vk5pas

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Gerang Gerung South Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2320

Posted: 09 Dec 2019 08:14 PM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2019/12/10/gerang...rve-vkff-2320/


It was now Monday (2nd December 2019) and time for us to head home.Â* We had
planned to activate about four parks on the way home to the Adelaide Hills,
all dependent upon time.

To start the day we again headed to the Dimboola cafe and enjoyed breakfast
consisting of bacon & eggs and some nice hot coffee.

Our first park activation of the day was the Gerang Gerung Flora & Fauna
Reserve VKFF-2320, which is located about 353 km northwest of Melbourne,
and about 17 km west of the town of Dimboola.

This was to be another first-time park activation for the World Wide Flora
Fauna (WWFF) program.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Gerang Gerung South Flora & Fauna
Reserve in western Victoria.Â* Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

Our first stop for the day was Loch lel (Pink Lake) which is located on the
Western Highway between Dimboola and Gerang Gerung.Â* The small circular,
salt lake received its name from its distinctive pink colour, with the
brightness of the hue varying according to the level of rainfall.





We continued west along the Western Highway and soon reached the little
town of Gerang Gerung.Â* The name Gerang Gerung is believed to be derived
from an Aboriginal word meaning leaf or branch.Â* European settlement of the
area commenced as early as 1846.Â* Farms were first taken up in the area in
the 1870s.Â* A water storage reserve was established in 1881 and this was
followed soon after by the opening of the Junction Hotel.Â* A school was
then built and in 1887 when the railway line was established, the town of
Gerang Gerung was surveyed.

Pastoral occupation began in 1846 and closer-settlement farms were first
taken up in 1874. In 1881 a water-storage reserve was established, and soon
afterwards the nearby Junction Hotel was opened. Three years later a school
was built and, in 1887 when the railway line was put through, the village
of Gerang Gerung was surveyed.Â* This coincided with the opening of a
General Store, a Bible Christian church, public hall, blacksmith and a
saleyards.

The Australian Handbook of 1903 described Gerang Gerung as follows..



Today not much remains of Gerang Gerung.Â* The hotel closed in 1958, while
the store and post office closed in 1985 and 1988 respectively.Â* The school
closed in 1993.

On the corner of the Western Highway and Clark Road we saw a sign for
Junction Dam Flora Reserve.Â* It appears that this is the old name of the
park and the sign has never been updated.



Gerang Gerung (South) Flora & Fauna Reserve is also shown as a Nature
Conservation Reserve on some maps.Â* It is located on the southern side of
the Western Highway, while the Gerang Gerung (North) Flora & Fauna Reserve
is located on the northern side of the highway.
Above:- An aerial view of Gerang Gerung South Flora & Fauna Reserve,
looking west.Â* Image courtesy of Google maps.

The park is about 138 acres in size and conserves remnant scrub, including
the endangered Hairy-pod Wattle.





The park was alive with the little birds below.Â* They are White-browned
Woodswallows.



We parked the 4WD on Clark Road and set up in the southern section of the
park.Â* We ran the Yaesu FT-857d, and the 15m dipole and 20/40/80m linked
dipole for this activation.

As this was another windy day, we positioned the 4WD to try to act as a
windbreak.
Above:- An aerial view of the park showing our operating spot.Â* Image
courtesy of Google Earth.

I called CQ on 7.144 and this was answered by Geoff VK3SQ, Ivan VK5HS, Rod
VK7FRJG and then Brett VK2VW.Â* It did not take long and I had qualified the
park for VKFF.Â* My tenth contact was with Gerard VK2IO.Â* Band conditions on
40m appeared to be quite good, with some strong signals.Â* It was pleasing
to see that close in propagation once again existed on the 40m band.

I logged a total of 29 stations on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, and
VK7, before swapping the mic with Marija.



Marijas first contact was with Les VK5KLV at Port Augusta, followed by Rob
VK2VH, Geoff VK3SQ, and then Adrian VK5FANA.Â* It took Marija just 5 minutes
to qualify the park, with contact number ten with Nev VK5WG in the Mid
North of South Australia.

