Our second  park for Saturday 26th November 2016 was the Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park VKFF-0919 which is located a short distance from Poonthie Ruwe.  The park is situated about 9 km south of Adelaide and about 105 km east of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park was proclaimed on 2nd June 2005 and conserves 142.9 hectares of Southern Cypress Pine Forest.  The park is found approximately six kilometres south-west of Tailem Bend in the Murralyands region of South Australia.  The nationally vulnerable Sandhill Greenhood Orchid and nationally endangered Metallic Sun-orchid have been found in the park. The population of Sandhill Greenhood Orchids is one of the nine remaining in our State.

‘Mowantjie’ is the Ngarrindjeri aboriginal name for the native pine found in Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park, while ‘Willauwar’ is a plural word meaning ‘forest of species’.  Therefore the name ‘Mowantjie Willauwar’ means ‘Native Pine Forest’, which provides an accurate description of the park.

Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park was previously constituted as the Tailem Bend Forest Reserve under the Forestry Act 1950.  While the reserve was managed by ForestrySA, it was subject to a number of management plans. State Flora at Murray Bridge performed the maintenance and pest control of the property on behalf of ForestrySA for the 10 years prior to its constitution as a park.  This included repairing fences, and controlling pest plants and animals, and surveys of reptile and bird species. The Princes Highway previously cut through the reserve and was re-routed to bypass the reserve during the 1990s.  Work has been undertaken to rehabilitate the former Princes Highway route, and the bare ground that remained after the construction of the current Princes Highway was revegetated by local schools in association with local naturalists. Surveys of orchid species, the Sandhill Greenhood in particular, have been conducted in the park by the Native Orchid Society of South Australia.

I have activated this park a few times previously and had always activated from the northern side of Placid Estates Road.  This time I decided to check out the southern section of the park.  We briefly stopped off to have a look at the plaque to commemorate the opening of the new Princes Highway.  The old highway previously passed through the park.

We soon reached Placid Estates Road where there are two gates to enter the park.  One on the northern side and one on the southern side.  We entered the park via the southern gate.

We drove a km or so along the old highway which in parts is dirt and in others, some of the old bitumen.

We set up underneath the shade of some pine trees as it was a very warm afternoon.

Above:- Aerial shot showing my operating spot in the Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park.  Aerial courtesy of Protected Planet.

Prior to calling CQ, Marija and I had a tune across the 40m band and logged a few Park to Park contacts.  They included Tony VK3XV in the Hepburn Regional Park VKFF-0968, Greg VK5ZGY/p in the Ewens Ponds Conservation Park VKFF-0796, Norm VK3XCI/p in the Little Desert National Park VKFF-0291, and Brett VK3FLCS/p activating the Wandong Regional Park VKFF-0979.

Marija then started calling CQ and this was answered by Mick VK3PMG/VK3GGG, followed by Tony VK5MRT, and then Mike VK5FMWW/VK5FVSV.  Marija’s 10th contact, qualifying her for the VKFF program, was Les VK5KLV who was portable in the Mount Remarkable National Park VKFF-0360.  Marija went on to work a total of 39 stations on 40m from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK5.  This included further Park to Park contacts with Ian VK1DI in the Old Naas Nature Reserve VKFF-0992, Gerard VK2IO/p in the Bargo State Conservation Area VKFF-1271, Tim VK3MTB/p in the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park VKFF-0747, Peter VK5PET in the Totness Recreation Park VKFF-1754, Gordon VK5GY/p in the Cox Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-0824, Peter VK3ZPF/p in the Crossover Regional Park VKFF-0965, Rob VK4FFAB in the Lockyer National Park VKFF-0719, and Peter VK3TKK in the Arthurs Seat State Park VKFF-0750.  It was certainly Park to Park heaven!

Whilst Marija was on air I took the time to explore the park a little.  Although I didn’t venture too far as the weather was hot and sunny, and I suspected some of the scaly and slippery inhabitants of the park would have been out enjoying the sunshine.

Once things slowed down for Marija, I put out a few calls on 7.144 but only had 3 takers, Andrew VK2UH, Gerard VK2IO in the Bargo State Conservation Area VKFF-1271, and Sergio VK3SFG.   I then tried 15m and despite numerous CQ calls on 21.244 there were no takers.  This was a little disapointing considering how well that band had performed during our first park activation of the day.

We then headed to 3.610 on 80m where we logged 8 stations after calling CQ.  They included Ivan VK5HS, Mike VK5FMWW/VK5FVSV. Adrian VK5FANA, Charlie VK5KDK, Mick VK3PMG/VK3GGG, and Bryce VK3NBI.  It was just before 5.00 p.m. and still very much daylight, but the 80m band was working very well across South Australia and into Victoria.  These further contacts got Marija over the line with her 44 contacts and another unique park for her as an activator.

I then called CQ on 14.310 for around 5 minutes but had no takers.  I tuned across the band and found only one decent signal and that was 9M6SWC in East Malaysia.  They were my only contact on 20m.

So a little dejected I headed back to 40m where I called CQ on 7.145.  This was answered by Colin VK4PDX, followed by Brett VK2VW, and then Geoff VK3SQ.  I logged a total of 17 stations including two more Park to Park contacts, with Neil VK4HNS in the Moogerah Peaks National Park VKFF-0336, and Liz VK2XSE in the Nombinnie State Conservation Area VKFF-1364.

