On Sunday morning, 9th June, 2013, my wife Marija and I headed up to Whyalla, which is about 400 kms north of our home in the Adelaide Hills.  Our plan was to stay there a week and catch up with family and friends in both Whyalla and down in Port Lincoln at the bottom of the Eyre Peninsula.  Marija’s mum, & Marija’s brother and his family live in Whyalla, which is a big mining city (iron ore).  Marija’s mum was recovering from knee replacement surgery, so whilst Marija was looking after her during the day, I got permission to go out and play radio during the day.

The first radio stop of the trip was the Clinton Conservation Park.  The park follows the coastline at the top of Gulf St Vincent.  The park commences near the town of Port Wakefield which is about 100 kms north of Adelaide and follows the gulf around in a boomerang shape to the little town of Port Clinton on the Yorke Peninsula.  It was gazetted back in 1972.

We had a bit of difficulty accessing the park near Port Wakefield, so we “drove around the corner” onto the Copper Coast Highway, and then onto the Yorke Highway and accessed the park from here, on the western side of the gulf.  We followed a short dirt track down off the Copper Coast Highway, but could not get down to the water’s edge due to a no entry sign.

There’s not a huge amount to see here, if you are not into low coastal shrub and saltbush.  There are large areas of swampy, marshy ground, and tidal mud flats, which support  a large variety of birdlife.  The park is large and covers an area of about 1,900 hectares.  The nearby Wakefield River flows out into the gulf here which provides a haven for migratory wading birds and acts as a fish nursery.

We did spot an Australian Kestrel in a nearby tree, very close to a nest.  He/she kept soaring around us and keeping a watchful eye.

The goat was bleating on my i-phone from the SOTA Goat application, so with the help of Marija I quickly set up the gear and my 1st QSO was with Andy VK5LA who was operating portable from the top of Mount Lofty, VK5/ SE-005.  Andy had a terrific strong signal.  Mount Lofty is located only about 20 kms west of my home qth.  This was Andy’s first ever SOTA activation.  Congratulations Andy.

I then moved up the band a bit and called CQ, and a few of the regular ‘Hunters’ came back to me including John VK5BJE, Bill VK5MBD, Brian VK5FMID, and Andrew VK2UH.

I then went chasing some of the SOTA fellas again, as the goat kept bleating on my i-phone, and I worked Allen VK3HRA/p on Mount Mitchell VK3/ VN-012, and Marshall VK3MRG/p on Mount Dom Dom VK3/ VN-017,  just before the UTC rollover.

Then on the new UTC day, I spoke again with Marshall, and Andy.  Also managed to speak with Ron VK3AFW/p who was on the top of Mount Burr VK5/ SE-019, in the south east of South Australia, and also Rick VK3KAN/p who was on the top of Mount Bogong VK3/ VE-001.

I then worked a few more of the regular Park ‘Hunters’ including Roy VK5NRG, and Ernie VK3DET.

From where we set up I could clearly see South Hummocks, VK5/ SE-017, to the north of me.  I have operated previously from the top of that summit, and there are great views of the Gulf St Vincent and the Yorke Peninsula from the top.

Conditions on 40m seemed quite good both locally in VK5, and into the eastern states.  I ended up with a total of 19 QSO’s which included 7 SOTA contacts, which edged me ever closer to ‘Shack Sloth’.  But it was time to pack up and head off to Whyalla.

Stations worked were:- Andy VK5LA/p (SOTA – Mount Lofty); John VK5BJE; Peter VK2TQ; Bill VK5MRD; Brian VK5FMID; David VK5UG; Rick VK4KRX/p; Andrew VK2UH; Peter VK5KX; Allen VK3HRA/p (SOTA – VK3/VN-012); Marshall VK3MRG/p; Chris VK5LTD/p; Roy VK5NRG; Ernie VK3DET; John VK5EMI; Ron VK3AFW/p; and Rick VK3KAN/p.

Following the activation at the Poonthie Ruwe CP, I drove a few kms away to the Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park.  The park is situated about 100 kms east of Adelaide, and about 5 kms south west of Tailem Bend.  Access is via Placid Estate Road, which runs off the Princes Highway.  This park is much better signposted that Poonthie Ruwe.  Although, there are no signs on the Princes Highway to indicate its existence.

