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![]() VK5PAS /////////////////////////////////////////// WWFF Hunter 1,744 certificate Posted: 17 May 2021 06:17 PM PDT https://vk5pas.org/2021/05/18/wwff-h...4-certificate/ Back in March I received my latest global World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) certificate, the 1,744 WWFF Hunter certificate. It is issued for having worked 1,744 different WWFF references. Thanks to all of the WWFF activators and thanks to Karl DL1JKK the Awards Manager. /////////////////////////////////////////// VK100AF at the Kyeema Conservation Park 5CP-107 and VKFF-0826 Posted: 17 May 2021 02:55 AM PDT https://vk5pas.org/2021/05/17/vk100a...and-vkff-0826/ After packing up at Mount Lofty I headed to the Kyeema Conservation Park 5CP-107 & VKFF-0826. The park is located about 62 km south of Adelaide Above:- Map showing the location of the Kyeema Conservation Park. Map c/o Protected Planet. The Kyeema Conservation Park is about 346 hectares (850 acres) in size and was established on the 12th day of November 1964. In those days it was a wildlife reserve proclaimed under the National Park & Wildlife Reserves Act. On the 2rd day of August 1967 the wildlife reserve and another section of land were proclaimed as the Kyeema National Park. On the 27th day of April 1972 the park was reconstituted as the Kyeema Conservation Park. On the 4th day of April 1974 further sections were added to the park. Above:- The Kyeema Conservation Park showing the adjacent Christmas Hill Native Forest Reserve. Image c/o Protected Planet. The name Kyeema is believed to be local Kaurna aboriginal language meaning ‘dawn’. The park is bounded in the south by Woodgate Hill Road, in the east by Blackfellows Creek Road, and the parks boundary with the locality of Kuitpo in the west and in part to the north. Above:- An aerial shot of the Kyeema Conservation Park. Image c/o Google maps Prior uses of the land included the use of part of the current day park as a labour prison reserve, the Kyeema Afforestation Camp, which was opened on the 22nd day of March 1932. This was South Australias first prison camp. On the 27th day of October 1932 it was gazetted as the Kyeema Prison Camp. It operated until 1959 when it was replaced by the current Cadell Training Centre in the Riverland region of South Australia. Above:- Article from The Advertiser, Adelaide, Tues 6 Sept 1932. Image c/o Trove Above:- News article re escapees from Kyeema, The News Adelaide, 15 March 1948. Image c/o Trove The overstorey in the park is predominantly messmate stringy bark (Eucalyptus obliqua), with some pink gum (E. fasciculosa) and cup gum (E. cosmophylla) and a diverse under storey. Birds Sa have recorded about 84 native species of bird in the park including Superb Fairywren, Striated Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, White-browed Scrubwren, Crescent Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, and Grey Shrikethrush. The park was significantly damaged during the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires in February 1983. Following the fires, the park became the focus of a large revegetation project involving local school students. About 20,000 seedlings were planted in the first three years after commencement of the project. This area is now known as The Childrens Forest. There are some nice walks in the park, including the famous Heysen Trail walking track passes through the park. After setting up I called CQ on 7.144 on the 40m band and this was answered by Peter VK3PF. It was very slow going however, and it took me about 14 minutes before I had contact number ten in the log, a QSO with none other than my wife Marija VK5MAZ. I logged a total of 28 stations on 40m before callers dried up. Contacts were logged into VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7. This included two Park to Park contacts, with Bob VK2BYF/p and Gerald VK2HBG who were activating the Brundee Swamp Nature Reserve VKFF-2547. I then moved down to 7.090 and logged David VK3IL, Glen VK3YY, and Andrew VK3JBL who were activating SOTA summit VK3/ VT-011. After logging the SOTA contacts I moved back to 7.144 where I logged a further 5 stations from VK3, VK5, and VK7. Unfortunately callers dried up very quickly, so I headed to the 80m band. I logged 6 stations on 80m, all from VK5. It was then off to 20m where I logged 6 stations from Indonesia, VK4, VK5, and VK6. To conclude the activation I went back to 80m and logged Adrian VK5FANA who had missed me during my first go on 80m. I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:- VK3PF VK3CAT VK2VW VK2HFI VK3SQ VK3VRA VK3DWL/m VK2LEE VK3DEN VK5MAZ VK7FAMP VK3ARH VK2IO/m VK3UH VK3AV VK3AMB VK7LTD VK7ME VK3PI VK7QP VK4KLA VK3TV/m VK2BYF/p (Brundee Swamp Nature Reserve VKFF-2547) VK2HBG/p (Brundee Swamp Nature Reserve VKFF-2547) VK3AZN VK3FIMD VK7KT VK3DAC VK3IL/p (SOTA VK3/ VT-011) VK3YY/p (SOTA VK3/ VT-011) VK3JBL/p (SOTA VK3/ VT-011) VK7JFD VK3KV VK5CZ VK3IH VK3EJ I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:- VK5CZ VK5MAZ VK5ST VK5LA VK5GY VK5WG VK5FANA I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:- VK6NU VK5MAZ VK6XN VK4JWT VK4CZ I packed up and made the short drive back to my home at Ashbourne, travelling down Kirkham Road, enjoying the fabulous views of Ashbourne and surrounds. References. Birds SA, 2021, https://birdssa.asn.au/location/kyeema-conservation-park/, viewed 17th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyeema_Conservation_Park, viewed 17th May 2021. /////////////////////////////////////////// VK100AF at Mount Lofty VK5/ SE-005 and the Cleland Conservation Park 5CP-042 and VKFF-0778 Posted: 16 May 2021 09:58 PM PDT https://vk5pas.org/2021/05/17/vk100a...and-vkff-0778/ On Friday 7th May 2021, I activated Mount Lofty summit VK5/ SE-005 which is within the Cleland Conservation Park 5CP-042 & VKFF-0778, using the special callsign of VK100AF. The activation