Daily Archives: June 15, 2025

Hesperilla Conservation Park VKFF-1038

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After leaving Hindmarsh Valley, I headed to the Hesperilla Conservation Park VKFF-1038. The park is located about 2 km south of Mount Compass and about 60 km south of Adelaide.

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

The park is located on the western side of Victor Harbor Road.

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

The park is about 11 hectares in size and was established on the 18th day of February 2010. (CAPAD 2022)

Hesperilla Conservation Park protects an important remnant of the critically endangered Fleurieu Peninsula Swamp ecological community. (Nature Glenelg Trust, 2024)

A total of seven bird species that are listed as threatened at State level can be found in the park, including the Southern emu-wren. The nationally threatened Mount Compass oak-bush, and 7 other plant species that are listed as threatened at the state level, are also found in the park. (NPWS 2023)

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK5MAZ
  2. VK3PF
  3. VK3KAI
  4. VK1AO
  5. VK2MET
  6. VK2LDJ
  7. VK2LEE
  8. VK2VW
  9. VK2HFI
  10. VK2AKA
  11. VK2BUG
  12. VK3JV
  13. VK2EXA
  14. VK5WU
  15. VK3MDC
  16. VK3ANL
  17. VK1DI
  18. VK7PJM
  19. KG5CIK
  20. VK5CZ
  21. VK5XE
  22. VK3UH
  23. VK5TN
  24. VK3OHM
  25. BK3MU
  26. VK3GRK
  27. VK3MCK
  28. VK2MOE
  29. VK1MO
  30. VK5FC
  31. VK2EG
  32. VK3CEO
  33. VK5PDR
  34. VK3ZLT
  35. VK5SO
  36. KG8P
  37. VK1CHW
  38. VK4NH
  39. VK4DXA
  40. VK2ZR
  41. VK5FANA
  42. VK4LEW
  43. VK7AAE

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK1DI
  2. KG5CIK
  3. VK5MAZ
  4. VK4NH
  5. VK4DX
  6. VK3PF
  7. VK3KAI
  8. VK2EG
  9. VK7AAE
  10. VK4EMP
  11. VK4TI
  12. VK4GKO
  13. VK1AO
  14. VK2MET
  15. KG8P
  16. SM4BNZ
  17. IK1GCB
  18. VK2MG
  19. OH1MM

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 15 Jun. 2025].‌
  2. National Parks & Wildlife Service South Australia, 2023, Parks of the Centra; Fleurieu Peninsula Management Plan
  3. Nature Glenelg Trust. (2024). Healing a critically endangered swamp – Hesperilla Conservation Park one year later – Nature Glenelg Trust. [online] Available at: https://natureglenelg.org.au/healing-a-critically-endangered-swamp-hesperilla-conservation-park-one-year-later/ [Accessed 15 Jun. 2025].‌

Hindmarsh Valley National Park VKFF-3190

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My third activation for Monday 7th April 2025, as VI100IARU, was the Hindmarsh Valley National Park VKFF-3190. The park is located about 79 km south of the city of Adelaide. This was the first time the park had been activated for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Hindmarsh Valley National Park. Map c/o Google Maps.

As I drove to the park from the Spring Mount Conservation Park, I was rewarded with some magnificent views of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

The Fleurieu Peninsula was named in honour of the French explorer and hydrographer Charles Pierre Claret de Fleurieu by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin during his 1802 exploration of the south coast of Australia. (Wikipedia 2023)

Above:- Nicolas Baudin (left) and Charles Pierre Claret de Fleurieu (right). Images c/o Wikipedia

Despite this being a new park with plenty of hype from the South Australian State Government, it was not easy to find. Access to this park is via a narrow strip of land on Nettle Hill Road. There is a gate at this location; however, there are no signs.

The National Parks brochure shows that there is a car park and picnic area here, but I could not find them. The aerial view also indicates that the park extends all the way to Hindmarsh Tiers Road, but this is not the case according to Location SA Map viewer and CAPAD data.

Above:- Map of the park. Image c/o NPWS SA.

The Hindmarsh Valley National Park is in close proximity to the Mount Billy Conservation Park, and has a handful of Heritage Agreements that surround the park.

Above:- An aerial view of the Hindmarsh Valley National Park. Image c/o Google Earth.

Hindmarsh Valley is named in honour of Rear Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh (b. 1785. d. 1860), the first Governor of South Australia. (Wikipedia 2022)

Above:- Sir John Hindmarsh. Image c/o Wikipedia.

