My one and only planned activation for Saturday 11th June 2016 was the Dingley Dell Conservation Park VKFF-1025 and 5CP-056.  Although this park has been activated previously (including by myself), it has not been activated for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  So this was to be another unique park for me and the WWFF park hunters.

Above:- Map showing the location of Dingley Dell Conservation Park in the south eastern corner of South Australia.  Map courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

I left Mount Gambier quite early after some breakfast, and travelled south along the Riddoch Highway, out passed the extinct volcano Mount Schank and then on to Allendale East.  The park is well signposted along the way.  I parked in the carpark opposite Adam Lindsay Gordon’s cottage and set up in the picnic area.

Dingley Dell Conservation Park was proclaimed in 1972 and comprises around 6 hectares of scrub including South Australian blue gum, blackwood, golden wattle, coastal bearded-heath and native box.  The park is surrounded by cleared grazing land.

Dingley Dell Conservation Park is most famous for its historical connections.  The famed poet and horseman, Adam Lindsay Gordon owned the small cottage that is located in the park.  He resided there from around 1864 and it was given to the local council by his wife Maggie in around 1873.  The cottage had been built in 1862 and was purchased by Gordon in 1864 for 150 pounds.  The cottage has been restored and you can undertake guided tours through the cottage (which I did during this visit to the park).  The cottage was the first house on South Australia’s Heritage Register, having been registered in 1922.

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So how did Dingley Dell get its name?  It is certainly an interesting name.  The following account comes from an old resident of the Port MacDonnell district who had an intimate acquaintance with Adam Lindsay Gordon.  He said:

“The country surrounding the cottage was then, even more so than now, a sylvan paradise, in which gums and wattles ran riot and it was from the music of the birds in the trees, mingled with the tinkling of the bells of the hobbled stock, that the name ‘Dingley Dell’ was derived”.

Adam Lindsay Gordon was born in the Azores, and arrived in Australia in November 1853, aged just 20 years.  He immediately obtained a position in the South Australian mounted police and was stationed at Mount Gambier and Penola.  He left the police in 1855 and took up horse breaking in the south east of South Australia.  He earnt a reputation of being a ‘good steady lad and a splendid horseman’.  Gordon also became interested in poetry and he went on to become well known for his poetry.  Sadly it was after his death that his name and his works began to grow.  He also served as a politician, having been elected to the South Australian House of Assembly in 1865 for the District of Victoria.

Above:- Adam Lindsay Gordon.  Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

You can take a very interesting walk around the cottage and through the park.  It is well signposted and has some interesting interpretive signs along the way.

More information on Dingley Dell can be found at…..

http://www.dingleydell.net/

The weather was very inclement, but fine upon my arrival at the park, so I set up on a wooden bench and table in the picnic area.  After calling CQ, the first station in my log from Dingley Dell was Geoff VK3SQ in Beechworth, followed by Bill VK5MBD at Red Hill in the Mid North of South Australia,  Adrian Vk5FANA on the Yorke Peninsula, and then Mike VK3ZMD in Melbourne.  All had excellent 5/9 signals.  Despite the band being in very good shape and it being a Saturday morning, it was very very quiet on the 40m band.  I worked a further 7 stations from VK3, VK4, & VK5, before the rain started to come down.  It was also about this time that the caretaker of the park came along, and kindly opened up the adjacent shelter shed area for me.

After having a chat to the caretaker and relocating in the shelter shed, I called CQ again on 7.144 and this was answered by Mick VK3GGG mobile, followed by Al VK7AN and then John VK5BJE.  But that was it.  Callers dried up very quickly, unlike the weather.

So I took the opportunity of tuning across the 40m band and found Gerard VK2IO on 7.090 activating SOTA peak, North Brother VK2/ MN-081 which is located within the Dooragan National Park VKFF-0143.  Gerard was a good 5/7 signal to Dingley Dell and reciprocated with a 5/7 for me.

I then returned to 7.144 and called CQ again and this was answered by Don VK3MCK, followed by Craig VK3WAR, Tony VK5FTVR, and then Jim VK1AT.  This time around, a steady flow of callers followed.  I went on to work a further 33 stations from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK5, VK6, and VK7.  I was very pleased to be able to work Daniel VK6WE all the way over in Western Australia.  And also Damien VK5FDEC and Michael VK5FVSV, both running just 5 watts QRP.