qualified for the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program, World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF), and the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award. VK100AF is a special event callsign for the 100 year anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Mount Lofty summit is 727 metres above sea level and is the highest peak in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges Adelaide Hills. It is located about 15 km east of the city of Adelaide. The summit is worth 4 points for the SOTA program. It has been activated 96 times for SOTA. This includes a number of activations by myself and Marija. Above:- Mount Lofty summit. Image c/o Google maps The summit is accessed via Summit Road from the South Eastern Freeway at Crafers, or from the eastern suburbs of Adelaide via Greenhill Road and the Mount Lofty Scenic Route. For those who are keen, you can walk up the gully to the summit from Waterfall Gully. It is a challenging walk. An aerial view, looking west towatds the city fo Adelaide. Image c/o Google maps Mount Lofty was named by Matthew Flinders on the 23rd day of March 1802, during his circumnavigation of the Australian continent. The summit was first climbed in 1831 by Collet Barker (1784-1831) a British military officer and explorer. This was about 6 years before Adelaide was settled. Above:- Captain Matthew Flinders. Image c/o Wikipedia. The road from Crafers to Mount Lofty summit was originally known as Ridge Road. The route of the present day Summit Road varies in places from the original. Numerous stately homes were built along the road during the 1800s, as summer retreats for families of the so-called Adelaide Establishment, a group of wealthy landowners and industrialists. The first was Mount Lofty House. Frequently, extensive grounds complemented the grand houses on Ridge (Summit) Road. The houses gave employment to local families as servants and gardeners. Construction commenced of Mount Lofty House in the mid 1850s by Arthur Hardy (1817-1909), the patriarch of the famous South Australian Hardy family. Hardy arrived in South Australia in 1839 from England, aboard the Platina. He had received doctors advice to seek a warmer climate, and as a result he emigrated to Australia. Above:- Arthur Hardy. Image c/o Wikipedia. While building Mount Lofty House he planted three Californian Redwood Sequoias and through further plantings on the grounds of Mount Lofty House, he set the foundations for what would become the current day 97 hectare Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens. In Australia, Hardy went on to be a pastoralist, barrister, quarry owners, business and politician. On the ridge-line near Mount Lofty summit are three television transmission towers for Adelaide television. There is also the ruin of St Michaels House. The property was originally called Koralla and was left to the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide in 1943 by Mrs. Audine G. OLeary, the widow of Dr. Arthur Pryce Evelyn OLeary. Soon after this, Bryan Percival Robin, the Bishop of Adelaide, invited the Society of the Sacred Mission to establish themselves in Adelaide at the property which was to become their monastery and theological college. The building was destroyed during the devastating Ash Wednesday Bushfires in February 1983. The summit is located in the Cleland Conservation Park The park is named in honour of Sir. John Burton Cleland CBE (1878-1971) who was a renowned Australian naturalist, microbiologist, mycologist, and ornithologist. Following a successful career in medicine and pathology, Cleland became keenly interested in wildlife conservation. Above:- John Burton Cleland. Image c/o Wikipedia. Cleland Conservation Park is about 11.25Â*km2 in size and was established on the 1st day of January 1945. At Mount Lofty summit you can find the fire spotting tower which is 34 metres tall and commenced operation in 1982. It is one of two fire spotting towers in the Mount Lofty Ranges. Mount Lofty summit also has a visitor information centre, cafe and restaurant. The old 1958 built tearooms at the summit were replaced with the new summit restaurant in 1997. Just outside of the building is a paved outdoor area, with a number of spots under cover to enjoy a coffee or a meal. Some sensational panoramic views of the city of Adelaide and its suburbs can be enjoyed from Mount Lofty summit. You can also find the obelisk known as Flinders Column. It was named in honour of the famous explorer Captain Matthew Flinders, who in 1802 from Kangaroo Island, discovered and named Mount Lofty. The obelisk was originally erected as a trig station in 1885. A cairn of stones was erected on the summit in 1865, along with a table & chairs and a wooden flagstaff. The wooden flagstaff was replaced in 1885 when the stone tower was built. At the summit you can also find a number of memorials, including one which honours the firefighters who fought the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983. The fires commenced on the 16th February 1983 on a day when the temperature reached 40 deg C with a strong, hot northerly wind. The fires resulted in the death of 28 people including 3 Country Fire Service volunteer firefighters. A total of 363 homes and 200 other buildings were destroyed and 160,000 hectares were burnt. Another one acknowledges Thomas Charles Hockridge, the stonemason who erected the obelisk in 1885. For this activation I ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole. First in the log for the activation was Peter VK3PF, followed by Alan VK2MET, Neil VK4HNS, and Gerard VK2IO. With 4 contacts in the log, the summit has been qualified. Callers were a bit thin, but I boxed on and logged a total of 23 stations on 40m before the UTC rollover at 9.30 a.m. South Australian local time. Contacts were made into VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, and New Zealand. After