vk5pas

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Turriff Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2466

Posted: 13 Nov 2019 02:54 AM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2019/11/13/turrif...rve-vkff-2466/


Our next intended park for the day was the Turriff Flora and Fauna Reserve
VKFF-2466.Â* Â*This was to be the first time the park had been activated for
the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

The park is located about 390 km north-west of Melbourne.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Turriff Flora & Fauna Reserve.Â* Map
courtesy of Protected Planet.

To get to the park we travelled east out of Patchewollock on the
Patchewollock-Sea Lake Road.Â* We soon reached the little town of Speed
which was named afterÂ*William, Harold and Gordon Speed, who settled in the
district in 1903.Â* Speed is the venue of the Mallee MachineryÂ*Field Days,
first held in 1979. It is run over two days in August and has over 8,000
people attend.Â* The normal population of the town is only about 100 people.





The Turriff Flora and Fauna Reserve is about 617 acres in size and was
established in 1981.Â* The park takes its name from the locality of Turriff
which was settled in 1902.Â* In 1994 a meteorite with a mass of 0.28
kilograms (0.62Â*lb) was found in a field near Turriff.






The park is named after the nearby town of Turriff.Â* In 1901 the first
settlers came to the Malle area where the town of Turriff was later named
after Mr John Turriff, the Manager of Corrong Station.Â* There was no
permanent water, no telephone, and roads were just sandy tracks.Â* In
1902-1903 the railway line was constructed through thick mallee scrub from
Woomerlang to Nowingi.Â* The SEC power came in 1964.Â* In about 1912, 17,000
km of open channel was constructed by horse teams and scoops, which brought
water to the are from storage in the Grampians.Â* This was completed in
1920.Â* Channels ran once a year to fill dams.






We accessed the park via Roberts Road which runs off the Sunraysia Highway.
Above:- An aerial view of the Turriff Flora & Fauna Reserve showing our
operating spot.Â* Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

The VK6 guys were still on 7.145, so once again I called CQ on 7.140.Â*
First in the log was Grant VK2LX, followed by Adrian VK5FANA, and then Ray
VK4NH.Â* Once I had ten contacts in the log I swapped the mic with Marija.



Marijas first contact was with Steve VK5KSW on the Yorke Peninsula,
followed by Peter VK3PF/m, and then Adrian VK5FANA.Â* It only took Marija
about 9 minutes to get her tenth contact which was with Ian VK3VDX.



I then jumped onto the mic and logged a further two stations on 40m, before
moving to the 20m band.Â* I there logged just the one station, Adam VK2YK.Â*
Marija and I then moved to 80m where we spoke with Liz VK2XSE/p who was
activating the Jerilderie Nature Reserve VKFF-1942.Â* I then moved down to
3.610 and logged Rob VK2VH.

We were a bit pressed for time, so we packed up and headed off to our next
park.Â* We had qualified another new park for VKFF.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK5KSW
VK3PF/m
VK5FANA
VK2LEE
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK2VH
VK4AAC/2
VK3VDX
VK2LX


Marija worked the following station on 80m SSB:-

VK2XSE/p (Jerilderie Nature Reserve VKFF-1942)


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK2LX
VK5FANA
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK2IO
VK4HNS
VK3PF/m
VK2HGP
VK5KSW
VK2VH
VK4AAC/2


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK2YK


I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK2XSE/p (Jerilderie Nature Reserve VKFF-1942)
VK2VH
VK4AAC/2




References.

Protected Planet, 2019, https://www.protectedplanet.net/search?q=turriff,
viewed 13th November 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed,_Victoria, viewed
13th November 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turriff,_Victoria, viewed
13th November 2019


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Yetmans Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2502

Posted: 13 Nov 2019 02:25 AM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2019/11/13/yetman...rve-vkff-2502/


It was now Monday 11th November 2019 and our two nights at Murrayville had
come to an end.Â* Our plan for today was to try to activate as many parks as
possible and also to fit in quite a bit of sightseeing.Â* With respect to
the parks, we intended just to qualify them for VKFF with 10 contacts, and
to come back another day for the 44 QSOs required for WWFF global
qualification.