I was cognisant of the time, as I had to get to the South East Radio Group’s convention/hamfest, so I headed to 20m and called CQ on 14.310.  I put out numerous CQ calls which all went unanswered so I self spotted on parksnpeaks.  This was immediately followed by a call from Albert S58AL in Slovenia.  I was more than surprised to receive a call from Albert as it was only 11.00 a.m. SA local time.  Albert was a good 5/5 and gave me a 4/4 signal report.  Sadly, my only other taker on 20m was Adam VK2YK who was 5/9.

I then decided to give 15m a quick try, and I am very pleased that I did, as I had a good QSO with Steven ZL4CZ on 21.244.  Steven advised that he had heard me on 20m and was going to give me a call, but he had received a phone call preventing him from doing so.

I had a total of 56 contacts in the log and it was time to pack up and head off to Mount Gambier.

Thanks to Robert VK2XXM and Adrian VK5FANA for spotting me on the DX Cluster.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK5MBD
3. VK5FANA
4. VK3ZMD
5. VK5KLV
6. VK3MRH
7. VK3PF
8. VK4AAC/3
9. VK3AZN
10. VK2LAX
11. VK4HNS
12. VK3GGG mobile
13. VK3PMG mobile
14. VK7AN
15. VK5BJE
16. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ MN-081  & VKFF-0143)
17. VK3MCK
18. VK3WAR
19. VK5FTVR
20. VK1AT
21. VK2XXM
22. VK6WE
23. VK3BYD
24. VK5ZGY mobile
25. VK3QA
26. VK3FIRM
27. VK2YK
28. VK3DAC
29. VK3MCX
30. VK5FDEC
31. VK3ZPF
32. VK5MAP
33. VK2HV
34. VK5PL
35. VK5PET
36. VK5ZEA/p
37. VK7NWT
38. VK2HHA
39. VK3CFA
40. VK3YSP mobile
41. VK3FOWL mobile
42. VK5ZK
43. VK2WG
44. VK2YW
45. VK5FVSV
46. VK3UH
47. VK3IL/p
48. VK3GYH
49. VK3ARH
50. VK5RM
51. VK3VEF
52. VK3SIM
53. VK5IU

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. S58AL
2. VK2YK

The following station was worked on 15m SSB:-

1. ZL4CZ

After leaving Dingley Dell I went to the SERG Convention and spent the afternoon there until around 5.00 p.m.  For anyone who has never attended this event previously, I can highly recommend it.

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References.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2010, Dingley Dell Conservation Park brochure.

Wikipedia, 2016, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Lindsay_Gordon&gt;, viewed 14th June 2016

My third and final park activation for Friday 10th June 2016 was the Aberdour Conservation Park VKFF-0994 and 5CP-001.  The park is situated about 260 km south east of Adelaide and about 35 km south of Keith.

This was again to be another unique park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  The park has been activated previously for the VK5 Parks Award, but not for WWFF.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Aberdour Conservation Park in the South East of South Australia.  Map courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

After leaving Christmas Rocks CP I continued south on Riddoch Highway until I reached Cannawigara Road on the eastern side of the Highway.

The weather was moving in fast with predicted heavy rainfall for the afternoon.  I soon reached the south western corner of the park where there is a sandy 4WD track.  I toyed with the idea whether I should venture down there, but as I was on my own and there was predicted heavy rain, I decided against it.

I continued on through the park until I reached Nankivell Road and travelled north, following the eastern boundary of the park, until I found a clearing in the scrub.

Aberdour Conservation Park is around 133 hectares in size and was dedicated as a Conservation Park in February 1991.  It was a gift from the Nankivell family (named after the road I was on).  The park preserves an area of remnant vegetation which is very typical of undulating dune and limestone country of the South East of South Australia.  The endangered Jumping Jack Wattle can be found in the park.

As the weather was rapidly setting in, I quickly set up the fold up table and deck chair, and the Yaesu FT-857d and the 40m/20m linked dipole.  I started calling CQ on 7.144 and my first hunter for the park was Dennis VK2HHA with a beautiful 5/9 signal, followed by Chris VK3PAT (also 5/9) and then David VK5PL from the Barossa Valley who was also 5/9.  During the activation the wind really picked up and I lost the squid pole at one stage in the middle of a QSO.  After making 24 contacts on 40m, the drizzle set in and I was forced to hide underneath the bothy bag.

I cut 40m a bit short and headed up to 20m where I made a total of 4 contacts, until the drizzle turned to rain, and I had rain droplets seeping through the bothy bag.  I quickly packed up the gear and made a hasty retreat for the Toyota HiLux.  I apologise to those stations that were still calling, but the rain had become very heavy and steady.  I will need to go back to this park to pick up the remaining QSOs to reach the 44 QSO threshold for WWFF.

