I received the QSL card below in the mail from Radio Thailand for my reception of their station on 9385 kHz on 6th August 2023.

Also included was a pad of stickers.

I received the QSL card below in the mail from Radio Thailand for my reception of their station on 9385 kHz on 6th August 2023.

Also included were some stickers.

After leaving the Carapooee Creek Streamside Reserve, we drove a short distance to our next activation, the Carapooee I46 Bushland Reserve VKFF-4268. The park is about 11 km southeast of St Arnaud and about 236 km northwest of Melbourne.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Carapooee I46 Bushland Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

We drove south along Marchment Road and we soon reached the reserve.

The Carapooee I46 Bushland Reserve is about 10 hectares in size and was established on the 24th day of August 1982. (CAPAD 2022)

Above:- An aerial view of the reserve, also showing the Caropooee Creek Streamside Reserve and the Carapooe I47 Bushland Reserve. Image c/o Google Maps.

Initially, we thought that we may have some access issues into this park as we found a gate with a ‘Do not enter’ sign. This is a ‘strange’ park in that it contains Forster’s Quarry. Fortunately, we found a part of the park in the southern section, where we could drive in along a 4WD track.

We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. I used the special event callsign of VI10VKFF.

Above:- An aerial view of the reserve showing our operating spot. Image c/o Google Earth.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3GCM/p (VK-TNL3)
2. VK3UCD
3. VK5DW
4. VK3CLD/p (Kosciuszko National Park VKFF-0269)
5. VK7XX
6. VK3PF
7. VK3KAI
8. VK3DCQ
9. VK3ZSC
10. VK3CEO

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3GCM/p (VK-TNL3)
2. VK3UCD
3. VK5DW
4. VK3CLD/p (Kosciuszko National Park VKFF-0269)
5. VK7XX
6. VK3PF
7. VK3KAI
8. VK3DCQ
9. VK3ZSC
10. VK3CEO
11. VK3QA
12. VK1AO
13. VK2MET
14. VK3YV
15. VK3TNL
16. VK3ZGA
17. VK5AMH/m
18. VK5FANA
19. VK3TKK/m
20. VK3KRL

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4NH
2. VK4DXA

References.

1. Dcceew.gov.au. (2023). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2022 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2022 [Accessed 26 Feb. 2024].‌

Our second Monday 20th November 2023 activation was the Carapooe Creek Streamside Reserve VKFF-3641. However, it was not our preferred option.

We had hoped to activate the Carapooee I48 Bushland Reserve. We found a dirt track leading to the reserve set off the road. However, we were unsure if this was private property so we decided not to venture down the track. A little further up Kooreh Road, we found an unlocked gate with a track that led to the park, but again we decided to err on the side of caution and not activate this park.

We drove a bit further north on Kooreh Road towards the Carapooee I47 Bushland Reserve which the maps showed was set off the road. Unfortunately, we found a locked gate with a ‘do not enter’ sign on it. Strike two. It was now time to review our options.

We decided to activate the Carapooe Creek Streamside Reserve. The park is located about 13 km southeast of St Arnaud and about 238 km northwest of Melbourne.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Carapooee Creak Streamside Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The first European settlers in the area occupied the Strathfilan pastoral run which was taken up in 1844. Strathfillan comprised 106,000 acres. In 1857 the run came into the hands of David Peters @ Peter (b. 1819. d. 1881). He was born in February 1819 in Forfar, Angus, Scotland and emigrated to Victoria in 1842, aged 22 years. In 1858 gold was discovered in the area and the settlement that sprung up as a result was known as Peter’s Diggings. Between 1859 to 1860 there were 1,300 miners as Peter’s Diggings. (Victorian Places 2024) (Wikitree 2024)

Peters sold Strathfilan Station in 1861 for £14,940. He had benefited substantially from gold finds and had accumulated a small fortune from the sale of his various properties. In 1864 he travelled to Europe for 14 months to seek a cure for his gout. He returned to Australia in 1865 but by 1870 he and his family returned to Europe, travelling extensively and spending about  £10,000 on living and accommodation expenses. He died in Germany in 1881. Following his death, his wife and family returned to Australia. (Wikitree 2024)

Bailliere’s Victorian gazetteer of 1865 recorded that Peter’s Creek had two quartz-crushing mills, three hotels, and a brewery. (Victorian Places 2024)

Above:- Article from the Bendigo Advertiser, Wed 9 Jun 1858. Image c/o Trove.

