Our fourth park for Saturday 3rd August 2019 was the Nhill Swamp Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2412.  The park is located on the southern side of the town of Nhill in western Victoria, about 376 km north-west of the city of Melbourne.

This was to be the first time that the park had been activated for WWFF/VKFF.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Nhill Swamp Wildlife Reserve.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

After leaving Boyeo we travelled south-east on the Nhill-Yanac Road and soon reached the town of Nhill.  “Nhill” is believed to be a Wergaia aboriginal word meaning “early morning mist rising over water” or “white mist rising from the water”.

Marija and I initially headed to the northwestern part of the park just to the rear of the Jaypex park.  There are a few interesting things to see here including the John Shaw Neilson memorial cottage.  This was the birthplace of the lyric poet, John Shaw Neilson (1872-1942).  He was largely untrained and only had a basic education, but became one of Australia’s finest lyric poets.  The cottage was relocated from Penola in South Australia to Nhill.

Above:- John Shaw Neilson memorial cottage

There is also an aboriginal scar tree.  The tree was removed from the Western Highway at the Jerparit junction.  The bark was removed from the trunk of the tree in about 1800 for use as a canoe.

There is also an information board about the endangered Malleefowl which can be found in parks in western Victoria.

There are a number of information boards here about the park and a boardwalk which takes you through the swamp.

The boardwalk was originally constructed in 1996, but was closed in 2012 due to public safety concerns.  To their credit, the Nhill community rallied to rebuild the boardwalk.  A Boardwalk Committee was formed to advocate for a community-led refurbishment.  Following two years of fundraising by the Rotary Club Nhill and the Lowan Lodge of Freemasons Nhill, the prospect of a new boardwalk was in sight.  Remaining funds were secured with generous contributions from Freemasons Victoria, the Victorian Government and Parks Victoria.  Refurbishment works commenced in 2014 and works were completed in June 2015.

Adjacent to the park is Nhill Lake.  This was the site of a traditional aboriginal Corroboree Ground where aboriginal people would meet and perform ceremonies, consisting of traditional songs, dances, weddings, trading and celebrations.  A meeting between aboriginal people and the first squatters Dugald Macpherson and George Belcher took place here on 4th January 1845.

Macpherson and Belcher understood from their meeting with the local aboriginal people that the place was called ‘nhill’, a Wergaia aboriginal word meaning the abode of the spirits.  The aboriginal people believed that the mist rising from the waters early in the morning were the spirits of their ancestors.

In 1879 brothers Frank and John Oliver obtained a licence to build a flour mill on a 3-acre site around the northwestern edge of the swamp.  Within months land was surveyed for the township of Nhill.  With its water for horses, on the inland route from Adelaide to Melbourne, Nhill earned its place as a stop on the Cobb and Co coach route.

During our visit to the park, it was alive with birdlife.  I took the photographs below of a pair of Red-rumped Parrots and an Australian Owlet Nightjar, the smallest of the nocturnal birds found in Australia.

Marija and I decided to drive around to the southern side of the park on the Nhill-Harrow Road, opposite the Nhill racecourse.  The park is signposted here and we found a 4WD track which led right into the park.

We drove a short distance down the track and set up.  We ran the Yaesu FT-857d and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

Above:- An aerial shot of the park showing our operating spot.  Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

I called CQ on 7.144 which was answered very quickly by Grant VK2LX with his usual big signal and great audio, followed by Scott VK4CZ with an equally big signal, and then regular park hunter John VK4TJ.  It took me just 4 minutes to qualify the park for VKFF, with contact number ten being with Ray VK4DXA.  One of those callers was Max IK1GPG in Italy who was 5/7 and gave me a 5/5 signal report into Europe.

As we were running short of time Marija and I decided that I would push through and get my 44 contacts to qualify the park for the global WWFF program, and Marija would then come on air to get her 10 for VKFF.  Just 45 minutes into the activation and I had my 44th QSO in the log, a contact with Danny VK2ARO.

I had made contacts into VK1, VK2, VK4, VK7, VK8, New Zealand, Italy and the Canary Islands.  I was very happy to log Juan EA8YT in Tenerife in the Canary Islands off the north-western coast of Africa.  What was noticeable was the lack of VK3’s and VK5’s in the log due to the lack of close-in propagation.

Marija then jumped onto the mic and also very quickly qualified the park for VKFF.  Her first contact was with Jim VK2FADV, followed by Adam VK2YK, and then Fred VK4FE.  Contact number ten was with Ray VK4NH.

Marija logged a total of 18 stations from VK2, VK4, and VK7, before I jumped back into the operator’s chair and called CQ on 3.615.  Conditions were excellent on 80m into VK3 and VK5, with a total of 15 stations logged.

It was just after 5.30 p.m. local time and we hoped to squeeze in one more park, and still had to get back to Bordertown, so we packed up and hit the road.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2FADV
2. VK2YK
3. VK4FE
4. VK4GJW
5. VK4SYD
6. VK7PAL
7. VK4SMA
8. VK4FDJL
9. VK2LX
10. VK4NH
11. VK4DXA
12. ZL4TY/VK4
13. VK4MWB
14. VK4FARR
15. VK7ZTA
16. VK4CZ
17. VK4PHD
18. VK2SLB

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2LX
2. VK4CZ
3. VK4TJ
4. VK4/AC8WN
5. VK4/VE6XT
6. VK2VW
7. IK1GPG
8. VK2BY
9. VK4NH
10. VK4DXA
11. ZL4TY/VK4
12. VK4MWB
13. VK2TM
14. VK2LEE
15. VK2YK
16. VK4SMA
17. VK2PKT
18. ZL1TM
19. VK4HNS
20. VK1MA
21. VK4RG
22. VK4RF
23. VK4HA
24. VK4FDJL/8
25. EA8YT
26. VK4PDX
27. VK2BAI
28. VK2JXA
29. VK2SLB
30. VK4FARR
31. VK7PAL
32. VK2QK
33. VK7ZTA
34. VK7AN
35. VK4MGL
36. VK2OWD
37. VK1AT
38. VK4FE
39. VK2CDS/p
40. VK2PV
41. VK4SYD
42. VK2RSB
43. VK4GJW
44. VK2ARO
45. VK2QM

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5BJE
2. VK3SQ
3. VK3ANL
4. VK3PF
5. Vk5YX
6. VK5FANA
7. VK2LEE
8. VK5PL
9. VK2CDS/p
10. VK5KLV
11. VK5AYL
12. VK4CZ
13. VK5LA
14. VK3MH/2
15. VK3MPR

References.

Monuments Australia, 2019, <http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/arts/display/32925-john-shaw-neilson>, viewed 6th August 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nhill>, viewed 6th August 2019

Our third park for the day was the Boyeo Flora Reserve VKFF-2275, which is located about 14 km north-west of the town of Nhill in western Victoria.  Again this was to be a first-time activation of this park.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Boyeo Flora Reserve in western Victoria.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

After leaving Red Gum Swamp we travelled east on Broughton Road and then turned right onto the Nhill-Yanac Road and travelled south.  We soon reached the park which is located at the intersection of the Nhill-Yanac Road and McDonalds Road.  The park is well signposted.

The park is a small piece of remnant bushland surrounded by cleared land for farming.  I have been unable to find out very much about this park on the internet.

Close by to the park is the Boyeo Hall.  In the adjacent grounds are a number of plaques commemorating pioneers of the district.

Little remains in the area nowadays.  The Boyeo school opened in February 1884 in a temporary building on a 2-acre site.  In 1885 a timber schoolroom was erected with a 4 room residence attached.  The school closed in 1944.  The ruins can be located north of the Boyeo Flora Reserve, near the Boyeo Swamp Wildlife Reserve.