The park was proclaimed under its current name in June, 2005 and conserves about 143 hectares of Southern Cypress Pine forest, that includes two nationally threatened orchid species…the Sandhill Greenhood Orchid, and the Metallic Sun Orchid.  It is one of just nine areas left in South Australia where the Sandhill Greenhood Orchid can be found.  The park was originally constituted as the Tailem Bend Forest Reserve back in 1950.

The nearby Princes Highway originally cut through the park, but was rerouted in the 19990’s to bypass the park.

The name of the park is aboriginal in the native Ngarrindjeri language.  ‘Mowantjie’ is the name for the native pine found in the park, while ‘Willauwar’ is a plural word meaning ‘forest of species’.  Therefore ‘Mowantjie Willauwar’ means ‘Native Pine Forest’.

Over 40 different varieties of birds have been documented in the park.

Again I set up the dipole on the 7m squid pole and used the 817nd.  There are obviously plenty of trees here to string up the ends of the dipole.  This time, there was a bit more activity on 40m which was good.

My first QSO was with Glen VK3YY who was on top of Mount Dandenong VK3/ VC-025.  I had 2 other SOTA contacts during the afternoon.  The next was with Kevin VK3KAB on VK3/ VT-040, and then Peter VK3ZPF who was on top of VK3/ VT-026.

I also spoke with Andy VK5LA/p, who was operating portable as part of the VK5 Parks Award, up in the River Murray National Park.  I think this was Andy’s first parks activation, so congratulations Andy, and thanks for supporting the program/award.

I made a total of 14 QSO’s, all on 40m.

The following stations were worked:- Glen VK3YY/p (SOTA), Andy VK5LA/p (Murray River NP), Ron VK3AFW, John VK5BJE, Rod VK2ZRD, Col VK5HCF, Andrew VK2UH, Bernard VK3AMB, Brian VK5FMID, Kevin VK3KAB/p (SOTA), Peter VK3ZPF/p (SOTA), David VK5KC, Allen VK3HRA, and Peter VK2NEO.

On Sunday morning, 2nd June 2013, I activated the Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park, which is located about 100 kms east of Adelaide.  It is situated about 5 kms south east of the town of Tailem Bend, near the Murray River.  The park was originally called Poonthie Ruwi-Riverdale CP and was proclaimed back in 2003, but the name was changed in May, 2008.  The park’s name means ‘Hopping Mouse Country’ in the traditional Ngarrindjeri aboriginal language.  Unfortunately, there is no Hopping Mouse population in the area today, due to European settlement.

Poonthie Ruwe consists of mallee and Scented Irongrass tussock grassland and covers an area of about 241 hectares.  It is the largest area of this type of vegetation in South Australia, and the temperate grasslands that are found in the park are classified as critically endangered.  This type of vegetation has been poorly conserved due to clearing for farming.

Access to the park is via Blackets Road, which runs off the Princes Highway, just out of Tailem Bend.  There are no signs indicating the park is there, so before leaving home make sure you know exactly where it is located.

The area is quite sandy, and there is a resident ant population as I found out.  Their nests almost looked like the lunar landscape.

I set up my gear and called CQ on 7.100 on 40m, but things were incredibly slow.  First cab off the rank was Bob VK2OD.  This was followed by a few of the regular Hunters in Andy VK5LA, Brian VK5FMID, and Allen VK3HRA.

Because things were s slow, I decided to pack up the gear and i headed ‘around the corner’ to the Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park.

I made a total of just 6 QSO’s, all on 40m.

The following stations were worked:- Bob VK2OD, Andy VK5LA, Brian VK5FMID, Allen VK3HRA, Roy VK5NRG, and Ian VK3FIAN.

Friday was a really wet day here at my qth…over 90 mm of rain.  And the forecast for the weekend did not look any better, so unfortunately I had to put on hold any plans to do any SOTA activations this weekend.  But after the morning coffee, the weather seemed to be clearing to a degree, and the ‘portable bug’ bit.  My wife Marija, headed off to the gym and to do her Saturday morning shopping, so I jumped in the car and drove up the South Eastern Freeway to Monarto, and activated the Monarto Conservation Park.

Monarto Conservation Park is situated about 60 kms east of Adelaide, and about 30 kms east from my home at Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills.  Access to the park is via Ferries McDonald Road.  Simply take the Monarto turn off on the South Eastern Freeway and then turn right onto Ferries McDonald Road.  The park is situated about 6 kms south from here.  The road soon becomes dirt after turning off the Freeway.