Thanks to everyone who spotted me during this activation, as I had no mobile telephone coverage, and was unable to self spot on parksnpeaks.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2HHA
2. VK3PAT
3. VK5PL
4. VK3SQ
5. VK3TKK mobile
6. VK7LCW
7. VK1AT
8. VK3PF
9. VK3GGG
10. VK3PMG
11. VK3DAC
12. VK4AAC/3
13. VK3ARH
14. VK5KLV
15. VK2YZS mobile
16. VK2CPC/p
17. VK2IPK
18. VK2VOM
19. VK3SFG
20. VK3UH
21. VK3QA
22. VK4RF
23. VK4HA
24. VK3ZMD

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4RF
2. VK4HA
3. VK5KLV
4. VK2DEK

I then headed off to Mount Gambier, with the sub completely gone and the rain really teeming down.  After booking in to my motel, I headed around to have a coffee with Col VK5HCF.

After leaving Kelvin Powrie Conservation Park, I continued south east along the Dukes Highway until I reached the town of Keith where I turned off onto the Riddoch Highway and commenced to travel south towards my next planned park activation, the Christmas Rocks Conservation Park VKFF-1020 and 5CP-266.

Although this park has been activated previously for the VK5 National and Conservation Parks Award, this was to be the very first activation for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Christmas Rocks Conservation Park.  Map courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

On the way to the park I spoke with Paul VK3SS and Tom VK5NFT on 40m.  Paul was thumping in, and Tom was initially a good 5/7 and then completely faded away on me.

The Christmas Rocks Conservation Park is just slightly north of the tiny town of Willalooka.  Sadly, there is no sign to indicate that there is a Conservation Park.  There is however a brown tourist sign indicating that in 400 metres ahead there is a photo opportunity.  If you’re travelling south and you’ve reached Willalooka, you have gone too far.  Willalooka itself is just a tiny place containing a general store & service station, tavern, community hall and a Country Fire Service (CFS) station.

The park was proclaimed in 2014 and consists of a small square shaped section of native scrub and a series of granite rock outcrops.  These were once part of the archipelago of granite rocks in the shallow sea that covered the Limestone Coast some 25 million years ago.

There is a short walk up to the top of the granite outcrop and this affords you with some very nice views of the surrounding countryside.  If you’re lucky you may also spot a wallaby.

I parked the vehicle in the carpark and walked a short distance into the scrub and set up my station, comprising the Yaesu FT-857d (set at 30 watts output) and the 40m/20m linked dipole, on the 7 m squid pole.  I called CQ on 7.144 and this was answered by Adrian VK5FANA on the Yorke Peninsula (5/9 both ways), followed by Les VK5KLV in Port Augusta (5/9 both ways), and then Tom in Millicent.  Our signal reports though were definitely not 5/9 both ways.  In fact it was 4/1 both ways, as Tom’s QTH is about 150 km south of the park, and it was clear that close in propagation was not working well.

A mini pile up ensued with callers from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK5, VK6, and VK7.  I was very surprised to hear Col VK5HCF in Mount Gambier, about 180 km from the park.  Col was 5/9 and gave me a 5/5.  This QSO was just 10 minutes after my contact with Tom, and the band conditions had clearly changed for the better for the close in contacts.

Above:- Aerial shot showing my operating spot in the park.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

Eighteen contacts into the activation, I had my first Park to Park contact in the log for the activation.  It was with Gerard VK2IO who was activating SOTA peak Brumlow Tops VK2/ MN-120 in the Barrington Tops National ParkVKFF-0017.  Gerard had a good 5/7 signal and advised that it had been an 8km walk in to his 10 point summit.  A dozen or so QSOs later I was called by Greg VK4VXX who was portable in the Currawinya National Park VKFF-0127.  I don’t believe that Greg is a dedicated park activator, so I will have to contact Greg to explain the WWFF program to him, and seek his log.  This was followed by a call from Mitch Vk3XDM who was activating SOTA peak Mount Bolton VK3/ VC-023 (5/2 sent and 5/3 received).  Half a dozen QSOs later I was called by Phil VK2JDL who was portable on SOTA peak Mount Elliot VK2/ HU-093 (5/7 sent and 5/8 received).  And shortly afterwards I made another SOTA contact, this time with Andrew VK1MBE who was portable on Mount Stromlo VK1/ AC-043 (5/7 sent and 5/9 received).

