After returning to Goondooloo Cottage in the Deep Creek Conservation Park, with the help of Marija, I set up the station in the sun room at the rear of the cottage.  Sadly, when I turned the FT-857d on, the noise floor was about a strength 5.  But I did manage to work a total of 18 stations before relocating outside.  They included a number of park to park contacts as follows:-

• Andrew VK5MR/p, Caroona Creek Conservation Park
• Adrian VK5FANA/p, Innes National Park
• Greg VK5GJ/p, Lowan Conservation Park
• Norm VK5GI/p, Lowan Conservation Park
• Stev VK5HSX/p, Beachport Conservation Park
• Peter VK5FKLR/p, Whyalla Conservation Park

I then moved the gear outside and made a further 27 contacts on 40m including some more Park to Park contacts as follows:-

• Greg VK5ZGY/p, Karte Conservation Park
• Garry VK1ZZ/4, Forty Mile Scub National Park

It was then time to head in for some dinner.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5MR/p (Caroona Creek Conservation Park)
2. VK5FANA/p (Innes National Park)
3. VK5GJ/p (Lowan Conservation Park)
4. VK5GI/p (Lowan Conservation Park)
5. VK2YK
6. VK5FTVR
7. VK2RM
8. VK5FMID
9. VK3VEF
10. VK5HSX/p (Beachport Conservation Park)
11. VK5FKLR/p (Whyalla Conservation Park)
12. VK5TRM
13. VK3MRH
14. VK5NFT
15. VK3PMG
16. VK2XXM
17. VK5IS
18. VK5FD
19. VK7CW
20. VK5TR
21. VK5ZGY/p (Karte Conservation Park)
22. VK3FENV
23. VK6MB
24. VK5HOS
25. VK5FPAC
26. VK5DF
27. VK3AV
28. VK5NJ
29. VK2HHA
30. VK6OX/5
31. VK5HEL
32. VK2FSPG
33. VK4QQ
34. VK5ZA
35. VK6JON/m
36. VK5FGRY
37. VK3OHM
38. VK4FW
39. VK4HNS/p
40. VK3ZD
41. VK2NP
42. VK3MCD/p
43. VK5FKLF/p (Whyalla Conservation Park)
44. VK4FBMW
45. VK1ZZ/p (Forty Mile Scrub National Park).

Marija and I made quite an early start on Saturday (2nd April 2016) morning, after enjoying a nice breakfast and coffee.  Our plans for the day were to activate the Talisker Conservation Park, 5CP-223 and VKFF-0790, and then head back to the cottage in Deep Creek.  The Talisker Conservation is about 104 km south of Adelaide, and is just a short 6 km drive (by road) from the cottage.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Talisker Conservation Park, on the Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

We travelled along Blowhole Creek Road and then on to Three Bridges Road.  It wasn’t long before we reached the little area of Silverton.  We turned left on to Rarkang Road and it wasn’t long before we had reached the park.  On the way I had a chat on 40m with Dennis VK2HHA, Tony VK5ZAI mobile in St Arnaud in Victoria, Cliff VK2NP, and Mick VK3PMG.

Talisker Conservation Park was established in 1976 and consists of 211 hectares of native scrub set in very hilly terrain.  The park incorporates the old Talisker silver-lead mine, which was discovered by John McLeod in 1862.  It was named after a locality on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.  Talisker employed Cornish miners and supported a nearby township called Silverton.  The population of Silverton grew to 3000 at its peak in 1870.  The Talisker Mining Company worked the mine until falling ore grades and a lack of finance, forced the mine’s closure in 1872.  Between 1917 to 1920, the mine was worked again, mainly for arsenic.

Prior to activating the park, we continued south through the park along Talisker Road, enjoying the spectacular views across Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island.  The road does not take you down to the beach, but I recommend travelling as far south west as you can along Talisker Road, as the views are terrific.  4WD is recommended.

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Marija and I then returned back to the trig point in the highest point of the park.  This is called Tree Hill and is around 350 metres ASL.  There is a nice clearing here where you can park your vehicle and set up a dipole.

Above:- Map showing our operating spot in the north western section of the park, right alongside of the trig point.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

In fact, if you walk a short distance along the trail, you will reach an old camping area, some toilets and a wooden table and benches.  I suspect that in years gone by you could drive your car into the camping area, but there is now a locked gate preventing access.

Prior to calling CQ I had a look around the 40m band and found Peter VK3PF on 7.090 calling CQ from Point Hicks Marine National Park VKFF-0953, which was a unique park for me.  Peter had a nice 5/7 signal, and it was a nice start to the activation to get a “Park to Park” contact with a brand new park.

I then headed to 7.144 and started calling CQ.  This was answered by Mick VK3PMG, followed by Tony VK3VTH mobile (on his way to the Narracoorte Caves National Park), and then Steve VK7CW.  A short time into the activation, I had another two Park to Park contacts in the log.  This time it was with Greg VK5GJ and Norm VK5GI who were activating the Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park 5CP-152 and VKFF -0919 in the Murray Mallee.  Greg and Norm were a very strong 5/9.  Soon after, Adrian VK5FANA/p called in from the Warrenben Conservation Park 5CP-248 and VKFF-0818 on the Yorke Peninsula.  Adrian was a very strong 5/9 plus.

It was very pleasing to see the 40m band in great condition and even more pleasing to see a lot of park hunters.  Many of the normal suspects called in, but a few new calls also appeared in the log.  I worked a total of 41 stations in VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6 and VK7, before things started to slow down a little.  This included a QSO “Park to Park’ with Rob VK4AAC/3 who was portable in the Barmah National Park VKFF-0739.  A number of QRP callers gave me a shout, including Amanda VK3FQSO running just 1 watt (5/7 received), Brian VK5FMID running 5 watts from Mount Gambier (5/9 sent), Ron VK3HAK running 5 watts (5/7 sent), and Nev VK5WG running 5 watts from the Mid North (5/7 sent).

When the callers slowed down I took the opportunity of having a look around the band and worked Russ VK2BJP/3 activating SOTA peak The Horn, VK3/ VE-014 which was within the Mount Buffalo National Park VKFF-0339.  I then briefly booked in to the Riverland Radion Group Net on 7.115 to say hi to the Net Control Ron VK5MRE, before heading back to 7.144 where a small pile up commenced shortly thereafter.  My first contact after returning to 7.144 was with Peter VK3YE who was pedestrian mobile, with his normal beautiful signal.  Soon after I worked Greg VK5LG who was portable in the Cudlee Creek Conservation Park 5CP-050 and VKFF-1023.  Gerard VK2IO also gave me a shout from SOTA peak VK2/ HU-056 located in the Yengo National Park VKFF-0559.  Soon after I also spoke with Greg VK5GJ and Norm VK5GI who had now moved to the Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park 5CP-187 and VKFF-1082.