Above:- The Boyeo school in the late 1880s.  Image courtesy of ‘Wimmera Way back When’.

We parked the 4WD on McDonalds Road and set up on the northwestern side of the road in a clearing in the scrub.

Above:- Aerial shot of the Boyeo Flora Reserve showing our operating spot.  Image courtesy of Google maps

First in the log for this activation was Mark VK4SMA/p who was calling CQ on 7.140 from the Ravensbourne National Park VKFF-0427.  Mark kindly handed the frequency over to us and I started calling CQ.  This was answered by regular par hunter Rick VK4RF, followed by Peter VK3PF, and then Andrei ZL1TM.

Two QSOs later both Marija and I logged Gerard VK2IO/5 who was activating SOTA St Marys Peak VK5/ NE-001 in the Flinders Ranges National Park VKFF-0427.  St Marys Peak is the highest point in the Flinders Ranges at 1,189 metres (3,901 feet).

It took me just 4 minutes to get my 10 contacts to qualify the park for VKFF.  Contact number ten was with John VK4TJ using his Canadian call.

After logging John I swapped the operator’s chair with Marija who started calling CQ on 7.140.  This was answered by Grant VK2LX, followed by Keith Vk2PKT and then David VK2CDS/p.  It took Marija just 8 minutes to reach the 10 QSO threshold.   Contact number ten was a QSO with Ian VK5CZ who has just started to become involved in the WWFF/VKFF program/s.

Marija went on to log a total of 20 stations from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7.

I had ten QSOs in the log and a long way away from the 44 required to qualify the park for the global WWFF program.  Marija placed a fresh spot for me on parksnpeaks and I got stuck into calling CQ.  Lee VK2LEE responded to my call, followed by Grant VK2LX, and Scott VK4CZ who was very strong.

I logged a total of 30 stations on 40m before callers dried up.  I then headed down to 3.615 on the 80m band and called CQ, logging a total of 9 stations from VK3, VK5, & VK7.

I was now just 6 contacts short of 44, and I decided to try the 20m band.  After a fresh spot on parksnpeaks, I called CQ on 14.310.  Anthony VK6MAC came back to my call with a good 5/7 signal, followed by Hans VK6XN who was also 5/7.  Unfortunately, they were my only callers.

I moved back to 7.140 and called CQ which was answered by Brendon VK3MH who was mobile in VK2, followed by Ron VK2ABK, and then Glen VK4FSCC mobile.  But that was it, with no more takers.  I was one short of 44.  I had seen a post on Facebook from David VK5PL asking if I could go back to 80m which I did.  I logged David for my 44th contact.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4SMA/p (Ravensbourne National Park VKFF-0427)
2. VK2IO/5 (St Marys Peak VK5/ NE-001 & Flinders Ranges National Park VKFF-0176)
3. VK2LX
4. VK2PKT
5. VK2CDS/p
6. VK2FSAV
7. VK4NH
8. VK4DXA
9. ZL4TY/VK4
10. VK5CZ
11. VK7OT
12. VK4RF
13. VK4HA
14. VK7FJFD
15. VK5KLV
16. VK3PF
17. VK2LEE
18. VK4TJ
19. VK4/AC8WN
20. VK4/VE6XT

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4SMA/p (Ravensbourne National Park VKFF-0427)
2. VK4RF
3. VK4HA
4. VK3PF
5. ZL1TM
6. VK5AR/m
7. VK2IO/5 (St Marys Peak VK5/ NE-001 & Flinders Ranges National Park VKFF-0176)
8. VK4TJ
9. VK4/AC8WN
10. VK4/VE6XT
11. VK2LEE
12. VK2LX
13. VK4CZ
14. VK1MA
15. VK7OT
16. VK2AB
17. VK7FJFD
18. VK2VW
19. VK7KW
20. VK4FARR
21. VK2PKT
22. VK4BR
23. VK5KLV
24. VK3SQ
25. VK2NJP
26. VK3DMP
27. VK4IY/m
28. VK4MWB
29. VK7EE
30. VK7ME
31. VK3MH/2
32. VK2ABK
33. VK4FSCC/m

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK3GV
4. VK7EE
5. VK3SQ
6. VK5FANA
7. VK5BJE
8. VK7ME
9. VK5PL

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK6MAC
2. VK6XN

References.

Wimmera Way Back When, 2019, <http://wimmera-w-b-w.blogspot.com/search/label/Boyeo>, viewed 6th August 2019

Our second park for Saturday 3rd August 2019 was the Red Gum Swamp (Yanac) Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2427.  The park is located about 31 km north of the town of Kaniva in western Victoria.  This was to be another first time activation.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Red Gum Swamp (Yanac) Wildlife Reserve in western Victoria.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

After leaving Miramparim, Marija and I headed north on Broughton Road until we reached the junction with Block 40 Road.  Broughton Road makes a sharp right turn here.  A few hundred metres up the road we turned into an access track which leads to the park and runs in between two paddocks.

Above:- Access track to the park from Broughton Road.

We soon reached the southwestern corner of the park which was well signposted.

The Red Gum Swamp (Yanac) Wildlife Reserve is about 220 acres in size.  It takes its name from the small town and area of Yanac which was named after the Yanac-a-Yanac pastoral run which was established in 1846).  The run had a homestead near the Yanac swamp which is about 4 km south-east of the village.  This swamp is not to be confused with the Red Gum Swamp.  It is believed that the name was derived from an Aboriginal expression describing bats flying at night.

Further European settlement commenced in the Yanac district during the late 1870s.  In 1880 a school was opened at Yanac South.   In 1887 a Methodist church was built and in 1905 a Lutheran church was opened.  In 1912 the railway arrived in Yanac.  By the late 1880s, the Yanac School had opened in the methodist church and a blacksmith was established.

Above:- The Yanac railway station, c. 1940s.  Image courtesy of ‘Wimmera Way Back When’.

Due to the establishment of the railway, Yanac became a minor local centre, with football, tennis and rifle clubs.  In 1921 a public hall was built.  The Yanac general store remained open until about 1998.   In addition to the store, post office and silos, Yanac has a recreation reserve, a hall, a Uniting church.  The 1990s saw several closures in Yanac including the school (1993), the Lutheran church (1995) and the Salvation Army Hall (1998).

We set up on the western side of the park.  We found a gate, however, it was locked, so we climbed over the fence and set up just inside the boundary fence.  Again for this activation, we ran the Yaesu FT-857d and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

Above:- An aerial view of the park showing our operating spot.  Image courtesy of Google maps

Prior to calling CQ we tuned across the band and found Mark VK4SMA/p calling CQ from the Lockyer National Park VKFF-0719.  After logging Mark I moved down the band to 7.139 and started calling CQ.  Cliff VK2NP was the first to come back to my call, followed by John VK4TJ and then Jim VK1AT.

It didn’t take me long, just 6 minutes, and I had contact number ten in the log, a contact with Gerard VK2IO/5 who was activating SOTA peak St Marys Peak VK5/ NE-001 in the Flinders Ranges National Park VKFF-0176.  Mary also took the opportunity of logging the SOTA summit and Park to Park with Gerard.

I logged a further 6 six stations from VK2. VK3, VK4, and VK7, before swapping the mic with Marija.  This included another Park to Park, with Adam VK2YK/p who was activating the Hunter Wetlands National Park VKFF-0595.