It was time to pack up and head back home.  Between the two of us, Marija and I had logged a total of 80 stations, including 22 Park to Park contacts.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3XV/p (Hepburn Regional Park VKFF-0968)
2. VK5ZGY/p (Ewens Ponds Conservation Park VKFF-0796)
3. VK3XCI/p (Little Desert National Park VKFF-0291)
4. VK3FLCS/p (Wandong Regional Park VKFF-0979)
5. VK3PMG
6. VK3GGG
7. VK3ZPF/p (Crossover Regional Park VKFF-0965)
8. VK2UH
9. VK2IO/p (Bargo State Conservation Area VKFF-1271)
10. VK3SFG
11. VK4PDX
12. VK2VW
13. VK3SQ
14. VK7DW
15. VK4HNS/p (Moogerah Peaks National Park VKFF-0326)
16. VK4RF
17. VK4HA
18. VK2SK
19. VK1HW
20. VK4FAAS
21. VK4WJW
22. VK2XSE/p (Nombinnie State Conservation Area VKFF-1364)
23. VK2FJTA
24. VK1DI
25. VK3UH
26. VK2QK
27. VK3ARH

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5HS
2. VK5FMWW
3. VK5FVSV
4. VK5FANA
5. VK5KDK
6. VK3PMG
7. VK3GGG

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. 9M6SWC

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5ZGY/p (Ewens Ponds Conservation Park VKFF-0796)
2. VK3XCI/p (Little Desert National Park VKFF-0291)
3. VK3XV/p (Hepburn Regional Park VKFF-0968)
4. VK3FLCS/p (Wandong Regional Park VKFF-0979)
5. VK3PMG
6. VK3GGG
7. VK5MRT
8. VK5FMWW
9. VK5FVSV
10. VK5KLV/p (Mount Remarkable National Park VKFF-0360)
11. VK1DI/p (Old Naas Nature Reserve VKFF-0992)
12. VK2IO/p (Bargo State Conservation Area VKFF-1271)
13. VK3MTB/p (Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park VKFF-0747
14. VK5YL
15. VK2SG
16. VK3BSG
17. VK2KYO
18. VK3UH
19. VK3FRAB
20. VK5GJ
21. VK5PET/p (Totness Recreation Park VKFF-1754)
22. VK3SFG/p
23. VK5TR
24. VK4RF
25. VK4HA
26. VK5FANA
27. VK5GY/p (Cox Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-0824)
28. VK3ZPF/p (Crossover Regional Park VKFF-0965)
29. VK3MCD/2 (SOTA VK2/ SM-024 and Kosciuszko National Park VKFF-0269)
30. VK3YSP
31. VK3TUL
32. VK2UH
33. VK4FFAB/p (Lockyer National Park VFF-0719)
34. VK3TKK/p (Arthurs Seat State Park VKFF-0750)
35. VK5MAP
36. VK3DAC
37. VK2MTJ
38. VK3PF
39. VK3KAI
40. VK3FSPG

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5HS
2. VK5FMWW
3. VK5FVSV
4. VK5FANA
5. VK5KDK

At the conclusion of the activation we drove a short distance down to have a look at the mighty Murray River which flows very close to the park.

References.

Department for Environment and Heritage, 2008, Management Plan Mowantjie Willauwar and Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Parks’

My first park activation for the 2016 VKFF Activation Weekend was on Saturday 26th November 2016, and was the Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park VKFF-1082.  The park is located about 5 km south east of Tailem Bend and about 101 km south east of Adelaide.

This was the second year of the VKFF Activation Weekend which is all about promoting the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program here in Australia.  It is not a contest, but rather a fun weekend to get out into the field and operate portable from a park.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park was first proclaimed as Poonthie Ruwi-Riverdale Conservation Park on 16th  January 2003.  On the 29th May 2008 the name of the park was altered to Poonthie Ruwe.   This 240.9 hectare park protects the largest known area of intact Scented Irongrass tussock grassland, which is listed as critically endangered.  A total of 13 plant species of regional conservation significance can be found in the park.

Prior to proclamation the park was a Heritage Agreement under the Native Vegetation Act 1991 and prior to this the land had been used for grazing.  The South Australian Government purchased this land with the assistance of the Australian Government through the National Reserve System Program of the Natural Heritage Trust and a contribution from the Native Vegetation Fund under the Native Vegetation Act 1991.

The name Poonthie Ruwe means ‘Hopping Mouse Country’ in the local Ngarrindjeri aboriginal language.  This refers to the park being recognised as hopping mouse habitat prior to European settlement.  Sadly they are long since gone from the area.

There are a number of bird species recorded in the park that rely on grasslands as a food source and use the trees for nesting.  At least 8 native bird species found in the park are of State or regional conservation significance.  It is believed that at one time the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat had established burrows in Poonthie Ruwe.  Sadly there are no current records for the wombat in the park, following a rabbit invasion.

Access to the park is via Blacketts Road which runs off the Princes Highway.  Dont bother looking for park signs.  This is another park that has not been signposted by DEWNR.  You could easily be fooled for believing that this is just another paddock.

Access to the park was gained via a gate on the northern side of Blacketts Road.  The gate is not locked.  It appears to be the only entry point into the park.

Above:- the gate leading in to the park on Blacketts Road.

There was an overgrown track leading over to a small section of scrub on the northern boundary of the park near the Dukes Highway, but as it was a warm day and the grass was quite tall, we decided not to drive too far.

We parked the Toyota Hi Lux about 30 feet in from the park boundary and rolled out the awning for some shade from the rather warm sun.  We set up the fold up table and the deck chair and ran the Yaesu FT-857d and the 80/40/20m linked dipole for this activation.

Above:- Aerial shot of the park showing out operating spot.  Image courtesy of google maps.