By the 1870s the area became known as Carapooee, named after the Parish. Carapooee is derived from an aboriginal word carripooi meaning hill. Carapooee was originally known as Peter’s Diggings. Carapooe Creek is a tributary of the Avoca River and was originally called Campbell’s Creek. (Blake 1978) (Victorian Places 2024)

The Carapooee Streamside Reserve is about 9 hectares in size and was established on the 24th day of August 1982. (CAPAD 2022)

Above:- An aerial view of the reserve, looking towards St Arnaud. Image c/o Google Maps.

The reserve is located on either side of Carapooee Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the Carapooee Creek Streamside Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The Carapooe Creek passes through the reserve. During our visit, the creek was virtually dry.

Opposite the reserve is a vineyard from the old Berrys Bridge winery and an old red brick 1860s miners’ cottage. (Commercial Real Estate 2024)

We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. I used the special event callsign of VI10VKFF.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3UAO/p (Errinundra National Park VKFF-0158)
2. VK3PF
3. VK3KAI
4. VK3SQ
5. VK2BD
6. VK5DG/p (Nangwarry Native Forest Reserve VKFF-3432)
7. VK3BEL/p (Tocumwal Regional Park VKFF-0978)

Marija worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK3CEO
4. VK3CA
5. VK3SQ
6. VK2BD
7. VK2IO/p (Brindabella National Park VKFF-0054)
8. VK3UAO/p (Errinundra National Park VKFF-0158)
9. VK3BEL/p (Tocumwal Regional Park VKFF-0978)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3UAO/p (Errinundra National Park VKFF-0158)
2. VK3PF
3. VK3KAI
4. Vk3SQ
5. VK2BD
6. VK3CEO
7. VK3PWG
8. VK3CA
9. VK5BB
10. VK5DG/p (Nangwarry Native Forest Reserve VKFF-3432)
11. Vk1AO
12. Vk2MET
13. VK3TUN/p (Nangwarry Native Forest Reserve VKFF-3432)
14. VK3ZSC
15. VK2TOT/p (Silo VK-AVA3)
16. VK3VMM
17. VK3KR
18. VK7EE
19. VK3QH
20. VK3BSF
21. VK3YV
22. VK3TNL
23. VK3BEL/p (Tocumwal Regional Park VKFF-0978)
24. VK3SO
25. VK5HS
26. VK3UCD
27. VK3CLD
28. VK2HHA
29. VK3UP/m

I worked the following stations on 40m AM:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK3CEO
4. VK3CA
5. VK3SQ
6. VK2BD
7. VK2IO/p (Brindabella National Park VKFF-0054)
8. VK3UAO/p (Errinundra National Park VKFF-0158)
9. VK3BEL/p (Tocumwal Regional Park VKFF-0978)
10. VK5HS
11. VK3SO
12. VK3UCD
13. VK3GCM/p (Silo VK-TNL3)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4NH
2. VK4DXA
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK7EE
6. VK4EHI
7. VK4EW

I worked the following station on 20m AM:-

1. VK4EW

References.