the UTC rollover I logged 12 from VK2, VK3, VK7, and New Zealand. I then moved to the 80m band where I logged just 3 stations, all VK5s. I then headed to 20m and lgoged three stations from VK2 and New Zealand. To conclude the activation I moved back to 40m and put out a few final CQ calls on 7.144, logging a total of 7 stations from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK6, and VK7. Adjacent to where I was operating was Carminow Castle which was built in 1885 in Scottish baronial style as a summer house by the Scottish migrant Sir. Thomas Elder (1818-1897). Elder was a highly successful businessman, philanthropist, politician, race-horse owner and breeder, and public figure. His main house was called Birksgate and was located at Urbrae. His summer house was Carminow. Above:- Sir Thomas Elder. Image c/o Wikipedia. It was later owned from 1902 by Sir. Langdon Bonython, a proprietor of the Advertiser newspaper. The castle was inherited by his grandson Kym Bonython (1920-2011). During the Second World War it was used to house up to 120 troops at a time. With 48 QSOs in the log, it was time to pack up and head off to the Kyeema Conservation Park for a park activation using VK100AF. I worked the following stations before the UTC rollover on 40m SSB:- VK3PF VK2MET VK4HNS VK2IO VK2RO VK6XN VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4 VK1MIC VK5HS VK3ARH VK3SQ VK5GA VK3FIMD VK2VW VK2HFI ZL3RIK VK5JK VK5CZ VK4HMI VK2ZK VK2SLB I worked the following stations after the UTC rollover on 40m SSB:- VK3PF VK3FIMD VK2VW VK2HFI ZL3RIK VK3SQ VK2IO VK2SLB VK7LTD VK7FAMP VK2AB VK3MDH VK6BMM VK2HRX VK4KLA VK2RR VK7RV VK4GJP VK3PI I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:- VK5FANA VK5CZ VK5ST I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:- ZL1BYZ VK2VW VK2HFI References. Australian Institute for Disaster Resiliance, 2021, https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/bushfire-ash-wednesday-victoria-and-south-australia-1983/, viewed 17th May 2021. flickr, 2021, https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/49944624172, viewed 17th May 2021. Medievalism in Australian Cultural History, 2021, https://ausmed.arts.uwa.edu.au/items/show/536, viewed 17th May 2021. Monument Australia, 2021, https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/landscape/exploration/display/51271-matthew-flinders, viewed 17th May 2021. Mount Lofty House, 2021, https://www.mtloftyhouse.com.au/about/#mtloftyhistory, viewed 17th May 2021. SOTA, 2021, https://summits.sota.org.uk/summit/VK5/SE-005, viewed 16th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Lofty, viewed 16th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Hardy_(businessman), viewed 17th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Lofty_Botanic_Garden, viewed 17th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide_Establishment, viewed 17th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Michael%27s_House, viewed 17th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleland_Conservation_Park, viewed 17th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Elder, viewed 17th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collet_Barker, viewed 17th May 2021. /////////////////////////////////////////// VK100AF at Lake Albert Posted: 14 May 2021 09:06 PM PDT https://vk5pas.org/2021/05/15/vk100af-at-lake-albert/ On Saturday 24th April 2021, myself and Marija VK5MAZ headed to Lake Albert at Meningie, about 149km south-east of Adelaide. We intended to operate with the special event callsign of VK100AF to commemorate 4 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel who were killed in 1942 at Lake Albert. Above:- Map showing our operating spot at Lake Albert. Map c/o Google maps. VK100AF and VI100AF are two special event callsigns which have been on air since 1st March 2021, to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force. Marija and I have been very lucky to take part in the event using both of the callsigns. On the 3rd day of June 1942, an Avro Anson, No. W2370, was on a training flight from No. 6 Service Flying Training School at Mallalla. The crew on board lost their way in the darkness and after circling the town of Meningie and Lake Albert for some time, the aircraft finally crashed into Lake Albert. Above:- Article from the Chronicle, Adelaide, Thurs 11 June 1942. Image c/o Trove The Avro Anson was a British twin-engined, multi role aircraft, which was manufactured by British aircraft manufacturer Avro (1910-1963). A total of 6,688 MK1 Avro Anson aircraft were built. They were powered by two 350hp (261 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah 1X or 395 hp (295 kW) engines. Large numbers of the Avro Anson served in various roles for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Britain, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the Canadian Air Force and numerous other air forces before, during, and after World War Two. Above:- An Avro Anson aircraft. Image c/o Wikipedia A total of 1,028 Ansons were operated by the Royal Australian Air Force, with the majority being MK1s. The RAAF initially ordered 33 Ansons in November 1935 to fill the maritime reconnaissance role. The first were delivered in 1936 and 48 were in service before the start of the war. These aircraft continued to operate until 1955. Above:- Avro Anson RAAF aircraft. Images c/o Australian War Memorial. Here are a couple of videos on the Avro Anson Those killed on board the aircraft we- 401888 Sgt. Finlay Emmerson Anderson Aged 20 of Benalla, Victoria 412898 LAC William Stanley Butler Aged 22 of Grenfell, NSW 4122254 Sgt. Joseph Gray Myers Aged 25 of Ballina, NSW 403968 Sgt. Graeme Yeoman Wadlow Aged 22 of Sydney NSW. Above:- Headstones of the killed RAAF servicemen. Images c/o vwma.org.au Meningie is a small town on the banks of Lake Albert. The word Meningie is derived from an aboriginal word meningeng meaning place