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.
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:-
VK2HHA
VK3PAT
VK5PL
VK3SQ
VK3TKK mobile
VK7LCW
VK1AT
VK3PF
VK3GGG
VK3PMG
VK3DAC
VK4AAC/3
VK3ARH
VK5KLV
VK2YZS mobile
VK2CPC/p
VK2IPK
VK2VOM
VK3SFG
VK3UH
VK3QA
VK4RF
VK4HA
VK3ZMD
The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-
VK4RF
VK4HA
VK5KLV
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.
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.
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…..
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.
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.
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).
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:-
VK9PC (Norfolk Island)
VK5BJE
KC7ES
VK5HCF
VK2HEW
VK5SFA
VK5TRM
VK3ANL
VK7VJ
VK3TWO/9 (Norfolk Island)
VK6JON/5
VK3SQ
YU4DX
VK3EKA
VK2MI
VK7BC
VK2YW
VK3BNJ
ZL2TZE
K5FG
VK2BOB
VK3ARH
VK3MRG
VK2HDX
9A6W
VK2YK
VK2NSS
VK3KYF
VK4TD
VK5AV
VK6WE
VK4WJW
VE3VEE
VK3NCC mobile
VK3YE
VK6IA
VK3MBW
VK2RD
VK2MOR
K6DDX
VK2HV
K7ABV
VK7ROY
VK3TCT
KH6UEA
VK2LAD
VK5XY
VK6NU
VK7KJL
VK3JLS
VK7LCW
VK2WJD
VK4HG
VK4ATH
WI6Q
W7QHZ
VK3XV/p (VKFF-0762)
WD8JQN
VK3SC
VK4DV
N9RJM
VK5NRG
VK3FI
VK2HTM
VK3BMO
VK3BY
VK3DQ
VK3VG
VK5KDK
VK5STU
W4RP
VK2BIT mobile
VK2HOT
VK7QP
VK5FG
VK2ND
VK4HMR
VK5TW
JH1FTL
VK4CC
VK3RH
VK4XCS
VK4SWE
K5FG
VK5NJ
K4JP
VK3UCD
VK5HS
VK3SIM
VE7SCC
VK5JN
VK4SMA
VE7CV
VK3TKK
VK4HNS
VK4JAA
VK3BF
VK2ZHE
VK2QN
VK6WC
VK1OO
JH5PXJ
VK3MNZ
VK2CPC
JH1DRF
UA0ZC
VK7NWT
IK1GPG
JH1AJT
JF2TOG
JI2FBG
VK2BTC
JA1DCK
VK2SOL
VK5KBJ/4
JH4CPC
JH1XYB
JO1ALS
JH3IMR
JR1WJM
VK3GJM
VK4MWG
VK2DON
VK5HEL
JH1VPB
VK4XW
VK2EJP
VK3BFR
VI9ANZAC (Norfolk Island)
VK2GKA
VK2AAH
VK4YS
JH7WER
VK4MKB
JA1CGB
VK3MCK
VK5NIG/p (SOTA VK5/ SE-013)
VK5STU/p (SOTA VK5/ SE-013)
VK4NJB
The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-
VK5FUZZ
VK5BC
VK4YS
VK4ME
VK2HOT
VK5LDM
VK3FIRM
VK4GSF
VK4SMA
VK2NWB
VK4NJB
VK3HSR
VK5SFA
VK4RF
VK4HA
VK7DX
VK3SIM
VK3ANL
VK4XW
VK2JAZ
VK3TKK
VK7FVDN
VK2NN
VK3BY
VK3FI
VK2KTT
ZL3WPK
VK3FPSR
VK3ZMD
VK3UCD
VK4NKL
VK7NAL/4
VK2TTP
VK2BTC
ZL3ADT
EA8CER
VK3BSG
VK2FQSL
VK2ABT
VK4XAC
VK4FAAS
VK3SOT
VK5FANA
VK3MCK
VK5FVSV
VK3FADM
VK3DJ
VK2FWAY
VK3ZD
VK7MHZ
VK2QN
VK4BRT
VK2AJG
VK4PQ
VK5FDEC
VK4JPA
VK4AJB
VK3RV
VK3WQ
ZL1ANZ
VK4QS
VK4YLU
VK1HW
VK4OK
VK2FOUZ
VK2YK
VK5MAS
VK3KN
ZL2TZE
VK3FSPG
VK7MBD
VK2SI mobile
VK2AAF
VK2SR
VK5UR
VK4FSCC
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
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
On Friday morning, 27th May 2016, Marija and I went for a bus tour of the historic Kingston area of Norfolk Island. Kingston was founded on the 6th March 1788 by Lieutenant Philip Gidley King and 22 settlers, including 9 male and 6 female convicts, who landed that day from HMT Supply. They had sailed from Port Jackson just a few weeks after the establishment of the British colony of New South Wales. The settlement was initially known as Sidney or Sydney Bay, and by 1796 was being called the Town of Sydney, in honour of Viscount Sydney, British Home Secretary and patron of the First Fleet. Today it is on the World Heritage List.