Marija went on to work a total of 21 stations on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK4,
VK5, and VK7.

I again jumped into the operators chair and logged a further 10 stations.Â*
I was now just 5 QSOs from my 44 QSO target.Â* I moved to the 20m band and
logged a total of 9 stations from VK2, VK3, and VK4.Â* Contact number 44 was
with John VK4TJ.

I then moved to 80m and logged just the 3 contacts there, before we lowered
the squid pole and attached the 15m antenna.Â* Marija called CQ on 21.244
while I put up a spot on parksnpeaks.Â* It was great to see the 15m band
open again.Â* Marija logged a total of 10 stations, all from Queensland.



We packed up around 11.00 a.m. local time and headed to our next park, the
Gerang Gerung North Flora & Fauna Reserve.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK5KLV
VK2VH
VK4AAC/2
VK3SQ
VK5FANA
VK7OT
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK5WG
VK3BCM
VK2LX
VK2KYO
VK3PF
VK5HS
VK5ZLT
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK3MCK


Marija worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK4RF
VK4HA
VK4HNS


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3SQ
VK5HS
VK7FRJG
VK2VW
VK3PF
VK3MCK
VK2VH
VK5FANA
VK2IO
VK3PWG
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK2YK
VK3ANP
VK3AHR
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK7OT
VK6MMB
VK5NAQ
VK2LX
VK5WG
VK5WU
VK5LA
VK5FLKJ
VK5KLV
VK3BCM
VK2KYO
VK5CZ
VK2STG
VK5NJ
VK5KLD
VK5GP
VK5MRD
VK3KAI
VK3GV


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK3GV
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK2VW
VK2IO


I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK5HS
VK3PF
VK5PL




References.

Victorian Places, 2019, https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/gerang-gerung,
viewed 10th December 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Lake_(Victoria),
viewed 10th December 2019


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Grassflat Swamp Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2326

Posted: 09 Dec 2019 05:02 PM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2019/12/10/grassf...rve-vkff-2326/


After packing up at Mite Lake, Marija pointed out that there was another
park very close by, the Grassflat Swamp Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2326.Â*
The park is located about 380 km northwest of the city of Melbourne.

This was to be a first-time activation of the park for the World Wide Flora
Fauna (WWFF) program.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Grassflat Swamp Flora & Fauna
Reserve.Â* Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

The park is located to the little locality of Grass Flat.Â* Dont blink, as
you will miss Grass Flat.






We accessed the park via Telfers Road.Â* The park was well signposted.



The Grassflat Swamp Flora & Fauna Reserve is located just to the north of
Mitre Lake Flora & Fauna Reserve.Â* The park is part of Telfers Swamp.
Above:- An aerial view of the Grassflat Swamp Flora and Fauna Reserve.Â*
Image courtesy of Google maps.

The park is about 86 acres in size.Â* There was very little if any water in
the swamp during our visit.





I operated from the vehicle for this activation.Â* I ran the Icom IC-7000,
100 watts, and the Codan 9350 self-tuning antenna mounted on the rear of
the Toyota Hi-Lux.
Above:- An aerial view of the Grassflat Swamp Flora & Fauna Reserve showing
our operating spot.Â* Image courtesy of Google Earth.

The 40m band was quite busy and it was a bit of a struggle to find a clear
spot on the band.Â* I started calling CQ on 7.140 whilst Marija put up a
spot to advise that this was going to be a quick activation.Â* First in the
log was Charlie VK5VC, followed by Scott VK4CZ, Peter VK5PET, and Adrian
VK5FANA.

It took me just 7 minutes to qualify the park for VKFF.Â* Contact number ten
was with Glenn VK4FARR.Â* Two QSOs later I logged Gerard VK2IO/p for a Park
to Park contact.Â* Gerard was in the VKFF-0444.

I went on to work a total of 31 stations on 40m including a further Park to
Park, with Alan VK2MG/p in the Bouddi National Park VKFF-0049.