Again when callers slowed down, I tuned across the band and worked Keith VK5OQ operating portable from the Sandy Creek Conservation Park 5CP-204 and VKFF-0933.  I then headed up to 20m and commenced calling CQ on 14.310.  Band conditions on 20m were average with a lot of QSB (fading) on signals.  I only managed 3 contacts and they were with Ciff VK2NP, Mike VK6MB and Marc VK3OHM.

During the activation, we experienced some light drizzle coming in off the ocean, so the bothy bag was deployed for around 10 minutes, to shelter me and the equipment from the rain.

Upon returning to 40m I again spoke with Russ VK2BJP/3 on SOTA peak VK3/ VE-019, as it was a new UTC day and I could get some extra SOTA points.  The band was quite busy with a lot of park activators, but I eventually found 7.130 and started calling CQ again.  David VK5PL was the first to call in, followed by David VK5LSB, and then Gary VK5PCM.  I worked a further 15 stations here from VK2, VK3, VK5 and VK7, including two more Park to Park contacts.  They were with Peter VK5PET in the Kyeema Conservation Park 5CP-107 and VKFF-0826 and Tony VK5FTVR who was activating the Bullock Hill Conservation Park 5CP-173 and VKFF-0792.  This was Tony’s first ever park activation, so it was an absolute pleasure to get Tony in the log.

I then hunted around the band to find some more park activators and it didn’t take long for me to find Stef VK5HSX on 7.135, activating the Beachport Conservation Park 5CP-014 and VKFF-0791.  And then Greg VK5ZGY on 7.150 activating the Peebinga Conservation Park 5CP-173 and VKFF-0830.   I headed back to 7144 and started calling CQ again and this was answered by Peter VK5FLEX.  I worked a further 13 stations including a Park to Park contact with Peter VK3TKK in the Organ Pipes Conservation Park VKFF-0627.

I again went on my mission of seeking out some more park activators and worked Steve VK5SFA in the Morialta Conservation Park 5CP-142 and VKFF-0783, then Keith VK5OQ in the Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park 5CP-097 and VKFF-0897, Greg VK5GJ and Norm VK5GI both in the Ettrick Conservation Park 5CP-267 and VKFF-1029, and Andrew VK5MR operating portable in the Pualco Range Conservation Park 5CP-190 and VKFF-1083.

I decided to try 20m again, but conditions were no better there than earlier, with just three stations logged: Cliff VK2NP, John VK1JP, and Robert VK2XXM.  I then lowered the squid pole and replaced the linked dipole with my 15m 1/2 wave dipole, and started calling CQ on 21.244.  This was answered by Cliff VK2NP who had followed me up from 20m.  John VK1JP also called, but sadly he was struggling with my signal and we were unable to make a successful contact.  I decided to have a listen to the 15m ANZA DX Net on 21.205 and I am very glad I did, as I worked a total of 5 stations on the net: Tony VK2RI, Jim E51JD in the South Cook Islands, Colin VK4FAAS, Maurice ZL1ANF, and John VK7XX.

Time was marching on, but I decided to have one last listen on the 40m band before going QRT.  I bagged a few more Park to Park contacts: Tony VK3VTH in the Narracoorte Caves National Park 5NP-017 and VKFF-0380, Grant VK3VIM in the Great Otway National Park VKFF-0405, Peter VK3PF in the Croajingolong National Park VKFF-0119, Greg VK5ZGY in the Karte Conservation Park 5CP-099 and VKFF-0898, and finally Neil VK4HNS portable in the Bendidee National Park VKFF-0030.  This was Neil’s first ever park activation, so it was great to get a Park to Park contact with Neil.

It was time to pack up and head back to the Goondooloo cottage in the Deep Creek Conservation Park.  This had been a great activation, with a total of 121 contacts in the log.  This included 27 Park to Park contacts.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF/p (Point Hicks Marine National Park)
2. VK3PMG
3. VK3VTH/m
4. VK7CW
5. VK4HNS/p
6. VK5GJ/p (Mowantijie Willauwar Conservation Park)
7. VK5GI/p (Mowantijie Willauwar Conservation Park)
8. VK3MRH
9. VK3FOWL
10. VK5FANA/p (Warrenben Conservation Park)
11. VK3MCD
12. VK5BJE
13. VK5IS
14. VK3FQSO
15. VK6MB
16. VK5HEL/p
17. VK3TKK/p
18. VK5KLV
19. VK2PKT
20. VK3HJ/m
21. VK5FMID
22. VK2LEE
23. VK2HHA
24. VK3ANL
25. VK2NP
26. VK5KC
27. VK4AAC/3 (Barmah National Park)
28. VK5HCF
29. VK1DI
30. VK3SIM
31. VK3HAK
32. VK2GJC
33. VK5FTVR
34. VK3YSP
35. VK3JR
36. VK5WG
37. VK1AT/3
38. VK3BBB
39. VK5JK
40. VK5NFT
41. VK3VBI
42. VK2BJP/3 (SOTA VK3/ VE-014 and Mount Buffalo National Park)
43. VK5BRL
44. VK3YE/p
45. VK3VIN
46. VK5LG/p (Cudlee Creek Conservation Park)
47. VK3MIJ
48. VK3MCK
49. VK7EK
50. VK5ND
51. VK5HW/m
52. VK5RM
53. VK5MJ
54. VK2IO/p
55. VK3FSTA
56. VK5GJ/p (Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park)
57. VK5GI/p (Poonthie Ruwwe Conservation Park)
58. VK5FUZZ
59. VK5FD
60. VK2KF
61. VK3ZMD
62. VK2LKW
63. VK5MAS
64. VK5OQ/p (Sandy Creek Conservation Park)
65. VK2BJP/3 (SOTA VK3/ VE-019)
66. VK5PL
67. VK5LSB
68. VK5PCM
69. VK5FCJM
70. VK5DC
71. VK5AV
72. VK3FSPG
73. VK5PET/p (Kyeema Conservation Park)
74. VK3CM
75. VK3AFW
76. VK2PDW/m
77. VK5FTVR/p (Bullock Hill Conservation Park)
78. VK3MRH
79. VK7FMPR
80. VK3YYR
81. VK3FIRM
82. VK3LIP
83. VK5NIG
84. VK5HSX/p (Beachport Conservation Park)
85. VK5ZGY/p (Peebinga Conservation Park)
86. VK5FLEX
87. VK5TRM
88. VK4RF
89. VK4HA
90. VK3TKK/p (Organ Pipes National Park)
91. VK3ARH
92. VK3ANL
93. VK5FAKV
94. VK3AWG
95. VK3NBL
96. VK3SQ
97. VK3FALE
98. VK3FJBA
99. VK5FRCP
100. VK5SFA/p (Morialta Conservation Park)
101. VK5OQ/p (Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park)
102.  VK5GJ/p (Ettrick Conservation Park)
103. VK5GI/p (Ettrick Conservation Park)
104. VK5MR/p (Pualco Range Conservation Park)
105. VK3VTH/p (Narracoorte Caves National Park)
106. VK3VIM/p (Great Otway National Park)
107. VK3PF/p (Croajingolong National Park)
108. VK5ZGY/p (Karte Conservation Park)
109. VK4HNS/p (Bendidee National Park).