Having lowered the power down to 10 watts for Marija to work Adam VK2YK/p, we decided it was a good opportunity for Marija to stay in the operator’s chair and get her ten contacts to qualify the park for VKFF.

Marija called CQ which was answered by a number of the park regulars, Lee VK2LEE, Peter VK3PF, and then Ray VK4NH.  Shortly thereafter, Marija had ten contacts in the log with a QSO with Mark VK4SMA/p in the Lockyer National Park VKFF-0719.

Happy with having qualified the park for VKFF, we again swapped the mic.

I called CQ again on 7.139 which was answered by Brett VK2VW.  It was once again clear that there was very little if any, propagation around Victoria and back into South Australia on 40m.  So with 29 contacts in the log, I headed off to the 80m band.

Marija placed a spot up for me on parksnpeaks and I called CQ on 3.610.  John Vk5BJE came back to my call with a good strong 5/9 signal from the Adelaide Hills, followed by Ken VK2KYO, and then Adrian VK5FANA.

We were cognizant of time and wanted to fit in as many parks during the day as possible, so my thanks go out to John VK5NJ and Peter VK3PF who gave me some of their other calls to go towards my tally of 44.  I also logged Gerard VK2IO/5 for a second band from St Marys Peak VK5/ NE-001 & Flinders Ranges National Park VKFF-0176.

I was now just 1 QSO away from the magical 44 and I moved to the 20m band.  I called CQ on 14.310 and this was answered by Rick VK4RF, followed by Ray VK4NH and then Andrei ZL1TM.

We had both qualified the park for VKFF and I had qualified the park for WWFF.  With a total of 59 QSOs in the log including 7 Park to Park contacts, it was time to pack up and head off to our next park.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/5 (SOTA St Marys Peak VK5/ NE-001 & Flinders Ranges National Park VKFF-0176)
2. VK2YK/p (Hunter Wetlands National Park VKFF-0595)
3. VK2LEE
4. VK3PF
5. VK4NH
6. VK4DXA
7. ZL4TY/VK4
8. VK7OT
9. VK2JXA
10. VK4SMA/p (Lockyer National Park VKFF-0719 VKFF-0719)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4SMA/p (Lockyer National Park VKFF-0719)
2. VK2NP
3. VK4TJ
4. VK4/Ac8WN
5. VK4/VE6XT
6. VK1AT
7. VK2HRX
8. VK2PKT
9. VK2LEE
10. VK2IO/5 (SOTA St Marys Peak VK5/ NE-001 & Flinders Ranges National Park VKFF-0176)
11. VK3PF
12. VK4NH
13. VK4DXA
14. ZL4TY/VK4
15. VK7OT
16. VK2YK/p (Hunter Wetlands National Park VKFF-0595)
17. VK2VW
18. VK2AD
19. VK2IK/m
20. VK7ME
21. VK3MH/2
22. VK2SLB
23. VK5KLV
24. VK2FALL
25. VK7DW
26. VK7AN
27. VK2ARZ
28. VK2RU/4
29. VK2QA
30. VK4FARR

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5BJE
2. VK2KYO
3. VK5FANA
4. VK5PL
5. VK3PF
6. VK5LEX
7. VK5CZ
8. VK5NJ
9. VK5JN
10. VK5/ZL1NJ
11. VK3KAI
12. VK3GV
13. VK2IO/5 (SOTA St Marys Peak VK5/ NE-001 & Flinders Ranges National Park VKFF-0176)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4RF
2. VK4HA
3. VK4NH
4. VK4DXA
5. ZL4TY/VK4
6. ZL1TM

References.

Victorian Place Names, 2019, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/yanac>, viewed 5th August 2019

Our first park for our weekend away was the Mirampiram Flora Reserve VKFF-2387, which is located about 17 km (by road) north of the town of Kaniva in western Victoria.  This was the first time that the park had been activated.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Mirampiram Flora Reserve VKFF-2387 in western Victoria.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

Marija and I left home on Saturday morning (3rd August 2019) bright and early.  We were on the road by just after 6.00 a.m.  We had a 313 km drive ahead of us before reaching Mirampiram.  Our first stop for the day was at Coonalpyn where we filled up with some hot coffee and a bacon & egg sandwich at the Silo Cafe.  We then continued east along the Dukes Highway and soon reached the South Australian/Victorian State border.

The Mirampiram Flora Reserve takes its name from the locality of Mirampiram or Miram-Piram in the County of Lowan in western Victoria.  The park is not to be confused with the Mirammpiram Bushland Reserves which are four separate reserves located to the north and south of the Flora Reserve.

Above:- An aerial view of the Mirampiran Flora Reserve, looking east.  Image courtesy of Google maps.

The tiny town of Miram which is located on the Adelaide-Melbourne railway line, about 10 km northeast of Kaniva was named after the locality of mripiram later expressed as Miram Piram.  It was shortened to Miram in 1904.  Miram is an Aboriginal word for the bough of a tree.

European settlement commenced in the area during the 1870s.  In 1884 a school was opened.  In 1887 the railway from Dimboola to Serviceton was extended and this resulted in the expansion of the district’s farming activity.  Prior to this the district’s wheat crops were carried to Dimboola or South Australia by road wagons.

In 1888 Miram’s first store was opened by George Coles (1833-1866).  His son, Sir George James Coles, was the founder of the national variety stores chain, G.J. Coles and Company.   In April 1903 the Miram store was acquired by Philip Wheaton.  It was operated by the Wheaton family up until 2000.

The store was more than a grocery store.  It also stocked drapery, footwear, millinery, glassware, menswear, timber, hardware, iron, motor oils, and even wireless receivers.   It provided an electricity supply for the town and a permanent water supply.  Fresh eggs were sold from the Wheaton’s poultry farm, fresh milk from their Friesian dairy herd, cream & butter, and a meat supply from their beef herd.  The store also served as a Post Office.

George Coles. Image courtesy of ‘Wimmera Way back when’

The old store at Miram. Image courtesy of ‘Wimmera Way back when’

In 1890 an Anglican church was opened in Miram, with the Wheaton family running a Methodist Sunday school for nearly 50 years.  In 1914, a public hall was built and in 1939 silos were built near the railway station.  The 1950s started to see the demise of Miram.  In 1952 the Miram school was closed with children being bussed to the Kaniva Consolidated School.  In 1960 the Anglican church close, followed by the Methodist church in 1964.

On some maps the park may show as the Mirampiram Nature Conservation Reserve.  It is located on Sandsmere Hall Road, a few hundred metres east of the Broughton Road intersection.  The park is a small piece of remnant scrub which is surrounded by cleared farming land.

Above:- Cleared farming land on the southern side of the park.

The park contains Jumping-jack wattle which is only found in the southern part of mainland Australia, with patchy distribution in the Wimmera area of western Victoria and some adjacent areas of South Australia.

Although the park is only small, it was alive with birdlife during our visit.  Whilst Marija was on air I snuck away for a walk through the park and took some photographs of birds observed in the park.

Marija and I travelled east on Sandsmere Hall Road and soon reached the park, which is not signposted.  We parked near the eastern boundary of the park and set up in the southeastern corner of the park.

We ran the Yaesu FT-857d and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.  I ran 30 watts output, whilst Marija ran her 10 watts PEP abiding with her Foundation licence conditions.

Above:- Aerial view of the Mirampiram Flora Reserve showing my operating spot.  Image courtesy of Google maps

We were set up and ready to go by just after the UTC rollover.  It was around 10.00 a.m. Victorian local time.  After turning on the transceiver we found Ian VK1DI/2 on 7.144 calling CQ from the Sappa Bulga National Park VKFF-1180.  Marija and I both logged Ian for a Park to Park contact.