We also revisited the Noroflk Island cemetery as part of the tour. I was fortunate enough to come across the headstone of the late Jim Smith VK9NS. Although I never spoke with Jim on air, I did listen to him many many times as a Short Wave Listener.
At the end of the tour, Marija and I headed to Emily Bay on the south coast of the island, near Kingston. I had a scheduled meeting at 4.00 p.m. local time with the rest of the WIA Board, so I had a few hours to play amateur radio.
Above:- Map showing the location of Emily Bay on Norfolk Island.
Emily Bay has been voted in the top 100 Australian beaches. It is a crescent of golden sand backed by beach grass and pines. The sheltered reef lagoon is home to a variety of fish and hard and soft coral. The water is clean and crystal clear and provides a safe refuge to swimming and is perfect for snorkelling.
I set up on a wooden bench and table in the park overlooking the Bay. For this activation I ran the Yaesu FT-757d, 40 watts and the 20m/20m linked dipole, and also my 15m 1/2 wave dipole. Both antennas supported on the 6 metre telescopic squid pole. Although I only made 57 contacts, there were some very interesting ones amongst them.
My first contact was with VI9ANZAC on 20m being operated by Heath VK3TWO/9. This was another contact towards the special Norfolk Island Award on offer by the WIA. I then headed to 14.255 and called CQ, and I was delighted to be called by my good mate Ivan VK5HS. This was followed by another great friend Col VK5HCF, followed by Brian ZL2AJA. It was still early in the afternoon and the bands were still yet to open up. It is normally from around 4.oo p.m. that conditions appear to be best on 20m and 40m.
It was very slow going, so after working just 9 stations on 14.255 and numerous unanswered CQ calls, I had a tune across the 20m band and found Alex VK4TE calling CQ VK9. I came back to Alex CQ call and added another VK9 to his log towards the Norfolk Island Award. I then returned back to 14.255 and called CQ again and this was answered by Ian VK2ZIF, followed by Rio JA1JRK, and then John ZL1DT. I was then very surprised to be called by Compton VK2HRX who was operating from a SOTA summit in New South Wales….Mount Yullundunida VK2/ NW-020. Compton had a very respectable 5/5 signal and he gave me a 5/7 back to the Australian mainland, some 1,400 kms away.
A few calls later, I was excited again, with a new country for me in the log whilst on Norfolk. It was a contact into Costa Rica in Central America, with Eduardo TI2SD. But callers went very quiet again, very quickly. So I tuned across the band again, logging Fred VK9DAC on Norfolk Island, Chris VK3QB/9 on Norfolk Island, and then AH2ST/KH2 on Guam. This was another new country for me to add to VK9PAS.
I then tuned further across the band and found Stef VK5HSX/2 calling CQ on 14.320 from the Mebbin National Park VKFF-0311 in New South Wales. Stef was a good 5/5 and very readable as there was no noise at all from Emily Bay. I then moved up the band a little and logged Jim VK9PC on Norfolk Island.