As I had been to the park previously and qualified it for the WWFF program, our main goal for the morning was for Marija to qualify the park, and hopefully give some park hunters a brand new park to add to their list.  This was to be a brand new park for Marija as an activator for both WWFF and the VK5 Parks Award.  Our first contacts were on 7.144 with fellow husband and wife team, Joe VK3YSP and Julie VK3FOWL who were operating portable in the Yarringa Marine National Park VKFF-0957.  It was a nice way to start the activation with a couple of Park to Park contacts.

Marija and I then moved down the band to 7.130 and I started calling CQ.  This was answered by park stalwart Mick VK3PMG/VK3GG, followed by Tom VK5EE and then Michael VK3FCMC.  Col VK5HCF who was mobile at Mount Gambier then gave me a shout and he was keen to also log Marija, so we swapped the mic.  I then logged a further 3 stations getting me to 10 QSOs.  It was Marija’s turn to sit in the ‘driver’s seat’.  Marija’s first contact was with Peter VK3PF, followed by Ron VK5VH, and then Rick VK4RF/VK4HA.

Band conditions on 40m were less than favourable, with signals being much lower than usual.  Netherless Marija made a total of 12 contacts, and as a result had reached the 10 QSO threshold required for the VKFF awards.  This included a further Park to Park contact with Ian VK1DI who operating from the Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985.

We then lowered the squid pole and inserted the links for the 80m section of the linked dipole.  We headed for 3.610 and Marija started calling CQ and this was answered by Bryce VK3NBI/p, followed by Mick VK3GGG/VK3PMG, and then Adrian VK5FANA who was portable in the Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park VKFF-1755.  Marija finished off on 80m with a contact with our good friend John VK5BJE.  Marija was quite excited as this was her first ever 80m contacts since being licenced earlier in the year.  We do not have an 80m antenna at home.

I made a few contacts on 80m including a Park to Park with Adrian VK5FANA, and we then moved back to 40m.

Marija and I tuned across the band and picked up a few more Park to Park contacts.  They included Tony VK3XV who was in the Paddys Range State Park VKFF-0772, Rob VK2QR in the Wereboldera State Conservation Area VKFF-1392, Adrian VK5FANA in the Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park VKFF-1755, and Rob VK4AAC/3 in the Discovery Bay Coastal Park VKFF-0746.

I then propped on 7.150 and worked another 10 stations, including two more Park to Park contacts with David VK5PL in the Wiljani Conservation Park VKFF-1159, and Peter VK3ZPF who was activating the Arthurs Seat State Park VKFF-0750.

I then headed off to 14.310 on 20m.  Conditions here on 20m were a real surprise.  My first caller was Mike VK6MB, followed by a Park to Park with Gerard VK2IO who was in the Bargo State Conservation Area VKFF-1271, and then Andrew VK1AD.  Geoff VK3SQ then called in from Beechworth with a 5/9 plus signal.  I had to double check to make sure I was on 20.  I very rarely hear Victorian stations on 20m as the distance is just too close.  Geoff was to be the first of 8 VK3 stations to call in, all of whom had terrific signals.  This included Park to Park contacts with Adam VK2YK/4 in Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park VKFF-1503, Peter VK3ZPF in the Arthurs Seat State Park VKFF-0750, Ian VK1DI in the Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985, Warren VK3BYD on SOTA peak VK3/ VE-129 in Mount Lawson State Park VKFF-0768, Lewis VK6LDX on SOTA peak VK6/ SW-004 in the Stirling Range National Park VKFF-0467, Neil VK4HNS in the Main Range National Park VKFF-0300, and Tony VK3XV in Paddys Range State Park VKFF-0772.

I also spoke with James VK2TKR and Andrew VK1MBE/2 who were activating SOTA peak Wandera Mountain VK2/ SC-042.  Band conditions on 20m were excellent, and it was noticeably quieter than 40m.

Marija and I then lowered the squiddy and layed the 80/40/20m linked dipole on the ground and erected the 15m dipole.  We headed to 21.244 where we shared the mic and started calling CQ.  Our call was answered by Brett VK2VW with a good 5/7 signal, followed by Ray VK4NH, and then Rob VK4FFAB.  Marija and I went on to work a total of 24 stations on 21.244 including Park to Park contacts with Neil VK4HNS in Main Range National Park VKFF-0300, Adam VK2YK/p in the Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park VKFF-1503, Rob VK2QR in the Wereboldera State Conservation Area VKFF-1392, Les VK5KLV in the Mount Remarkable National Park VKFF-0360,  Ian VK1DI in the Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985, Brian VK3MCD/2 in the Koscisuzko National Park VKFF-0269, Leigh VK3SG in the Kinglake National Park VKFF-0264, and Mick VK3PMG/VK3GGG in the Ararat Hills Regional Park VKFF-0958.

The 15m band proved to be a real bonus.  It was extremely quiet and conditions were great, with callers from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK5.  And again Marija was quietly pleased, as these were her first ever contacts on ther 15m band.

Before heading back to 40m we had a tune across 15m and found Brian VK3MCD/2 calling CQ from SOTA peak Tantangara Mountain VK2/ SM-024 and Kosciuszko National Park VKFF-0269.

Once back on 40m we generally tuned across the band and made a number of further Park to Park contacts.  This included contacts with Les VK5KLV in the Mount Remarkable National Park VKFF-0360, Norm VK3XCI in the Little Desert National Park VKFF-0291, Mick VK3PMG/VK3GGG in the Ararat Hills Regional Park VKFF-0958, and Leigh VK3SG in the Kinglake National Park VKFF-0264.

