scrub trails
3. National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia. (n.d.). Cox Scrub Conservation Park. [online] Available at: https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/cox-scrub-conservation-park.‌ [Accessed 16 Dec. 2024].‌
4. Wikipedia Contributors (2021). Cox Scrub Conservation Park. Wikipedia.‌

Our second park for Saturday 12th October 2024, and the 2024 VKFF Team Championship, was the Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve VKFF-1701.

The park is located about 66 km south of Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

If you did not know this little park was here, you would drive straight past it. It is located on the western side of Bull Creek Road, adjacent to the much larger Cox Scrub Conservation Park. There are no signs.

The reserve is just 1 hectare in size and was established on the 11th day of November 1993. (CAPAD 2022)

There were several native plants in flower during our visit.

We set up in a clearing amongst the scrub and ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

We found the 40m band had improved a little since our first activation at Bullock Hill. We made a total of 104 QSOs on 40m SSB & 80m SSB.

Marija worked the following contacts on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ ST-001 & VKFF-0307)
2. VK2GEZ/p (SOTA VK2/ ST-001 & VKFF-0307)
3. VK3HJW
4. VK3MCA
5. VK2VW
6. VK2HFI
7. VK2AKA
8. VK2BUG
9. VK5TR
10. VK3MGM
11. VK5TUX
12. VK3DL
13. V2KVIC/ (VKFF-0269)
14. VK2LEE
15. VK3GJG
16. VK2VAR/P (VKFF-2698)
17. VK2GOM/P (VKFF-2698)
18. VK2LQ
19. VK5AYL
20. VK3AWA
21. VK3AWB
22. VK3AWC
23. VK3IFR
24. VK3TKU
25. VK2TOT
26. VK3ZSC
27. VK7PAL
28. VK3STV
29. VK1ACE
30. VK3ACZ
31. VK3ARD
32. VK1AC
33. VK2JCP
34. VK2OKR
35. VK2AUS
36. VK2BXB
37. VK3FDFD
38. VK5LA
39. VK5KAW
40. VK3JV
41. VK3ZK/P (VKFF-0978)
42. VK5SRY
43. VK5ZKJ
44. VK3PF/P (SOTA VK3/ VE-049 & VKFF-0619)
45. VK3APJ
46. VK3SMW
47. VK3VIN
48. VK2AC

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5TUX
2. VK5LA
3. VK5KAW
4. VK5AYL

I made the following contacts on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ ST-001 & VKFF-0307)
2. VK2GEZ/p (SOTA VK2/ ST-001 & VKFF-0307)
3. VK3HJW
4. VK3MCA
5. VK2VW
6. VK2HFI
7. VK2AKA
8. VK2BUG
9. VK5TR
10. VK3MGM
11. VK5TUX
12. VK3DL
13. V2KVIC/ (VKFF-0269)
14. VK2LEE
15. VK3GJG
16. VK2VAR/P (VKFF-2698)
17. VK2GOM/P (VKFF-2698)
18. VK2LQ
19. VK5AYL
20. VK3AWA
21. VK3AWB
22. VK3AWC
23. VK3IFR
24. VK3TKU
25. VK2TOT
26. VK3ZSC
27. VK7PAL
28. VK3STV
29. VK1ACE
30. VK3ACZ
31. VK3ARD
32. VK1AC
33. VK2JCP
34. VK2OKR
35. VK2AUS
36. VK2BXB
37. VK3FDFD
38. VK5LA
39. VK5KAW
40. VK3JV
41. VK3ZK/P (VKFF-0978)
42. VK5SRY
43. VK5ZKJ
44. VK3PF/P (SOTA VK3/ VE-049 & VKFF-0619)
45. VK3APJ
46. VK3SMW
47. VK3VIN
48. VK2AC

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5TUX
2. VK5LA
3. VK5KAW
4. VK5AYL

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 16 Dec. 2024].‌

The 2024 VKFF Team Championship was held on Saturday 12th October 2024. This is a fun event that is held each year in October for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Marija VK5MAZ and I headed out to activate three local parks for the Championship. Our team name was ‘The Walky Talkies’.