I then moved to the 20m band where I logged 23 stations from VK2, VK4, VK5,
VK6, VK7, and New Zealand.Â* This included a Park to Park with Gerard
VK2IO/p, for a second band.



It was time for us to head off for some tea.Â* Amazingly I had 54 QSOs in
the log.Â* I was hoping to get my 10 QSOs and qualify the park for VKFF.Â* So
to get 44 QSOs and qualify the park for WWFF was a real bonus.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK5VC
VK4CZ
VK5PET
VK5FANA
VK5WG
VK2YK
VK5CZ
VK3PF
VK5KPR
VK4FARR
VK5LA
VK2IO/p (Scheyville National Park VKFF-0444)
VK3UH
VK3MPR
VK3RU
VK5NJ
VK3JAP
VK4TJ
VK2MG/p (Bouddi National Park VKFF-0049)
ZL1TM
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK4FDJL/5
VK5KLV
VK5DW
VK5SRV
VK4SMA
VK6NTE
VK5FSAM
VK5WU


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK6NTE
VK5CZ
VK7JON
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK4SMA
VK2YK
VK6GA/2
VK5GA/2
VK2NN
VK7VZ
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK2IO/p (Scheyville National Park VKFF-0444)
VK5KLV
VK2LEE
VK2UXO
VK4KK
ZL1TM
VK7KT


We packed up and headed back to Dimboola where we went to the Victoria
Hotel again for our evening meal.





Following our meal, we had a drive around Dimboola having a look at some of
the points of interest.












References.

Protected Planet, 2019,
https://www.protectedplanet.net/grassflat-swamp-f-f-r-nature-conservation-reserve,
viewed 10th December 2019


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Mitre Lake Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2389

Posted: 09 Dec 2019 04:08 PM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2019/12/10/mitre-...rve-vkff-2389/


Our next park for the day (Sunday 1st December 2019) was the Mitre Lake
Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2389.Â* The park is located about 378 km
northwest of the city of Melbourne and about 13 km west of the little town
of Natimuk in western Victoria.

This would be a first-time activation of the park for the World Wide Flora
& Fauna (WWFF) program.
Above:- Map showing the location of Mitre Lake Flora & Fauna Reserve.Â* Map
courtesy of Protected Planet.

Along the way, we stopped to have a look at the site of the old
Duchembegarra North State School.Â* The school was opened in April 1889 and
close in July 1955.Â* It is believed that the word Duchembeggara comes from
the Aboriginal word duckan meaning grey gum tree, and bungarra meaning sky.



As we drove along the Arapiles-Grass Flat Road we had to pull over for a
farmer who was transporting a grain container.



We then stopped to have a look at the cairn for the Gold Escort Route.Â* It
reads:

Along this track Commissioner Alexander Tolmer lead the first of eighteen
police escorts which under various commanders transported from Mt.
Alexander, Victoria, to Adelaide, South Australia, March 1852 to December
1853, 328, 509 ozs of gold.



We then reached the park by travelling along a 4WD track which ran off the
Mitre-Grass Flat Road.Â* The park sign was in less than ideal condition.Â* It
was apparent that the authorities had not been to the park for a long time.





Mitre Lake is a natural salt lake surrounded by Samphire, Melaleuca and
other salt-tolerant vegetation.Â* It is part of a natural chain of wetlands
that stretch from Douglas in the south to the north of Mt Arapiles.Â* The
lake covers an area of about 720 hectares.
Above:- An aerial view of Mire Lake Flora & Fauna Reserve.Â* Image courtesy
of Google maps

The Mitre Lake Flora & Fauna Reserve is home to numerous bird species
including Red Capped Plovers, various birds of prey and various water
birds. In spring flocks of the Banded Stilt, a migratory bird, visit the
lakes of the area.







We set up on the northern shore of the lake.Â* Â*Again, it was incredibly
windy at Mitre Lake and so windy that it was not possible to roll out the
awning on the 4WD.Â* We were getting the occasional drop of rain and decided
that if it got much heavier we would re-locate to the inside of the vehicle.