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2NP
2. VK6MB
3. VK3OHM
4. VK2NP
5. VK1JP
6. VK2XXM

The following stations were worked on 15m SSB:-

1. VK2NP
2. VK2RI
3. E51JD
4. VK4FAAS
5. ZL1ANF
6. VK7XX

After packing up Marija and I headed down to the old mine area for a walk.  Although we have been down here before, the interpretative walk through the old mining area and ruins is extremely interesting.

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On the way back to the cottage from Talisker I spoke in the mobile with Stef VK5HSX in the Beachport Conservation Park, then Greg VK5ZGY activating the Karte Conservation Park, and then Adrian VK5FANA operating from the Innes National Park.

After leaving Myponga, Marija and I continued south along the Main South Road, with our destination being the Deep Creek Conservation Park, 5CP-054 and VKFF-0780.  Deep Creek CP is located about 108 km south of Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Deep Creek Conservation Park, south of Adelaide.  Map courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

After passing the Myponga Reservoir we then drove through Wattle Flat until we reached the little two of Yankalilla.  I worked here way back in the mid 1980’s.  We continued on to Normanville and followed the coast, admiring the fantastic views of Lady Bay and Yankalilla Bay.  This is a very scenic drive through the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula.  We continued on to Second Valley and the little town of Delamere.  It was here that we turned left onto Cole Road.  It wasn’t long until we reached a sign for the park and Goondooloo Cottage on the corner of Cole Road and Dog Trap Road.

We continued south on Dog Trap Road until we reached the intersection with Three Bridges Road.  The SOTA summit, Black Bullock Hill VK5/ SE-016 is located here.  We continued south on Tent Rock Road until we reached the cottage which was well signposted.  The fun of unpacking then started.

The land on which Goondooloo Cottage stands and adjacent areas was originally opened up by Mr. Aaron Bennett in the 1880’s.  The nearby Aaron Creek and its walking trail commemorate this early pioneer.  The land was periodically fired on a north wind, burnt to the coast and then grazed with sheep and cattle until the scrub became too thick when the process was repeated.

In 1937, Arthur and Mavis Loch purchased the land and the adjacent ‘Tent Rock’ property where they built their house and commenced to clear the land using bulldozers.  The area around the cottage was cleared in 1951 to 1952 and the dam below the cottage was constructed about the same time.

Lennard and Hazel Graves, store keepers from Streaky Bay purchased the land from the Loch’s in 1955 and called their property ‘Karella’.  It was on this land that Mr. Graves and his sons Colin and Ross built a one room shed/garage from hand made bricks.  This was the basis of the cottage.  It was shortly after that a kitchen, two bedrooms, outside bathroom and toilet, laundry and enclosed sleepout/verandah were added.

This was to be a ‘temporary dwelling’ until 1961 when Mr. and Mrs. Graves built the house south of the cottage.  The cottage was then used as aresidence by Mr. Graves’ son, Ross and his wife Jean.  The surrounding land continued to be cleared and a dairy was established with the milking shed approximately 400 metres down the road from the cottage.

In 1972 the property and buildings were sold to W.H. ‘Bill’ McGrath and Anntette Forrest who renamed the property ‘Goondooloo’, the local aboriginal name for the Southern Cross star constellation.  The cottage underwent refurbishing, with front glass sunroom internal bathroom and vernadah added.  In 1979 the property was sold to the National Parks and Wildlife Service as part of the Deep Creek Conservation Park.

The cottage was leased out as a private residence until 1981 when it became the first Park Headquarters.  It was used for this purpose until the headquarters were shifted to the current location above Glenburn Cottage in 1985.  The building was used as a temporary Ranger’s residence and as a storage area until 1987 when it became a holiday cottage.

In 1984, Southern Ocean Retrests took on the management of the cottages in Deep Creek Conservation Park and embarked upon an extensive rennovation program for each cottage.  Work on Goondooloo commenced in 1998 and included a complete refit of the bathroom and kitchen areas, the laying of slate floors throughout and use of larger windows.  Other less visible changes included the establishment of an independent rainwater supply system no longer leaving the cottage at the mercy of dam water.  Revegetation of the surrounding area was undertaken at the same time by Southern Ocean Restreats utilising seedlings grown from seeds collected in the park.  These include stringy bark, sheoak, pink gum, cup gum and mauye bottle brush.

Marija and I highly recommend a stay here.  More information can be found at……

http://www.southernoceanretreats.com.au/

Above:- Map showing the location of Goondooloo cottage within the Deep Creek Conservation Park.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

Deep Creek Conservation Park is 44.96 km² (about 4,500 hectares) and is a spectacular park, with very thick scrub amongst some very hilly terrain.  The park contains some of South Australia’s most spectacular semi-wilderness areas and coastal scenery.  There are some amazing views to be enjoyed out to the Southern Ocean and across Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island.    The famous Heysen Trail passes through the park, and there are numerous other walking trails through the park.  Deep Creek CP was named after the waterfall which flows through the year.  The park is alive with Western Grey kangaroos.  Over 100 species of birds have been recorded in the park, and we certainly saw a lot including Wedge Tailed eages, Superb Blue wrens, numerous honeyeaters, and Rosellas.

Above:- Map showing the extent of the Deep Creek Conservation Park.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

After unpacking and settling in to the cottage, Marija helped me set up the portable station in the ‘back yard’ of the cottage.  I ran the Yaesu FT-857d, 400 watts, and the 20m/40m linked dipole for the activation (supported on the 7m heavy duty squid pole).  My first contact was with Mick VK3PMG who kindly spotted me on parksnpeaks.  This was followed by many of the ever keen park hunters including John VK5BJE, Amanda VK3FQSO (running just 1 watt and was 5/3), and Tony VK7LTD.

Nine QSOs into the activation and I worked Stef Vk5HSX ‘Park to Park’.  Stef was operating portable in the Little Dip Conservation Park 5CP-120 and VKFF-0904, in the South East of South Australia.  Unfortunately I started to experience the normal QRM from a VK2 Net on7.146.  Bill VK4FW tried calling but we just couldn’t quite make it due to the QRM, which fortunately did not last for long.  I continued to work a steady pile up of callers from VK2, VK3,, VK5, and VK7.  Sadly, the QRM free frequency didn’t last, with the stations starting up again on 7.144.  I perservered and worked a number of other stations including another “Park to Park” contact, this time with Rob VK4AAC/3 in the Barmah National Park VKFF-0739.  But it just got too tough and I decided to QSY to 20m.

I commenced calling CQ on 14.310 and was pleased to get Bill VK4FW in the log as number one on 20m.  This was followed by Cliff VK2NP, Jim VK1AT/3, and then my first DX for the park, Sergey RA3PCI in Russia.  This was followed soon after by Pista HA8CE in Hungary.  I then spoke with Garry VK1ZZ/4 in the Forty Mile Scrub National Park VKFF-0181, my first “Park to Park” for this activation on 20m.  I worked a few more VK4 and VK6 stations and also Alex UA3AR in Russia, but it was still a little too early for good long path Europe propagation.