The first was the Bullock Hill Conservation Park VKFF-0873. Marija and I have activated this park several times previously. The park is located about 65 km southeast of Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

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

The park’s eastern boundary is Wattle Flat Road. Its southern boundary is Haines Road. A heritage agreement exists on the western side of the park. It takes its name from Bullock Hill, a hill rising 188 metres above sea level.

Above:- An aerial view of the Bullock Hill Conservation Park. Image c/o Google Earth.

The park is about 221 hectares in size and was established on the 30th day of January 2014. Bul­lock Hill is an undu­lat­ing park with several vegetation types including tall stands of euca­lyp­tus, includ­ing pink gum and cup gum through to native grasslands in the east. Eucalypt woodlands can be found on the western side of the park which have a dense under­sto­ry of aca­cia and mixed heath.  (CAPAD 2022) (NPWS 2024)

Above:- An aerial view of the park looking west. Image c/o Google Maps.

There are three hikes in the park and these are covered well on the Walking SA website. National Parks SA also has a map (show below) which shows the three hikes.

Above:- Map showing the three hikes in the park. Map c/o National Parks SA.

Birds SA have recorded a total of 95 native birds in the park. Common species include Common Bronzewing, Superb Fairywren, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Brown Thornbill, Grey Shrikethrush. Rainbow Bee-eaters have also been sighted. (Birds SA)

The park is also home to Western Grey kangaroos. These can be sighted regularly at dawn and dusk in the park’s eastern grassland area. (NPWS 2024)

Marija and I set up on the Wattle Flat Road side of the park. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

We found the band conditions to be poor. We managed 72 contacts. All of those excluding 2, were made on 40m SSB. We did not try 20m as we were entered in the 40/80m section for the Team Championship.

It was nice to log Ian Vk5CZ & Gordon VK5GY who were taking part as ‘No flies on us’, and Chris VK1CHW & Jared VK2LDJ who were taking part as the ‘Bandwidth Bandits’.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3ZPF/p (SOTA VK3/ VN-020 & Kinglake National Park VKFF-0264)
2. VK3SRT/p (SOTA VK3/ VN-020 & Kinglake National Park VKFF-0264)
3. VK3MCA
4. VK3VMM
5. VK5HS
6. VK5AYL
7. VK5LA
8. VK5KAW
9. VK5TUX
10. VK5DMR
11. VK5TRM
12. VK3ZK/P (Tocumwal Regional Park VKFF-0978)
13. VK3PWG
14. VK3KR/P (SOTA VK3/ VC-027)
15. VK5GVV
16. VK2EXA
17. VK5ALM
18. VK5PCM
19. VK5GY/P (Caroona Creek Conservation Park VKFF-0875)
20. VK5CZ/P (Caroona Creek Conservation Park VKFF-0875)
21. VK1CHW/P (Mount Ainslee Nature Reserve VKFF-0850)
22. VK2LDJ/P (Mount Ainslee Nature Reserve VKFF-0850)
23. VK5ZRY
24. VK5ZNP
25. VK3UP
26. VK3UN
27. VK3DL
28. VK5GMH
29. VK3ZSJ
30. VK3SQ
31. VK2BD
32. VK3VIN
33. VK3TDX
34. VK5DW
35. VK3MIJ

Marija worked the following station on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5TUX

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3ZPF/p (SOTA VK3/ VN-020 & Kinglake National Park VKFF-0264)
2. VK3SRT/p (SOTA VK3/ VN-020 & Kinglake National Park VKFF-0264)
3. VK3MCA
4. VK3VMM
5. VK5HS
6. VK5AYL
7. VK5LA
8. VK5KAW
9. VK5TUX
10. VK5DMR
11. VK5TRM
12. VK3ZK/P (Tocumwal Regional Park VKFF-0978)
13. VK3PWG
14. VK3KR/P (SOTA VK3/ VC-027)
15. VK5GVV
16. VK2EXA
17. VK5ALM
18. VK5PCM
19. VK5GY/P (Caroona Creek Conservation Park VKFF-0875)
20. VK5CZ/P (Caroona Creek Conservation Park VKFF-0875)
21. VK1CHW/P (Mount Ainslee Nature Reserve VKFF-0850)
22. VK2LDJ/P (Mount Ainslee Nature Reserve VKFF-0850)
23. VK5ZRY
24. VK5ZNP
25. VK3UP
26. VK3UN
27. VK3DL
28. VK5GMH
29. VK3ZSJ
30. VK3SQ
31. VK2BD
32. VK3VIN
33. VK3TDX
34. VK5DW
35. VK3MIJ

I worked the following station on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5TUX

References.