I then moved down the band to 7.139 and Marija placed a spot up for me on parksnpeaks whilst I started calling CQ.  John VK7FJFD came back to my CQ call, followed by some of the park regulars Adam VK2YK, and Rick VK4RF.  Within about 12 minutes I had qualified the park for VKFF, with contact number ten being with John VK4TJ using his Canadian callsign.  I logged a further 4 stations before swapping the mic with Marija.

Marija started calling CQ on 7.139.  Rick VK4RF was the first to come back to her CQ call, followed by Lee VK2LEE, John VK4TJ, and then Adam VK2YK.  It only took Marija about 7 minutes to get ten contacts in the log, thus qualifying the park for VKFF.  Contact number ten was with Terry VK2MTJ.

Marija went on to work 14 stations from VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK7.  It was clear that there was no obvious propagation into South Australia on 40m from our spot in western Victoria.  And our only Victorian contact was a local VK3 station.

I jumped back into the operator’s chair and called CQ again on 7.139.  It was hard going as there was no real propagation to VK3 and VK5.  I logged a further 9 stations from VK1, VK2, and VK4.  The biggest signal logged was Tex VK1TX in Canberra with a big 5/9 plus signal.

Marija and I then lowered the squid pole and inserted the links for 80m and headed for 3.610 hoping to get some VK3 and VK5 stations in the log.  Marija spotted me on parksnpeaks and I started calling CQ on 3.610.  John VK5BJE in the Adelaide Hills came back to my call, followed by Peter VK3PF, and David VK5PL.  All signals were strength 9.  Although the 80m band was again proving to be very reliable, I only had 7 callers.

I then moved to the 20m band and started calling CQ on 14.310, competing at times with the Over the Horizon Radar which was strength 9 plus when it came on.  First in the log on 20m was Rob VK4SYD/p who was activating the North Pine Dam Nature Refuge VKFF-2876.

I now had 32 contacts in the log and required another 12 contacts to qualify the park for the global WWFF program.  I headed back to 40m and worked Mark VK4SMA/p on 7.144 who was in the Lockyer National Park VKFF-0719.  This was followed by Andrew VK1DA/2 and Wade VK1MIC/2 who were activating SOTA summit VK2/ SW-027.  Marija also logged Andrew and Wade.

Two QSOs later I was called by Rob VK4SYD/p in the North Pine Dam Nature Refuge VKFF-2876 for a second band.  Marija also worked Rob.

It didn’t take me long and I soon had contact number 44 in the log, a QSO with Ray VK4NH.  I logged a total of 52 contacts before callers dried up.  It was now just after 11.30 a.m. local time and it was time for us to pack up anyway and head off to our next park.

Between us, Marija and I had logged 71 stations including 7 Park to Park contacts.  It ahd been a good start to our trip.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK1DI/2 (Sappa Bulga National Park VKFF-1180)
2. VK4RF
3. VK4HA
4. VK2LEE
5. VK4TJ
6. VK4/AC8WN
7. VK4/VE6XT
8. VK2YK
9. VK3LY
10. VK2MTJ
11. VK7FJFD
12. VK7EE
13. VK2VW
14. VK4HNS
15. VK2FAMG/p
16. VK4SMA/p (Lockyer National Park VKFF-0719)
17. VK1DA/2 (SOTA VK2/ SW-027)
18. VK1MIC/2 (SOTA VK2/ SW-027)
19. VK4SYD/p (North Pine Dam Nature Refuge VKFF-2876)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK1DI/2 (Sappa Bulga National Park VKFF-1180)
2. VK7FJFD
3. VK2YK
4. VK4RF
5. VK4HA
6. VK2NN
7. VK2FRKO
8. VK4TJ
9. VK4/AC8WN
10. VK4/VE6XT
11. VK4FARR
12. VK2LEE
13. VK2PKT
14. VK5NJ
15. VK2VW
16. VK4HNS
17. VK3FORD/4
18. VK1TX
19. VK7FRJG
20. VK3PF
21. VK2AX
22. VK2KEL
23. VK2LX
24. VK4SMA/p (Lockyer National Park VKFF-0719)
25. VK1DA/2 (SOTA VK2/ SW-027)
26. VK1MIC/2 (SOTA VK2/ SW-027)
27. VK2NJP
28. VK4SYD/p (North Pine Dam Nature Refuge VKFF-2876)
29. VK2HRX
30. VK2SLB
31. VK2RU/4
32. VK4QA
33. VK7OR
34. VK2GIB
35. VK4NH
36. VK4DXA
37. ZL4TY/VK4
38. VK7OT
39. VK7VZ
40. VK1AT
41. VK4HAT
42. VK4CZ
43. VK3MH/2

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5BJE
2. VK3PF
3. VK5PL
4. VK3OCD
5. VK3LPG
6. VK3MCK
7. VK5FANA

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4SYD/p (North Pine Dam Nature Refuge VKFF-2876)
2. VK6MMB

References.

State Wide Integrated Flora and Fauna Teams, 2019, <https://www.swifft.net.au/cb_pages/sp_jumping-jack_wattle.php>, viewed 5th August 2019

Victorian Place Names, 2019, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/miram>, viewed 5th August 2019

Wimmera Way back when, 2019, <http://wimmera-w-b-w.blogspot.com/2014/02/in-beginning-gj-coles.html>, viewed 5th August 2019

Yesterday (Wednesday 31st July 2019) was World Ranger Day which commemorates Rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and celebrates the critical work Rangers do to protect the world’s natural and cultural treasures.  World Ranger Day is observed annually on the 31st of July.

The VKFF program has a special activator certificate on offer for any amateur who activated a VKFF reference on World Ranger Day.

My digging around shows that a total of 23 amateurs took part as Activators.  A total of 29 different parks were activated.

1. Andrew VK1DA
   • Red Hill Nature Reserve VKFF-0860
2. Ian VK1DI/2
   • New England National Park VKFF-0385
   • Oxley Wild Rivers National Park VKFF-0406
3. Gerard VK2IO/5
   • Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation ParkVKFF-1114
   • Lake Eyre National Park VKFF-0276
4. Ken VK2KYO
   • Murray Valley Regional Park VKFF-1785
5. Brett VK3FLCS
   • Lerderderg State Park VKFF-0763
6. Mark VK3PI
   • Heathcote-Graytown National Park VKFF-0624
7. Peter VK3PF
   • Tarra Bulga National Park VKFF-0480
   • Traralgon South Flora Reserve VKFF-2465
   • Traralgon South Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2464
   • Callignee Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2287
   • Gormandale Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2325
8. Peter VK3TKK
   • The Spit Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2452
9. Rob VK4AAC/3
   • Dandenong Ranges National Park VKFF-0132
10. Neil VK4HNS
    • Tamborine National Park VKFF-0475
11. Grant VK4JAZ
    • Pooh Corner Nature Reserve VKFF-2878
12. Steve VK4JSS
    • Daisy Hill Conservation Park VKFF-1525
13. Ade VK4SOE
    • Sundown National Park VKFF-0471
14. John VK5BJE
    • Mylor Conservation Park VKFF-0785
15. Adrian VK5FANA
    • Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park VKFF-1755
16. Marija VK5FMAZ
    • Mount George Conservation Park VKFF-0784
17. Keith VK5OQ/3
    • Alpine National Park VKFF-0619
18. Paul VK5PAS
    • Mount George Conservation Park VKFF-0784
19. Peter VK5PET
    • Tolderol Game Reserve VKFF-1752
20. Mike VK6MB/3
    • Wychitella Conservation Reserve VKFF-2032
    • Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2236
21. Phil VK6ADF
    • Burma Road Nature Reserve VKFF-2800
22. Hans VK6XN
    • Stinton Cascades Nature Reserve VKFF-2940
23. Angela VK7FAMP
    • South Arm Nature Recreation Area VKFF-2929

THANKS to everyone who took part.  It certainly turned out to be a very popular day.  The VKFF program will be running similar activation days on future special dates.