We enjoy our trips to Murrayville.Â* It is just a little town, but we always
find the locals very friendly and the accommodation at the Murrayville
Caravan Park is top-notch.

Murrayville was named after John Murray (1851-1916) the Premier of Victoria
from 1909-1912.

The town is a shadow of its former self.Â* Many of the shops in the towns
main street are closed.Â* In its heyday, it was largest of several
settlements west of Ouyen.Â* In 1933 the towns population was 603.







The Murrayville Hotel dates back to 1911.Â* We have always enjoyed our meals
there.Â* The old fruit and vegetable shop which is now the Cobb & Co Cafe is
also one of our regular haunts when we visit Murrayville.Â* At the eastern
end of the town, you can view some old rusting army tanks.







Our first park of the day was the Yetmans Flora and Fauna Reserve
VKFF-2502, which is located about 440 km north-west of Melbourne.

This was to be only the second time that this park had been activated for
the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.Â* It was the first time for
Marija and I.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Yetmans Flora & Fauna Reserve in
north-western Victoria.Â* Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

We travelled east on the Mallee Highway and then turned left onto the
Hopetoun-Walpeup Road to travel south.Â* Along the way, I spotted a
Wedge-tailed eagle in a gum tree about 300 metres off the road.Â* The photos
below were captured as it was flying off.





The Yetmans Flora and Fauna Reserve is about 593 hectares in size and was
established in 1986.Â* It was clear from the park sign that the authorities
have not been out to this park for a long time.






We accessed the park on its northern boundary on Woollards Road.Â* We found
a gap in the scrub with enough room to pull off the road and set up our
station.
Above:- An aerial view of the Yetmans Flora & Fauna Reserve showing our
operating spot.Â* Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

There were a couple of VK6 stations talking on 7.145 so I headed down to
7.140 and called CQ.Â* Brenton VK3CM came back to my call with a very big
5/9 plus signal.Â* This was followed by Adam VK2YK and Rod VK7FRJG.

The 40m band was in poor shape and it took me 15 minutes to get 10 contacts
in the log, qualifying the park for VKFF.Â* I logged 11 stations before
swapping the mic with Marija.



Marija called CQ on 7.140 and this was answered by Alan VK3ARH, followed by
Lee VK2LEE, and then Adrian VK5FANA.Â* It took Marija only 6 minutes to get
her 10 contacts.Â* QSO number ten was with Rob VK4AAC/2.Â* Marija logged a
further two stations before handing me back the mic.

I then logged a further 4 stations on 40m before heading down to the 80m
band.Â* Unfortunately, I was only able to log the single station on 80m,
that being David VK5PL.Â* Â*To conclude the activation I moved up to the 20m
band where I logged two stations, Lee VK2LEE and Brett VK2VW.





With the park qualified for VKFF, Marija and I packed up and once again hit
the road, heading for our next park.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3ARH
VK2LEE
VK5FANA
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK4HNS
VK2YK
VK2VH
Vk4AAC/2
VK3PF/m
VK5CZ


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

Vk3CM
VK2YK
Vk7FRJG
VK5FANA
VK3SQ
VK3VEL
VK2UXO
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK2IO
VK5CZ
VK4HNS
VK2LEE
VK3PF/m


I worked the following station on 80m SSB:-

VK5PL


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK2LEE
VK2VW




References.

Protected Planet, 2019, https://www.protectedplanet.net/search?q=yetmans,
viewed 13th November 2019

Victorian Places, 2019, https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/murrayville,
viewed 13th December 2019


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Wyperfeld National Park VKFF-0549

Posted: 13 Nov 2019 01:37 AM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2019/11/13/wyperf...k-vkff-0549-3/


Our third and final park for Sunday (10th November 2019) was the Wyperfeld
National Park VKFF-0549.Â* This would be our second Victorian National Park
for the 2019 Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award (KRMNPA) Activation
Weekend.