It was also pleasing to get Mike VK6MB in the log again on 40m with such a good signal late in the morning.  We exchanged 5/7 signal reports at 11.30 a.m. SA local time which is very good on 40m.  Some of the mobile stations that I worked also had excellent signals.  That included Jonathan VK6JON/7 mobile near Deloraine in Tasmania, Mark VK3FOTO/m and Wayne VK2PDW.

I worked a total of 45 stations on 40m and then decided it was time to head to 20m.  I commenced calling CQ on 14.310 and this was answered by John ZL1BYZ in Pukekohe, south of Auckland on the North Island of New Zealand (5/8 sent and 5/7 received).  Much to my surprise this was followed by a contact with Albert S58AL in Slovenia (5/5 sent and 5/5 received).  It was only 12.19 p.m. local time (0249 UTC) and this was very very early for long path Europe to be coming through.  I then worked into VK4 and VK6, and my last contact for the activation was with Dima UA9LT in Western Siberia.

The weather was starting to move in and I had 1 more park to activate and still a few hundred km before I reached Mount Gambier, so I packed up with a total of 52 contacts in the log.

Thanks to Peter VK3PF, Adrian VK5FANA, & Brett VK3FLCS, and for spotting me on the DX Cluster.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5FANA
2. VK5KLV
3. VK5NFT
4. VK2HHA
5. VK5PL
6. VK5HS/m
7. VK3SQ
8. VK3PMG
9. VK3GGG
10. VK2KYO
11. VK4AAC/3
12. VK1AT
13. VK3MCK
14. VK3DAC
15. VK6JON mobile 7
16. VK5HCF
17. VK3DRM mobile
18. VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ MN-120 and VKFF-0017)
19. VK2CPO/p
20. VK2LEE
21. VK3FLCS
22. VK3AZN
23. VK3PF
24. VK3MEG
25. VK6MB
26. VK5FMLO
27. VK7LCW
28. VK4VXX/p (VKFF-0127)
29. VK3XDM/p (SOTA VK3/ VC-023)
30. VK5VGC
31. VK7CW
32. VK3FOTO mobile
33. VK3KRH
34. VK3VBI
35. VK2PDW mobile
36. VK2JDL/p (SOTA VK2/ HU-093)
37. VK3GMC
38. VK7RX/p
39. VK2MTC
40. VK1MBE/p (SOTA VK1/ AC-043)
41. VK3SFG
42. VK3MCO
43. VK3WAR
44. VK3ARH
45. VK7EE

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. ZL1BYZ
2. S58AL
3. VK4XPJ
4. VK2LEE
5. VK6MB
6. VK6MMB
7. UA9LT

On Friday morning (10th June 2016) I made an early start from home, heading to Mount Gambier for the South East Radio Group’s Annual convention/hamfest and the National Fox Hunting Championships.  I was on the road a little after 6.30 a.m. local time.

My first planned park activation of the trip was the Kelvin Powrie Conservation Park VKFF-0899 and 5CP-103.  I activated Kelvin Powrie back in March this year but hadn’t quite reached the 44 required QSOs for the global World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program, so I had planned a quick stop there to pick up some more contacts to go towards the 44 tally.

The Kelvin Powrie CP is located about 217 km south east of Adelaide, and approximately 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 South Australia.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

Along the way I had a listen on 40m and booked in to the Mid South Coast Amateur Radio Club Met and spoke with John VK2NJP and Adrian VK4FBMW.  Both had excellent signals into the mobile, and I hoped that this was a sign of things to come with propagation for the remainder of the day.

I continued along the Dukes Highway, passing through the little towns of Cooke Plains, Coomandook, Yumali, Coonalpyn, Culburra, and then Tintinara.  I then reached the park.  Kelvin Powrie CP was named in honour of James Kelvin Powrie, an agricultural scientist.  For more information on Mr Powrie and the park, please have a look at my post from March 2016…..

https://vk5pas.org/2016/04/04/kelvin-powrie-conservation-park-5cp-and-vkff/

I pulled in to the carpark off the Dukes Highway and found that there were 2 caravaners in there already so I pulled up on the south eastern side of the carpark and started setting up my station.  Whilst I was doing so, one of the gentlemen came over to ask what I was doing.  I took some time out to explain the hobby of amateur radio and also explain about the World Wide Flora Fauna program and the VK5 Parks Award.