1. CommercialRealEstate.com.au. (2023). 633 Carapooee Road, Carapooee VIC 3477 – Sold Rural & Farming | Commercial Real Estate. [online] Available at: https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/633-carapooee-road-carapooee-vic-3477-2018371222 [Accessed 26 Feb. 2024].
2. Dcceew.gov.au. (2023). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2022 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2022 [Accessed 21 Feb. 2024].‌
3. ‌Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
4. ‌www.victorianplaces.com.au. (n.d.). Carapooee | Victorian Places. [online] Available at: https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/carapooee [Accessed 26 Feb. 2024].‌
5. http://www.wikitree.com. (1819). David (Peter) Peters (1819-1881) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree. [online] Available at: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Peter-1472 [Accessed 26 Feb. 2024].‌

Our first activation for Monday 20th November 2023 was the St Arnaud Regional Park VKFF-0977. Marija and I activated this park on Sunday 19th November and we wanted to pick up a few more QSOs from this park to reach the 44 QSOs required to qualify the park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

We had a cooked breakfast in St Arnaud and then headed out to the lookout at the park.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2VAR/p (Triplarina Nature Reserve VKFF-2746)
2. VK3UAO/p (Snowy River National Park VKFF-0455)
3. VK5DG/p (Telford Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-0805)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. Vk2BD
3. VK5HS
4. VK3PF
5. VK3KAI
6. VK3CA
7. VK5IS
8. VK3BBB
9. VK2CCP
10. VK2VAR/p (Triplarina Nature Reserve VKFF-2746)
11. VK3APJ
12. VK2DG
13. VK1DI
14. VK3CEO
15. VK3UAO/p (Snowy River National Park VKFF-0455)
16. VK3YV
17. VK3ZSC
18. VK3HM
19. VK5KVA
20. VK1AAF
21. VK3AHR
22. VK3CBP
23. VK5DG/p (Telford Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-0805)

1. VK3UAO/p

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4NH
2. VK4DXA
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET

I worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

1. VK4NH
2. VK4DXA
3. VK4ABK

I managed to pick up enough stations to get me over the line with 44 QSOs. We then visited The Wax Garden at St Arnaud. Unfortunately, it was not the right time of the year to visit this 3.9-hectare park. During October there is a profusion of Fair Wax flowers. A total of 70 native flower species have been recorded in the Wax Gardens. Despite the lack of flowers, we enjoyed a nice walk around the park. (Aussie Towns 2024) 

We then drove to Bell Rock which is within the St Arnaud Regional Park. The area was formerly known as Sebastopol Hill and since the 1850s the area has been mined for silver and gold and used for eucalyptus oil extraction. Bell Rock is named for its distinctive shape. This area was underwater about 540 million years ago. (Geocaching 2024)

Whilst at Bell Rock we logged a Park to Park contact with Stuart VK3UAO.

Marija worked the following station on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK3UAO/p (Snowy River National Park VKFF-0455)

I worked the following station on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK3UAO/p (Snowy River National Park VKFF-0455)

Our next stop was Loves Cottage in St Arnaud, one of the earliest miner’s properties in the town. It was originally built in 1868 with layers of flat stones from a nearby mine, constructed by John Tyson (b. 1843. d. 1901) with the assistance of William Thompson. The property was later owned by Robert Love (b. 1853. d. 1926) who built a blacksmith shop and stables on the property. In 1985 the property was bequeathed to the National Trust following the death of Robert Love’s daughter-in-law, Ethel Love. (Heritage Council 2024)

We then headed off to our next activation at the Carapooee Creek Streamside Reserve.

References.

1. Bibliophile (2014). Wimmera…way back when: In Love with the cottage. [online] Wimmera…way back when. Available at: https://wimmera-w-b-w.blogspot.com/2014/12/in-love-with-cottage.html [Accessed 24 Feb. 2024].
2. ‌Francis, G. (n.d.). St Arnaud, VIC. [online] Aussie Towns. Available at: https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/st-arnaud-vic.‌ [Accessed 25 Feb. 2024].
3. Geocaching (n.d.). Geocaching – The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site. [online] http://www.geocaching.com. Available at: https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC5E6TK [Accessed 24 Feb. 2024].‌
4. Vic.gov.au. (2017). VHD. [online] Available at: https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/. [Accessed 24 Feb. 2024].‌‌

Received via email this evening.