I also spent a brief period of time on 7.120 but only had 7 callers.  This included Peter VK5PET who was activating the Totness Recreation Park VKFF-1754, which is very close to our home.

Prior to going QRT we had one final tune across the band and logged a few more Park to Park contacts.  They included Greg VK5ZGY in the Ewens Ponds Conservation Park VKFF-0796, Brett VK3FLCS in the Wandong Regional Park VKFF-0979, Andrew VK7DW in the Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1156, Tony VK3XV in the Hepburn Regional Park VKFF-0968, and David VK5PL in the Wiljani Conservation Park VKFF-1159.

After spending around 4 hours in the park, Marija and I had a total of total of 153 QSOs in the log, including 52 Park to Park contacts.  Not a bad mornings work.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3YSP/p (Yarringa Marine National Park VKFF-0957)
2. VK3FOWL/p (Yarringa Marine National Park VKFF-0957)
3. VK3PMG
4. VK3GGG
5. VK5EE
6. VK3FCMC
7. VK5HCF/m
8. VK3PF
9. VK3SQ
10. VK2XXM
11. VK3XV/p (Paddys Range State Park VKFF-0772)
12. VK2QR/p (Wereboldera State Conservation Area VKFF-1392)
13. VK5FANA/p (Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park VKFF-1755)
14. VK4AAC/3 (Discovery Bay Coastal Park VKFF-0746)
15. VK2AWJ
16. VK5PL/p (Wiljani Conservation park VKFF-1159)
17. VK5AFZ
18. VK3TKK/m
19. VK3ELH
20. VK7FRJG
21. VK3ZPF/p (Arthurs Seat State Park VKFF-0750)
22. VK5HCF
23. VK3NCC/m
24. VK3FRAB
25. VK5KLV/p (Mount Remarkable National Park VKFF-0360)
26. VK3XCI/p (Little Desert National Park VKFF-0291)
27. VK3PMG/p (Ararat Hills Regional Park VKFF-0958)
28. VK3GGG/p (Ararat Hills Regional Park VKFF-0958)
29. VK3SG/p (Kinglake National Park VKFF-0264)
30. VK5NFT/m
31. VK5FMWW
32. VK5FVSV
33. VK5BJE
34. VK5PET/p (Totness Recreation Park VKFF-1754)
35. VK3STU/p
36. VK3MAB
37. VK5ZGY/p (Ewens Ponds Conservation Park VKFF-0796)
38. VK3FLCS/p (Wandong Regional Park VKFF-0979)
39. VK7DW/p (Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1156)
40. VK5GJ
41. VK3XV/p (Hepburn Regional Park VKFF-0968)

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5VRB
2. VK5FANA/p (Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park VKFF-1755)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK6MB
2. VK2IO/p (Bargo State Conservation Area VKFF-1271)
3. VK1AD
4. VK3SQ
5. VK6HC
6. VK2VW
7. VK5IS
8. VK2TKR/p (SOTA VK2/ AC-042)
9. VK1MBE/2 (SOTA VK2/ SC-042)
10. VK3TXB/m
11. VK2YK/4 (Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park VKFF-1503)
12. VK3ZPF/p (Arthurs Seat State Park VKFF-0750)
13. VK1DI/p (Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985)
14. VK3BYD/p (Mount Lawson State Park VKFF-0768 and SOTA VK3/ VE-129)
15. VK6LDX/p (SOTA VK6/ SW-004 Mount Toolbrunup & Stirling Range National Park VKFF-0467)
16. VK4HNS/p (Main Range National Park VKFF-0300)
17. VK3PAT
18. VK2ZK
19. VK3SFG/p
20. VK2KYO
21. VK4NH
22. VK2AAH
23. VK3UH
24. VK2JDR
25. VK3XV/p (Paddys Range State Park VKFF-0772)

I worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

1. VK2VW
2. VK4NH
3. VK4FFAB
4. VK2NN
5. VK4RF
6. VK4HA
7. VK4HNS/p (Main Range National Park VKFF-0300)
8. VK3UH
9. VK3GTS
10. VK3FSTA
11. VK3VLY
12. VK2YK/4 (Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park VKFF-1504)
13. VK2QR/p (Wereboldera State Conservation Area VKFF-1392)
14. VK2LAD
15. VK3ARH
16. VK2KYO
17. VK5KLV/p (Mount Remarkable National Park VKFF-0360)
18. VK3PF
19. VK2PKT
20. VK3SQ
21. VK3SFG/p
22. VK2MTJ
23. VK3TUL/p
24. VK1DI/p (Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985)
25. VK2HEY
26. VK3MCD/2 (SOTA VK2/ SM-024 and Kosciuszko National Park VKFF-0269)

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3YSP/p (Yarringa Marine National Park VKFF-0957)
2. VK3FOWL/p (Yarringa Marine National Park VKFF-0957)
3. VK5HCF/m
4. VK3PF
5. VK5VH
6. VK4RF
7. VK4HA
8. VK5LG
9. VK7YX
10. VK3SQ
11. VK1DI/p (Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985)
12. VK2XXM
13. VK3XV/p (Paddys Range State Park VKFF-0772)
14. VK2QR/p (Wereboldera State Conservation Area VKFF-1392)
15. VK5FANA/p (Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park VKFF-1755)
16. VK4AAC/3 (Discovery Bay Coastal Park VKFF-0746)
17. VK3ZPF/p (Arthurs Seat State Park VKFF-0750)
18. VK3FLCS/p (Wandong Regional Park VKFF-0979)
19. VK5ZGY/p (Ewens Ponds Conservation Park VKFF-0796)
20. VK7DW/p (Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area VKFF-1156)
21. VK5GJ
22. VK3XV/p (Hepburn Regional Park VKFF-0968)
23. VK5PL/p (Wiljani Conservation park VKFF-1159)