The Hindmarsh Valley National Park is 423 hectares in size and was established in December 2021. The land was previously owned by SA Water and was trans­ferred to the Depart­ment for Envi­ron­ment and Water in mid-2021. (National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia,2025)

The park is home to the nationally endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot, the Chest­nut Rumped Heath-wren, the nation­al­ly-vul­ner­a­ble Bass­ian thrush and local­ly crit­i­cal­ly endan­gered west­ern pygmy Possum. (National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia,2025)

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK5MAZ
  2. VK2TM
  3. KG55CIK
  4. VK3PF
  5. VK3KAI
  6. VK4NH
  7. VK4DXA
  8. VK7AAE
  9. VK2GJC
  10. VK1AO
  11. VK2MET
  12. VK1DI
  13. VK2LEE
  14. VK4XCS
  15. VK7XX
  16. VK4JT
  17. ZL2BAQ
  18. VK2MW
  19. VK2HDT
  20. VK4GRZ
  21. VK5VR
  22. ZL2GLG
  23. VK2IO/M
  24. VK3UH
  25. WA6SZE
  26. DL8NDG
  27. VI100SIG
  28. VK2COS
  29. IW2BNA
  30. F5PYI
  31. VK6JK
  32. UT5PI

I worked the following stations on 20m FT8:-

  1. SP9W
  2. IZ7HNO
  3. VK3APJ
  4. VK3PF
  5. NJ3T
  6. YU7NW
  7. I3QDK
  8. RU3GC
  9. IS0ANW
  10. PA0ABM
  11. F4EIK
  12. VK2EG
  13. IK5UIS
  14. OK2QA
  15. F5RRS

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK2HAK
  2. VK5MAZ
  3. VK7PJM
  4. VK5CZ
  5. VK5XE
  6. VK3PF
  7. VK3KAI
  8. VK2VW
  9. VK2HFI
  10. VK2AKA
  11. VK2BUG
  12. VK1AD
  13. VK1NAM
  14. VK3UH
  15. VK5LA
  16. VK5KAW
  17. VK3YV
  18. VK3VIN
  19. VK4NH
  20. VK4DXA
  21. VK2LEE
  22. VK3ANL
  23. VK2MOE
  24. VK1MO
  25. VK3HJV
  26. VK2EXA
  27. VK4HMI
  28. VK2FALL
  29. VK3OHM
  30. VK3CEO
  31. VK3ARD
  32. VK7AN
  33. VK5HS
  34. VK3AEI

At the conclusion of the activation, I visited the Hindmarsh Falls, which are fed by the Hindmarsh River catchment area between Mt Cone and Spring Mount. (Victor Harbor 2022)

I left Hindmarsh Valley and headed towards home. I intended to activate on more park and a silo before reaching home. Despite it being a rather bleak day, I was still rewarded with some nice views of the Fleurieu as I made my way towards my next park.

References.

  1. National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia. (n.d.). Creating Hindmarsh Valley National Park. [online] Available at: https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/park-management/new-in-sa-national-parks/hindmarsh-valley. [Accessed 15 Jun 2025]
  2. ‌Victor Harbor. (2022). Hindmarsh Falls | Visit Victor Harbor. [online] Available at: https://visitvictorharbor.com/things-to-do/tours-and-attractions/hindmarsh-falls/ [Accessed 15 Jun. 2025].
  3. ‌Wikipedia. (2023). Fleurieu Peninsula. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleurieu_Peninsula.‌[Accessed 15 Jun 2025]
  4. Wikipedia Contributors (2022). Hindmarsh River. Wikipedia.‌

Spring Mount Conservation Park VKFF-0789

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My next activation for Monday 7th April 2025, was the Spring Mount Conservation Park VKFF-0789.

Above:- Map showing the location of Spring Mount Conservation Park. Map /o Google Maps.

I have activated Spring Mount several times previously. It is one of my favourite parks.

Mount Alma Road dissects the park. Springmount Road is the northern boundary of the park. There is a heritage agreement to the west of the park.

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

The park is about 279 hectares in size and mostly consists of Open Forest of Brown Stringybark and Messmate Stringybark with understorey plants including Myrtle Wattle, Beaked Hakea, and Yacca. Over 90 species of native birds have been recorded in the park, including Adelaide Rosella, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairywren, Crescent Honeyeater, Grey Shrikethrush, Grey Fantail, and Scarlet Robin.(Birdssa.asn.au, 2016)

The Spring Mount Conservation Park was formerly known as the Spring Mount Wild-life Reserve, proclaimed on the 3rd day of February 1966. On the 27th day of April 1972, the Wild-life Reserve was reconstituted as the Spring Mount Conservation Park. (Wikipedia 2025).