For this activation we ran the Yaesu FT-857d, the 20/40/80m linked dipole
and a 15m dipole.Â* We strapped the 7-metre telescopic squid pole to a park
sign.
Above:- An aerial view of the Mitre Lake Flora & Fauna Reserve showing our
operating spot.Â* Image courtesy of Google Earth.

We decided to start this activation off on the 15m band as 15m had been
performing well at our last park at Olivers Lake.Â* I called CQ on 21.244
while Marija placed up a spot on parksnpeaks.Â* Ray VK4NH was first in the
log with a good 5/7 signal, followed by Robert VK2XXM, Linda VK7QP, and
then Gerard VK2IO/p for a Park to Park.Â* Gerard was activating the Pitt
Town Nature Reserve VKFF-1984.Â* Marija also logged Gerard for the Park to
Park contact.

Once I had 12 contacts in the log, and the park qualified for VKFF, I
swapped the mic with Marija.



Marija called CQ on 21.244 and Linda VK7QP responded with a strong 5/9
signal, followed by Ray VK4NH, and then John VK4TJ.Â* With Ray and Johns
extra calls, Marija was now just 1 short of the 10 QSOs required to qualify
the park for VKFF.Â* Marijas tenth QSO was with Geoff VK3SQ in Beechworth,
followed by Andrei ZL1TM in New Zealand.



I then worked a further 3 stations on 15m, Geoff VK3SQ, Grant VK2LX, and
Don VK3MCK.Â* Sadly despite the 15m band being in great shape, callers dried
up.

We then lowered the squid pole and erected the 20/40/80m linked dipole.Â* I
headed to the 20m band with the hope that I might get some DX in the log.Â*
Unfortunately, there was no DX, but I did log a total of 29 stations on 20m
from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK7, and New Zealand.Â* This included two Park to
Park QSOs: AlanÂ*VK2MG/p in the Bouddi National Park VKFF-0049, and Gerard
VK2IO/p in the Cattai National Park VKFF-0092.

The 20m band was in excellent shape, with some very strong signals.Â* It was
quite a surprise to be able to work Victorian and South Australian stations
with such strong signals.Â* I even managed to reach the 44 QSO level and
qualifying the park for the global WWFF program.Â* Contact number 44 was
with Rob VK7VZ.

I then moved to the 40m band and called CQ on 7.144.Â* I logged a total of
25 stations from VK1, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7.



Marija worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

VK2IO/p (Pitt Town Nature Reserve VKFF-1984)
VK7QP
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK3SQ
ZL1TM


I worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK2XXM
VK7QP
VK2IO/p (Pitt Town Nature Reserve VKFF-1984)
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK2ND
VK2MT
VK3SQ
VK2LX
VK3MCK


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK2VH
VK4AAC/2
VK2LEE
VK3SX
VK3SQ
VK2MG/p (Bouddi National Park VKFF-0049)
VK3MPR
VK2YK
VK2LX
VK2EXA
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK2IO/p (Cattai National Park VKFF-0092)
VK3PF
VK7TU
VK3ANL
VK7NJW
VK3MCK
ZL1TM
VK3MDC
VK2HRX
VK5KLV
VK5PL
VK5LA
VK3MVP
VK3VET
VK5WG
VK7VZ


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK5LA
VK3MCK
VK5WG
VK5KLV
VK7VZ
VK5HS
VK5PE
VK2LEE
VK5FANA
VK3UH
VK7FRJG
VK2VH
VK3VET
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK7FJFD
VK3SX
VK5CZ
VK5FB
VK4FARR
VK5DW
VK2SVN
VK3GB
VK2VKB




References.

Arapiles Bike Trail, 2019,
http://www.arapilesbiketrail.com.au/natimuk-and-surrounds.html, viewed
10th December 2019

Bonzle, 2019, http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=59127&cmd=sp, viewed 10th
December 2019

Wimmera Places names, 2019,
https://swiftconsortium.org.au/client/en_AU/search/asset/243363, viewed
10th December 2019.