Above:- Aerial image of the Kelvin Powrie Conservation Park, showing my operating spot in the south eastern corner of the park.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

Kelvin Powrie CP is a relatively small park, comprising some 17.66 hectares.  It is bordered by the very busy Dukes Highway (the main Adelaide-Melbourne road) on one side, and the Adelaide-Melbourne railway line on the other.

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I was up on air by just before 9.00 a.m. local time (2330 UTC) and headed to 7.144 where I came up to ask if the frequency was in use.  Before I even got the chance to call CQ, a number of voices came back to advise the frequency was clear and they were waiting for me.  My first contact for this activation was with Dennis VK2HHA in Albury, followed by Rob VK4AAC/3, and then Rick VK4RF/VK4HA.  All had 5/9 signals and all gave me 5/9 in return.  But it was clear that the close in propagation (within about 300 km) was not working well.  Mick VK3GGG/VK3PMG forwarded me an SMS to advise that I was not readable at Stawell in western Victoria.  And Tony VK5FTVR from Strathalbyn tried calling me on a number of occasions but we were sadly unable to make a contact.  As there was no noise in the park I was able to hear Tony perfectly, but that was not the case at Tony’s end.

However, conditions to other parts of Australia were very good.  This included Western Australia.  I worked Mike VK6MB who was an excellent 5/8 (5/7 received), and Jonathan VK6JON mobile 7 near Launceston (5/9 both ways).

I was also very pleased to get a Park to Park contact with Neil VK4HNS who was portable in the Moogerah Peaks National Park VKFF-0326, in the Fassifern Valley of South East Queensland (5/7 sent and 5/6 received).

Whilst activating, one of the caravaners came over to have a listen, and seemed very interested to hear such strong signals coming in from all across Australia.  During my activation, I had another onlooker.  But this was of the feathered variety.  A Sulphur Crested Cockatoo flew in to a gum tree just above my operating spot and created one hell of a racket for a while as the ‘second operator’.

The serenity of the park was also disturbed at one stage by a passing goods train on the Adelaide-Melbourne rail line.

I worked 16 stations on 40m prior to the UTC roll over, and then a further 13 stations following rollover.  The VK6 stations (VK6MB and VK6IA) were incredibly strong on 40m considering the time of the day.  I then lowered the squid pole and removed the links in the dipole and started calling CQ on 20m.  The ever reliable Rick VK4RF/VK4HA was my first taker there.  This was followed by Mike VK6MB, then VK3VPG (who was struggling to hear me), and lastly a Park to Park contact on 20m with Neil VK4HNS in VKFF-0326.

It was time to pack up and head off to my 2nd planned park activation of the day, Christmas Rocks Conservation Park.  I was very happy with 34 contacts in the log, and together with my previous activation, I had qualified the park for WWFF.

Thanks to Mike VK6MB for posting me on Facebook.  And thanks to Rick VK4RF, Adrian VK5FANA for spotting me on the DX Cluster.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2HHA
2. VK4AAC/3
3. VK4RF
4. VK4HA
5. VK3DAC
6. VK1MA/3
7. VK6MB
8. VK3PF
9. VK4FAAS
10. VK5NFT
11. VK2VOO
12. VK5KLV
13. VK2HV
14. VK3UH
15. VK2LEE
16. VK3KX
17. VK3OHM
18. VK4HNS/p (VKFF-0326)
19. VK6JON/7
20. VK4RF
21. VK4HA
22. VK5FANA
23. VK2FDAV
24. VK6MB
25. VK6IA
26. VK3EI
27. VK3DQ
28. VK3VM
29. VK3BGS

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4RF
2. VK4HA
3. VK6MB
4. VK3VPG
5. VK4HNS/p (VKFF00326)

On Thursday 9th June 2016 I attended the South Coast Amateur Radio Club (SCARC) at Railway Road, SEAFORD.  I delivered a presentation on the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) and the logging program Fast Log Entry (FLE).  The WIA part of the presentation was not originally planned.

The meeting was attended by about 15 keen SCARC members.

Thanks to Peter VK5PET for asking me to come down to SCARC.

Here are my latest Pine Cone Award certificates from The Great Outdoors Radio Club (GORC).

The DX entity Norfolk Island during the Wireless Institute of Australia annual general meeting and events in May 2016, has a limited edition operating award available. Called the Norfolk Island Award, it requires contact with stations over a two week period (May-June) 2016 that include the Wireless Institute of Australia annual general meeting.

To qualify, those on Norfolk Island need to log 20 other stations on Norfolk Island (local contacts), while all other operators have to log 10 contacts on Norfolk Island. Each qualifying station may be worked once only on a frequency band, but if contacted on another band will also qualify.