Marija worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

1. VK2VW
2. VK4NM
3. VK4FFAB
4. VK2NN
5. VK4RF
6. VK4HA
7. VK4HNS/p (Main Range National Park VKFF-0300)
8. VK3UH
9. VK3GTS
10. VK3FSTA
11. VK3VLY
12. VK2YK/4 (Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park VKFF-1504)
13. VK2QR/p (Wereboldera State Conservation Area VKFF-1392)
14. VK2LAD
15. VK3ARH
16. VK2KYO
17. VK5KLV/p (Mount Remarkable National Park VKFF-0360)
18. VK3PF
19. VK2PKT
20. VK3SQ
21. VK3SFG/p
22. VK2MTJ
23. VK3TUL/p
24. VK1DI/p (Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985)
25. VK3MCD/2 (SOTA VK2/ SM-024)
26. VK3SG/p (VKFF-0264)
27. VK3PMG
28. VK3GGG
29. VK5FMWW
30. VK5FVSV

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK3NBI/p
2. VK3PMG
3. VK3GGG
4. VK5FANA/p (Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park VKFF-1755)
5. VK5BJE

References

Department for Environment and Heritage, 2008, Management Plan Mowantjie Willauwar and Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Parks’

Wow, what a weekend that was.  The 2016 VKFF Activation Weekend was held last weekend, on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November, 2016.

There was activator representation from all States and Territories around Australia, except for the Northern Territory (VK8).  Early stats suggest there were around 40 different parks activated on Saturday and another 40 or so on Sunday.

My wife Marija VK5FMAZ and I activated 2 parks on Saturday 26th: Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park VKFF-1082, and Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park VKFF-0919. We made a total of 233 QSOs including 74 Park to Park contacts

On Sunday 27th I activated 3 parks: Marne Valley Conservation Park VKFF-0906, Swan Reach Conservation Park VKFF-0832, and Ridley Conservation Park VKFF-0932. I made a total of 191 QSOs including 48 Park to Park contacts.

Thankyou to everyone who called us and thankyou to everyone who took the time to spot us.  A number of the parks we had no mobile phone coverage in.

Once all the activators have provided their logs for upload to Logsearch, I will compile some more detailed stats on the weekend.

Thankyou to everyone who took part in the weekend’s VKFF Activation Weekend, both activators and hunters.

Back in late September 2016 I was tuning across the 40m band and came across Jim WB2REM on 7.163, and a net which he runs with fellow USA stations.  I worked Jim and a further 7 stations in the USA, including Violetta KM4ATT in Pennsylvania.  What was special about the QSO with Violetta is that she is just 12 years old.

I sent off a QSL card to Violetta along with some photos of myself and my wife Marija, and some Australiana photos including kangaroos, koalas, etc.  I was very pleased to receive a QSL card back from Violetta.

Violetta told me in her reply thatI was her first QSO to Australia and of course the first QSL card she had ever received from Australia.  Violetta told me that she is one of 9 in her family and that f those 9, 8 are licenced amateurs.  Wow!  The youngest being her only brother Aaron KM4LEJ who is just 7 years old.

Violetta said: “Ham radio is so cool.  There’s always new stuff to learn‘.

It was great to hear a young person with so much enthusiasm for the hobby.

Violetta also sent a photo of her Dad, Shannon KA8JRQ.  More information can be found on Shannon’s QRZ.com page.

My final activation for my trip away to Victoria was an activation for the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program at SOTA peak Point 756 Pyrenees VK3/ VS-018.  The summit is located in the Pyrenees Range north of Ararat in western Victoria.

Above:- Map showing the location of the summit.  Map courtesy of google maps.

VK3/ VS-018 is 756 metres above sea level and is worth 4 points.  I have activated this summit twice previously, back in December 2015 and September 2014.  To read about those activations please check out my previous posts at….

Point 756/Pyrenees, VK3/ VS-013

Point 756/Pyrenees, VK3/ VS-018

It was around an 11 km drive from Blue Mountain to this summit, along some of the dirt tracks in the Pyrenees Range.  Along the way I enjoyed some beautiful views of the Pyrenees.  The views are limited as the vegetation along the roads is very thick, but there are the occasional breaks.

After leaving Blue Mountain summit, I travelled back along Blue Mountain Track and then on to Main Break until I reached Sanderson Track.  This track leads directly to the summit.  I have previously aaccessed this summit by another track a little further to the north.  That particular track is un-named.

The summit itself is located in a clearing on Sanderson Track amongst the forest.

Above:- Aerial shot showing the location of the summit.  Image courtesy of google maps.

I pulled up in the clearing and as this was a nice and easy drive up summit I was able to use the fold up table and deck chair.  I ran the Yaesu FT-857d, 20 watts, and the 80/40/20m linked dipole for this activation.  I was all set to go by 0040 UTC (11.45 a.m. Victorian local time).  I started calling CQ on 7.090 and this was answered by Adam VK2YK mobile with a good strong 5/8 signal.  This was followed by Peter VK3PF, Steve VK7CW, and then Geoff VK3SQ.  I had qualified the summit.

Contact number eleven was Rob VK4AAC/3 who was portable in the Grampians National Park VKFF-0213.  Rob’s signal was very strong.  I worked a total of 21 stations on 40m from VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7, before I QSYd to 14.210 on 20m.  There I worked just 4 stations: John VK4TJ, Gerard VK2IO, Geoff VK3SQ, and Tim VK2BT.  Numerous other CQ calls went unaswered.