The park is located about 450 km north-west of Melbourne and is located in
the Mallee district of north-western Victoria.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Wyperfeld National Park in western
Victoria.Â* Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

We stopped briefly in the town of Patchewollock which is believed to take
its name from the corruption of two aboriginal words putje meaning plenty
and wallah meaning porcupine grass.Â* Thus the place of plenty porcupine
grass.





The town contains some large Mallee Fowl sculptures which are made of
corrugated iron.







Patchewollock is also part of the Silo Art Trail.Â* Brisbane artist Fintan
Magee completed the work in 2016.Â* The work portrays an image of the
archetypal Aussie farmer.






You can also view some railway buildings from a bygone era.Â* The line to
Patchewollock was officially opened on the 4th day of May 1925.Â*
Patchewollock Railway Stations last wheat train departed on the 3rd day of
July 1986 and the line closed on the 8th day of December 1986.








The Wyperfeld National Park is the third largest National Park in
Victoria.Â* It is about 357,017 hectares (882,210 acres) in size.Â* It was
declared in 1921 to protect this large piece of mallee, woodland and
heathland.

The parks name comes from the Parish of Wyperfeld.Â* There have been
numerous attempts to discover the origin of the word Wyperfeld.Â* It is
believed to come from the German Wyper, a tributary of the Rhine, and Feld,
a field.

The park can be reached:

via Patchewollock off the Sunraysia Highway
via Hopetoun on the Henty Highway
via Underbook on the Mallee Highway
via Rainbow from the Western Highway at Dimboola.

Above:- An aerial view of the Wyperfeld National Park looking north.Â* Image
courtesy of Google maps

Prior to European settlement in the area, the Wotjobaluk aboriginal people
regularly travelled along Outlet Creek which snakes its way through the
centre of the park, visiting the lakes and swamps.Â* From the 1860s European
settlers followed the same route to establish pastoral runs.

In 1909 a total of 3,900 hectares were reserved by the Victorian State
Government following pressure from naturalists.Â* In 1921 Wyperfeld National
Park was proclaimed.Â* Wyperfeld was Australias first Mallee National Park.

About 450 species of native plants can be found in the park.Â* River Red Gum
and Black Box woodlands cover the floodplains of Outlet Creek and its
lakes.Â* Pine-Buloke grows on nearby dunes.Â* Mallee eucalypts cover most of
the eastern section of the park.





Over 200 species of bird have been recorded in the park.Â* Wyperfeld
National Park is nationally recognised as an Important Bird Area.Â* This is
due to the areas threatened population of Malleefowl and other species of
birds including the Mallee Emu-wren.






After leaving Patchewoolock we headed west on Baring Road and then Pine
Plains Road.Â* We soon reached the eastern boundary of the park.







Last year we activated the park from the Casuarina campground.Â* This year
we decided to head to the Snowdrift campground.
Above:- The Wyperfeld National Park showing our operating spot.Â* Map
courtesy of Protected Planet.

Snowdrift contains magnificent white sand dunes in a normally flat park.







Marija was keen enough to climb the sand dunes.Â* There are some great views
to be had of the surrounding area from the top.









After setting up Marija and I tuned across the band to see if we could hear
any other park activators, but sadly we did not.Â* In fact, the band was
very quiet with very few operators.Â* But there was a very low down station
on 7.145 so I was unable to get onto 7.144.Â* I found 7.141 clear and
started to call CQ.Â* We were unable to self spot on parksnpeaks as there
was absolutely no internet coverage from within the park at our location.

It took around 3 or 4 minutes of CQ calls before the first station came
back to my CQ call.Â* It was Grant VK2LX with a big 5/9 signal.Â* Grant
kindly spotted us on parksnpeaks which resulted in a lot more traffic.Â*
Second in the log was Kieran VK2QK, followed by Graham VK7ZGK, and then a
Park to Park with Gerard VK2IO/p who was activating the Dural Nature
Reserve VKFF-1926.Â* Marija also logged Gerard.

I logged a total of 12 stations on 40m before swapping the mic with Marija.