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Olivers Lake Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2418

Posted: 09 Dec 2019 01:34 AM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2019/12/09/oliver...rve-vkff-2418/


Our second park for Sunday (1st December 2019) was Olivers Lake Flora &
Fauna Reserve VKFF-2418, which is located about 329 km northwest of the
city of Melbourne, and about 29 km west of Horsham.

This was to be a first-time activation of the park for the World Wide Flora
Fauna (WWFF) program.
Above:- Map showing the location of Olivers Lake Flora & Fauna Reserve.Â*
Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

We travelled through the original settlement site of Polkemmet.Â* There is a
monument for the Polkemmet Church of Christ which was established in 1866.





The park is about 1,000 acres in size and incorporates all of Olivers
Lake.Â* The vulnerable Bead Glasswort, a small succulent plant can be found
at Olivers Lake.








The lake is a world-renowned spot for bird watching.Â* The lake is home to
thousands of birds each year during the migration periods.Â* EBird Australia
has recorded about 75 species of native bird in the park including
Whistling Kite, Eastern Rosella, Musk Lorikeet, Masked Lapwing,
Black-tailed Nativehen, and White-faced Heron.
Above:- An aerial view of the Olivers Lake Flora & Fauna Reserve, looking
south-west.Â* Image courtesy of Google maps.

We drove down an access track which ran off the western side of Lake Road.Â*
This took us right down to the edge of the lake.
Above:- the access track from Lake Road.

We set up right on the edge of the lake, which was bone dry during our
visit to the park.
Above:- An aerial view of the Olivers Lake Flora & Fauna Reserve showing
our operating spot on the eastern side of the park.Â* Image courtesy of
Protected Planet.

It was absolutely blowing a gale so we positioned the Toyota HiLux so that
it shielded us somewhat from the westerly wind blowing across the lake.Â*
The 7-metre telescopic squid pole certainly flexed and danced during this
activation.



Marija and I started the activation with a Park to Park contact with Peter
VK3PF/p who was calling CQ on 7.144 from the Merrimans Creek Flora Reserve
VKFF-2384.Â* I then moved down to 7.139 where I called CQ.Â* This was
answered by Rob VK4AAC/3 who was in theÂ*Boxwood Nature Conservation Reserve
VKFF-2053.

Contact number ten for me, thus qualifying the park for VKFF, came a few
minutes later with a QSO with Stuart VK3STU.Â* This was followed by another
Park to Park, this time with Peter VK3ZPF/p who was activating the
Glenmaggie Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2094.Â* A few QSOs later I was
called by Liz VK2XSE/p and Peter VK2KNV/p who were in the Bemboka National
Park VKFF-0025.

Despite the weather conditions being poor, the bands conditions were quite
good.Â* I logged a total of 40 QSOs including two further Park to Park
contacts with NikÂ*VK3ZK/p in the Lower Goulburn National Park VKFF-0741,
and GerardÂ*VK2IO/p who was in the Pitt Town Nature Reserve VKFF-1984.



I was now just 4 QSOs short of the 44 required to qualify the park for the
global WWFF program.Â* It was time for Marija to jump into the operators
chair.Â* Marija called CQ on 7.139 and this was answered by regular park
hunter Ray VK4NH who became Marijas tenth contact with his second call of
VK4DXA.

Marija logged a further 10 stations before handing the mic back to me.Â* It
was time to head off to the 20m band.Â* I logged 13 stations there including
a Park to Park with Gerard VK2IO/p for a second band.Â* Contacts on 20m were
into VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7.



I then moved to 80m and logged 5 stations, including Park to Park contacts
with Peter VK3ZPF/p in the Glenmaggie Nature Conservation Reserve
VKFF-2094, and PeterÂ*VK3PF/p in the Stradbroke Flora and Fauna Reserve
VKFF-2443.

To conclude the activation we lowered the squid pole and hoisted the 15m
dipole.Â* I made a total of 11 contacts on 15m including Park to Park
contacts with Peter VK3ZPF/p in the Glenmaggie Nature Conservation Reserve
VKFF-2094 (for a 3rd band) and Gerard VK2IO/p in the Pitt Town Nature
Reserve VKFF-1984 (also for a third band).



Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3PF/p (Merrimans Creek Flora Reserve VKFF-2384)
VK4AAC/3 (Boxwood Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2053)
VK2VH/3 (Boxwood Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2053)
VK3ZPF/p (Glenmaggie Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2094)
VK2XSE/p (Bemboka National Park VKFF-0025)
VK2KNV/p (Bemboka National Park VKFF-0025)
VK3ZK/p (Lower Goulburn National Park VKFF-0741)
VK2IO/p (Pitt Town Nature Reserve VKFF-1984)
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK3GRW
VK7ALH
VK5AYL
VK3ZIP
VK3ALA
VK5FMWW
VK7OT
VK7QP
VK2LEE


Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK3ZPF/p (Glenmaggie Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2094)
VK3PF/p (Stradbroke Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2443)


Marija worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

VK3ZPF/p (Glenmaggie Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2094)
VK2IO/p (Pitt Town Nature Reserve VKFF-1984)


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3PF/p (Merrimans Creek Flora Reserve VKFF-2384)
VK4AAC/3 (Boxwood Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2053)
VK2VH/3 (Boxwood Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2053)
VK3SQ
VK5WG
VK7QP
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK3STU
VK3ZPF/p (Glenmaggie Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2094)
VK5HS
VK3MPR
VK2XSE/p (Bemboka National Park VKFF-0025)
VK2KNV/p (Bemboka National Park VKFF-0025)
VK2EXA
VK7OT
VK3MCK
VK2LUV
VK3FRAB
VK5FANA
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK4FDJL/5
VK5FAAH
VK3KBC
VK3VRA
VK3ZK/p (Lower Goulburn National Park VKFF-0741)
VK2IO/p (Pitt Town Nature ReserveVKFF-1984)
VK7ALH
VK3KSK
VK3ZSG
VK3UH
VK3ZIP
VK3PWG
VK3LBW
VK7PAL
VK5PL
VK3GRW


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK2LEE
VK7ALH
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK7QP
VK4RF
VK4HA
VK3SX
VK2LX
VK2IO/p (Pitt Town Nature Reserve VKFF-1984)
VK5KLV
VK7LH


I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK7ALH
VK3ZPF/p (Glenmaggie Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2094)
VK3PF/p (Stradbroke Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2443)
VK7QP
VK5HS


I worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

VK3ZPF/p (Glenmaggie Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2094)
VK7ALH
VK4RF
VK4HA
VK4VXX
VK4BXX
VK4/AG7WB
VK7QP
ZL1TM
VK2IO/p (Pitt Town Nature Reserve VKFF-1984)
VK7LH






References.

Environment Victoria, 2019, https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/, viewed
9th December 2019

Grampians Point, 2019,
https://www.grampianspoint.com.au/attractions/olivers-lake/, viewed 9th
December 2019


///////////////////////////////////////////
West Wail Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2484

Posted: 08 Dec 2019 10:54 PM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2019/12/09/west-w...rve-vkff-2484/


It was now Sunday (1st December 2019) and day two of the 2019 VKFF
Activation Weekend.Â* To kick off the day we went to the Dimboola Cafe and
had a magnificent breakfast and coffee.



We then headed to our first park for the day, the West Wail Flora & Fauna
Reserve VKFF-2484, which is located about 360 km northwest of the city of
Melbourne, and about 10km west of the town of Pimpinio.
Above:- Map showing the location of the West Wail Flora & Fauna Reserve in
western Victoria.Â* Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

The West Wail Flora and Fauna Reserve is a large piece of remnant bush
surrounded by cleared farming land.Â* It is located in close proximity to
the Little Desert National Park.Â* The park can be accessed via the
Wail-Polkemmen Road.
Above:- An aerial view of the West Wail Flora & Fauna Reserve, looking
north.Â* Image courtesy of Google maps.

The park is also referred to on maps as the West Wail Nature Conservation
Reserve.Â* It is about 1,455 acres in size and conserves remnant Buloke
woodlands and a number of threatened species including Wimmera spider
orchids and Rigid spider orchids.