1. Birdssa.asn.au. (2016). Bullock Hill Conservation Park – Birds SA. [online] Available at: https://birdssa.asn.au/location/bullock-hill-conservation-park/ [Accessed 16 Dec. 2024].
2. ‌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 16 Dec. 2024].‌
3. National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia. (2024). Bullock Hill Conservation Park. [online] Available at: https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/bullock-hill-conservation-park [Accessed 16 Dec. 2024].‌
4. Wikipedia Contributors (2021). Bullock Hill Conservation Park. Wikipedia.‌

After leaving Lenger Reserve on 1st September 2024, Marija and I headed along Dennis Road towards home. We were lucky to see a Kite soaring close to the ground in a paddock adjacent to the road. Unfortunately I did not have my zoom lens but I did snap a few photographs.

We then drove into the little town of Punthari which was originally called Finnis Vale. It was named after Boyle Travers Finniss (b. 1807. d. 1893), the first Premier of South Australia. (Wikipedia 2024)

Above:- Boyle Travers Finniss. Image c/o Wikipedia.

Following the opening of the Post Office the Postmaster General suggested a name change to Nuske. The local settlers did not agree. The name of Hildesheim was adopted. (Cockburn 1990)

During the First World War, many German place names in South Australia were changed due to anti-German sentiment. A Nomenclature Committee was given the task of finding German names. A total of 67 were found. This included Hildesheim. The name was changed to Punthari, an aboriginal word meaning ‘scrub’. (Cockburn 1990)

I was keen to have a look at the Saunders Creek rail bridge, so we headed north. Unfortunately, we could not get close to the bridge as private land had to be accessed to reach it.

We then drove south, enjoying the very picturesque countryside.

As we approached the silos at Apamurra, we decided to stop briefly to activate the silos for the Silos On The Air (SiOTA) program.

Aparmurra is an aboriginal word for ‘fresh water’. (Cockburn 1990)

Apamurra was on the Monarto to Sedan railway line, a branch line of main south line from Adelaide. It commenced art Monarto South and stretched for 70km to Sedan in the north. The line which opened in 1919, had eight stations and goods sidings. The line from Cambrai to Sedan closed in the late 1960s. The Cambrai to Apamurra section closed in 1987. The line between Apamurra to Monarto closed in 2005. (G, M 2021)

Below is an excellent video on the old Monarto to Sedan railway line.

We operated from the 4WD, running the Icom IC-7000, 100 watts, and the Codan 9350 antenna with the 1.5 metre stainless steel whip.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2YK/p (Waite Conservation Reserve VKFF-4060)
2. VK5FANA
3. VK4SMA
4. VK4NH
5. VK4DXA

It was getting a bit late and we were feeling hungry, so we headed into the town of Palmer, hoping that the hotel might be open. Sadly it wasn’t.

The town of Palmer was laid out in 1868 by the Australian Mining Company. Its railway station was called Apamurra. The town was named in honour of Colonel George Palmer, a South Australian Colonisation Commissioner, and a Director of the mining company. (Place Names SA 2012)

We continued west out of Palmer along Randell Road. This area is very rocky and features a unique rock called Bear Rock as it has the appearance of a Polar Bear.

On the way home we stopped off at the Commercial Hotel at Strathalbyn for a meal. And a very nice meal it was.

References.

1. Cockburn, R. (1990). What’s in a Name?.
2. ‌G, M. (2021). Monarto to Sedan Railway – Outdoorstype. [online] Outdoorstype. Available at: https://outdoorstype.com.au/monarto-to-sedan-railway/ [Accessed 16 Dec. 2024].
3. ‌published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au. (n.d.). A Compendium of the Place Names of South Australia. [online] Available at: https://published.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/placenamesofsouthaustralia/. [Accessed 16 Dec 2024]
4. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2024). B. T. Finniss. Wikipedia. [Accessed 14 Dec 2024]‌