Remember, if you activated a park, and would like a special 2019 World Ranger Day certificate, please drop me a quick email at…..vk5pas@wia.org.au

Yesterday (Wednesday 31st July 2019) was World Ranger Day, and after finishing work a little earlier, I headed out to one of my local parks, the Mount George Conservation Park 5CP-147 & VKFF-0784.

I have activated and qualified this park many times over.  However, it was close to home and handy, as I did not finish work until after 3.00 p.m. local time.

Mount George is located about 26 km east of Adelaide in the Mount Lofty Ranges ‘Adelaide Hills’.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Mount George Conservation Park.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

World Ranger Day is observed annually on the 31st day of July and commemorates Rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and celebrates the critical work Rangers do to protect the worlds natural and cultural treasures.

Believe it or not, about 149 rangers were lost in 2019 alone.  Amazing.

Below are a few videos on World Ranger Day.

The Mount George Conservation Park is located on the northern side of the busy South Eastern Freeway.  The park was proclaimed on the 7th November 1996 and conserves 85 hectares of important native vegetation in the Mount Lofty Ranges ‘Adelaide Hills’.  The park was originally 67 hectares in size before the boundaries were extended in 2003, adding a further 18 hectares.

The park is characterised by steep slopes adorned with Stringybark Open Forest.  The State endangered Mountain Gum can be found in the park.  The park also contains creeks, wetlands, and freshwater bogs.  The Mount George summit, 520 metres, is located within the park.  Sadly it does not have the required prominence for the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program.

I set up in the picnic ground area at the end of Mount George Road.  I used one of the wooden tables and benches and stretched out the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

My only gripe with this location is the fact that people visit this part of the park with their dogs which run amok, piddling and pooing and running off-leash.  Dogs are permitted in this section of the park, but they are required to be kept on a lead.  I have never seen this occur and have never seen it policed.

And this activation did not disappoint.  I had one dog piddle on my squid pole and my battery, with the owner hardly blinking an eye.

Above:- An aerial shot of the Mount George Conservation Park showing my operating spot.  Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

I was set up and ready to go by about 0610 UTC (3.40 p.m. local time).  First in the log was Ade VK4SOE/p in the Sundown National Park VKFF-0471.

I logged a total of 35 stations on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, VK7, and New Zealand.  This included the following Park to Park contacts:-

• Ade VK4SOE/p (Sundown National Park VKFF-0471)
• Peter VK3PF/p (Callignee Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2287)
• Rob VK4AAC/3 (Dandenong Ranges National Park VKFF-0132)
• Rob VK2VH/3 (Dandenong Ranges National Park VKFF-0132)
• Gerard VK2IO/5 (Lake Eyre National Park VKFF-0276)
• Brett VK3FLCS/p (Lerderderg State Park VKFF-0763)
• Steve VK4JSS/p (Daisy Hill Conservation Park VKFF-1525)

This was Steve VK4JSS first ever park activation.  It was great to get Steve in the log Park to Park.

I then moved to 20m where I logged Hans VK6XN who was activating the Stinton Cascades Nature Reserve VKFF-2940.  This was followed by Rick VK5VCR who was quite low down but very readable and then Peter VK6RZ.

I then moved down to the 80m band where I logged 12 stations including the following Park to Park contacts:-

• Brett VK3FLCS/p (Lerderderg State Park VKFF-0763)
• Adrian VK5FANA/p (Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park VKFF-1755)
• Mike VK6MB/3 (Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2236)
• Peter VK3PF/p (Gormandale Flora Reserve VKFF-2325)

I then moved back to 40m where I logged Hans VK6XN/p in the Stinton Cascades Nature Reserve VKFF-2940 for a second band, and then Brett VK2VW

It was now around 5.15 p.m. and my wife Marija VK5FMAZ arrived at the park.  Marija’s first contact was with Brett VK2VW, followed by Hans VK6XN/p in the Stinton Cascades Nature Reserve VKFF-2940.

Marija logged 10 stations on 40m from VK2, VK4, VK5, VK6 and VK7 before callers dried up.  It was late afternoon and the 40m band had fallen out to Victoria.

We then moved back down to the 80m band where Marija logged 9 stations including a Park to Park with Mike VK6MB/3 in the Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2236.

It was now freezing cold.  The temperature had dropped to about 3 deg C and the local time was about 6.30 p.m.  We packed up and were about to drive out of the park when I found Andrew VK1DA calling CQ on 7.144 from the Red Hill Nature Reserve VKFF-0860.  After we logged Andrew, he was called by Phil VK6ADF/p who was in the Burma Road Nature Reserve VKFF-2800.  Andrew kindly allowed Marija and I to log Phil Park to Park.

Together we made a total of 86 QSOs on 20, 40, & 80m SSB. This included 19 Park to Park QSOs.

Thanks to everyone who called us and thanks to all of the activators who took part in the 2019 World Ranger Day activation event.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2VW
2. VK6XN/p (Stinton Cascades Nature Reserve VKFF-2940)
3. VK2YK
4. VK7OTC
5. VK6GLX
6. VK4SMA
7. VK5BJE
8. VK4TJ
9. VK4/AC8WN
10. VK4/VE6XT
11. VK1DA/p (Red Hill Nature Reserve VKFF-0860)
12. VK6ADF/p (Burma Road Nature Reserve VKFF-2800)

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5BJE
2. VK5FANA
3. VK5LA
4. VK3SQ
5. VK3NBL
6. VK5VCR
7. VK5SFA
8. VK6MB/3 (Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2236)
9. VK2YK

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4SOE/p (Sundown National Park VKFF-0471)
2. VK3PF/p (Callignee Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2287)
3. VK4AAC/3 (Dandenong Ranges National Park VKFF-0132)
4. VK2VH/3 (Dandenong Ranges National Park VKFF-0132)
5. VK2KNV/m
6. VK3MCK
7. VK2IO/5 (Lake Eyre National Park VKFF-0276)
8. VK4SMA
9. VK4FDJL/8
10. VK2LEE
11. VK4FARR
12. VK3SQ
13. VK2KYO
14. VK2NP
15. VK5BJE
16. VK3ATO
17. VK2YMU
18. VK2EXA
19. ZL1TM
20. VK3FLCS/p (Lerderderg State Park VKFF-0763)
21. VK4HAT
22. VK4NH
23. VK4DXA
24. ZL4TY/VK4
25. VK2PKT
26. VK4RF
27. VK4HA
28. VK4JSS/p (Daisy Hill Conservation Park VKFF-1525)
29. VK2ADB
30. VK3FIAN
31. VK4COA
32. VK3ZLT
33. VK6RZ
34. VK4VXX
35. VK4/AG7WB
36. VK6XN/p (Stinton Cascades Nature Reserve VKFF-2940)
37. VK2VW
38. VK6KJ
39. VK1DA/p (Red Hill Nature Reserve VKFF-0860)
40. VK6ADF/p (Burma Road Nature Reserve VKFF-2800)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK6XN/p (Stinton Cascades Nature Reserve VKFF-2940)
2. VK5VCR
3. VK6RZ

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3FLCS/p (Lerderderg State Park VKFF-0763)
2. VK5FANA/p (Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park VKFF-1755)
3. VK5VCR
4. VK2LEE
5. VK3VKT/m
6. VK5WG
7. VK7ROY
8. VK6MB/3 (Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2236)
9. VK3SQ
10. VK5AYL
11. VK2YK
12. VK3PF/p (Gormandale Flora Reserve VKFF-2325)
13. VK5BJE
14. VK3SQ
15. VK7ME
16. VK5LA
17. VK3PF
18. VK3MPR
19. VK7FJFD
20. VK2TTP
21. VK3HN
22. VK3NRG/4

References.