So I headed down the band to the ANZA DX Net and checked in there.  I worked a total of 7 stations on the Net from VK1, VK4, VK6, New Caledonia, South Cook Islands, and China.  I then headed back to 40m.

I had a listen on 7.144 and heard Peter VK5PET calling CQ from the Mount Magnificent Conservation Park 5CP-148 and VKFF-0916.  Peter was activating the park as part of our normal Friday afternoon/evening event for the VK5 National and Conservation Parks Award, and had a beautiful 5/9 signal.  I knew that there were some more VK5 Park Activators out and about, so I decided to have a tune across the 40m band before finding somewhere to prop and start calling CQ.  It didn’t take me long to find Adrian VK5FANA on 7.130, operating from the Innes National Park 5NP-010 and VKFF-0243.  Adrian had a very strong 5/9 plus signal coming in from the bottom of the Yorke Peninsula.

Soon after I found Peter VK3PF on 7.100 on SOTA summit Granite Peak, VK3/ VG-137 which is located within the Alfred National Park VKFF-0618.  I then headed up to 7.150 and started calling CQ and it wasn’t long before the throng of park hunters had found me.  First taker was Ron VK3AFW, followed by Matt VK3FORD, and then Peter VK3TKK operating portable in the Organ Pipes National Park VKFF-0627.  Quite a pile up ensued with callers from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK5, all with excellent signals.

Whilst operating I had a crowd of onlookers.  No not people, but a mob of kangaroos who were grazing in the clearing about 100 feet from where I was operating.

When things quietened down a little I took the opportunity of looking around the 40m band again, and I soon found Gerard VK2IO in Gariral National Park VKFF-0191.  This was a very first time activation of the park, so I was very pleased to get Gerard in the log with a beautiful 5/9 signal.

I decided to head back to 20m and started calling CQ on 14.245.  To my surprise this was immediately answered by Mike M0FCD in England with a strong 5/9 signal (5/6 received).  This was followed by Steve who kindly placed me on the DX Cluster.  This clearly resulted in quite a few subsequent calls from Europe.  I worked into Italy, Belgium, Poland, Spain, Hungary, England, Portugal, Netherlands, Russia, Finland, France, Germany and Ukraine.  Signals were quite good.  In fact the best I had heard whilst out portable for some time.  I even got to work my good mate Danny ON4VT.

Danny asked if I could QSY up the band to work a Belgian Foundation operator.  Apparently they cannot operate below 14.250.  So I headed up the band to 14.285 where I spoke with ON3EVO/m (5/5 both ways).  I then returned back down to 14.245 where I worked into VK2, Alaska, Belgium (including my mate Swa ON5SWA), Germany, Slovak Republic, and Finland.  I then headed inside the cottage for some dinner and a few beers from the Smiling Samoyd Brewery at Myponga.

After dinner, I headed back outside again and called CQ on 7.150, which was answered by Rick VK5FGFK, followed by Lewis VK2JDW mobile, and then Darrell VK3AWA.  Next in the log was Oliver ZL1AAW in Auckland.  Band conditions were excellent again, with further calls from VK3, VK4, and VK6.  This included contacts with John VK6VZZ and Jonathan VK6JON, who were both mobile in Perth.

It was approaching 8.00 p.m. South Australian local time (0930 UTC) so I headed to the 7130 DX Net where I booked in and subsequently worked into VK4, VK6, VK7, and USA.  This included another “Park to Park’ contact with Garry VK1ZZ/4 in Forty Mile Scrub, Bill W1OW in Massachusetts in the USA, and Carstern VK6PCB portable on the banks of the Swan River in Perth, running just 5 watts.

It was the end of a great day.  I had 113 contacts in the log already from Deep Creek.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PMG
2. VK5BJE
3. VK3FQSOP
4. VK7LTD
5. VK5GJ
6. VK5GI
7. VK3SFG/p
8. VK3FOWL
9. VK5HSX/p (Little Dip Conservation Park 5CP-120 and VKFF-0904)
10. VK2YW
11. VK5KBB
12. VK5ZGY
13. VK2HHA
14. VK3TUL/p
15. VK2LEE
16. VK5FTVR
17. VK5FMID
18. VK2NP
19. VK2XXM
20. VK3FAPH/p
21. VK7CW
22. VK3AWG
23. VK4AAC/3 (Barman National Park VKFF-0739)
24. VK3SIM
25. VK5PET/p (Mount Magnificent Conservation Park 5CP-148 and VKFF-0916)
26. VK5FANA/p (Innes National Park 5NP-010 and VKFF-0243)
27. VK3PF/p (SOTA VK3/ VG-137 and Alfred National Park VKFF-0618)
28. VK3AFW
29. VK3FORD
30. VK3TKK/p (Organ Pipes National Park)
31. VK5KLV
32. VK3OF
33. VK2RM
34. VK4RF
35. VK4HA
36. VK5TRM
37. Vk5LDM
38. VK3FCCK
39. VK5JK
40. VK3FQSO
41. VK4QQ
42. VK5NRG
43. VK5KPR
44. VK5ZRY
45. VK1EL/p
46. VK4FFAB
47. VK2IO/p (Gariral National Park VKFF-0191)
48. VK5FGFK
49. VK2JDW/m
50. VK3AWA
51. ZL1AAW
52. VK3MCD/p
53. VK3TJK
54. VK4FBMW
55. VK4NAI/6
56. VK6VZZ/m
57. VK6JON/m
58. VK6WE
59. VK7ROY
60. VK4TH
61. VK1ZZ/4 (Forty Mile Scrub National Park VKFF-0181)
62. VK4MON
63. W1OW
64. VK6PCB/p

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4FW
2. VK2NP
3. VK1AT/3
4. RA3PCI
5. VK4HNS
6. VK3MCK
7. HA8CE
8. VK1ZZ/4 (Forty Mile Scrub National Park VKFF-0181)
9. VK6BG
10. VK4MNM/m
11. UA3AR
12. FK8HZ
13. BD4CZX
14. VK4DGU
15. VK4LJ
16. E51JD
17. VK4NH/6
18. VK1TX
19. M0FCD
20. VK4OZI
21. IZ1JMN
22. I5FLN
23. ON4VT
24. SQ1GQT
25. EA4DTV
26. HA6OB
27. G4OJY
28. CT2IHP
29. ON1JU
30. PD2JAM
31. M5AFD
32. R2AGM
33. G0RQL
34. EA2KV
35. OH6IU
36. F5XL
37. UR7ET
38. F1BLL
39. F6BWA
40. OT4V
41. DF4TD
42. ON3EVO/m
43. VK2QM
44. AL7KC
45. ON5SWA
46. OM7OM
47. DL1LQC
48. OH1NYD

On Friday 1st April 2016, Marija and I made a bright and early start and we headed off for the Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide.  We had booked in to stay for 3 nights at Goondooloo Cottage in the Deep Creek Conservation Park and had plans to activate that weekend a total of six parks for the 3rd year anniversary of the VK5 National and Conservation Parks Award.  Our first, and only activation for Friday was to be the Yulti Conservation Park, 5CP-261 and VKFF-1128.