Marija called CQ on 7.141 and this was answered by Linda VK7QP, followed by
Mark VK4SMA, and Scott VK4CZ.Â* Just 5 minutes later and Marija had contact
number ten in the log, with a contact with Dave VK2RP.

Marija went on to work a total of 21 stations on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK4,
and VK7.Â* This included a further Park to Park, with Peter Vk3ZPF/p who was
in the Churchill National Park VKFF-0621.



Although we have both previously activated and qualified Wyperfeld, it is
always nice to get your 10 or 44 contacts during an activation.Â* Despite
the band being in rather a poor shape, I was hoping to get my 44, so I
hopped back into the operators chair.

I logged a further 33 stations including Park to Park contacts with Alan
VK2MG/4 in the Samford Conservation Park VKFF-1639, Peter VK3ZPF/p in the
Churchill National Park VKFF-0621, and David VK5DG/3 in the Alfred National
Park VKFF-0618.Â* Contact number 44 was with Andrew VK7DW and came in an
hour and twenty minutes into the activation.Â* Not bad considering the band
conditions were poor.

I then moved up to the 20m band where I logged three stations, Mark VK3BSA
mobile 6, Jonathan VK7JON and Murray VK4MWB.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK2IO/p (Dural Nature Reserve VKFF-1926)
VK7QP
VK4SMA
VK4CZ
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK3HAY
VK2YK
VK2RP
VK2BDR
VK7JON
VK4MWB
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK3ZPF/p (Churchill National Park VKFF-0621)
VK2EZT
VK7FOLK
VK3PF/m
VK5DG/3 (Alfred National Park VKFF-0618)


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK2LX
VK2QK
VK7ZGK
VK2IO/p (Dural Nature Reserve VKFF-1926)
VK1AT
VK3BSA/5
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK7QP
VK4CZ
VKSMA
VK2MG/4 (Samford Conservation Park VKFF-1639)
VK2PKT
VK7HCK
VK3MPR
VK7JON
VK4FARR
VK5NAW
VK7FJFD
VK2JES
VK2PGB
VK3FADM/1
VK3ZPF/p (Churchill National ParkVKFF-0621)
VK2AD
VK4GSF
VK4MWB
VK3ANL
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK3BSA/6
VK2LEE
VK2UH
VK2SK
VK7ROY
VK7ME
VK1JH
VK7VZ
VK5DG/3 (Alfred National Park VKFF-0618)
VK4HNS
VK2PAA
VK7DW
VK4PDX


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK3BSA/6
VK7JON
VK4MWB


x



x



References.

Parks Victoria, 2006, Wyperfeld National Park Visitor Guide

Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyperfeld_National_Park,
viewed 13th November 2019


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Timberoo Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2456

Posted: 12 Nov 2019 11:51 PM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2019/11/13/timber...rve-vkff-2456/


Our second park for Sunday (10th November 2019) was the Timberoo Flora and
Fauna Reserve VKFF-2456.Â* This was to be only the second time that the park
had been activated for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.Â* It was
the first time that Marija and I had activated the park.

The park is located about 24 km south-west of the town of Ouyen in
north-western Victoria.
Above:- A map showing the location of the Timberoo Flora and Fauna Reserve
in north-western Victoria.Â* Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

After leaving Kattyoong Marija and I drove east on the Mallee Highway and
into the little town of Walpeup.Â* The towns name is derived from an
aboriginal word with several meanings including stumpy tailed lizard and
the other an indigenous acacia.Â* There isnt much at Walpeup these days.Â*
However in its heyday in 1920 the town had a population of about 400
people, with a general store, a blacksmith, a butcher, a bank branch, and
various other businesses.






The Timberoo Flora & Fauna Reserve is also referred to on maps as the
Timberoo Nature Conservation Reserve.Â* It is a large piece of remnant
mallee scrub which is surrounded by cleared farming land.Â* It is not to be
confused with the much smaller Timberoo Bushland Reserve.
Above:- An aerial view of the Timberoo Flora & Fauna Reserve looking west.Â*
Image courtesy of Google Maps.

The reserve is 3,034 acres in size and was created in 1993.Â* The reserve
contains Walpeup Lake which has no water in it, and due to water no longer
being piped into it, will probably remain that way for some time.