I then tried my luck on 3.610 on 80m where I spoke with Geoff VK3SQ in Beechworth (5/9 sent and 5/6 received) and Rob VK4AAC/3 in the Grampians National Park (5/3 both ways).  The 80m band continues to provide some very interesting results.

I then moved back to 40m where I worked a further 6 stations including Mick VK3PMG/VK3GGG who was portable in the Alpine National Park VKFF-0619.

‘the shack’

Yaesu FT-857d

My fun in parks and summits had come to an end.  I had around a 500 km drive back home.  And by the time I arrived home I had clocked up around 2,400 km for the entire trip.

The following stations were worked:-

Below is a map showing my route back home to Mount Barker from Ararat via the Western and Dukes Highways.

On Thursday morning 17th November 2016 I booked out of the motel at Ararat and headed out to the Pyrenees with the intention of activating two summits before making the 500 km journey back home.  My first planned summit was Blue Mountain VK3/ VS-015.  This was to be the third time that I had activated this summit for the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of Blue Mountain VK3/ VS-015.  Map courtesy of google maps.

I headed out of Ararat along the Pyrenees Highway until I reached the Landsborough-Elmhurst Road.  There is a sign here indicating the Pyrenees Range.  I then took the Glenlofty-Warrenmang Road and travelled passed the Pyrenees State Forest.

I soon reached Blue Mountain Track and started climbing up into the Pyrenees and soon entered the Landsborough Flora and Fauna Reserve.  The track here is definitely 4WD only.

I then reached the junction of the Blue Mountain Track and the Barkly Track.  You need to take a sharp left here and continue along the Blue Mountain Track.

The summit itself is located near the intersection of the Blue Mountain Track and the Malakoff Track.

This truly is beautiful country.  There are the occasional views of the surrounding countryside through the trees.  The Victorian National Parks Association has proposed that the Landsborough Nature Conservation Reserve be reclassified to become a State park, along with the Percydale Historic Area, and the Landsborough Hill Nature Conservation Reserve.

Above:- Aerial shot showing the location of Blue Mountain VK3/ VS-015.  Image courtesy of google maps

After setting up the deck chair and the fold up table and the associated radio equipment, I commenced calling CQ on 7.090.  It wasn’t long before I had my first caller and this was Steve VK7CW with his normal very strong 5/9 signal.  This was followed by Ivan VK5HS mobile, and then Peter VK3PF and Rod VK7FRJG..  I worked a total of 10 stations, qualifying the summit, before I tried 80m.  Sadly I had just missed out on a Summit to Summit contact with Adam VK2YK who had just packed up at his summit.

I only managed one contact on 3.610 on 80m and that was Adam VK2YK who had followed me down from 40m.  I then tried 14.310 on 20m where I worked 6 stations including John ZL1BYZ in New Zealand.

To complete the activation I headed back to 7.090 on 40m and there worked a further 5 stations from VK3, VK4, and VK5.  It was time to pack up and head off to my next summit, Point 756 Pyrenees VK3/ VS-018.

The following stations were worked:-

References

Victorian National Parks Association, 2016, <http://vnpa.org.au/page/nature-conservation/protecting-special-places/mt-cole-state-forest&gt;, viewed 21st November 2016

On Wednesday morning Andrew VK6AS and I left the home of Lee VK3GK and negotiated the Melbourne traffic and made our way down to Geelong.  We there delivered a presentation to members of the Geelong Amateur Radio Club on the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA).  It was well attended and well received, and at the conclusion of the talk a group of us headed across the road for a meal at the hotel.

I then dropped Andrew off at the Geelong railway station and I made my way to Ararat in western Victoria where I had planned to stay overnight.  My intention late that afternoon and into the evening was to activate One Tree Hill VK3/ VS-036 which is located within the Ararat Hills Regional Park VKFF-0958.

Above:- Map showing the location of One Tree Hill & the Ararat Hills Regional Park.  Map courtesy of Open Street Map

The summit and park is easy to locate and well signposted.  I accessed the park via Picnic Road and then One Tree Hill Road.

One Tree Hill is 569 metres above sea level and is worth 2 points in the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program.  I have activated this summit a few times previously but I have never activated the park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  The road will take you all the way to the carpark and lookout, where the communications tower is located.  However this is not the actual summit.  You will either need to drive a bit further along the 4WD track or take a casual walk along the track to the summit.

The summit itself does not offer great views as they are obscured by trees.  However you can be rewarded with some great views of the Grampians, The Pyrenees, Ararat, and the surrounding countryside from the lookout carpark.

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It is interesting to note that SOTA shows the high point a little further north of One Tree Hill and Snake Hill and a little south east of Napolean Hill.

Above:- Map showing the location of the summit.  Map courtesy of Open Street Map

As this was a nice easy drive up summit I had the luxury of my fold up table and deck chair.  I ran the Yaesu FT-857d at 40 watts for this activation, with the 80/40/20m linked dipole, supported on the 7m heavy duty squid pole.  I was set up and ready to go by 5.30 p.m. Victorian local time.  I was unable to get on to 7.144 as there were some stations nearby so I slipped down a little lower to 7.140 and started calling CQ.

My CQ call was answered by John VK5BJE, followed by Rob VK2FAAA mobile, Rod VK7FRJG, and then Ian VK1DI.  I had qualified the summit.  Unfortunately about 10 minutes into the activation some New Zealand stations came up on the frequency and started having a chat.  Clearly they were unable to hear me and kindly QSYd when asked by a VK running a lot more power than me.  However they QSYd to 7.138, just 2 kc below me and I continued to experience QRM which made it a little hard with the weaker stations that were calling in.