The award can be applied for via the WIA online awards system (for free as a PDF).  Or claims for the Norfolk Island Award can be sent to the WIA office, including an extract of qualifying contacts, and payment of $5.00.

Tonight I received my latest DXFF Activator certificate for activating from 6 different DXCC entities (the WWFF program includes Australian States as separate entities).

1. Germany
2. Belgium
3. VK1
4. VK2
5. VK3
6. VK5
7. Norfolk Island

Many thanks to Pit YO3JW for the certificate.

On Sunday morning, 29th May 2016 I was tied up in a 3 and 1/2 hour long Post AGM meeting with the other WIA Directors.  So Marija headed off to the Norfolk Island markets with Heath VK3TWO and his wife Monique VK6FMON.    The market is held every Sunday between 8.00 a.m.-11.00 a.m. and features seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables, cut flowers, home cooking, craft and souvenir items.  Trent Christian was singing there as well.

Monique looking for a bargain

Trent bashing out a tune

During the Board Meeting is was voted that Phil VK2ASD would remain as WIA President and Fred VK3DAC would remain as WIA Vice President (both unopposed).

At the conclusion of the meeting Marija and I had some lunch at the Paradise Hotel and chatted to other amateurs.  We then headed off down to Kingston, as I was hoping to have a look at the Sirius Museum.  I wasn’t even aware until visiting Norfolk Island, that the HMS Sirius (the flagship of the First Fleet) had been wrecked on the reef off the coast off Norfolk adjacent to Kingston way  back in March 1790.  Sadly that museum was closed, but we did visit another one of the museums at Kingston which was extremely interesting.  It was the Pier Store which contains a great collection including objects from the Bounty (a cannon, kettle and ironstone platter).  The collection is contained within the Pier Store, which was originally known as The Beach Store and was built in 1825 as Commissariat at the end of Kingston Pier.

A chicken invasion!

Kingstn Pier

Cannon from the Bounty

Whilst at Kingston we had a look at the former Parliament building which has been taken up by Norfolk Island residents protesting against changes to the island’s governance.

We then had a look at ‘Bloody Bridge’.  The name is believed to be based on the story of the death of a convict work-gang overseer.  During the construction of the bridge, a work gang of convicts murdered their overseer and walled him up in the bridge.  The next day the replacement overseer saw blood oozing from the mortar of the bridge.

Marija and I then headed for Anson Bay Reserve in the north western corner of the island, for my final play on air on Norfolk Island.  Anson Bay is reputed to be Norfolk’s most spectacular beach, being nestled in to the bottom of one of Norfolk’s many steep cliff faces.  This makes the beach less accessible and more secluded than other beaches on Norfolk Island.  The reserve is 5,54 hectares in size and was dedicated in February 1937 for cable landing, shipping and recreation purposes.  The cliffs here rise about 80 metres above sea level.

Above:- Map showing the location of Anson Bay on Norfolk Island.

During summer, Wedge tailed shearwaters (also called Ghostbirds) form large groups offshore and, at dusk come in to land in their burrows along the cliff edges at Anson Bay.  These are the largest of the tropical shearwaters.  Other birds that frequent the area are White Terns, Little Shearwaters, Red- Tailed Tropicbirds, Scarlet Robins, Golden Whistlers, Norfolk Island Green Parrot, and Norfolk Island Boobook Owl.

Above:- Wedge tailed shearwater.  Image courtesy of nzbirdsonline.org

The Pacific Cable Board station at Anson Bay provided the first telegraphic contact between Norfolk Island and the outside world by cable linking Australia and New Zealand to Fiji and North America from 1902.  The Anson Bay cable station at Anson Bay cost over $6,000,000.  Two observation posts were also located in the reserve during the Second World War, to defend against possible lands by enemy forces.

I ran the Yaesu FT-857d, 25-30 watts, and the 20m/40m linked dipole for this activation.  The antenna was supported on the 6m telescopic squid pole.  I started off calling CQ on 14.205 and this was immediately answered by Jim VK9PC on Norfolk Island, followed by my good mate John VK5BJE back home in the Adelaide Hills.  Next up was Eric KC7ES in Arizona with a beautiful strong 5/9 signal (5/8 received).  The 20m band was in very good shape and a pile up soon ensued with callers from Australia, USA, Serbia, New Zealand, Croatia, Hawaii, and Canada.