During the rain breaks in the park, I went for a walk to do a bit of
birdwatching and spotted a number of native bird species, some of which
appear in the photographs below which I took.

EBird Australia has a total of 106 species of bird recorded in the park.







We set up off a 4WD track in the park off the Wail-Polkemmen Road.Â* We ran
the Yaesu FT-857d and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.Â* As
it was a relatively wet morning we had to roll out the awning on the side
of the Toyota Hi-Lux.Â* At times we experienced quite heavy rain.
Above:- An aerial shot of the West Wail Flora & Fauna Reserve showing our
operating spot.Â* Image courtesy of Google Earth.

I kicked off the activation, calling CQ on 7.120 on the 40m band.Â* As this
was a Sunday morning, the broadcasts from the Wireless Institute of
Australia were in full swing, and as a result, we could not get near
7.144.Â* First in the log was Grant VK2LX with his normal strong 5/9 signal
and excellent audio.

I logged a total of 22 stations on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK5, and VK7,
including the following Park to Park contacts:-

Nik VK3ZK/p Cobram Regional Park VKFF-0961
Peter VK3ZPF/p Moondarra State Park VKFF-0764
Pete VK2FPAR/p Thirlmere Lakes National Park VKFF-0486
Rob VK4AAC/3 Boxwood Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2053


It was a pleasure to log Peter VK2FPAR in his very first park activation.Â*
Marija and I were also his first-ever Park to Park contacts.



I then swapped the mic with Marija who within 10 minutes had qualified the
park for VKFF.Â* Contact number ten was with Danny VK5DW in the Riverland
region of South Australia.

Marija pushed on and within 40 minutes had contact number 44 in the log and
the park qualified for the global WWFF program.Â* Contact 44 was with Rob
VK2VH/3.Â* Marijas contacts included the following Park to Park contacts (I
also logged the P2P):-

Peter VK3ZPF/p Moondarra State Park VKFF-0764.
Angela VK7FAMP/p Lake Dulverton Conservation Area VKFF-2907.
Tony VK7LTD/p Lake Dulverton Conservation Area VKFF-2907.
Nik VK3ZK/p Cobram Regional Park VKFF-0961.
Gerard VK2IO/p Rouse Hill Regional Park VKFF-2784.
Malcolm VK3OAK/p Corindhap Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2070.
Ian VK5CZ/p White Dam Conservation Park VKFF-1122.
Rob VK4AAC/3 Boxwood Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2053.
Rob VK2VH/3 Boxwood Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2053.




I then jumped back on the mic and logged a further 23 stations on 40m
including the following Park to Park contacts:-

Ian VK5CZ/p White Dam Conservation Park VKFF-1122.
Nik VK3ZK/p Cobram Regional Park VKFF-0961.


I then moved to the 20m band where I logged a total of 13 stations from
VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, VK7, and New Zealand.Â* This included the following
Park to Park QSOs:-

Liz VK2XSE/p Lachlan Valley State Conservation Area VKFF-1338.
Gerard VK2IO/p Rouse Hill Regional Park VKFF-2784.


I then moved down to the 80m band where I logged three contacts, all Park
to park QSOs:-

Malcolm VK3OAK/p Corindhap Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2070.
Peter VK3ZPF/p Glenmaggie Regional Park VKFF-1877.
Peter VK3PF/p Gormandale Flora Reserve VKFF-2325.


To conclude the activation I headed to 15m where I found conditions quite
good, logging a total of 7 stations including a Park to Park on another
band with Peter VK3ZPF.

