Whilst I was away at Renmark I received the QSL card below from Radio Thailand, for my reception of their station on 9940 kHz on 10th July 2023.

They also included some stickers.

At 1022 UTC on the 20th day of October 2023 I tuned in to China Radio International broadcasting in the English language on 11905 kHz.

The broadcast was coming from the 500 kW Jinhua transmitter in China.

The overall reception of CRI was excellent. The signal strength was extremely strong.

S	I	N	P	O
5	5	5	5	5

Below is a video showing my reception of CRI.

References.

1. Short Wave Info, 2023, <https://www.short-wave.info/index.php>, viewed 20th October 2023.

At 0959 UTC on the 20th day of October 2023 I tuned in to NHK World JAPAN broadcasting in the Japanese language on 11815 kHz.

The broadcast was coming from the 300 kW Ibaragi-koga-Yamaha transmitter in Japan.

The overall reception was good. There was some slight bleed over interference from the Voice of America broadcasting on 11825 in the Chinese language

S	I	N	P	O
4	4	4	4	4

Below is a video showing my reception of NHK World.

References.

1. Short Wave Info, 2023, <https://www.short-wave.info/index.php>, viewed 20th October 2023.

Our fourth and final park for the 2023 VKFF Team Championship on Saturday 21st October 2023, was the Cox Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-0824.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Cox Scrub CP. Map c/o Google Maps.

Marija and I have activated Cox Scrub many times in the past. This time we decided to activate from a different position in the park. We drove along Ridge Road towards the northwestern corner of the park. There were some terrific views of the surrounding countryside from Ridge Road.

Cox Scrub Conservation Park is about 563 hectares in size and is one of the largest parks on the Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide. The park is bordered by Bull Creek Road to the east, and Rymill Road to the west. Cleared farming land can be found to the south and north.

The park was proclaimed on the 5th day of March 1970 as the Cox’s Scrub National Park. Prior to this, the park was owned by Mr V. Cox, an apiarist of Ashbourne> He preserved the park in is natural state for the bees which he bred. On the 27th day of April 1972, it was reconstituted as the Cox Scrub Conservation Park. Additional areas were added to the park in 1977, 1982, 1984, 1986, and 2018.

In 1983 the park was destroyed during the Ash Wednesday Bushfires.

Birds SA have recorded 152 different bird species in the park including  Superb Fairywren, Red-browed Finch, Galah, New Holland Honeyeater, White-browed Scrubwren, and Red Wattlebird.

We operated from just inside gate 5 near the intersection of Varanus Tack and Boronia Track. Our operating equipment was the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.

We made a total of 43 QSOs. Unfortunately, we were running short of time and needed to be at our son’s house for dinner and to drop off some tickets for the Bay to Birdwood Car Rally.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5CZ/m
2. VK3VIN
3. VK3PF
4. VK1CHW
5. VK2IO/m
6. VK5HS
7. VK7AAE
8. VK1AO
9. VK2MET
10. VK5LKJ
11. VK3UAO
12. VK3SMW
13. VK3SO

Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. IK4IDF
2. DK4RM

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5CZ/m
2. VK3VIN
3. VK3PF
4. VK1CHW
5. VK2IO/m
6. VK5HS
7. VK7AAE
8. VK1AO
9. VK2MET
10. VK5LKJ
11. VK3UAO
12. VK3SMW
13. VK3SO
14. VK4SMA

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK6AKT
2. F1BLL
3. ZL1TPE
4. VK6JK
5. VK1AO
6. VK2MET
7. VK6HDY/2
8. ON4ON
9. VK4JM
10. KD1CT
11. IK4IDF
12. IW2BNA
13. DK4RM
14. OH1MM

References.

1. Birds SA, 2023, <https://birdssa.asn.au/location/cox-scrub-conservation-park/>, viewed 21st October 2023.
2. National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2023, <https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/cox-scrub-conservation-park>, viewed 21st October 2023.
3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cox_Scrub_Conservation_Park>, viewed 21st October 2023.

Our third park for the 2023 VKFF Team Championship on Saturday 21st October 2023, was the Finniss Conservation Park VKFF-0916.

Above: Map showing the location of the Finnis CP. Map c/o Google Maps.

The Finniss Conservation Park is 123 hectares in size and was first proclaimed on 29th January 1976.  An additional 56 hectares were added between 1985 and 2005.  The park is undulating with Woodland consisting of Pink Gum and Golden Wattle, and Low Woodland consisting of Cup Gum and Pink Gum over Tate’s Grass-tree.