I was very pleased to be able to get at least two Europeans in the log….Branko YU4DX in Serbia and Dragan 9A6W in Croatia.  Both were only a 5/5 to me on Norfolk.  Not the normal very strong 5/9 long path signals that I am used to back on the Australian mainland.  I was also able to make contact with Tony VK3XV who was portable in Leaghur State Park VKFF-0762 in Victoria.  Tony had a beautiful 5/9 signal coming in to Norfolk from his portable station in central Victoria.

I worked a total of 90 stations, at around which time, Luke VK3HJ/9 rolled up on his bicycle.  I booked in to the ANZA DX Net at this stage and worked a total of 7 stations there from VK and USA.  Luke also said g’day to a few stations whilst I took the opportunity of enjoying some cake provided by Marija.  The Over the Horizon Radar had kicked on at 20m by this stage, but didn’t cause any signficant grief.

After having a bit of a chat to Luke, he cycled off back to the QTH of VK9NT.  I moved to 14.210 and called CQ and this was answered by Brian VK3UCD, followed by Ivan VK5HS, then Simon VK3SIM, and then Ian VE7SCC in Canada.  I worked a total of 38 stations on 14.210 from VK, Canada, Japan, Russia, and Italy.  It was good to get Max IK1GPG in the log,  Max is a regular WWFF hunter and although not strong (5/3) was very readable.  I was also pleased to work Mark VK4XW who advised that I was his first contact into Norfolk Island.

When things slowed down I tuned across the band and found VI9ANZAC on 14.244 being operated by Chris VK3QB/9 at Puppies Point.  We had a Fish fry planned at Puppies Point that evening at 5.30 p.m. and that was rapidly approaching.  But the band was in very good shape and it was very difficult to go QRT.  After working Chris I went back to 14.310 and worked a further 10 stations in VK and Japan.  This included QSOs with Nigel VK5NIG/p and Stuart VK5STU/p, who were both portable on SOTA peak Mount Gawler VK5/ SE-013 (5/6 sent and 5/7 received).

Time was marching on, so I decided to try 40m for a short time and then head off to the Fish Fry.  That never occurred.  I was swamped with a big pile up on 7.144 from Australia, New Zealand and the Canary Islands, and I could not get away.  Marija drove up to Puppies Point and socialised for a while and kindly brought me back a meal which I tried to consume whilst working the pile up.

I eventually decided to hit the switch.  It was now 7.00 p.m. and the mosquitos were biting.  I had a total of 216 contacts in the log.

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK9PC (Norfolk Island)
2. VK5BJE
3. KC7ES
4. VK5HCF
5. VK2HEW
6. VK5SFA
7. VK5TRM
8. VK3ANL
9. VK7VJ
10. VK3TWO/9 (Norfolk Island)
11. VK6JON/5
12. VK3SQ
13. YU4DX
14. VK3EKA
15. VK2MI
16. VK7BC
17. VK2YW
18. VK3BNJ
19. ZL2TZE
20. K5FG
21. VK2BOB
22. VK3ARH
23. VK3MRG
24. VK2HDX
25. 9A6W
26. VK2YK
27. VK2NSS
28. VK3KYF
29. VK4TD
30. VK5AV
31. VK6WE
32. VK4WJW
33. VE3VEE
34. VK3NCC mobile
35. VK3YE
36. VK6IA
37. VK3MBW
38. VK2RD
39. VK2MOR
40. K6DDX
41. VK2HV
42. K7ABV
43. VK7ROY
44. VK3TCT
45. KH6UEA
46. VK2LAD
47. VK5XY
48. VK6NU
49. VK7KJL
50. VK3JLS
51. VK7LCW
52. VK2WJD
53. VK4HG
54. VK4ATH
55. WI6Q
56. W7QHZ
57. VK3XV/p (VKFF-0762)
58. WD8JQN
59. VK3SC
60. VK4DV
61. N9RJM
62. VK5NRG
63. VK3FI
64. VK2HTM
65. VK3BMO
66. VK3BY
67. VK3DQ
68. VK3VG
69. VK5KDK
70. VK5STU
71. W4RP
72. VK2BIT mobile
73. VK2HOT
74. VK7QP
75. VK5FG
76. VK2ND
77. VK4HMR
78. VK5TW
79. JH1FTL
80. VK4CC
81. VK3RH
82. VK4XCS
83. VK4SWE
84. K5FG
85. VK5NJ
86. K4JP
87. VK3UCD
88. VK5HS
89. VK3SIM
90. VE7SCC
91. VK5JN
92. VK4SMA
93. VE7CV
94. VK3TKK
95. VK4HNS
96. VK4JAA
97. VK3BF
98. VK2ZHE
99. VK2QN
100. VK6WC
101. VK1OO
102. JH5PXJ
103. VK3MNZ
104. VK2CPC
105. JH1DRF
106. UA0ZC
107. VK7NWT
108. IK1GPG
109. JH1AJT
110. JF2TOG
111. JI2FBG
112. VK2BTC
113. JA1DCK
114. VK2SOL
115. VK5KBJ/4
116. JH4CPC
117. JH1XYB
118. JO1ALS
119. JH3IMR
120. JR1WJM
121. VK3GJM
122. VK4MWG
123. VK2DON
124. VK5HEL
125. JH1VPB
126. VK4XW
127. VK2EJP
128. VK3BFR
129. VI9ANZAC (Norfolk Island)
130. VK2GKA
131. VK2AAH
132. VK4YS
133. JH7WER
134. VK4MKB
135. JA1CGB
136. VK3MCK
137. VK5NIG/p (SOTA VK5/ SE-013)
138. VK5STU/p (SOTA VK5/ SE-013)
139. VK4NJB