I worked a total of 33 stations on 40m from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 and New Zealand.  The ZL callers were Wynn ZL2ATH in Wellington and John ZL1BYZ in Pukekohe.  Although they were both strong to me, they were struggling a little with my signal across the Tasman Sea.

I also made a Summit to Summit and Park to Park contact with Andrew VK1AD who was activating Black Mountain VK1/ AC-042 in Black Mountain Nature Reserve VKFF-0834.

The band was very busy and at one stage I had F6ECS on the same frequency and also W1ZY calling CQ DX.  So I decided to QSY and try 20m.

I headed to 14.310 and started calling CQ and this was answered by Gerard F1BLL in France, followed by John VK6NU.  It was at this time that the Over the Horizon radar started up on 20m and I also started to get some bleedover from 14.307.  It didn’t look like it was my day.  But I did have some DX success working a total of 11 DX stations on 20m from Italy, France, Germany, Japan, Belgium, Czech Republic and New Zealand.

I also worked Andrew VK1AD again, on a new band from VK1/ AC-042 and VKFF-0834.  This just so happened to be Andrew’s 10,000th logged SOTA activator QSO.  What an amazing effort.  For more information on Andrew’s activation, please see his blog at…..

SOTA Milestone – 10,000 QSOs

I then lowered the squid pole and inserted the links for the 80m section and headed to 3.610 where I started calling CQ.  This was answered by John VK5NJ in Mount Gambier who was 5/9 plus to One Tree Hill.  I worked a further 7 stations on 80m from VK2, VK3, and VK5.

I then moved back to 40m where I booked in to the 7130 DX Net.  I worked a total of 13 stations on the net, from French Polynesia, New Zealand, VK2, VK5, VK6, VK7, and VK8.  When things became a little quiet on the net I had a quick tune across the band and worked special event call VI50DC celebrating the 50th anniversary of the introduction of decimal currency in Australia.

The 7130 DX Net had completed and it was now dark and it was time for me to head back to the motel room.  I had a total of 74 contacts in the log.

The following stations were worked:-

On Tuesday 15th November 2016 Andrew VK6AS and I had two scheduled Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) presentations to deliver in Melbourne.  So it was a fairly early start from Brenton VK3CM’s house at Tangambalanga where we had stayed overnight.

After breakfast we were on the road to Melbourne, a 350 km journey.  Along the way we dropped Brenton off in Benalla so that he could pick up his recently worked on Porsche.

Once in Melbourne Andrew and I headed to the clubrooms of the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Amateur Radio Club (FAMPARC).  It was a well received presentation and it was nice to catch up with a few people I had spoke with on our but never met in person.

At the end of this presentation we headed to the clubrooms of the Eastern and Mountain District Amateur Radio Club (EMDRC).  We enjoyed a sausage sizzle and mixing and chatting with the large number of attendees, before delivering our presentation.

At the conclusion of evening at EMDRC we headed to the home of Lee VK3GK who had kindly offered his house to stay at overnight.  Many thanks Lee.

After picking up Andrew VK6AS from the ALbury Airport we headed to SOTA summit Mount Baranduda VK3/ VE-189 which is located within the Baranduda Regional Park VKFF-0959.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Baranduda Regional Park in north eastern Victoria.  Map courtesy of google maps.

Mount Baranduda, a granite outcrop, is an isolated area of high country in the Baranduda Range.  The summit is designated as VK3/ VE-189 for the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program.  It is 775m / 2543ft above sea level in height and is worth 4 SOTA points.

The park is home to a large amount of native wildlife.  This includes the rare Spot-tailed quoll.  Wild deer can also be found in the park.  Silky Swainson-pea Swainsona sericea is a prostrate or erect pennial which grows to around 10 cm tall.  The plant had not been recorded in the area for over 50 years and was re-discovered in 2007 on the north west slopes of the Baranduda Regional Park.

Above: Silky Swainson-pea.  Image courtesy of Environment NSW.

Baranduda pastoral run was taken up in 1845 and it is thought that the name was derived from an Aboriginal expression relating to a swamp or a water rat.  Baranduda was a rural hamlet with numerous German farm selectors, who came from South Australia.  Beginning with the grazing of cattle, dairying and sawmilling were added, serving markets in Wodonga and providing timber sleepers for railway construction. A school was opened in 1880 and an inter-denominational church in 1912.  A memorial hall was built in 1955.

Andrew and I approached the park and the summit from the south, following the Beechworth-Wodonga Road until we reached Ewarts Road.

You immediately enter the park at this point, but we wanted to get to the summit itself, so we continued to follow Ewarts Road, admiring the view along the way.  We soon reached a gate which read ‘Road Closed.  Private property unauthorised persons prohibited.  Please shut gate’.  I had read on another activator’s blog that the gentleman who owned the property did not mind amateurs accessing the summit this way.  So Andrew and I entered the property and drove up the gentleman’s house and had a chat with him.  He was fine with us accessing the summit this way, so long as we shut gates.

entering the private property

looking up towards the summit

We followed the track up to Mount Baranduda.

Andrew and I decided to share the mic during this action and we headed to 7.090 where we commenced calling CQ.  Our first taker was Col VK3LED, but it wasn’t long and the Kandos Group started up on 7.093 and we were being wiped out.  So we headed up to 7.105 and again started calling CQ.  This was answered by Peter VK2NEO, Mick VK3PMG/VK3GGG and then Bill VK3LY.  Andrew and I were happy.  We had qualified the summit.