I decided to try my luck on 15m. Unfortunately I was not able to self spot as I had no internet coverage. I lowered the squid pole and removed the linked dipole and replaced it with the 1/2 wave 15m dipole. I called CQ on 21.244 and this was answered by Tom VK5NFT who was very low down but very readable (5/1 both ways). This was followed by JA7BFB in Japan, Ivan VK5HS, Peter VK3PF/9 on Norfolk Island, and finally Chris VK3AWG in Victoria. Chris was really motoring in to Norfolk and had a 5/9 plus signal and gave me 5/8. But sadly, despite a number of further CQ calls, I had no further takers on 15m.
I headed back to 20m where I logged a further 2 Norfolk Island stations, Ewan VK4ERM/9 and Ron VK3AFW/9. I then put the links back in to the dipole and headed to 7.144 and found Stef VK5HSX/2 in VKFF-0311. Signal strengths were comparable to than on 20m. The 40m band was very quiet and my only other contact was with Al VK1RX/3 who was operating portable from SOTA peak Mount Warrenheip VK3/ VC-019. Al was very low down, but we successfully made the QSO (3/1 both ways).
Above:- View of the lone Pine and Phillip Island from Emily Bay.
I then headed back to 20m where I called CQ on 14.275 and to my surprise this was answered by Eduard OM3EY on the Slovak Republic. I had not worked many Europeans on the trip, so it was a real pleasure to be able to get Eduard in the log. Propagation to Europe from Norfolk Island is very very different to the Australian mainland. This was followed by a contact with Paul VK4PY, and then Tadashi JR1BLX in Japan, and then Craig N6ED in California. I was then called by Jorge EA8TL in the Canary Island, followed by Robert S57AW in Slovenia. Although the European signals were quite low down, we successully exchanged signal reports and call signs.
I then worked Terry KI7M in Oregon who asked if I could QSY down a bit as I was being battered around by OK2RZ. Interesting that I could not hear OK2RZ at all. And yet at home in the Adelaide Hills, Jiri is normally 5/9 plus. I QSY’d down to 14.273 where I worked a further 17 stations in VK, Japan, USA, and New Zealand. The band was just opening up, but I had a 4.00 p.m. WIA Board committment, so I had to go QRT with 59 contacts in the log.
The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-
VI9ANZAC (Norfolk Island)
VK3TWO/9 (Norfolk Island)
VK5HS
VK5HCF
ZL2AJA
VK5DJ
VK2BJ
VK4GSF
VK2IO
VK3AWG
VK3TKK
VK4TE
VK2ZIF
JA1JRK
ZL1DT
VK2HRX/p (SOTA VK2/ NW-020)
VK4RF
VK4HA
JJ1PLS
TI2SD
JA0AOO
VK9DAC (Norfolk Island)
VK3QB/9 (Norfolk Island)
AH2ST/KH2
VK5HSX/2 (VKFF-0311)
VK9PC (Norfolk Island)
VK4ERM/9 (Norfolk Island)
VK3AFW/9 (Norfolk Island)
OM3EY
VK4PY
JR1BLX
N6ED
EA8TL
S57AW
KI7M
VK4HNS/p (VKFF-0129)
W6JAT
VK7AKX
N0ATQ
VK5TW
W1YY
VK9DAC (Norfolk Island)
N6ER
VK3GYH
N8DX
K7LV
JA1QVR
WY7KY
JF1SNL
ZL2AN
ZL1MRC
K7GSE
The following stations were worked on 15m SSB:-
VK5NFT
JA7BFB
VK5HS
VK3PF/9
VK3AWG
The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-
VK5HSX/2 (VKFF-0311)
VK1RX/3 (SOTA VK3/ VC-019)
Here is a short video of some of my contacts from Emily Bay…..
That night we attended the Norfolk Island RSL for the first function for the 2016 WIA AGM. It was a great meal and we were entertained by Trent Christian.
VK5PAS 