Department for Environment and Heritage, 2006, Mount George Conservation Park Management Plan.

The Thin Green Line, 2019, <https://thingreenline.org.au/world-ranger-day/>, viewed 1st August 2019

My second park for Tuesday 30th July 2019 was the O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park VKFF-1737.  This was another park that I had never activated previously.

O’Halloran Hill is located about 16 km south of the city centre of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of the O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park south of Adelaide.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

The O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park is about 253 hectares (630 acres) in size and was established on the 7th day of September 1989.  It is located in the suburbs of Seaview Downs and O’Halloran Hill.  The park is popular with walkers, joggers, horse riders and mountain bike riders.   Parts of the park are leased to recreational organisations involved in archery, target shooting and model aircraft.

Above:- An aerial shot of the O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park looking north.  Image courtesy of Google maps

O’ Halloran Hill takes its name after Major Thomas Shuldham O’Halloran (1797-1870), the first Police Commissioner of South Australia and first Police Magistrate of South Australia.  He had a reputation for belligerence, with one of his mounted troopers from the 1840s commented that “Old Major O’Halloran used to say ‘I never hated a man longer than a day'”.

Above:- Major Thomas O’Halloran.  Image courtesy State Library SA

In June 1840 the brig ‘Maria‘ wrecked near Kingston in the South East of South Australia.  Local aboriginal people are reported to be responsible for the massacre of all 25 survivors.  Governor Gawler ordered O’Halloran, who at that time was the Police Commissioner and Police Inspector Alexander Tolmer to lead a party of police and sailors to the area to find and execute those responsible.  On the 22nd day of August 1840 following several days of investigation and interviews, two local Ngarrindjeri aboriginal men were publicly hanged on the Coorong in front of 65 members of their tribe.  Upon O’Halloran’s orders, their bodies remained In situ as a warning against violence towards Europeans by the aborigines.

Above:- Major O’Halloran’s expedition to the Coorong, August 1840. Painting by an unknown artist, held at the Art Gallery of South Australia.  Courtesy of Wikipedia.

O’Halloran established a farm at what is now O’Halloran Hill.  It was called Lizard Lodge.  O’Halloran died at his home “Lizard Lodge”, and was buried at Christ Church, O’Halloran Hill, an Anglican church which he helped to establish and is also located in the suburb, now overlooking the old Glenthorne CSIRO Research station, which is soon to become the Glenthorne National Park.

Above:- Lizard Lodge 1865.  Image courtesy of State Library SA.

At one stage, virtually all of the O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park was cleared grazing land.  However, over the last 30 years, much of the area has been revegetated.  In the decade prior to the park’s proclamation under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, the previous management agency (the State Planning Authority) made a concerted effort to re-vegetate the area and sponsored mass plantings of thousands of trees.

It is believed that 26,500 trees were planted in the late 1970s and more than 78,000 were planted from 1990 to 2000.

The park contains Grey Box woodland, Golden Wattle, Sheoak, Tea Tree, River Red Gum, Peppermint Box, Grevillia and Hakea.

The park consists of undulating land and there are some magnificent views to be enjoyed of the Adelaide metropolitan coastline.

And if you head to the northern section of the park there are some terrific views of the city of Adelaide.

Above:- View of the city of Adelaide from the park.

The park is inhabited by various native fauna including Common Brushtail Possum and Common Ringtail Possum.  Birds SA have recorded about 68 species of bird in the park including Weebill, Superb Fairywren, New Holland Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Australian Magpie, Silvereye, Eastern Rosella, Australian Golden Whistler, Magpielark, Brown Songlark, and Mistletoebird.  Some of those I sighted appear in my photos below.

I parked in the carpark on Majors Road near Adams Road.  There is a large carpark here at the start of a number of Mountain bike trails and walking trails.

I ran the Yaesu FT-857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

Above:- An aerial view of the park showing my operating spot.  Image courtesy of Google maps.

Despite there being large power lines nearby, I was surprised to hear a low noise floor when I turned on the transceiver.  First in the log was Geoff VK3SQ, followed by Marc VK3OHM, Steve VK3YW, and then John VK4TJ.

It only took me about 12 minutes to get 10 contacts in the log, and I had the park under my belt for VKFF.  It may have been a weekday, but there were plenty of callers and within an hour I had 39 contacts in the log and was just 5 short of the required 44 contacts to qualify the park for the global WWFF program.

I also had two Park to Park contacts in the log, with Ian VK1DI/2 in the Gibraltar Range National Park VKFF-0197 and Mike VK6MB/3 in the Leaghur Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2367.

However, callers had dried up, so I lowered the squid pole and inserted the links for the 80m band and headed for 3.610.  First, in the log, there was Adrian VK5FANA, followed by John VK5BJE, Ian VK5KKT and then John VK5MJC.  Unfortunately, they were my only callers despite the band being wide open across South Australia.

To complete the activation I moved up to 14.310 on the 20m band where I logged 8 stations from VK2 and VK4.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK3OHM
3. VK3YW
4. VK4TJ
5. VK4/AC8WN
6. VK4/VE6XT
7. VK3ZLT
8. VK2VW
9. VK2IO/5
10. VK3BCM
11. VK3AHR
12. VK3PF
13. VK2NP
14. VK5BJE
15. VK3DBP
16. VK1DI/2 (Gibraltar Range National Park VKFF-0197)
17. VK4NH
18. VK4DXA
19. ZL4TY/VK4
20. VK3MKE
21. VK5LG
22. VK5CZ
23. VK3AWG/m
24. VK5KC
25. VK3MCK
26. VK4RF
27. VK4HA
28. VK2LEE
29. VK4HNS
30. VK4FARR
31. VK4MWB
32. VK2SS
33. VK2KNV/m
34. VK5FANA
35. VK6MB/3 (Leaghur Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2367)
36. VK3BBB
37. VK7OT
38. VK2XSE/m
39. VK3ZE

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5FANA
2. VK5BJE
3. VK5KKT
4. VK5MJC

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2NP
2. VK4RF
3. VK4HA
4. VK2JON
5. VK4TJ
6. VK4/AC8WN
7. VK4/VE6XT
8. VK2YES

References.

Birds SA, 2019, <https://birdssa.asn.au/location/ohalloran-hill-recreation-park/>, viewed 1st August 2019

Department for Environment and Heritage, 2008, O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park Management Plan.

Wikipedia, 2019, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Halloran_Hill_Recreation_Park>, viewed 1st August 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Shuldham_O%27Halloran>, viewed 1st August 2019

Today (Tuesday 30th July 2019) I decided to head down to town to activate two new parks for me.  The first being the Shepherds Hill Recreation Park VKFF-1744.