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5FUZZ
2. VK5BC
3. VK4YS
4. VK4ME
5. VK2HOT
6. VK5LDM
7. VK3FIRM
8. VK4GSF
9. VK4SMA
10. VK2NWB
11. VK4NJB
12. VK3HSR
13. VK5SFA
14. VK4RF
15. VK4HA
16. VK7DX
17. VK3SIM
18. VK3ANL
19. VK4XW
20. VK2JAZ
21. VK3TKK
22. VK7FVDN
23. VK2NN
24. VK3BY
25. VK3FI
26. VK2KTT
27. ZL3WPK
28. VK3FPSR
29. VK3ZMD
30. VK3UCD
31. VK4NKL
32. VK7NAL/4
33. VK2TTP
34. VK2BTC
35. ZL3ADT
36. EA8CER
37. VK3BSG
38. VK2FQSL
39. VK2ABT
40. VK4XAC
41. VK4FAAS
42. VK3SOT
43. VK5FANA
44. VK3MCK
45. VK5FVSV
46. VK3FADM
47. VK3DJ
48. VK2FWAY
49. VK3ZD
50. VK7MHZ
51. VK2QN
52. VK4BRT
53. VK2AJG
54. VK4PQ
55. VK5FDEC
56. VK4JPA
57. VK4AJB
58. VK3RV
59. VK3WQ
60. ZL1ANZ
61. VK4QS
62. VK4YLU
63. VK1HW
64. VK4OK
65. VK2FOUZ
66. VK2YK
67. VK5MAS
68. VK3KN
69. ZL2TZE
70. VK3FSPG
71. VK7MBD
72. VK2SI mobile
73. VK2AAF
74. VK2SR
75. VK5UR
76. VK4FSCC
77. VK2FINE

Here is a short video of some of my contacts from Anson Bay…….

After packing up we headed down to Puppies Point and caught up with all the stragglers, including Trent Christian, Heath VK3TWO, and some of the VK9NT crew before heading back to the Paradise Hotel.

Above:- with Trent Christian (ex VK9 Norfolk Island and VP6 Pitcairn Island)

Here is a video put together by Nigel VK5NIG and Stuart VK5STU of our contact whilst they were on Mount Gawler summit for SOTA.

References.

Edgecombe; J, 1999, ‘Norfolk Island-South PAcific.  Island of history and many delights’.

Norfolk Island Parks & Foretsy Service, 2003, Plan of Management Anson Bay

Wikipedia, 2016, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedge-tailed_shearwater&gt;, viewed 3rd June 2016

The Annual General Meeting of the Wireless Insitute of Australia (WIA) was held on Saturday 28th May 2016.  The AGM was followed by the Open Forum and the Awards presentations, which were streamed live into the Australian mainland.

Jim VK5TR being presented an award

Ron VK3AFW being presented an award

That afternoon, a number of amateurs delivered some very interesting presentations on a number of topics.  Two rooms were utilised, giving attendees an option on what presentations they wished to attend.  I gave a presentation on the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program and the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award.

Later that night the formal dinner was held at the Paradise Hotel.  The Norfolk Island Administrator Gary Hardgrave and Doug McVeigh VK0DMV spoke at the dinner.

With the Norfolk Island dministrator, Mr. Gary Hardgrave

Doug VK0DMV

With the new WIA Director, Andrew VK6AS