We accessed the park via Walpeup Lake Road which runs off the
Hopetoun-Walpeup Road.
Above:- Map showing the Timberoo Flora & Fauna Reserve showing our
operating spot.Â* Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

After setting up Marija and I had a tune across the 40m band before calling
CQ, hoping to track down some other park activators.Â* Our first contact was
with Peter VK3ZPF/p who was activating the Yarra Ranges National Park
VKFF-0556.Â* At the end of our QSO with Les VK5KLV asked us to go up to
7.165.Â* We moved up the band and logged LesÂ*VK5KLV/p who was in the
Franklin Harbor Marine Park VKFF-1709.

I then moved down the band to 7.144 and started calling CQ.Â* First in the
log was Lee VK2LEE, followed by Mark VK2EMI, and then Ray VK4NH.Â* A handful
of contacts later I had two more Park to Park contacts in the log: Gerard
VK2IO/p who was in the Berowa Valley National Park VKFF-1162, and Shane
VK2LUV/p who was activating the Belford National Park VKFF-0023.



With 21 contacts in the log, I swapped the mic with Marija.Â* It didnt take
long and Marija had soon qualified the park for VKFF.Â* Her tenth contact
was with Adrian VK5FANA on the Yorke Peninsula.Â* Marija logged 10 contacts
including a Park to Park with Alan VK2MG/4 in the Samford Conservation Park
VKFF-1639.



Marija had now qualified the park for VKFF, so I again jumped into the
operators chair.Â* I logged a further 6 stations with band conditions on 40m
being very poor.Â* This included a Park to Park with Alan VK2MG/4 in the
Samford Conservation Park VKFF-1639.

With 27 contacts in the log, I moved to the 20m band where I logged a total
of 8 stations.Â* This included a contact with Mark VK3BSA/5 who was mobile
on the Nullabor Highway.

I then moved down to the 80m band and logged 5 stations including Park to
Park contacts with Peter VK3ZPF/p in the Yarra Ranges National Park
VKFF-0556 and Brett VK3FLCS/p in the Terrick Terrick National Park
VKFF-0630.

I then moved back to 40m and logged a further 12 stations including a Park
to Park with Gerard VK2IO/p in the Dural Nature Reserve VKFF-1926.



Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3ZPF/p (Yarra Ranges National Park VKFF-0556)
VK5KLV/p (Franklin Harbor Marine Park VKFF-1709)
VK2LUV/p (Belford National Park VKFF-0023)
VK7QP
VK3UH
VK2VW
VK4AAC/2
VK2MG/4 (Samford Conservation Park VKFF-1639)
VK5FANA
VK2IO/p (Dural Nature Reserve VKFF-1926)
VK2UH


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3ZPF/p (Yarra Ranges National Park VKFF-0556)
VK5KLV/p (Franklin Harbor Marine Park VKFF-1709)
VK2LEE
VK2EMI
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK3DAC
VK2IO/p (Berowa Valley National Park VKFF-1162)
VK2LUV/p (Belford National Park VKFF-0023)
VK3SQ
VK7QP
VK7EK
VK3PF
VK3UH
VK3MPR
VK3HAY
VK4SMA
VK2VH
VK4AAC/2
VK2HBO
VK5FANA
VK2HMV
VK4CZ
VK2AWS
VK3BSA/5
VK2MG/4 (Samford Conservation Park VKFF-1639)
VK2VW
VK7KT
VK1AT
VK4MWB
VK7JJ
VK5TR
VK7FRJG
VK2LX
VK3AQX
VK2IO/p (Dural Nature Reserve VKFF-1926)
VK2UH
VK7JON


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK3BSA/5
VK4CZ
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK4SMA
VK4MWB


I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK3ZPF/p (Yarra Ranges National Park VKFF-0556)
VK7QP
VK3FLCS/p (Terrick Terrick National Park VKFF-0630)
VK3SQ
VK5DW






References.

Victorian Places, 2019, https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/walpeup,
viewed 13th November 2019