The park is located in the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges, about 9 km south of the city centre of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of Shepherds Hill Recreation Park.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

The Shepherds Hill Recreation Park is 77 hectares in size and was established on the 1st January 1955.  The park is located in the south-west extremity of a much larger area of remnant native vegetation stretching across the foothills to Brownhill Creek. Much of that remnant vegetation is on reserved land and Shepherds Hill Recreation Park is part of a complex of public open-space land that protects native vegetation and provides a range of opportunities for outdoor recreation. In particular, it adjoins the Watiparinga Reserve managed by the National Trust of South Australia, and the Saddle Hill and Ellis Avenue Reserves managed by the City of Mitcham

Above:- An aerial view of the Shepherds Hill Recreation Park, looking north back towards the Adelaide CBD.  Image courtesy of Google maps.

The park was originally known as St Marys Reserve and was acquired by the South Australian State Government in 1953 as ‘public open-space for recreation purposes’ and was managed by the South Australian Government Tourist Bureau as a dedicated National Pleasure Resort from 1955 until 1972.  In 1972 it became the Shepherds Hill Recreation Park.

Above:- Article from The News, Tues 3rd November 1953

The park takes its name from William Henry Shephard (c. 1812-1848) who arrived on board the Tam O’Shanter in 1836.  In April 1842 he registered the purchase of section 8, ‘Survey B’, adjacent to the hill that was mapped as ‘Shepherd’s Hill’.

Above:- William Henry Shephard.  Image courtesy State Library SA

The park preserves old-growth Grey Box Woodland and creeks lined with old-growth River Red Gums.  The park includes the confluence of Walkers and Wattiparringga Creeks.  The park also includes native grasses and a number of rare plants occur in Shepherds Hill.   Grey Box is considered to be uncommon in the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges and Grey Box Woodlands are limited in their distribution to the foothills and hill slopes south of Adelaide.  Referred to in colonial times as the ‘Black Forest’ they have borne the brunt of suburban settlement and invasion by exotics.  There are only a few degraded examples in other nearby parks including Belair National Park, Sturt Gorge Recreation Park and Onkaparinga River National Park.  The Shepherds Hill Recreation Park, together with Watiparinga Reserve, has the last substantial remnant of River Red Gum Woodland in the southern Hills Face Zone.

There are some nice views of the city of Adelaide from the high points within the park.

Native mammals that call the park home include the Common Brushtail Possum, Common Ringtail Possum, Yellow-footed Marsupial Mouse, Echidna, Koala, and Bush Rat.  About 15 species of reptile have been recorded in the park including Cunningham’s Skink which is rated as endangered in South Australia.  About 38 species of bird have been found in the park including the Tawny Frogmouth, Nankeen Kestrel, Red Wattlebird, Laughing Kookaburra, Superb Fairy Wren, and Brown Falcon.  The park was alive with Rainbow Lorikeets and Eastern Rosellas during my visit.  Some of the birds I observed are shown in my photos below.

After leaving home I travelled west on the South Eastern Freeway and down into the suburbs of Adelaide.  I travelled down Fiveash Drive and on to Ayliffes Road and soon reached the northern section of the park.  The carpark here was full so I decided to try the other side of the park.

I was hoping to access the park through the Women’s Playing Fields on Shepherds Hill Road, but the gates were locked.  So I then turned onto Mill Terrace and parked at the end of Springwood Close.  There is an access point to the park here.

Above:- Map of the Shepherds Hill Recreation Park showing my operating spot.  Image courtesy of National Parks SA.

This appeared to be a quiet section of the park and there was plenty of room to string out my 20/40/80m linked dipole without interfering with any other park users.

Above:- An aerial view of the park showing my operating spot.  Image courtesy of Google maps. 

Sadly when turning on the transceiver I saw that the noise floor was strength 7 to 8 on the 40m band.  I realised then, why I had not activated this park before, as I always expected that it would be noisy and busy with people.

First in the log was Peter VK3PF, followed by Liz VK2XSE mobile, and then Gerard VK2IO/5 who was near Oodnadatta in the Far North of South Australia.  Deryck VK4FDJL/8 followed, with a good signal from near Alice Springs.

It took me about 12 minutes to get 10 contacts in the log, qualifying the park for the VKFF (Australian) program.  There were a lot of stations calling, but many I was unable to pull out of the noise.

I logged a total of 24 stations on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK8.  This included a Park to Park contact with Mike VK6MB/3 who was in the Boort Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2052.

I then headed to the 80m band and logged 4 stations there, John VK5BJE, Steve VK5SFA, Adrian VK5FANA, and Mike VK6MB/3 in VKFF-2052 for a second band.  Unfortunately, I had to put up with strength 7 to 8 noise on this band also.

The 20m band was my next stop and surprisingly the noise floor was strength 2.  I logged 8 stations on 20m from VK2, VK3, and VK4.

To conclude the activation I moved back to 40m, with 36 stations in the log and a further 8 stations for the magical 44 QSOs.  To my listening pleasure, the noise floor had dropped down to strength 3 to 4 on 40m.  I logged 8 stations just getting me over the line.  Contact number 44 was with Keith VK3MKE.  I also logged Ian VK1DI/2 who was activating the Washpool National Park VKFF-0521, one of the Gondwana parks.

Thank you to everyone who called and a BIG THANK YOU to those who took the time to spot me.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK2XSE/m
3. VK2IO/5
4. VK4FDJL/8
5. VK3GA
6. VK4NH
7. VK4DXA
8. ZL4TY/VK4
9. VK5BJE
10. VK2YW/m
11. VK2KTG
12. VK2VW
13. VK2NP
14. VK2LEE
15. VK3YW
16. VK4RF
17. VK4HA
18. VK3MCK
19. VK2ADB
20. VK5SFA
21. VK6MB/3 (Boort Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2052)
22. VK3SQ
23. VK3OHM
24. VK3ZMD
25. VK2KNV/m
26. VK4MWB
27. VK1DI/2 (Washpool National Park VKFF-0521)
28. VK3BBB/m
29. VK7FRJG
30. VK3MJR
31. VK2SLB
32. VK3MKE

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5BJE
2. VK5SFA
3. VK5FANA
4. VK6MB/3 (Boort Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2052)

I logged the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK3OHM
2. VK4RF
3. VK4HA
4. VK2XXM
5. VK4TJ
6. VK4/AC8WN
7. VK4/VE6XT
8. VK2VW

References.

Department for Environment and Heritage, 2008, Shepherds Hill Recreation Park Management Plan.

State Library South Australia, 2019, <http://www.slsa.ha.sa.gov.au/digitalpubs/placenamesofsouthaustralia/>, viewed 30th July 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherds_Hill_Recreation_Park>, viewed 30th July 2019

On Sunday 28th July 2019 I decided to do another quick park activation before heading off to work on afternoon shift.  I chose the Ferries McDonald Conservation Park 5CP-067 & VKFF-0881.

This is another park I have activated and qualified many times before, so this activation would count towards the Boomerang Award.

Ferries McDonald is located about 71 km south-east of Adelaide and about 20 km southwest of the town of Murray Bridge.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Ferries McDonald Conservation Park.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

I travelled east along the South Eastern Freeway and took the Monarto exit and then travelled south on the Ferries McDonald Road.  I travelled passed the Monarto Conservation Park and soon was bisecting the park.  I then turned left onto Chauncey’s Line Road.

Chauncey’s Line Road was surveyed in 1854 for the Government by civil engineer William Snell Chauncey (1820-1878).  It commenced at Hahndorf and proceeded to Wellington on the Murray River.  The road was planned for anticipated trade between the River Murray and Adelaide.  The official designation of the proposed road was ‘The South Eastern Road, Hahndorf to the Wellington Ferry’ but it is frequently referred to in records as ‘Chauncey’s Line’.   Chauncey had arrived in South Australia in 1840 aboard the Appoline and surveyed the Adelaide-Port Adelaide railway in 1848.