of mud. The town of Meningie was surveyed between March and June 1866, with land being offered for sale in August 1866. In 1867 a jetty was erected, with paddle steamers operating between Meningie and other ports on Lake Albert and Lake Alexandrina. Meningie ceased to operate as a port in December 1936. In the Soldiers Memorial Park on the lakefront you can find the Avro Anson Memorial. It features a replica Avro Anson engine which is protected in an encasement which reflects the shape of a Nissen hut. A little further to the north is a Monument re the crash of the Avron Anson. It was an overcast day with patches of blue, with a slight breeze coming off Lake Albert, a fresh water lake which was named after Prince Albert, the Consort of Queen Victoria. The area is well known for its variety of birdlife, and during our visit to Meningie we were not disappointed. We ran the Yaesu FT857d, 40 watts and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. The antenna was inverted vee configuration and was supported by a 7 metre telescopic squid pole. First in the log was Ken VK3DQW, followed by Peter VK3PF, and then John VK3CU. Marija and I logged a total of 52 stations on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, VK7, and VK8. This included two park activators: John VK5HAA in the Kenneth Stirling Conservation Park VKFF-0781, and Peter VK3TKK/p in the North Western Port Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2166. We then moved to 80m where we logged 10 stations from VK5, including John VK5HAA in the Kenneth Stirling Conservation Park. To conclude the activation we called CQ on 14.310 on the 20m band where we logged 11 stations from VK2, VK4, VK6, VK7, and VK8. After a little over 2 hours at Lake Albert we had 73 contacts in the log. We worked the following stations on 40m SSB:- VK3DQW VK3PF VK3CU VK2LEE VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4 VK3UAO VK5HS VK3ANL VK2PET VK5PE VK5ZSH VK3AHR VK7HB VK3PI VK3AWA VK5WF VK5RK VK5HAA/p VK2EAC VK5BJE VK3OF VK3NFS VK3DAC VK6XN VK2KYO VK5KVA VK3MAB VK3CJN VK3HSB VK3ZSC VK3TKK/p (VKFF VK1MAL VK2DG VK3UP/m VK5AW VK2MOR VK5VST VK3BBB VK2CCP VK5VOB VK5MJC VK5FUSE VK5KBJ/m VK5WG VK7ME VK3ZD VK4CWR/7 VK5HLS VK3LF/m VK3DBP We worked the following stations on 80m SSB:- VK5BJE VK5VST VK5BB VK5HLS VK5IS VK5GA VK5FUSE VK5HAA/p (VKFF-VK5KBJ/p VK5FANA We worked the following stations on 20m SSB:- VK6BAP VK8NSB VK6LIN VK4FDB VK6JK VK2IO/m VK7HRS VK6POP VK6NU VK2CR VK6XN References. Monument Australia, 2021, https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww2/display/51174-lake-albert-air-crash-memorial, viewed 15th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meningie,_South_Australia, viewed 15th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Anson, viewed 15th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Albert_(South_Australia), viewed 15th May 2021. /////////////////////////////////////////// Results from the trip Posted: 14 May 2021 07:26 PM PDT https://vk5pas.org/2021/05/15/results-from-the-trip/ Here are some results from our recent trip to VK2, VK3, and VK5 by myself and Marija. We activated 22 parks in VK2, VK3, and VK5. We made a total of 2.149 QSOs. My stats:- Canada 1 VK1 34 VK2 320 VK3 450 VK4 266 VK5 285 VK6 11 VK7 56 VK0 (Antarctica) 1New Zealand 42 Total of 1,466 QSOs. The graph below shows my contacts. The majority were to VK3, followed by VK2. VK4 and Vk5 were very close. The map below shows my contacts. Above:- Map showing my contacts. Map c/o qsomap.org The map below shows my contacts around Australia and New Zealand. Above:- Map showing my contacts around VK and ZL. Map c/o qsomap.org Marijas stats:- VK1 13 VK2 139 VK3 226 VK4 101 VK5 163 VK6 8 VK7 20New Zealand 13 Total of 683 QSOs. The graph below shows Marijas contacts. The majority were to VK3, followed by VK5. The map below shows Marijas contacts. Above:- Map showing Marijas contacts. Map c/o qsomap.org THANK YOU to everyone who called us. /////////////////////////////////////////// Loch Luna Game Reserve VKFF-1723 and World Amateur Radio Day. Posted: 13 May 2021 06:20 PM PDT https://vk5pas.org/2021/05/14/loch-l...eur-radio-day/ Today (Sunday 18th April 2021) was World Amateur Radio Day. Marija and I planned on activating a park on the way home, but we hadnt decided which one. To kick off the day we headed around to the home of Ivan VK5HS and Sheryl who made a beautiful cooked brekfast for us. We then hit the road and decided to activate the Loch Luna Game Reserve VKFF-1723. Loch Luna is about 10 km north-west of Barmera. Above:- Map showing the location of the Loch Luna Game Reserve. Map c/o Protected Planet. Prior to activating the park we had a look at the old Loveday World War Two (Camp 9) internment camp. It was also known as the Italian Internment Camp. It was one of three main prisoner or war and internee camps located at Loveday in the Riverland. The camp commenced operations in August 1940 and could hold up to 1,000 people, including Italian civillan internees, and Italian prisoners of war. We then headed to Loch Luna Game Reserve. The reserve is about 20.63Â*km2 in size and was proclaimed on the 7th day of November 1985. As you can see in the aerial shot below there is a parcel of land within the reserve which is not gazetted. It is known as Sugarloaf Hill and has been excluded from protection for the purpose of mining activity.