There are plenty of signs around to warn you regarding wildlife.  There are plenty of roos in the area.  But also the highly endangered Mallee fowl, which live in both Monarto CP and the nearby much larger Ferries McDonald Conservation Park.

The park is well signposted and is located on the western side of Ferries McDonald Road.  There is a large carpark, and from here you can follow a short 2 km loop trail which takes you through the park.

The nearby ‘town’ of Monarto was once earmarked as a satellite city to Adelaide, by the then Premier, Don Dunstan, back in the 1970’s.  However for a variety of reaons this never eventuated.  Today Monarto is a farming district, and it is adjacent to the main Adelaide-Melbourne railway line.

Monarto CP consists of thick mallee woodland and dry heathland.  The park contains one of the few pieces of remnant Mallee vegetation close to Adelaide.  No camping is allowed within the park, and there are no facilities.  The park comprises sand ridges forming part of the Murray Plains.  As previously mentioned the park is home to the endangered Mallee fowl, along with a variety of other wildlife including the Western Grey Kangaroo, and at least two species of Marsupial Mouse.  There are also numerous bat species.  More than 80 species of birs have been documented in the park.

I set up the normal equipment, the 817nd and the dipole using the 7m squid pole.  I attached the squid pole to a post & rail permapine fence using an occie strap.  The weather was a bit ordinary, but the rain held off right until the end, which was good.  Unfortunately for the most part there was annoying light drizzle.  And then the rain came in from the west and it was time to head to the car and home for lunch and a hot coffee.

Conditions seemed quite good, but there didn’t appear to be the same number of operators on 40m this morning, as there has been on previous Saturday mornings.

I ended up working a total 16 stations on 40m, in VK1, VK3, & VK5.

A few interesting QSO’s though during the morning/early afternoon.  I spoke with Mark VK3DEE/p on VK3/VC-018 (SOTA) who was a good 5/8 signal.  And I had a few good QRP contacts.  One was with Grant VK3HP.  I wound down the power on the 817nd and spoke with Grant on just .5 watt and received a 5/7 signal report from him (down from 5/9 when using 5 watts).  And also Duncan VK3LZ, who was also QRP running just 2.5 watts.  Duncan was a good strong signal 5/8.  Again I only used .5 watt and received a 5/7 signal report from Duncan.  And I also spoke with Ian VK5CZ who gave me 5/5 up in Clare on just .5 watt.

Another interesting QSO was with Peter VK3YE who was using his home brew tx.

The following stations were worked:- Ernie VK3DET; Nick VK3ANL; Ron VK3MJR; Brian VK5FMID; Allen VK3HRA; Shaun VK5FAKV; Mark VK3DEE/p (SOTA); Rod VK5FTTC; Grant VK3HP; Brenton VK3CM; Duncan VK3LZ; Matt VK1MA; Ian VK5CZ; Geoff VK3AHT; & Peter VK3YE.

Other than the weather, an enjoyable activation.

This afternoon was such a terrific afternoon weather wise that I decided to venture out and head east up the South Eastern Freeway, & activate the Ferries McDonald Conservation Park.  The park is situated about 60 kms east of Adelaide, and about 20 kms south west of Murray Bridge.  Its not that far from my home qth.  Access is either via Chaunceys Line Road via the town of Hartley, or via Ferries McDonald Road via Monarto South.

Ferries McDonald Conservation Park covers an area of about 860 hectares and contains one of the few pieces of remnant Mallee vegetation close to Adelaide.  It is important as it has never been cleared for farming, and is an example of the original vegetation of the area.  Within the park there are numerous bird species (over 60 have been recorded), echidnas, marsupial mouse, and Western Grey kangaroos.  It is also home to the highly endangered malleefowl.  Although I didn’t see one, I did go for a walk prior to setting up and I saw one of their nests which are built on the ground as a mound.  The park is named after Mr. Ferries and Mr. McDonald who donated the land for conservation, last century.

I accessed the park via Chaunceys Line Road, and set up the gear near the carpark at the eastern end of Chaunceys Line.  As per usual I used the FT-817nd, just 5 watts output, and my dipole.  There are plenty of trees here to hang the ends of the legs from, and I used a couple of big rocks to hold the 7m squid pole in place.  The park contains thick mallee and other Mt Lofty Ranges vegetation, including gums.

I started off on 40m and my 1st QSO of the day was with Gary, VK5ZK, down at beautiful Goolwa.