Yulte Conservation Park is located about 60m south of Adelaide, and about 3 km south east of the town of Myponga.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Yulte Conservation Park, on the Fleurieu Peninsula.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

I have activated Yulti Conservation Park twice before, but this was to be my first activation of the park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  The park had not been on the WWFF list during my two previous activations.  So I was keen to get 44 QSOs.

Yulti Conservation Park is often referred to as Yulte Conservation Park on maps and various websites.  The Department of Environment Water & Natural Resources (DEWNR) website lists the park spelling as Yulte.  But the sign in the park itself shows the spelling as Yulti.  The road leading up to the park is spelt as Yulte.  The park derives its name from the Kauna aboriginal word ‘yulti’ meaning stringy bark.

The park is 41 hectares in size and consists of a series of hills and gullies.  It is disected by several small creeks with gurgling waterfalls.  The Heysen Trail passed through the dense overgrowth in the park.

As we drove along Pages Flat Road, the park soon came into view to our left across the cleared farming land.

We then turned left onto Barclay Road, and then right onto Rowley Road until we reached Yulte Road.  The Fleurieu Milk & Yoghurt Company has their processing plant on this corner.  We continued south along Yulte Road, which becomes Coopers Road.  On maps, Cooper Road continues out to Trig Point Road (but in reality this is not the case).  There is no vehicular access to the park from the Trig Point Road end.

Since last being at the park, it was evident that access up to the park sign was not possible, as there were a lot of tree branches down over Coopers Road (which is a 4WD track).  We parked the car at the ‘turn around’ at the end of Yulte Road, just down from the property called ‘Highlands’, and started carrying the gear a short distance up the track to our operating spot.

Above:- Map showing our operating spot on the western side of the Yulte Conservation Park.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

The track leading up to the park is quite a gentle slope and it is only a few hundred metres until you reach the park boundary.

As Yulte Conservation Park is located in the hills around Myponga, there are some very nice views to be enjoyed of the surrounding countryside if you get up high enough.

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We were up on air by 9.50 a.m. South Australian local time.  I headed to my nominated operating frequency of 7.144 and commenced calling CQ.  This was answered by Mick in Stawell in western Victoria with a beautiful 5/9 plus signal.  Mick kindly spotted me on parksnpeaks and this resulted in a mini pile up.  My second caller was Don VK3MCK who had become a regular park hunter of late, followed by Graham VK2MGA who was mobile on the Hume Highway, and had a strong 5/9 signal from his mobile.

Fourteen contacts into the activation and I had my first ‘Park to Park’ contact for the activation.  It was with Adrian VK5FANA who was operating portable in the Leven Beach Conservation Park, 5CP-117 and VKFF-0814, on the Yorke Peninsula (5/9 both ways).

I continued to work quite a pile up, with callers from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK6 with many of the regular park hunters featuring, but also some new callers.  I worked a total of 27 stations prior to the UTC rollover.  There were some nice QRP contacts and they included Paul VK3DBP running 2.5 watts and who was a good 5/3.  Also Amanda VK3FQSO running just 1 watt and who was 5/6.  Amanda often runs QRP and is always very readable to me whilst I’m out portable.

After the UTC rollover I worked a total of 22 stations on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK5.  This included another ‘Park to Park’ contact with Adrian VK5FANA.   Adrian stayed on the frequency with me, and we worked stations in tandem.  A few more QRP operators called in, including Greg VK5GJ at Meadows (5/7), and Brian VK5FMID running 5 watts (5/8 sent),  I lowered my power down to 5 watts and I dropped from a 5/9 to Brian, down to a 5/7, down to Mount Gambier, about 500 km to my south east.

I also tried 20m where I made a total of 5 contacts into VK2 and VK4.  Rick VK4RF/VK4HA was about 30db over S9, and gave me 20/9.  Other callers including Bill VK4FW, Geoff VK2WFF and Paul VK2PG running just 5 watts were also very strong.  But despite the 20m band being in very good shape, there were very few callers.

We spent a little under 2 hours in the park, and a total of 53 contacts were in the log.  Hopefully I had given some of the park hunters a brand new park, and I was pleased as I had qualified the park as an Activator.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB prior to the UTC rollover:-

1. VK3PMG
2. VK3MCK
3. VK2MGA/m
4. VK4FFAB
5. VK5BJE
6. VK4NH/6
7. VK5FMID
8. VK1AT
9. VK2HHA
10. VK3MEG
11. VK3DBP
12. VK5HCF
13. VK4HNS/p
14. VK5FANA/p (Leven Beach Conservation Park)
15. VK2MOR
16. VK3FQSO
17. VK5HS
18. VK2NP
19. VK5PL
20. VK5ZGY
21. VK2XXM
22. VK2YK
23. VK4RF
24. VK4HA
25. VK5BXN
26. VK2MTC
27. VK3FADM

The following stations were worked on 40m after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK2LEE
2. VK3PMG
3. VK2IO
4. VK3HKV/p
5. VK4RF
6. VK4HA
7. VK3ZMD
8. VK5KLV
9. VK3AV
10. VK3FLCS
11. VK2FAAA
12. VK7BC
13. VK3NBL
14. VK5GJ
15. VK5FANA/p (Leven Beach Conservation Park)
16. VK3MRH
17. VK5FMID
18. VK3PAT
19. VK3VIN
20. VK3EJS
21. VK2HHA

The following stations were worked on 20nm SSB:-

1. VK4RF
2. VK4HA
3. VK4FW
4. VK2WDD
5. VK2PG

After the park activation we drove down into the little town of Myponga and went to the Smiling Samoyd Brewery for lunch and some refreshments.  We started off with Arancini balls (containing rice, cheese & pumpkin), followed by a wood fired pizza.  BEAUTIFUL!  We also tried some of the home made beer: Kolsch, a German style Golden Ale, and a Full Flavoured Australian Dark Ale.  We highly recommend this place.  More info on the Smiling Samoyd can be found at…..

Home

References.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2011, Parks of the Fleurieu Peninsula

The weekend just gone (Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd April 2016) saw the special activation weekend to celebrate the 3rd year anniversary of the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award.

Firstly a huge thankyou to everyone who took part in the weekends event.  I hope everyone who took park, whether that was either as a park activator, or a park hunter, had a great time.

I activated 6 different Conservation Parks down on the Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide, and had a total of 602 QSOs.

On my way home from Victoria last week (Wednesday 30th March 2016) I called in to the Wolseley Common Conservation Park 5CP-258 and VKFF-1125, for a brand new activation for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  The park had been activated previously for the VK5 National and Conservation Parks Award, but this was to be the very first time that the park had been put on air for WWFF/VKFF.  It was also to be a unique park for me.