Â* The Moorok Game Reserve can be located adjacent to Loch Luna. Above:- An aerial view of the Loch Luna Game Reserve. Image c/o Protected Planet. We activated the Kaiser strip in the southern section of the Reserve. This narrow section of the reserve was created when the Kingston-on-Murray to Cobdogla causeway was built in 1973, diverting the Sturt Highway from the low lying flood plain to above the 1956 flood level. The bridge and causeway replaced two ferries that transported the traffic across the river at the western end of the park. Frequent flooding would render the Old Sturt Highway impassable and traffic had to be diverted through the township of Morgan. The concrete ramps and anchor blocks used by the ferries are still visible today. The culvert at the eastern end of the park, nearest of Cobdogla, allows water to enter Lake Bonney from the river, through a maze of creeks and lagoons. Near the culvert is a small stone monument commemorating the life of Mrs. Napper, the first European woman to come to this area in the 1850s. Before European settlement the area was used for camping, hunting and meeting places by the Ngawait and Erawirung peoples. After setting up I called CQ on 7.144 and within 6 minutes I had contact number ten in the log, a QSO with Adam VK2YK. Band conditions on 40m were very good and a mini pile up soon developed. I logged 55 contacts on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7. This included three Park to Park contacts with Peter VK5PET/p in the Cox Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-1701, James VK2TER/p in the Cockle Bay Nature Reserve VKFF-1908, and Peter VK3TKK/p in the Holden Flora Reserve VKFF-2333. We also logged Gerard VK2IO who was on SOTA summit VK2/ HU-093. Marija then jumped into the operators chair and logged 22 stations on 40m from VK2, VK3, and VK5. I then took charge of the mic again and logged a further 12 stations on 40m. To conclude the activation I moved to the 20m band where I logged 3 stations from VK3, VK4, and New Zealand. During the activation we were visited by Dan VK5FDMG from Loxton. Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:- VK5PET/p (Cox Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-1701) VK3TKK/p (Holden Flora Reserve VKFF-2333) VK5NJ VK5JN VK5MRE VK3FIMD Vk3FQSO VK5DW VK2HHA VK3CRG VK5FANA VK5YX VK3UH VK3SMW VK3DJC VK2LEE VK3MCK VK5PL VK3PF VK3SQ VK5LA VK2YK VK5GA I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:- VK3PF VK5LA VK3UCD VK3VDX VK4BXX VK4/NN3Z VK2PET/3 VK3AHR VK5KLV VK2YK VK5GA VK3TKK/m VK2LIL/3 VK2TER/p (Cockle Bay Nature Reserve VKFF-1908) VK3DJC VK3SWV VK3FQSO VK2PKT VK3AWA VK3XCI VK3CWF VK5FANA VK3DBP VK3MPR VK5PET/p (Cox Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-1701) VK2LEE VK5WG VK3FIMD VK3MTV VK2VH VK4AAC/2 VK5NM VK5TQ VK5HS VK5WU VK2DG VK5NIG VK3SQ VK2IO/p (SOTA VK2/ HU-093) VK4SMA VK3MKE VK2VW VK2HFI VK3TKK/p (Holden Flora Reserve VKFF-2333) VK7ME VK3HOT VK4CX VK4FDJL VK2HHA VK5GY VK7DIK VK3CU VK3PI VK5MRE VK3ZPF VK5NJ VK5YX VK2KMI VK5EE VK3CRG VK3DQW VK5DW VK3ALA/m VK3UH VK3OF VK5FIVE VK3NBL VK2YW VK5AR/m I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:- VK3MPR VK4HNS ZL1TM After packing up we continued west on the Sturt Highway and stopped to have a look at the Police Heritage site. The memorial cairn commemorates police officers, Corporal William Murray Wickham and Mounted Constable John Dunning Carter, who drowned on the 7th day of May 1847. Â*They were enroute from Mourundee, near Blanchetown, to Overland Corner for police duty in response to disturbances in the area. Â*They were the first police to die in the line of duty in South Australia. We then stopped at Waikerie to have a look at the Waikerie Cliff Top Walk. Also the Waikerie silos which are now part of Australias very popular silo art project. The non working Viterra Australia grain silos were painted by artists Garry Duncan and Jimmy Dvate in 2018. They were the 25th silo to be included in the Australian Silo Art Trail Collection. Featured on the silos is a giant Yabby, the endangered Regent Parrot, Murray Hardyhead and the Spiny Daisy. We then had a look at a historic old stone chimney at Waikerie overlooking the Murray River. The chimney was erected in late 1894 by the Waikerie village settlement to extend the fluming laid up the cliff from the boiler which drove the first irrigation pumps for Waikerie. It was used until Autumn 1909. There is an excellent viewing platform at this spot where you can enjoy magnificent views of the Murray River and Jaeschke Lagoon. We left Waikerie and continued west on the Sturt Highway, passing over the Murray River at Blanchetown and travelling passed the Brookfield Conservation Park. Our final quick stop before reaching home was the site of the olf Annandale Hotel and Cafe at the intersection of the Sturt Highway, Halfway House Road, and Bower Boundary Road. The Annandale Hotel operated between 1876 to 1957. References. Australian Silo Art Trail, 2021, https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/waikerie, viewed 14th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loveday_Camp_9, viewed 14th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Luna_Game_Reserve, viewed 14th May 2021. /////////////////////////////////////////// Fourth and final park for day twelve, the Moss Tank Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2394 Posted: 13 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT https://vk5pas.org/2021/05/13/fourth...rve-vkff-2394/ Our fourth and final park for day twelve (Saturday 17th April 2021) was the Moss Tank Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2394. The park is located about 31 km south of Robinvale. Above:- Map showing the location of the Moss Tank Flora and Fauna Reserve. Map c/o Protected Planet. This was to be our first activation of this park. Moss Tank has also been activated once before, by Mike VK6MB back in 2019. We found the park without any problems. It was well signposted on the Annuello-Wemen Road. Moss Tank Flora and Fauna Reserve is about 3.26 km² in size and was established in 1988. Above:- An aerial view of the Moss Tank Flora & Fauna Reserve. Image c/o Protected Planet. The park is a piece of remnant mallee scrub which is surrounded by cleared farming land. It is located near the town/locality of Annuello which is believed to be an aboriginal word for a camp of bearded men. During the early 1920s the Annuello district was subdivided into blocks for Soldier Settlement following