We were pushed a little for time so we did not expect to reach the required 44 QSOs for the global World Wide Flora Fauna program, but we were keen to get 10 QSOs and qualify the park for the VKFF program.  We were able to do that when Steve VK7CW called us, with a beautiful 5/9 signal.

Andrew and I worked a total of 21 stations on 40m until things started to really slow down.  We decided to give 80m a go, and after inserting the links in the dipole we headed to 3.610 on 80m and started calling CQ.  This was answered by Peter VK3ZPF and then Rob VK2QR.  We also spoke with Gerard VK2IO who was activating Bugong National Park VKFF-0063.

We then headed to 20m and called CQ but sadly there were no takers, so it was a quick look on 40m again where we logged a further 5 stations.  In all we ended up with a total of 30 contacts each, falling 14 short of the required 44.  It will need to be a return visit to this park.

I worked the following stations:-

At the conclusion of the activation Andrew and I headed to the Tangambalanga Hall and there delivered a presentation on the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA).

At the end of the evening we headed back to the home of Brenton VK3CM.  Brenton and his lovely wife Sam had kindly offered their home for us to stay overnight.

References.

ABC, 2016, <http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2015/03/06/4192471.htm&gt;

Victorian Landcare, 2016, <https://www.landcarevic.org.au/groups/northeast/baranduda-landcare-group/copy-of-rare-swainsona-survey/&gt;

<http://www.victorianplaces.com.au/baranduda&gt;

Warby Range Bushwalkers, 2016, <http://warbybushwalkers.org.au/2016/09/29/mount-baranduda-3rd-september/&gt;

It was now day four of my trip, Monday 14th November, 2016.  I had a 220 km drive ahead of me from Barmah to Tangambalanga.

Above:- Map showing my travels on Monday 14th November 2016.  Map courtesy of plotaroute.com

I had planned on activating SOTA peak Huon Hill in the Wodonga Regional Park, and later Mount Baranduda in the Baranduda Regional Park.  But first I had arranged to call in at Cobram to see Peter VK3FPSR.  Peter and I headed next door to the coffee shop and had a good 90 minute chat, before I again hit the road.  It was great to meet Peter for the very first time.

My first planned summit and park of the day was Huon Hill, VK3/ VE-237 which is 425m / 1394 feet above sea level in height and is worth 1 SOTA point.  The summit is named after the Huon family who gave the name ‘Wodonga’ to the stock run they rook up in the district in 1836.  The Huon homestead called ‘De Kerilleau’ was subsequently built in the 1870’s at the foot of Huon Hill.

Sadly just as I started driving in to Wodonga/Albury, it started to rain.  And it was quite heavy at times.  I was a bit concerned that the activation might be a washout.

The summit is located within the Wodonga Regional Park VKFF-0980, which was originally a cow paddock.   The summit was very easy to find and the GPS guided me there without any issues.  You will find a sign ‘Huons Hill Lookouts’ on the corner of Whytes Road and Murray Valley Highway.

A short drive up Whytes Road I reached Kenneth Watson Drive and a clearly marked sign stating ‘Huon Hill Lookout’.

I simply followed Kenneth Watson Drive and this took me to the entrance to the park.  As I drove up the dirt track towards the summit I was rewarded with some nice views of the surrounding countryside.   The track up is easily passable in a conventional vehicle.  There are a few cattle grids to negotiate.

Once you reach the top you will find two communication towers and a trig point.

You are also rewarded with some terrific views of Wodonga, Abury, Lake Hume, and the surrounding countryside.  And pleasing for me was that the rain appeared to be clearing, with some blue sky amongst the threatening clouds.

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I set up along the track leading to the tower on the east.  It is a little tricky to ensure that you are within the park boundary (see the maps and aerials below).  My operating spot was within the activation zone for the SOTA summit and also within the park boundary.

Above:- Map showing the Wodonga Regional Park (in pink) and the summit indicated by the red arrow.  Image courtesy of Forest Explorer. 

Above:- Aerial view of the summit showing my operating spot.  Image courtesy of google maps

I was hoping to get 44 contacts to qualify the park for World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) but I was cognisant of the time.  It was just after 1.00 p.m. local time and I had to pick up Andrew VK6AS from the Albury Airport at 3.00 p.m.  I started calling CQ on 7.090 and this was answered by Rick VK4RF/VK4HA who was a solid 5/9 and reciprocated with a 5/9 for me.  Next up was Nev VK5WG and then Geoff VK2HF/4.  First hurdle over, I had qualified the summit for SOTA.  The next target was 10 contacts to qualify the park for the VKFF program.

On my quest to 10 contacts I worked Greg VK5GJ running just 4 watts from Meadows in the Adelaide Hills.  Greg was 5/1 with his QRP.  I also logged Rob VK4AAC/3 in the Black Range State Park VKFF-0751.

Contact number ten was Jonathan VK7JON.  Hurdle number two over.  Next was the elusive 44.  Sadly I didn’t make it, falling short at 32 contacts in around 50 minutes on the hill.  But not before I made a few more Park to Park contacts:

• Mick VK3PMG/p, Chiltern Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620
• VK3GGG/p, Chiltern Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620
• Gerard VK2IO/p, Bugong National Park VKFF-0063
• Peter VK2TKK/p, Kurth Kiln Regional Park VKFF-0971

I only made one contact on 20m and that was with John ZL1BYZ in New Zealand.  And all my CQ calls on 3.610 on 80m went unanswered.

I worked the following stations :-

References.

Australian Government, 2016, <http://www.anzaccentenary.gov.au/news/norman-huon-wodonga-boy-who-never-made-it-home&gt;, viewed 21st November 2016