The park is located just 7 km (by road) to the northeast of the settlement of Nangkita. It is located about 20 km to the northwest of the settlement of Finniss which was originally known as Queen’s Own Town, after the Queen’s Own Regiment of Foot.  The name of the town was changed in 1940 to Finniss, in in honour of an early surveyor and the first Premier of South Australia, Colonel Boyle Travers Finniss.

Above:- Colonel Boyle Travers Finniss.  Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Over 62 species of native birds have been recorded in the park including Laughing Kookaburra, Galah, Adelaide Rosella, Superb Fairywren, New Holland Honeyeater, Grey Fantail, Eastern Spinebill, and Australian Golden Whistler.

The park is located in close proximity to a number of other conservation parks, including Cox Scrub, Mount Magnificent, Kyeema, and Bullock Hill.

As we drove along Mount Magnificent Road we enjoyed some magnificent views out to the east and southeast.

We crossed the Finniss River en route to Finniss.

We then travelled along Stones Ford Road and crossed the Finniss River again at a small ford.

We continued north along Stones Ford Road which is part of the Heysen Trail, and soon reached the southwestern corner of the Finniss Conservation Park.

Our operating equipment for this activation was the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole, supported on the 7-metre heavy-duty squid pole.

Marija and I logged a total of 73 QSOs. This included 6 Park to Park contacts. There was also a nice little opening on 20m on the long path into Europe.

Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4MGL/p (Main Range National Park VKFF-0300)
2. ZL3MR
3. VK4EW
4. S51ZZ
5. VK1AO/p (Port Stephens/Great Lakes Marine Park VKFF-1410)
6. VK2MET/p (Port Stephens/Great Lakes Marine Park VKFF-1410)
7. IK4IDF

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SG
2. VK3PF
3. VK3UAO
4. VK3GB
5. VK5CZ/m
6. VK3VIN
7. VK5NM
8. VK1CHW
9. VK5BJE
10. VK5FD
11. VK2ZLM
12. VK3UZI
13. VK3GJG
14. VK5HYZ
15. VK5DAB
16. VK1DI
17. VK2LEE
18. VK5FANA
19. VK2USH
20. VK3MIJ
21. VK3EJ
22. VK4SMA
23. VK3SAK
24. VK3ZS
25. VK3ACZ
26. VK1AO
27. VK2MET
28. VK5AAF

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4MGL/p (Main Range National Park VKFF-0300)
2. IK3HMB
3. IK4IDF
4. ZL3MR
5. UT5PI
6. IW2BNA
7. SQ9CWO
8. VK4EW
9. HA0ML
10. 9A2KI
11. IK1GPG
12. I4RHP
13. W1OW
14. UA3BM
15. S51ZZ
16. VK1AO/p (Port Stephens/Great Lakes Marine Park VKFF-1410)
17. VK2MET/p (Port Stephens/Great Lakes Marine Park VKFF-1410)
18. OM5TX
19. OM5DP
20. OM3CND
21. IZ5JMZ
22. IZ2IHO
23. S52BB
24. OE3NRC
25. OH1MM
26. ON4VT
27. IW2NXI
28. IZ2BHQ
29. VK6NTE
30. IK4IDP
31. F5PYI
32. IU2JWF
33. OH5TQ
34. OH1CM
35. F1BLL
36. OH1XT
37. SP1JQJ
38. DK9HN

References.

1. Birds SA, 2023, <http://www.birdssa.asn.au/location/finniss-conservation-park/&gt;, viewed 21st October 2023
2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finniss,_South_Australia&gt;, viewed 21st October 2023

Our second park for the 2023 VKFF Team Championship on Saturday 21st October 2023, was the Mount Magnificent Conservation Park VKFF-0916.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Mount Magnificent CP. Map c/o Google Maps.

Mount Magnificent Conservation Park is 90 hectares (220 acres) in size. The summit of Mount Magnificent which rises 380 metres above sea level can be found in the park. The park is bounded to the west by the Blackfellows Creek Road and to the east by Mount Magnificent Road. The Heysen trail passes through the park.

The park was previously known as the Mount Magnificent National Park when it was gazetted on the 10th day of August 1967. On the 27th day of April 1972, it was reconstituted as the Mount Magnificent Conservation Park.