the First World War. The railway line to Annuello was opened in 1921, followed by a school in 1924. The Annuello Post Office opened in April 1921. A wheat variety annuello adapted for low and medium rainfall areas was released in 2003, and is suitable for the domestic flour milling industry. We found a little direct track running off the bitumen and pulled in there off the road. It made an ideal spot to stretch out the 20/40/80m linked dipole. Within eight minutes I had qualified the park for VKFF, with 11 contacts in the log. Contact number ten was with Alan VK2MET. I then swapped over with Marija and she too qualified the park in quick time, with contact number ten being a QSO with the same park hunter Alan VK2MET. I then jumped back into the operators chair and logged a further 30 contacts on 40m from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK7, and New Zealand. I now had 41 contacts in the log and required just 3 more QSOs to qualify the park for the global WWFF program. I moved to the 20m band where I logged 6 stations from VK2, VK4, and much to my surprise Canada. It was a terrific way to finish the activation with a contact with Karl VE6KDX in Alberta, Canada. Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:- VK3KV/m VK2VOO VK3UH VK2FA/m VK2IO/m VK4HNS VK5FANA VK5KLV VK2LAX VK2MET I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:- VK5GY VK4HMI VK2BHO VK5CZ/m VK4SMA VK4WTN VK3PF VK2VOO VK5KLV VK2MET VK3UH ZL1TM VK2LAX VK4HNS VK4FDJL VK4VCE VK2KMI VK3SS VK2VW VK2HFI VK5IS VK2NJP VK2LWK VK7QP VK1DI VK4GCR VK2IO/m VK2BYF VK2VAR VK2CDS VK2TM VK2DJP VK2YW VK3KV/m VK2HAO VK4IDK VK2NCL VK4PHD VK2SRA VK2TMC VK3SQ I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:- VK2IJS VK4KC VK4MAD VK4DOG VK4PHDVE6KDX Marija and I had a 245 km drive ahead of us to get to Renmark. We drove back along the Hattah-Robinvale Road and then north on the Calder Highway. We then turned left onto the Millewa Road and through Werrimul. We crossed the Victorian/South Australian border and back into South Australia. The sun was starting to set and we stopped briefly to get some shots of the amazing sunset. The photos below were taken looking over the Pike River Conservation Park just outside of Renmark. That evening after checking into our accomodation, we grabbed some pizza and beer and headed around to the home of Ivan VK5HS and his wife Sheryl, and had a terrific night there. Tomorrow we would head home, a journey of around 285 km ahead of us. References. Protected Planet, 2021, https://www.protectedplanet.net/314747, viewed 13th May 2021. Victorian Place Names, 2021, https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/annuello, viewed 13th May 2021. /////////////////////////////////////////// Third park for day twelve, the Wemen Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2483. Posted: 13 May 2021 05:19 AM PDT https://vk5pas.org/2021/05/13/third-...rve-vkff-2483/ We then continued south-west on the Hattah-Robinvale Road and soon reached our third park for the day, the Wemen Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2483. The park is located about 31 km south-west of Robinvale. Again this was to be another unique park for myself and Marija, with Mike VK6MB previously activating Wemen back in 2019. Above:- Map showing the location of the Wemen Flora & Fauna Reserve. Map c/o Protected Planet. The Wemen Flora & Fauna Reserve is about 2.02 km² in size and was established in 1983. The area around the park has been cleared for agricultural purposes including almond and olive plantations. Above:- the park boundaries of Wemen Flora & Fauna Reserve. Image c/o Protected Planet. The park takes its name from the locality of Wemen (pronounced Wee-Man). Wemen was established as a Soldier Settlement after the First World War. The Wemen Post office opened on the 24th day of November 1924 and closed in 1974. There were once three schools in the district. The little town of Wemen can be located a bit further to the south on the Hattah-Robinvale Road. It is located on the banks of the Murray River. This part of the river was the closest river access for some aboriginal tribes. Wemen is reportedly a great spot for Murray River Cray when in season. We accessed the park via a 4WD off Collins Road. We found a small clearing in amongst the scrub and set up our portable station. I called CQ on 7.144 following a spot on parksnpeaks by Marija. First in the log was Les VK5KLV. Contact number ten followed soon afterwards, with a QSO with Adrian VK5FANA. Once I had ten contacts in the log and I had qualified the park for VKFF, I swapped the mic with Marija, who also soon qualified the park with 12 contacts. Contact number ten was with Adam VK2YK. I then jumped back into the operators chair and pushed on to hopefully get 44 contacts. The 40m band had certainly improved since our first activation, and I logged a total of 40 stations on 40m before callers dried up. To conclude the activation I called CQ on 14.310 on the 20m band where I logged 6 stations from VK2, VK4, and VK6. Contact number 44 was with Brett VK2HFI. Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:- VK5FANA VK3PF VK2VH VK4AAC/2 VK4BXX VK4/NN3Z VK2IO VK3CWF VK5HY VK2YK VK5GA VK5AK/m I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:- VK5KLV VK2VH VK4AAC/2 VK3PF VK4SMA VK4FDJL VK5HY VK2YK/m VK5GA/m VK5FANA VK5NM VK3SRC/m VK1AD VK2VW VK2HFI VK4HNS VK5FILL VK2LAX VK4VCE ZL1TM VK3CU VK5NEC VK2MET VK3TKK/m VK3KV/m VK3HP/m VK3VRA VK2PKT VK4CZ VK2SS/m VK4HMI VK3SQ VK3NCR VK3EJ VK1DI VK3UP/m VK3MPR VK3DBP VK2BHO VK2HBO I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:- VK4CZ VK4IDK VK2VW VK2HFI VK2BHO VK6AB References. Protected Planet, 2021, https://www.protectedplanet.net/314771, viewed 13th May 2021. Robinvale Euston Visitor Centre, 2021, https://www.robinvaleeuston.com/wemen/, viewed 13th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wemen,_Victoria, viewed 13th May 2021. /////////////////////////////////////////// Second park for day twelve, the Bannerton Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2261 Posted: 13 May 2021 04:37 AM PDT https://vk5pas.org/2021/05/13/second...rve-vkff-2261/ After packing up at Lakes Powell & Carpul, we drove a short distance west along the Hattah-Robinvale Road and reached our next park, the Bannerton Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2261. The park is located about 14 km south of Robinvale. Above:- Map showing the location of the Bannerton Flora & Fauna Reserve. Map c/o Protected Planet. We found that the park was well signposted on the Hattah-Robinvale Road. This was to be a first time activation of the park by myself and Marija, and only the second time the park had been activated for the World Wide Flora Fauna program (Mike VK6MB in 2019). Bannerton Flora & Fauna Reserve is a relatively small park, comprising about 2.0 km² of mallee scrub. It is located on the southern side of the Hattah-Robinvale Road and on the eastern and western side of the Robinvale-Sea Lake Road. Above:- The boundaries of the Bannerton Flora & Fauna Reserve. Image c/o Protected Planet. The park takes its name from the locality of Bannerton. The Post office at Bannerton was opened in February 1924 as Banner. It was renamed Tol Tol in 1924 and then Bannerton in 1926. It closed in 1974. To our great pleasure, band conditions on 40m were much better during this activation compared to our earlier park activation. First in the log was Ron VK3AHR, followed by Geoff VK3SQ, and then Greg VK4BXX. It took just7 minutes for contact number 10, a QSO with Nigel VK5NIG who was portable at the Buy and Sell in Adelaide for the North East Radio Club. I logged 28 contacts before swapping operator positions with Marija. Marijas first contact was with Peter Vk3PF. Contact number ten was with Steve VK5KSW on the Yorke Peninsula. Marija logged a total of 30 stations and was satisfied that she had qualified the park for VKFF, so we swapped chairs once again. I logged a further 23 stations on 40m. Contact number 44 was with Rob VK4AAC/2. We decided at this point to pack up and try to squeeze in another 2 parks, and stay one night at Renmark on the way home. Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:- VK3PF VK4HNS VK3SQ VK4VCE VK5FANA VK2YK/5 VK5GA VK2HHA VK5STU VK5KSW VK5AYL VK2PKT VK5CZ/m VK5BJE VK4FDJL VK3FRC VK2IO/m VK7QP VK2KYO VK2VK VK2LAX VK3ALA/p VK2BYF VK3AHR VK3MPR VK7ME VK3CRG VK5KLV VK4SYD VK3CJN I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:- VK3AHR VK3SQ VK4BXX VK4/NN3Z VK5CZ/m VK2HHA VK3MCK VK4HMI VK5STU/p VK5NIG/p VK3PF VK4SMA VK4HNS VK2VK VK4CZ VK5FANA VK2VW VK2HFI VK4FDJL VK2LAX VK5HS VK2MET VK2KYO VK5IS VK2YK/5 VK5GA/m VK3TKK/m VK3MPR VK3CRG VK4SYD VK5WU VK3AWA VK5GY VK2DJP VK7VZ VK3ZLT VK5KSW VK5WG VK7DIK VK1DI VK2BYF VK7JFD VK2VH VK4AAC/2 VK3CWF VK2IJS VK2FWFT VK2LEG VK5KKT VK4VCE VK3OHM References. Protected Planet, 2021, https://www.protectedplanet.net/314712, viewed 13th May 2021. Wikipedia, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bannerton,_Victoria, viewed 13th May 2021. /////////////////////////////////////////// Day twelve and the Lakes Powell and Carpul Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2365 Posted: 13 May 2021 03:58 AM PDT https://vk5pas.org/2021/05/13/day-tw...rve-vkff-2365/ It was now day twelve (Saturday 17th April 2021) and our planned final day of the trip. We planned on doing two park activations on the way home, and had a list of possible parks, but hadnt decided on which ones. After breakfast at one of the local cafes consisting of a bacon & egg roll and coffee, we had a bit of a drive around Robinvale. Robinvale is the sister town with Villers-Bretonneux in France. This proud link dates back to the First World War when Lieutenant George Robin Cuttle was killed in air combat over Caix, near the village of Villers-Bretonneux in France. Cuttle was the son of Robinvales founding family, Herbert and Margaret Cuttle. In memory of their son, the Cuttles renamed their new settlement on the Murray, Robinvale (vale Robin). Above:- Lt George Robin Cuttle. Image c/o robinvalewarmemorial.com.au The town of Robinvale and Villers-Bretonneux are of similar size and they both rely on horticulture as their principle ecomonic income. In the main square/park of Robinvale you can find Caix Square and the Robinvale Memorial Arch and the Villers Bretonneux Walk. The arch was opened in 1985 by Madame Huguette Pillon. The bell which can be found at the top of the arch is from the Victoria College at Villers-Bretonneaux. It was presented to the people of Robinvale at the twinning ceremony in Villers-Bretonneaux on the 5th May 1984. We then visited the Robinvale Regional War Memorial. What an amazing spot for such a little town. The park features a magnificent Rising Sun, various information boards, a Howitzer, and the propellor from a de Havilland A4 DHC Caribou. There is an excellent website which contains numerous photos and video on the creation of the War Memorial. It can be found at.. https://www.robinvalewarmemorial.com...memorial-park/ We then visited the Big Windmill, which is reported to be the largest windmill in the southern hemisphere. It was originally owned by the State Rivers & Water Supply Commission and was used to supply water to Robinvale. In 1961 it was purchased by William Bill McGinty when no longer required by the Water Supply Commission. McGinty intended constructing a motel on the site, however approval was not gained. He donated the windmill to the Robinvale and District Lions Club in 1989. Our next stop was the historic Robinswood homestead at Robinvale. In 1919 Herbert Bert Cuttle and his wife Margaret brought the square mile of freehold of Bum Bang Station. The Cuttles envisages a township and had architects plan for a town and also their retirement home, here on the site of Bum Bang Station. On the 23rd day of October 1924, the township