Above:- William Snell Chauncey.  Image c/o Wikipedia

Eventually, a road and a railway bridge were built at Murray Bridge and the use of the historic ferry at Wellington decreased.  This effectively saw Chauncey’s line sink into obscurity and the Woodchester locality becoming a quiet backwater.

Above:- Chaunceys Line Road

The Ferries McDonald Conservation Park is about 880 hectares in size and consists of dense mallee habitat.  During spring the park is alive with native orchids.  The park contains numerous sandy ridges forming part of the Murray Plains.  They provide evidence that this area was once part of the ocean bed.

The park is home to a variety of rare and endangered plant species.  Resin Wattle is a compact, resinous spreading shrub that grows up to 2 metres in height with bright yellow flowers. It is endemic to South Australia and is only found in a few locations across the state including three populations in Ferries McDonald.

The park was once part of a vast area of mallee bushland which was cleared for farming during the late 1800s.  Fortunately, a few rocky outcrops were unsuitable for farming and were preserved in their original state.  In January 1938, an area of 1,600 acres was gazetted under the Animals and Birds Protection Act, as a closed area for birds and animals, thus creating the first reserve in South Australian specifically for mallee fauna.  A total of 233 acres were made available by Robert Sweet McDonald of ‘Preamimma’, Monarto, 583 acres made available by Mr. G Lemmey of Two Well, whilst a further 779 acres allocated by the State.  It was initially known as Chauncey’s Line Scrub.

Above:- Plaque in the park

An addition to the park was made in 1953 from a bequest from James Ferries, thus creating the Ferries-McDonald Conservation Park.

Above:- Obituary of James Ferries from the Southern Argus, 1951.  c/o Trove.

Birds SA have recorded about 89 species of bird in the park including Galah, Variegated Fairywren, Weebill, Southern Scrub-Robin, Australian Magpie, Australian Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Spotted Nightjar, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Chestnut-rumped Hornbill, White-browed Scrubwren, and White-winged Triller.

A focus within the park has been the protection of the Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata), a native bird species that originally inhabited much of the natural mallee environment. Malleefowl are easy prey for common predators such as foxes and feral cats and are now only found at a handful of sites across Australia, including Ferries McDonald.

Above:- Cleared farming land on the eastern side of the park.

I set up in my normal spot in the southeastern corner of the park.  There is a carpark at this location.  I ran the Yaesu FT-857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80 m linked dipole for this activation.

Above:- An aerial view of the Ferries McDonald Conservation Park showing my operating spot.  Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

I called CQ on 7.144 and this was answered by Rod VK3OB who was mobile and had a strong 5/8-9 signal.  This was followed by Rob VK4SYD, Cliff VK2NP, and then Ian VK5CZ/p who was activating the Hopkins Creek Conservation Park VKFF-0893 in the Mid North of South Australia.

A few QSOs later I had another two Park to Park contacts in the log.  The first was with Gerard VK2IO/8 who was activating SOTA summit VK8/ AL-100 in the West McDonnell Ranges National Park VKFF-0532.  And then Ian VK1DI/2 who was in the Broken Head Nature Reserve VKFF-1898.

The 40m band was very unstable and there was lots of fading on most signals, but this did not deter callers as on occasions I had quite a little pileup going.

I logged a total of 39 stations before a visitor arrived at the park.  It was Steve, a member of the Friends of the Parks who was there to take photos of native orchids.  As it turned out Steve follows my blog.  He is not an amateur radio operator.

After having a quick chat with Steve I got back to the radio and logged a further 9 stations on 40m.  Contact number 44 was with Adam VK2YK.  I also snared another Park to Park, with Mike VK6MB/3 who was activating the Waitchie Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2469.

With 48 contacts in the log on 40m I headed down to the 80m band and started calling CQ on 3.610.  First in the log was John VK5BJE, followed by Ivan VK5HS mobile 3 at Birchip, and Adrian VK5FANA.  I logged a total of 7 stations on 80m from VK2, VK3, and VK5.  This included my wife Marija VK5FMAZ.

I then moved to the 20m band and called CQ on 14.310.  John VK7XX was first to call with a 5/5 signal with lots of fading.  John was struggling to hear me and gave me a 3/1 signal report.  I then logged Greg VK4VXX mobile, followed by Alan VK4XAC, and Mike VK6TX mobile.  In total, I logged 10 stations on 20m from VK2, VK4, VK6, VK7, and New Zealand.

To complete the activation I moved back to the 40m band.  Prior to calling CQ I tuned across the band and logged Ian VK1DI/2 who had moved into another park, the Cape Byron State Conservation Area VKFF-1295.

I then moved down to 7.139 and called CQ.  Deryck VK4FDJL/8 was the first to give me a shout, followed by Lee VK2LEE, and then Ross VK7ALH.  I logged a further 4 stations before it was time to call it quits for the day and head home for a shower and some lunch and off to work.

For this activation, I made a total of 73 contacts which included 5 Park to Park contacts.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3OB/m
2. VK4SYD
3. VK2NP
4. VK5CZ/p (Hopkins Creek Conservation Park VKFF-0893)
5. VK5FLEA
6. VK3ARH
7. VK2IO/8 (SOTA VK8/ AL-100 & West McDonnell Ranges National Park VKFF-0532)
8. VK1DI/2 (Broken Head Nature Reserve VKFF-1898)
9. VK3PF
10. VK3IH/m
11. VK3AFW
12. VK3SQ
13. VK2PKT
14. VK3JM
15. VK4RF
16. VK4HA
17. VK2HHA
18. VK2ADB
19. VK4CZ
20. VK3MPR
21. VK7FRJG
22. VK3NXT
23. VK2KJJ
24. VK3CLR/m
25. VK3MAB
26. VK2UXO
27. VK3FPSR/m
28. VK4TJ
29. VK4/AC8WN
30. VK4/VE6XT
31. VK4AZZ/m
32. VK3SX
33. VK2KYO
34. VK7FJFD
35. VK2SLB
36. VK3LTL
37. VK3FT
38. VK3MKE
39. VK3FIAN
40. VK7QP/m
41. VK3HN
42. VK2WR
43. VK7ME
44. VK2YK
45. VK6MB/3 (Waitchie Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2469)
46. VK2VW
47. VK2EZT
48. VK3OHM
49. VK1DI/2 (Cape Byron State Conservation Area VKFF-1295)
50. VK4FDJL/8
51. VK2LEE
52. VK7ALH
53. VK3ZPF
54. VK3ANL
55. VK7LH
56. VK3RW

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5BJE
2. VK5HS/3
3. VK5FANA
4. VK5LA
5. VK5FMAZ
6. VK3SQ
7. VK2NSS

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK7XX
2. VK4VXX/m
3. VK4/AG7WB/m
4. VK4XAC
5. VK6TX/m
6. VK2HOT
7. ZL1TM
8. VK6XN
9. VK4CZ
10. VK6GLX

References.

Birds SA, 2019, <https://birdssa.asn.au/location/ferries-mcdonald-conservation-park/>, viewed 29th July 2019

National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2019, <https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/find-a-park/Browse_by_region/Fleurieu_Peninsula/ferries-mcdonald-conservation-park>, viewed 29th July 2019

State Library South Australia, 2019, <http://www.slsa.ha.sa.gov.au/manning/pn/c/c6.htm>, viewed 29th July 2019

State Library South Australia, 2019, <http://www.slsa.ha.sa.gov.au/digitalpubs/placenamesofsouthaustralia/W.pdf>, viewed 29th July 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferries_McDonald_Conservation_Park>, viewed 29th July 2019