My 2nd QSO of the day was with Peter VK3PF, who advised that by working me had had racked up his 10 points, thus qualifying for the Bronze level of the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award.  Congratulations Peter on becoming the first interstate operator (and in fact the first ever) on getting to Bronze as a “Hunter”.  I know there are plenty of other guys knocking on the door as ‘Hunters’, and most of those are from VK3, which is great to see.

I also spoke with Ian VK5CZ who again was using just 100 milliwatts from up at Clare.  Ian was an excellent signal (5/6) even on such low power.  From Ian’s QTH in the Clare Valley, to my portable location in the park, was a distance of about 200 kms.

Also made contact with John, VK5BJE/p who was operating from the Mylor Conservation Park.  This was John’s second park for the day.  I had worked him earlier in the afternoon before leaving home, when he was in the Sir Mark Oliphant CP in the Adelaide Hills.  Well done John on getting out and about and activating 2 parks.

I also spoke with Brian VK5FMID down in Mount Gambier, who lowered his power down to 2 watts, and I lowered my power down to the lowest setting on the 817nd (half a watt), and we were able to comfortably talk with each other on 40m.

After the activity on 40m had slowed down, I slid over to 20m to see if I could pull in any DX, but I was sadly disappointed.  I could hardly hear anything coming in on the LP from Europe.  There were stations there but they were very light.  I had to run the antenna through the antenna analyser a few times, just to make sure I didn’t have a fault, but everything was okay.  I then heard a few Europeans comment that the band was poor, so that made me feel a little bit better.

So I switched back to 40m and made a few more contacts until the sun went down and the mozzies came out.  My last QSO of the day was with Bob VK6KRC.  By the end of the afternoon, I ended up 33 QSO’s into VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, & VK7 on 40m, and just 1 QSO on 20m into VK6.  I packed up my gear and headed home to a waiting meal of Noddle Box, a nice hot coffee, and a few glasses of port.

This is the list of stations worked:-

Gary VK5ZK; Peter VK3PF; Marshall VK3MRG; Andy VK5LA; Wayne VK7NET/m; John VK5FTCT; Shaun VK5FAKV; Allen VK3HRA/m; Ian VK5CZ; Col VK5HCF; Nick VK3ANL; Ken VK3HKV; Kas VK5ZKT; John VK5BJE/p; Darren VK2NNN; Steve VK3MEG; Ian VK3VIN; Jim VK5JW/qrp (5 watts); John VK2YW; Wayne VK7NET (at home); Dean VK2FLYS; Brian VK5FMID; Frank VK3FADI/qrp (5 watts); Ray VK3NBL; Don VK7DON; Peter VK5KPR; Rex VI103WIA; Andrew VK2UH; Peter VK5NAQ; Andrew VK7AD; Colin VK4FAAS; Kev VK2KEV/m; Noel VK3NDX; and Bob VK6KRC.

Another great afternoon out.  Plenty of stations called in which is great and lots of interest in the VK5 Parks Award, which is even better.

After packing up at Sandy Creek CP and saying see ya later to Andy VK5AKH, I started heading home through the Adelaide Hills.  My wife Marija had told me about another park that I was going to pass on the way home, so I took this as a ‘you have permission to stop in there on the way home‘, which is exactly what I did.

Hale Conservation Park is situated about 60kms north east of Adelaide.  It is located a few kms south of the town of Williamstown.  Access is via the Mount Pleasant Road.  The park has a diverse landscape and steep rocky ridges, and is the home to some of Australia’s more secretive mammals.  It conserves the oyster bay cypress pine.

There are some challenging walking trails in the park which provide spectacular views of the South Para Valley and the South Para Reservoir.  The trail to the South Para River passes from the highlands to the river crossing while the trail to the north eastern boundary of the park follows the creek line to emerge in grasslands on the outskirts of Williamstown.

When I first arrived at the park, there were 2 other cars in the carpark.  I think they were 2 young lovers.  But they didn’t hang around for long.  The sight of some fella carrying a squid pole into the bush and the sounds of goats bleating (from SOTA Goat), got the better of them, and off they went to a more quiet location !

I set up the Bandhopper 40m/20m dipole on the 7m squid pole, and used my Yaesu FT-817nd with 5 watts.  There are plenty of trees here so there were no problems with getting the ends of the legs of the dipole up off the ground.