The DXFFF Hunter 60 award. It is issued for having worked WWFF reference areas in 60 different DXCC entities.

Thanks to all of the WWFF activators and to Swa ON5SWA the Awards Manager.

My latest WWFF National certificate issued by the EAFF team. Issued for having worked 20 different EAFF reference areas.

Thank you to all of the EAFF activators and thank you to the EAFF Award Manager Estella EA4DE.

Here are my latest FT8 award certificates.

Thank you to all of the FT8 operators and the various Award Managers.

Our final activation for Sunday 19th November 2023 was the Wimmera River Marma Streamside Reserve VKFF-3921. The park is located about 31 km east of Horsham and about 284 km northwest of Melbourne.

This was the first time the park had been activated for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of the park. Map c/o Google Maps.

The Wimmera River Marma Streamside Reserve is bordered by Burnt Clay Road to the north, and the Horsham-Lubeck Road to the south.

Above:- An aerial view of the Wimmera River Marma Streamside Reserve. Image c/o Google Earth.

The reserve is about 129 hectares in size and was established on the 22nd day of November 1983. (CAPAD 2022) The Wimmera River passes through the park. Mount William Creek is located on the park’s western boundary. It flows into the Wimmera River.

In 1836, the Wimmera River was explored by Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell (b. 1792. d. 1855) during his Australia Felix (Happy Australia) expedition of western Victoria. It is believed that Wimmera is an aboriginal word for a throwing stick. The Wimmera River rises in the Pyrenees Range near Ararat and flows northwesterly through Horsham and empties into Lake Hindmarsh near Jeparit. (Victorian Places 2024)

Above:- Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell. Image c/o Wikipedia.

Mitchell did however make an inaccurate deduction regarding the Wimmera River. Whilst near Mount Arapiles in the Grampians he stated:

“Upon the whole, I think that the estuary of the Wimmera will most probably be found either between Cape Bernouilli and Cape Jaffa, or at some of the sandy inlets laid down by Captain Flinders…At all events I here abandoned the pursuit of that river, and determined to turn towards the south-west that we might ascertain what streams fell in that direction from the Grampians and also the nature of the country between these mountains and the shores of the Southern Ocean.” (Gutenberg 2024)

We accessed the park via a dirt track that ran off Burnt Clay Road. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. I used the special event callsign of VI10VKFF. We had no internet coverage in the park, so we thank those who took the time to spot us on the parksnpeaks website.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5FR/p (Lashmar Conservation Park VKFF-0902)
2. VK2YK
3. VK5GA
4. VK3PF
5. VK3KAI
6. VK3CLD/p (Kosciuszko National Park VKFF-0269)
7. VK3SG
8. VK7IAN
9. VK3MCA
10. VK4NH
11. VK4DXA

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5FR/p (Lashmar Conservation Park VKFF-0902)
2. VK2YK
3. VK5GA
4. VK3PF
5. VK3KAI
6. VK3CLD/p (Kosciuszko National Park VKFF-0269)
7. VK3SG
8. VK7IAN
9. VK3MCA
10. VK4NH
11. VK4DXA
12. VK5AV
13. VK3BBB
14. VK2CCP
15. VK3CEO
16. VK1AO
17. VK2MET
18. VK7HAM
19. VK3MLT
20. VK3EI
21. VK7RA
22. VK5PL
23. VK3TDX
24. ZL4NVW
25. VK3GRX
26. VK5HS
27. VK3MIJ
28. VK3APJ
29. VK5HAA
30. VK3CWF
31. VK2IO/m
32. VK5GY
33. VK2CDB
34. VK3ANL
35. Vk1CHW
36. VK3EMP
37. VK4TI
38. VK4SMA
39. VK1DI
40. VK3KRL
41. VK1AAF
42. KG5CIK
43. VK2DL
44. VK2IMP
45. VK5LA
46. VK5KAW

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4NH
2. VK4DXA
3. VK4EMP
4. VK4TI
5. VK4ABH
6. F1BLL

After packing up we headed back to St Arnaud and had a magnificent meal at the Farmers Arms Hotel.