The Wolseley Common Conservation Park is located about 287 km south east of Adelaide and just 4 km from the South Australian/Victorian State border.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Wolseley Common Conservation Park near the Victorian border.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

Travelling west on the Western Highway in Victoria, I turned off at the Serviceton Road and made a short detour into the little town of Serviceton.  Why?  It was to view the historic Serviceton Railway Station.  I have been here before, but this building always impresses me.  The town of Serviceton was named after Sir James Service, Premier of Victoria in 1880, and again from 1883-1886.

In 1887, when the Victorian and South Australian railways were joined at the old State border, a railway station was constructed on the border.  The cost of the 3 level building was to be equally shared by the 2 colonies.  It was constructed of Horsham made bricks on the then ‘Disputed Territory’ and was completed in 1889.

The State border was intended to be on the 141st meridian east, however owing to a surveying error, border markers were placed 3.6 km west of the meridian.  In November 1913, the State of Victoria finally succeeded in having the erronously surveyed border declared to be the legal border .  As such, Serviceton is now fully in Victoria.

Today, the railway station is no longer in use, however The Overland and freight trains, pass through the town of Serviceton.  

After leaving Serviceton I travelled west along the Serviceton-Wolseley Road, crossing the South Australian/Victorian State border.

It wasn’t long until I reached the little town of Wolseley, which has an area population of about 351 people.  The town is situated about 5 km south of the Dukes Highway.  Wolseley was first proclaimed as a town in 1884 and was initially named Tatiara.

During the early 1880’s the railway line from Adelaide to Wolseley was opened.  The railway line from Melbourne to nearby Serviceton was completed in 1886.  The remaining ‘3 miles’ of track from Wolseley to Serviceton was completed by the South Australian Railways in 1887.  The railway station in the town was named after Field Marshal Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Vicount Wolseley KP, GCB, OM, GCMG, VD, PC, who was the Commander in Chief of the British Army.  The name of the town was changed to match the name of the station on the 20th February 1941.

Above:- Lord Wolseley.  Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

Wolseley Common Conservation Park is a small park, comprising about 25 hectares of one of the few remaining stands of Buloke Woodland on gilgai soil (comes from an aboriginal word meaning small waterhole), which is classified as endangered under national legislation.  The park which was proclaimed on the 29th November 2001, comprised the former parklands of Wolseley.  The commonages were used by locals for depasturing animals, firewood gathering, recreation and rubbish dumping.

The Buloke Woodland conserved by the park has been found to represent the best example of a remnant pure Buloke Low Woodland ecosystem on gilgai soil in South Australia. About 68 indigenous plant species can be found in the park, with 32 of those being of State and or Regional conservation significance.

It is reported that by the 1960’s, the land that now forms part of the park was reported to have been reduced to virtually bare ground with only a few scattered Buloke trees.  But with the decline of the town, the associated pressures on the land abated, and native vegetation commenced to regenerate.

It is estimated that Pre-European vegetation cover for Buloke Woodland was around 18,400 hectares, and currently only about 530 hectares remains (2.9%).

The park provides a vital food source for the endangered South Eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, which is restricted to a small area of South Australia and Victoria.  More information on this beautiful bird can be found on the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Recovery Project website at…..

http://www.redtail.com.au/

Above:- Red tailed black cockatoo.  Image courtesy of wikipedia.

I set up on the western side of West Terrace, on the southern side of the town of Wolseley.  I drove along a track which follows the fenceline, and established the station in a clearing.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Wolseley Common Conservation Park on the outskirts of the town of Wolesley and my operating spot.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

Enroute to the park I had telephoned John VK5BJE and asked him to place an alert for me on parksnpeaks, which he kindly did.  I then switched the transceiver in the 4WD over to 7.144 and heard John chatting to Adrian VK5FANA, waiting for me to come up.  So it was appropriate that John and Adrian were my first two contacts from the park.  This was followed by park devotees Col VK5HCF, Peter VK3PF, Peter VK3TKK mobile, and Mick VK3PMG.  Many of the normal ‘suspects’ called in across VK2, VK3, and VK5.

Unfortunately, after being on 7.144 for 15 minutes, I started to experience QRM from some stations on 7.142.  The splatter was just too great, so I decided to QSY to 20m.  I headed for 14.310 as Peter VK3PF had informed me that Glen VK6HAD was on a SOTA summit on that frequency.  I was pleased to find Glen coming in very well, with a nice 5/3 signal.  Not a strong signal, but perfectlly readable due to the low noise floor in the park.

I then worked Paul VK2KTT, Russell VK4ARW, Steve VK7CW, and finally Rick VK4RF/VK4HA.  All had solid 5/9 signals into Wolseley Common.

I then headed back to 40m and called CQ on 7.144 and this was answered by Lee VK2LEE.  The SOTA Goat app on my iphone then bleated, indicating that there was a SOTA activator out and about.  As it was quiet, I took the opportunity of heading to 7.090 where I worked Derek VK3XY on SOTA peak Mount Sarah VK3/ VE-032.  I then returned back to 7.144 where I worked a total of 27 stations in VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK5.  This included Gerard VK2IO who was portable on SOTA summit Mount Wolgan VK2/ CT-065 located within the Gardens of Stone National Park VKFF-0190.

Time was pushing on, so I had one last quick listen on 20m where I worked my good mate Greg VK8GM, Fred OE6BMG and Luciano I5FLN.  Sorry to all the other European stations that would have liked to have got this park in their log.  I still had a 3 hour journey home ahead of me and I had to go QRT.

Thanks to those who patiently waited for me on 2 occasions after my squid pole de-telescoped.  It is a brand new pole from Haverfords and has a crook section, and occasionally in high winds it collapses.  And that’s what it did here in Wolseley Common.

After a little under 2 hours in the park, I had a total of 59 contacts in the log.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5BJE
2. VK5FANA
3. VK5HCF
4. VK3PF
5. VK3TKK/m
6. VK3PMG
7. VK5KLV
8. VK5ND
9. VK5GJ
10. VK5PL
11. VK3SIM
12. VK3ZMD
13. VK2AJD
14. VK5FMID
15. VK2HHA
16. VK2NP
17. VK3PAT
18. VK3HSB
19. VK3DBP/2
20. VK5GI
21. VK3FJBA
22. VK2LEE
23. VK3XY/p
24. VK3TJK
25. VK3NRG
26. VK5ZGY
27. VK2JDS
28. VK3FOWL
29. VK4CPS
30. VVK5FTVR
31. VK5HDW
32. VK4RF
33. VK4HA
34. VK3KWB
35. VK1MA
36. VK3FQSO
37. VK2YW
38. VK4HNS/p
39. VK3MCK
40. VK5WG
41. VK3AAE/p
42. VK3BBB
43. VK5KS
44. VK2FJCQ
45. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ CT-065 and VKFF-0190)
46. VK5FD
47. VK3MRH
48. VK3MLU
49. VK2VAA
50. VK5YX

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK6HAD/p (SOTA VK6/ SW-007 and VKFF-0467)
2. VK2KTT
3. VK4ARW
4. VK7CW
5. VK4RF
6. VK4HA
7. VK8GM
8. OE6BMG
9. I5FLN

After the activation I stopped off for a look at the old fuel tanks on the edge of town.  During the early stages of the Second World War, No. 12 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot was established at Wolseley, with an initial capacity of 1.27 megalitres  in three tanks camouflaged to look like farm buildings. The depot started operations in 1942 and three additional tanks were added later.  It was disbanded on 14 June 1944

References.