I had a steady flow of ‘hunters’ who responded to my CQ call, and I ended up with 16 QSO’s, all on 40m.  Included one QSO with Lamont in Gisborne in NEW ZEALAND.  Really good conditions between the 2 of us, with 5/8 both ways.

It was a great little spot where I was set up and there was quite a bit of natural lightning, as it was almost a full moon.  But the cold weather got the better of me, and I headed home to the warmth, and spent there remainder of the evening watching the AFL on the TV.

Stations worked were:-

Hans VK5YX; Ian VK5CZ/m; John VK5FTCT; Nev VK5WG; Rod VK5FTTC; Brian VK3MCD/m; Matt VK1MA; Mark VK3YN; Steve VK3MEG; Michel VK3KVW; Shaun VK5FAKV; Bill VK7SV; Lamont ZL2ALK; Paul VK5FUZZ; Urey VK3ATA; and Roy VK7ROY.

On Saturday, the 25th May, 2013, I journeyed up to Riverton, about 130 kms north of home, for a get together lunch with Ian VK5CZ and Andy, VK5AKH. We had an enjoyable lunch at the Riverton Hotel, and a chat, and spoke a bit about the direction of SOTA in South Australia.

Riverton is a great little town situated in the mid north of S.A. in the Gilbert Valley.  It only has a population of about 720 people.  But in its heyday it was a very busy place, as it was situated on the bullock track to Adelaide, from the mining town of Burra.

I had intended activating the Sandy Creek Conservation Park later that afternoon on the way home, and Andy showed his interest in coming along as well.  Over lunch, Ian then decided he would activate the Spring Gully Conservation Park on his way home

Following lunch, Ian headed west back to Clare, and Andy & I headed south to the Sandy Creek CP, which is located about 60 kms north east of Adelaide, between Gawler and Lyndoch in the southern Barossa Valley.  Access is via the Barossa Valley Highway.

We soon worked out why it is called Sandy Creek.  The soil here is certainly very sandy !  Funny that.  The Sandy Creek Conservation Park is surrounded by farmland, vineyards and deep sand mining pits.   It is established on gently undulating sand dunes with occasional creeks.  It conserves some of the last remaining vegetation of the sandy soil lowlands of the Barossa Valley.

Several walking trails through the native pine and pink gum allow you to explore the park. There is plenty of wildlife in the park including western grey kangaroos. The richness and diversity of the park’s birdlife makes it particularly significant for naturalists and birdwatchers.  Unfortunately, bird populations are in decline due to the changing habitat.

Andy and I set up the Bandhopper 40m/20m linked dipole, using the 7m squid pole as support.  No problems here with putting the pole holder into the ground.  We used Andy’s Elecraft KX3, which is a great transceiver, and just 5 watts output.

Our first QSO’s were with Col VK5HCF and Brian VK5FMID down at the Ewens Ponds Conservation Park, in the south east of South Australia.  Col and Brian have been active supporters of the VK5 Parks Award.  It was great to speak to them and have them in the log.

Ian VK5CZ then gave us a call from the Spring Gully CP, and we slowly wound back the power at both ends from 5 watts down to 100 milliwatts and were still able to hear each other very well.

Our next QSO was with Doug using the special event call of VI130WIA for the 2013 WIA National Conference in Perth, W.A.  This was a good one to have in the log.

Next we spoke with Marshall VK3MRG/p who was on top of Suger Loaf peak, VK3/ VN-011, in Victoria.  Marshall had a great signal, with very little QSB.

Andy and I were just in the process of packing up and taking down the antenna, when a goat bleated from my iphone from SOTA Goat.  It was a spot for Wayne VK3WAM.  So the 2nd leg of the dipole was strung back up in the trees and we made contact with Wayne who was on the top of Mount Disappointment, VK3/ VC-014.  Signals were very good…5/8 both ways.

Matt VK1MA then asked us to QSY down 10, so we spoke with Matt, and then kept getting calls following that.  Which was great, but nature was calling, and unfortunately we had to go QRT.  Ended up with 13 QSO’s, all on 40m SSB.

The following is a list of stations worked:-

Col VK5HCF; Brian VK5FMID; Peter VK3ZPF; Peter VK3PF; Ian VK5CZ; Doug VI103WIA; Marshall VK3MRG/p; Wayne VK3WAM/p; Matt VK1MA; Allen VK3HRA; Paul VK3IH; VK3YN; and Peter VK5KPR.