References.

1. Dcceew.gov.au. (2023). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2022 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2022 [Accessed 23 Feb. 2024].‌
2. gutenberg.net.au. (n.d.). Thomas Mitchell. [online] Available at: https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks07/0700531h.html [Accessed 23 Feb. 2024].
3. ‌www.victorianplaces.com.au. (n.d.). Wimmera Region | Victorian Places. [online] Available at: https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/wimmera-region. [Accessed 23 Feb. 2024].‌‌

After leaving Murtoa (Sunday 19th November 2023), Marija and I drove south to our next activation of the day, the Barrabool Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2263. The park is located about 11 km south of Murtoa and about 295 km northwest of Melbourne.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Barrabool Flora & Fauna Reserve. Map c/o Google Maps.

The reserve is also often referred to as the Barabool Nature Conservation Reserve, the Barrabool Forest Reserve, and the Barrabool State Forest. Its northern border is Sawpit Swamp Road, the eastern border is Barrabool Road, and to the south and west is Burnt Clay Road.

Above:- An aerial view of the park. Image c/o Google Earth.

Parks Victoria has a webpage for the park but contains no information about it besides a park boundary image. The Barrabool Flora and Fauna Reserve is 1,035 hectares in size and was established on the 22nd day of September 1987. (CAPAD 2022)

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

There is also a Barrabool near Geelong. Barrabool is an aboriginal word meaning oyster. Other alternative meanings include slope down to water. (Blake 1978) Before European settlement, the land was occupied by the Jaadwa aboriginal people. In the reserve, you can find several trees which were cut by the Jaadwa people. (Aussie Towns 2024)

During our activation of the park we had an inquisitive Diamond Firetail finch. Unfortunately, it was quite nervous and would not sit still for a good photograph.

We accessed the park via Barrabool Road. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole supported on the 7-metre heavy-duty telescopic squid pole. I sued the special event callsign of VI10VKFF for this activation.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3PF
2. VK3KAI
3. VK2IO/p (Wee Jasper Nature Reserve VKFF-2017)
4. VK3GJG
5. VK3OAK
6. VK3APJ
7. VK5MRD
8. VK3VIN
9. VK1AO
10. VK2MET

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5WF
2. VK3PF
3. VK3KAI
4. VK2IO/p (Wee Jasper Nature Reserve VKFF-2017)
5. VK3GJG
6. VK3OAK
7. VK3APJ
8. VK5MRD
9. VK3VIN
10. VK1AO
11. VK2MET
12. VK5LA
13. VK5KAW
14. VK3BWS
15. VK4NH
16. VK4DXA
17. VK3SG
18. VK3CEO
19. VK3ANL
20. VK5KLD
21. VK3MLT
22. VK2HHA
23. VK3ZMD
24. VK5NM
25. VK5BMC
26. VK5TQ
27. VK7JDZ
28. VK3BBB
29. VK2CCP
30. VK2DL
31. VK2IMP

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4NH
2. VK4DXA
3. VK4EW
4. VK8DNT
5. VK4EMP
6. VK4TI
7. VK1AO
8. VK2MET
9. VK4HAT
10. ZL2DR
11. IK1GPG
12. ZL4NVW/p (ZLP/ WC-0069)
13. IW2NXI
14. VK4SMA
15. ZL3MR
16. ZL2STR
17. OM5TX

I worked the following station on 20m AM:-

1. VK4EW

References.

1. ‌Aussie Towns. (n.d.). Murtoa, VIC. [online] Available at: https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/murtoa-vic. [Accessed 23 Feb. 2024].‌
2. ‌Leslie James Blake, 1978, Place Names of Victoria.
3. Dcceew.gov.au. (2023). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2022 – DCCEEW. [online] Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2022 [Accessed 23 Feb. 2024].‌