Above:- the SA Govt Gazette, Thu Feb 3, 1966.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK5MAZ
  2. VK4DNO
  3. VK3PF
  4. VK3KAI
  5. VK3DL
  6. VK5KLD
  7. VK5CZ
  8. VK5XE
  9. VK3IDM
  10. VK2EXA
  11. VK3APJ
  12. VK3SQ
  13. VK2BD
  14. VK3JT
  15. VK5LKJ
  16. VK3UH
  17. VK5HS
  18. VK3BEC

I worked the following station on 40m AM:-

  1. VK5MAZ

I worked the following stations on 40m FT8:-

  1. VK3UH
  2. VK3PF
  3. VK2IO
  4. VK2HMC
  5. VK5MAZ

I worked the following stations on 20m FT8:-

  1. VK3MOF
  2. YB2AYA
  3. VK3PF
  4. VK3SQ
  5. VK1AD
  6. VK3CEO
  7. 3D2AJT
  8. VK1NAM
  9. UA6XY
  10. ZL3YB
  11. VK1NS
  12. VK4EMP
  13. VK4TI
  14. UA6FM
  15. VK4GKO

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK2VW
  2. VK2HFI
  3. VK2AKA
  4. VK2BUG
  5. VK5MAZ
  6. VK1AD
  7. VK1NAM
  8. VK5CZ
  9. VK5XEVK1AO
  10. VK2MET
  11. VK3IDM

References.

  1. Birdssa.asn.au. (2016). Spring Mount Conservation Park – Birds SA. [online] Available at: https://birdssa.asn.au/location/spring-mount-conservation-park/ [Accessed 15 Jun. 2025].
  2. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Spring Mount Conservation Park. Wikipedia.‌

HEMA VK5/ HSE-042 (Myponga Hill)

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During April 2025, I had the pleasure of being able to use the special event callsign of VI100IARU to celebrate the centenary of the International Amateur Radio Union. I made a significant number of QSOs from home, so I decided to head out into the field with the call and do a bit of portable work.

Screenshot

On Monday 7th April 2025, I activated HEMA summit VK5/ HSE-042, near Myponga on the Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of HEMA summit VK5/ HSE-042. Map c/o Google Maps.

What is HEMA? HEMA is the acronym for HuMPs Excluding Marilyns Award. A HuMP is a summit which has at least 100 metres of prominence. A Marilyn is a summit that has 150 metres of prominence. The HEMA program commenced in the British Isles. (Hema.org.uk, 2024)

I have activated this summit previously back in May 2021. It was my very first HEMA activation.

As I drove along Pages Flat Road towards Myponga, I could see the summit off in the distance with its communications towers atop it.

The summit is located at the end of Trig Point Road. It is easily accessible. The summit is 442 metres above sea level and has 148 metres of prominence. This means that it falls short of qualifying for the Summits On The Air (SOTA) program by just 2 metres. (Hema.org.uk, 2024)

The summit is referred to as Trig Point on the HEMA website, but it is also known as Myponga Hill on several communication tower sites.

Above:- An aerial view of the summit. Image c/o Google Maps.

There are towers with communication equipment on top of the summit, but they do not cause any RF interference.

There is a trig point on the summit which has seen better days.

And despite it being a rather cold and windy day, there were some fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. The Yulte Conservation Park VKFF-1128 is clearly visible from the summit, as is the town of Myponga. Myponga is derived from an Aboriginal word, maippunga, meaning divorced wife or high cliffs. You can also see another HEMA summit, Heatherdale Hill HSE-009 (readOctober 11 and comments )

As this was an easy drive-up summit, I had the luxury of my fold-up table and deck chair. I set up on the side of the road just down from the trig point. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

During my activation, I had one of the local farmers curiously ask me what I was doing. I stopped to explain the hobby of amateur radio. He was very interested.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

  1. VK5MAZ
  2. VK3HBG
  3. VK5FANA
  4. VK5IS
  5. VK3CJN
  6. VK3QHU

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

  1. VK5MAZ
  2. VK5ATQ

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

  1. VK5MAZ
  2. VK4IJP
  3. VK3PF
  4. VK1AO
  5. VK5HK

I worked the following stations on 20m FT8:-

  1. VK5MAZ
  2. VK4HDW
  3. YC8PAD
  4. VK2IO
  5. VK1AO
  6. VK3LV
  7. VK3JV

I worked the following stations on 40m FT8:-

  1. VK5MAZ
  2. VK1AO
  3. VK3PF
  4. VK5CZ
  5. VK2IO
  6. VK4AEF

References.

  1. Hema.org.uk. (2024). The HEMA Website. [online] Available at: http://www.hema.org.uk/. [Accessed 15 Jun 2025]‌
  2. readOctober 11, N.D. 18 min and comments )`; }); });, 2013-10:30PM/* global newscorpau */ fetch then then innerHTML = `${data} comments`; document querySelector innerHTML += ` (2013). The meanings of SA’s town names. [online] adelaidenow. Available at: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle/sa-lifestyle/the-az-of-the-meanings-of-south-australia8217s-town-names/news-story/eb38a61ae5809e40516b0b207a09a61b. [Accessed 15 Jun 2025]‌‌