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

We made a total of 52 QSOs between us. This included 6 Park to Park contacts.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2VH
2. VK4AAC
3. VK3PF
4. VK3ZSC
5. VK3APJ
6. VK3TKK/p (Wyberjong Streamside Reserve VKFF-3924)
7. VK3GJG
8. VK3PT/p (pedestrian mobile)
9. VK3UAO
10. VK5ADP

Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4JM/p (Main Range National Park VKFF-0300)
2. VK1RF
3. VK2MK
4. VK4CEE
5. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ CT-002 & Kanangra-Boyd National Park VKFF-0256)
6. VK2KEV
7. VK5HAA
8. VK5BJE
9. VK6KMS/m

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2VH
2. VK4AAC
3. VK3PF
4. VK3ZSC
5. VK3APJ
6. VK3TKK/p (Wyberjong Streamside Reserve VKFF-3924)
7. VK3GJG
8. VK3PT/p (pedestrian mobile)
9. VK3UAO
10. VK5ADP
11. VK3MHZ
12. VK5QD
13. VK5ZLT
14. VK3CJN
15. VK3GB
16. VK5FBIC/m
17. VK3KGW
18. VK5FL/p (Wirrabara silo)
19. VK3SG
20. VK5NHG
21. VK5AAF
22. VK5HAA

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4JM/p (Main Range National Park VKFF-0300)
2. VK1RF
3. VK2MK
4. VK4CEE
5. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ CT-002 & Kanangra-Boyd National Park VKFF-0256)
6. VK2KEV
7. VK5HAA
8. VK5BJE
9. OH1MM
10. VK6KMS/m
11. VK4CK

References.

1. National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2023, <https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/mount-magnificent-conservation-park>, viewed 21st October 2023.
2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Magnificent_Conservation_Park>, viewed 21st October 2023.

Marija VK5MAZ and I are home from our trip to the 2023 VKFF National Get-Together at Renmark.

Here are our park and silo activation stats whilst we were away:-

• 17 x parks – VKFF
• 15 x silos – SiOTA
• 1,024 QSOs
• 230 Park to Park

Thursday 26th October 2023.

Tailem Bend silo VK-WRN5

• 6 QSOs

Karoonda silo VK-KRA5

• 15 QSOs

Wanbi silo VK-WNI5

• 8 QSOs

Alawoona silo VK-ALA5

• 12 QSOs

Morkala Bushland Reserve VKFF-4119

• 69 QSOs
• 14 Park to Park

Karween Bushland Reserve VKFF-4120

• 94 QSOs
• 6 Park to Park

Bambil Bushland Reserve VKFF-4121

• 36 QSOs
• 6 Park to Park

Friday 27th October 2023.

Cooltong Conservation Park VKFF-0823

• 48 QSOs
• 14 Park to Park

Murray River National Park VKFF-0372

• 66 QSOs
• 27 Park to Park

Pike River Conservation Park VKFF-0831

• 57 QSOs
• 6 Park to Park

Sunday 29th October 2023.

Danggali Conservation Park VKFF-0825

• 65 QSOs
• 26 Park to Park

Chowilla Regional Reserve VKFF-1698

• 66 QSOs
• 30 Park to Park

Murray River National Park VKFF-0372 and Paringa silo VK-PRG5

• 18 QSOs
• 2 Park to Park

Monday 30th October 2023.

Morkalla-Redcliffs Railway Bushland Reserve VKFF-4127 and Yarrara silo VK-YRA3

• 65 QSOs
• 23 Park to Park

Morkalla-Redcliffs Railway Bushland Reserve VKFF-4127 and Meringur silo VK-MRR3

• 10 QSOs
• 10 Park to Park

Werrimul Bushland Reserve VKFF-4122 and Werrimul silo VK-WRU3

• 66 QSOs
• 21 Park to Park

Karawinna Bushland Reserve VKFF-4123 and Karawinna silo VK-KRA3

• 81 QSOs
• 25 Park to Park

Merrinee Bushland Reserve VKFF-4124 and Merinee silo VK-MRE3

• 38 QSOs
• 6 Park to Park

Pirlta Bushland Reserve VKFF-4125 and Pirlta silo VK-PRT3

• 61 QSOs
• 2 Park to Park

Tuesday 31st October 2023.

Waikerie silo VK-WKE5

• 9 QSOs

DB Mack Reserve VKFF-4032

• 26 QSOs
• 7 Park to Park

Fort Glanville Conservation Park VKFF-1031

• 24 QSOs
• 2 Park to Park

Outer Harbour silo VK-OTR5

• 11 QSOs

Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary VKFF-1880

• 41 QSOs
• 2 Park to Park

Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary VKFF-1880 and Osborne silo VK-OSE5

• 20 QSOs
• 1 Park to Park

Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary VKFF-1880 and Port Adelaide silo VK-PRA5

• 12 QSOs

I will slowly add details and photos about each activation to my WordPress site over the coming weeks.

Thank you to everyone who called.

I will also post some info about the Get-Together in a separate post.

Received this special QSL card this morning via email regarding my reception of the ’80 Years of Woofferton’ special broadcast.