Department for Environment and Heritage, 2006, Department for Environment and Heritage Management Plan

Kaniva live the country life, <http://www.kaniva.info/serviceton-railway&gt;, viewed 5th April 2016

Wikipedia, 2016, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serviceton,_Victoria&gt;, viewed 5th April 2016

Early on Tuesday evening (29th March 2016), after booking in to my motel, I decided to head out to Mount Arapiles for an activation for both the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program and the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  The Mount Arapiles summit, VK3/ VW-022 is located within the Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park VKFF-0765.

Above:- Map showing the location of Mount Arapiles in western Victoria.  Map courtesy of Forest Explorer.

The summit and park is just a short 25 km drive west of Horsham, out along the Wimmera Highway.  It is located about 10 km west of the little town of Natimuk, which is where my Nana spent her final years before passing away aged 96 years.

Above:- Map showing the location of Mount Arapiles in western Victoria, to the west of Natimuk.  Map courtesy of Forest Explorer.

Mount Arapiles summit is 369 metres above sea level and is worth just 1 SOTA point.  The summit has been activated a total of 11 times (including by myself back in September 2013).

The Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park has been activated a total of 4 times.  The last time I activated the SOTA peak, the park was not part of the WWFF program, so this was to be a unique park activation for me.

Mount Arapiles, known as Djurite for the local Dhurid Balud aboriginal people, is one of Australia’s best rock climbing areas and rises very sharply from the Wimmera plains.  It is world renowned and has more than 2,000 developed routes on the many cliffs, crags and pinnacles.  The park, which is 7,475 hectares in size, was created in 1987.

The first recorded ascent of Mount Arapiles was on the 23rd day of July 1836, by Major Thomas Mitchell, who was the European who discovered the summit.  He named the summit after the Arapiles hills near Salamanca in Spain, where the Battle of Salamanca took place, and where Mitchell had seen action.

Mitchell said the following in his diary on the 22nd July 1836…..

“This certainly was a remarkable portion of the earth’s surface, and rather resembled that of the moon as seen through a telescope.”

A total of 14% of Victoria’s flora species are represented in the park.  The Peregrine Falcon, which can reach speeds of up to 389 kmh, can be found at Mount Arapiles.

Above:- Peregrine Falcon.  Image courtesy of wikipedia.

As I drove to west, it looked very gloomy and I could see some shower activity around Mount Arapiles.  Fortunately as I got closer, the rain band had moved away from the area of the summit/park.

The park is well sign posted off the Wimmera Highway, and a bitumised road leads to a carparking area at the top of the summit.

I parked the 4WD in the carpark and then lugged the gear up the flight of steps to the trig point (a distance of around 50 metres).

Once at the top I set up just to the north of the trig point and fire tower.

Above:- Map showing the road leading up to the summit.  Courtesy of OpenStreetMap.

After setting up I took the opportunity of taking some photographs prior to it getting dark.  There are terrific views in all directions from the top of the summit.

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At 7.20 p.m. Victorian local time I commenced calling CQ on 7.090 and it wasn’t long for a mini pile up to commence.  The first caller of the activation was Peter VK3PF, followed by Brian VK3BBB, Col VK3LED, and then Mike VK5FVSV.  The 40m band was in excellent condition, with strong signals from all across Australia: VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK6.  I also received three calls from New Zealand: Andrew ZL3CC in Christchurch, Ken ZL4KD in Christchurch, and ZL3NF in Timaru.

I was thrown a bit by one call, and that was VK5/HF9ZZ.  It was Jack from Poland who is on holidays in South Australia.

I also managed a park to park contact with Rob VK4AAC/3 who was in the Echuca Regional Park VKFF-0966.  Sadly there were no summit to summit contacts to be had.

After 50 minutes on the summit/in the park, it was dark, and I had a total of 50 contacts in the log.  I had qualified the SOTA peak and also the park for both the VKFF and WWFF programs.

The following stations were worked:-

References.

Parks Victoria, June 2014, Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park

Wikipedia, 2016, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Arapiles&gt;, viewed 5th April 2016

Last week I had to travel to Victoria to attend a funeral in Horsham in the Wimmera region of Victoria.  One of my Uncles had been battling cancer for some time and succumbed to the illness.   So to break up the drive I decided to activate the Kelvin Powrie Conservation Park (CP), 5CP-103 and VKFF-0899 on Tuesday 29th March 2016.  That morning I had attended a morning coffee session in Mount Barker with other amateurs, so straight after coffee I headed east towards the Victorian border.

Kelvin Powrie Conservation Park is situated about 217 km south east of Adelaide, and around 8 km north west of the town of Keith.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Kelvin Powrie Conservation Park in the South East of the State.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

I had activated Kelvin Powrie CP previously (back in November 2014) for the VK5 National and Conservation Parks Award, but the park was now part of the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program, so this was to be a unique VKFF activation for me.

The park consists of an area of about 17.66 hectares and was gazetted in 1971.  It is a narrow strip of scrub located between the busy Dukes Highway (main Highway between Adelaide-Melbourne), and the Adelaide-Melbourne rail line. The park was named after James Kelvin Powrie (1926-1968), who was an agricultural scientist.  Powrie undertook research into what minerals were required to improve the soil quality of the infertile sands of the region.  This entire region was once classified by farmers as ‘unproductive scrub’.  Powrie was one of those who helped transform the district into valueable grazing and farming land.

Sadly Powrie died in his early 40’s, on the 22d day of May 1968 as a result of a motor car accident on the 20th May near Penola.  His obituary stated:

“Kelvin Powrie was a gentleman; and nobody – student, colleague or friend – could help but be aware of it, no matter what his nationality or cultural background’.

Not doubting this individual’s achievements, but it is a little surprising that a piece of scrub was named in honour of someone who played a hand in clearing the land.

On the way to the park, as I was passing through Tailem Bend I had a chat with Luke VK3HJ who was also mobile, and Gary VK5ZK on 7.095.  As I travelled further east, between Tailem Bend and Coomandook I spoke with Ray VK3NBL in Melbourne, and then Tim VK3TJK near Bendigo.

Just prior to reaching the park I stopped off at the Ngarkat Rest Area on the Dukes Highway.  There are some interesting plaques here telling the story of the Ninety Mile Desert and the breakthroughs of the many agricultural scientists, including Powrie.

I continued a short distance up the road, until reaching the turn off on the Dukes Highway, into the park.  It is not signposted.  So don’t blink.  You will miss it.  The sign to the park is only visible once you’ve entered the carparking area.