blocks were sold by auction and the town of Robinvale received its name. In 1926, Robinswood was built and the pioneers of Robinvale, Herbert and Margate Cuttle, resided here until their deaths. We then drove a short distance to have a look at The Cut. It is located in Victorian waters and forms Bum Bang Island by linking two closely located points of the Murray River. The Cut used to go dry regularly before the Lock, located downstream was completed in 1936. Bert Cuttle ran sheep on Bum Bang Island and one of his workers would drive across in a T-model Ford when it was dry. Cuttle bought a launch and two barges from the Lock clearing sale, which were used to put sheep on and off the island. During the 1939 flood, one barge broke away and it ended up on the New South Wales corner. The Cut was also a good place for spearing Murray Crayfish at night with the use of a kerosene lantern, which would attract the Crayfish and make them easily identifiable. Several swimmers have drowned at The Cut due to strong currents caused by a drop in water levels from about 1.2 metres at the exit of The Cut to 9 metres in the Murray River. Our next little stop was the old Span Life bridge at Robinvale. The bridge was part of the complex of bridges for the crossing of the Murray River and the flood plains between Robinvale and east of Euston. We then drove over the river and into New South Wales to have a look at the historic Euston courthouse. Gazetted for a court of petty sessions at the new town of Euston in 1853, the courthouse was not built until 30 years later. It was designed as a police residence with office, courtroom and single mans room with an enclosed exercise yard with netted roof and a two celled iron lock up stable. Several aboriginal people assisted the white police officers. Court continued to be held here at least monthly for about 130 years until economics advised its closure. We then drove to our first park activation of the day, the Lakes Powell and Carpul Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2365. The park is located about 18km south-east of Robinvale. This was to be a first time activation of the park by myself and Marija. Mike VK6MB activated the park previously in 2019. Above:- Map showing the location of the Lakes Powell & Carpul Wildlife Reserve. Map c/o Protected Planet. The park is about in 7.24 km² size and was established in 2002. Above:- The borders of the Lakes Powell and Carpul Wildlife Reserve. Image c/o Protected Planet. As the name suggests, the park contains two lakes, Lake Powell and Lake Carpul. They were both dry as a bone during our visit. When the lakes are full, over 60 species of native birds can be found at the park including Black Swans and Rainbow Bee Eaters. During our visit to the park we had a Pied Butcherbird who propped himself/herself in a nearby branch and sang for most of our activation. We drove a short distance into the park and set up in a clearing in amongst the scrub. As this was a relatively warm morning with a bit of sunshine through the clouds, we put out the solar panel to top up the battery. We were set up at about 2330 UTC so we could take advantage of 30 minutes before the UTC rollover. Marija put a spot up for me on parksnpeaks and I called CQ on 7.144. First in the log was Peter VK3PF, with lots of QSB. This was followed by Deryck VK4FDJL who was activating the Millstream Falls National Park VKFF-0315. Unfortunately callers were very few and far between and after many minutes of calling CQ and with just 5 contacts in the log, I swapped the mic with Marija. This was not looking like it was going to be a memorable park activation. Marija then called CQ on 7.144 and this was answered by Peter VK3PF, followed by Andrei ZL1TM in New Zealand, and then Kimberly VK2KMI. Marija logged just 5 stations on 40m as well and callers completely dried up, so we lowered the squid pole hoping that the 80m band might prove a little more fruitful. Marija logged 6 stations on 80m from VK3 and VK5, with her 10th contact being a QSO with Adam VK5GA. I logged 12 contacts on 80m, with my 10th QSO being with Peter VK3KAI. I then headed to 20m and called CQ on 14.310 for about 5 minutes but had absolutely no takers. So feeling a little disappointed, I headed back to 7.144 on the 80m band, not really expecting to get many callers. To my surprise, the number of park hunters picked up and I started to feel it was possible to push on and get 44 contacts. It took me about 70 minutes, but contact number 44 finally came, a contact with Peter VK3KAI. Thanks Peter for your second callsign, it was greatly appreciated in what was a difficult activation. Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:- VK4FDJL (Millstream Falls National Park VKFF-0315) VK3PF ZL1TM VK2KMI VK3UH Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:- VK3PF VK3KAI VK5HS VK2YK/5 VK5GA VK5IS I worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:- VK3PF VK4FDJL/p (Millstream Falls National Park VKFF-0315) VK2MET VK2iO VK7ZGK I worked the following stations on 80m SSB before the UTC rollover:- VK5IS VK2YK/5 VK5GA VK3PF VK3KAI VK5HS VK5FANA I worked the following stations on 80m after the UTC rollover:- VK3PF VK3KAI VK5BJE VK3PI VK3MCK I worked the following stations on 40m after the UTC rollover:- VK2VW VK2HFI VK3UH VK3FIMD VK1AD VK2KMI VK1DI VK2PKT VK2IO VK4SMA VK4HMI VK4BXX VK4/NN3Z VK2LEE VK5IS VK7QP VK3KV/m VK3MPR VK6XN VK4CZ Vk3SC VK3MDC VK2LAT VK2LX VK3NCR VK3PF VK3KAI VK2HHA References. Monuments Australia, 2021, https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww1/display/33286-robinvale-memorial-arch-(villers-bretonneux-walk)/photo/2, viewed 13th May 2021. Robinvale Euston Visitor Centre, 2021, https://www.robinvaleeuston.com/villers-bretonneux/, viewed 13th May 2021. Robinvale Euston Visitor Centre, 2021, https://www.robinvaleeuston.com/windmill/, viewed 13th May 2021. |
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