There is a nice area here, with plenty of room to park the car.  I set up just outside of the carpark, in a small clearing on the south eastern side.  I didn’t have a lot of time in the park, so I quickly set up the deck chair, the fold up table, the 7m squid pole and the remainder of the station.

I was fortunate in that I had the carpark all to myself.  The sound of passing traffic on the busy Dukes Highway and the occasional train passing by were a reminder that this park is a little piece of paradise surrounded by road, rail, and farming land.

Above:- A map showing my operating position in the south eastern section of the park.  Map courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

I headed for my nominated operating frequency of 7.144 and found that it was already occupied by Ben VK7BEN who was operating portable from the Peter Murrell State Reserve, VKFF-1146.  Ben had a good 5/7 signal so I gave him a shout.  As it turned out, this was Ben’s first time out in a park for WWFF.  Ben had an antenna issue whilst we were chatting, and Peter VK3PF took the opportunity of calling in and getting me in the log.  Kelvin Powrie CP was a unique park for Peter.

After chatting with Ben and Peter, I then headed down to 7.150 and started calling CQ and this was answered by Col VK5HCF in Mount Gambier, followed by Rob VK4AAC/3 in the Echuca Regional Park VKFF-0966.  Not bad at all, two park to park contacts in just 4 QSOs.  Despite the fact that it was  a weekday, there was a steady flow of callers, with many of the regular call signs appearing in the log.  The 40m band was in quite good shape, with signals into VK3 and around VK5 being strong.  Signals into VK2 and VK4 were strong to moderate in strength.

It was pleasing to get two QRP contacts in the log.  The first was with Damien VK5FDEC running 5 watts from the norther suburbs of Adelaide (5/9 both ways), and then Paul VK3DBP/2 also running 5 watts (5/3 sent and 5/8 received).

After working 25 stations on 40m I lowered the squid pole and removed the links in the dipole and headed to 14.310 on 20m.  I commenced calling CQ and Cliff VK2NP came up to say hello with a strong 5/8 signal from Sydney.  Cliff had also called me on 40m, and he was an S point stronger on 20m.  This was followed by Mr. Reliable, Rick VK4RF/VK4HA who was his normal 5/9, and whom kindly spotted me on parksnpeaks.  Gerard VK2IO mobile then called in, followed by Martin VK6ZMS mobile in Fremantle, and finally John VK6NU.

On air

‘the shack’

The squid pole strapped to a fencepost

I was only up to contact number 31.  I had spent just under an hour in the park, and I really needed to get back on the road and continue my journey to Horsham.  I would not be qualifying the park for the global WWFF program this time around.  But I did have my 10 contacts, so I had qualified the park for the Australian (VKFF) program.

After packing up I took the time to climb the short distance to the top of the sandhill for a view accross the park.  At the start of the walk there is a small plaque to honour Kelvin James Powrie.

There is a very easy walk and the path is well maintained.  The park was alive with native flowers including Banksias and Correas, and of course the honeyeaters were out in force.  Despite the fact that it was overcast, it was quite a warm day, so I made as much noise as possible, in the hope that it might scare off any unwelcome visitors in the form of snakes.

The view from the top of the sandhill is quite impressive.  Although not really high, it gives you a very good feel for the park.  The busy Dukes Highway and the passing traffic is clearly visible to the south, and to the north of the park you can see the Adelaide-Melbourne rail line and the surrounding farm land.

Looking south towards the Dukes Hwy

Looking north west towards the rail line and farm land

I returned to the 4WD and continued on my trip towards the Victorian border.  Kelvin Powrie is a great little park, which I suspect most people would not even know about.  So if you are down in the south east, don’t forget the Kelvin Powrie Conservation Park.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK7BEN/p (Peter Murrell State Reserve VKFF-1146)
2. VK3PF
3. VK5HCF
4. VK4AAC/3 (Echuca Regional Park VKFF-0966)
5. VK5PL
6. VK3TJK
7. VK5KLV
8. VK2GAZ
9. VK3PMG
10. VK5FDEC
11. VK2HHA
12. VK3DPP/2
13. VK5HDW
14. VK3SIM
15. VK3MCK
16. VK2IO
17. VK5FMID
18. VK3FD
19. VK3DAZ
20. VK3TKK/m
21. VK2JAZ
22. VK2NP
23. VK5BGN
24. VK4RF
25. VK4HA

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2NP
2. VK4RF
3. VK4HA
4. VK2IO/m
5. VK6ZMS/m
6. VK6NU

After leaving the park (and whilst between Bordertown & Keith) I heard Rob VK4AAC/3, still in the Echuca Regional Park.  Rob had such a good strong signal that I couldn’t resist calling him.  After chatting with Rob, I headed up the band a bit and called CQ again and this was answered by Grant VK5VGC, followed by Tony VK5FTVR, and then Ian VK3VIN.  Ian and I had quite a chat until I got to Kaniva in western Victoria.

After leaving Kaniva I again called CQ and spoke with Ed VK3EE and then had an enjoyable chat with Jen VK3FJEN.  As I approached Nhill I was called by  John VK5EMI, and as I entered Nhill I again spoke with Ben VK7BEN/p in the Peter Murrell State Reserve.  I continued east on the Western Highway, and as I approached Horsham I booked in to the Kandos Group on 7.093 and spoke with VK2ARK (Ron VK5MRE).

References.

Australian Society of Soil Science, 1968, ‘Soils News’ No. 24 June 1968

On Tuesday 29th March 2016, I met with a number of other amateurs at Cafe Aqua at Mount Barker, for morning coffee.  This was the inaugural meeting of a monthly get together I have organised for amateurs who are interested in parks activating, SOTA, QRP, etc.

The following amateurs attended:-

1. Paul VK5PAS
2. John VK5BJE
3. Peter VK5PM
4. Gordon VK5GY
5. Tony VK5FTVR
6. Peter VK5PET
7. Iain VK5ZIF
8. Kevin VK5KS
9. David VK5KC
10. Bob (friend of David VK5KC)

A number of stories were shared about portable operating experiences, and information exchanged about interesting websites.

We will hold these events each month in different locations, allowing amateurs from all across the Adelaide area to attend.  It is planned that they will be coffee mornings, and lunches, and will occasionally include a quick talk on a particular subject.

I will post details about the next meeting date and venue on the AHARS Facebook site, the VK5 Parks Facebook site, and the VKFF/SOTA Facebook site.  I also have an email list, so if you would like to be added, please send me an email to…………..

vk5pas@wia.org.au

The Murray River Parks Award has now been officially released.  And my email has been running hot with applications via Logsearch.  I’ve sent out 12 already this morning.

The award is issued to Activators and Hunters, for operating from, or making contact with activators, in certain parks along the stretch of the mighty Murray River.  There are 32 qualifying parks.

I have made the levels very achievable to get involved.  Level 1 = 10 parks.  Level 2 = 20 parks.  Level 3 – all 32 parks.

Thankyou to Andrew M0YMA for incorporating the award into Logsearch.

More info can be found at…….

http://www.wwffaustralia.com/murray-river-parks-award.html