We packed up and hit the road for our second park.Â* We had 117 QSOs in the
log from West Wail, including 28 Park to Park contacts.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK2FPAR/p (Thirlmere Lakes National Park VKFF-0486)
VK4AAC/3 (Boxwood Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2053)
VK3PF
VK2KYO
VK5WG
VK3SX
VK5VGC
VK5FANA
VK3ZPF/p (Moondarra State Park VKFF-0764)
VK5DW
VK5CZ/m
VK2EXA
VK5HS
VK5FBBJ
VK3UH
VK5AYL
VK7FRJG
VK7FCIA/m
VK5NJ
VK3MPR
VK5BWA
VK5KLV
VK7QP
VK2VLY
VK2PKT
VK7FAMP/p (Lake Dulverton Conservation Area VKFF-2907)
VK7LTD/p (Lake Dulverton Conservation Area VKFF-2907)
VK3LY
VK3ZK/p (Cobram Regional Park VKFF-0961)
VK5FB/p
VK3MCK
VK5YX
VK4FDJL/5
VK2IO/p (Rouse Hill Regional Park VKFF-2784)
VK7TW
VK2LX
VK3SQ
VK3JP
VK3CA
VK3OAK/p (Corindhap Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2070)
VK5CZ/p (White Dam Conservation Park VKFF-1122)
VK2HHA
VK4AAC/3 (Boxwood Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2053)
VK2VH/3 (Boxwood Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2053)


Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK3PF/p (Gormandale Flora Reserve VKFF-2325)
VK3OAK/p (Corindhap Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2070)
VK3ZPF/p (Glenmaggie Regional Park VKFF-1877)


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK2LX
VK3ZK/p (Cobram Regional Park VKFF-0961)
VK3SQ
VK3MCK
VK3ZPF/p (Moondarra State Park VKFF-0764)
VK3ELH/2
VK3PF
VK3SX
VK5AYL
VK5HS
VK2YW
VK3DAC
VK2XXM
VK2HHA
VK7QP/m
VK2HHA
VK3FRAB
VK2KYO
VK5WU
VK2FPAR/p (Thirlmere Lakes National Park VKFF-0486)
VK5DW
VK3BCM
VK4AAC/3 (Boxwood Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2053)
VK7FAMPp (Lake Dulverton Conservation AreaÂ* VKFF-2907)
VK7LTD/p (Lake Dulverton Conservation AreaÂ* VKFF-2907)
VK2EXA
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK5VGC
VK3SQ
VK3NCR/m
VK5CZ/p (White Dam Conservation Park VKFF-1122)
VK5LA
VK3MPR
VK5FANA
VK5FB
VK5NJ
VK3ZK/p (Cobram Regional Park VKFF-0961)
VK3UH
VK3JP
VK3CA
VK3MAB
VK3STU
VK4FDJL/5
VK3BCM
VK2PKT


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK5WG
VK2XSE/p (Lachlan Valley State Conservation Area VKFF-1338)
VK2LEE
VK4BXX
VK4VXX
VK4/AG7WB
VK4RF
VK4HA
VK2IO/p (Rouse Hill Regional Park VKFF-2784)
ZL1TM
VK2LX
VK7QP
VK6MMB


I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK3OAK/p (Corindhap Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2070)
VK3ZPF/p (Glenmaggie Regional Park VKFF-1877)
VK3PF/p (Gormandale Flora Reserve VKFF-2325)


I worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

VK3ZPF/p (Glenmaggie Regional Park VKFF-1877)
VK2LUV/p
VK7QP
VK4MGL
VK2LPF
VK4TJ
VK4HDY




References.

Protected Planet, 2019,
https://www.protectedplanet.net/west-wail-f-f-r-nature-conservation-reserve,
viewed 9th December 2019

Trip Advisor, 2019,
https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g255353-d9869550-Reviews-West_Wail_Flora_and_Fauna_Reserve-Horsham_Grampians_Victoria.html,
viewed 9th December 2019


///////////////////////////////////////////
Little Desert National Park VKFF-0291

Posted: 08 Dec 2019 08:53 PM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2019/12/09/little...k-vkff-0291-3/


After packing up at the Verandah Swamp Wildlife Reserve, Marija and I
headed back into Dimboola and went to the Victoria Hotel for a meal.Â* The
hotel is a very impressive building and was built in 1924.






After tea, we had a quick drive around DImboola which has a number of
historic buildings.Â* This includes the old National Bank of Australia
building which was built in 1909 in flamboyant Art Nouveau style and the
former Victoria Coffee Palace.





We then decided to head out to the Little Desert National Park VKFF-0291.Â*
Marija had never activated this park, so the activation was focussed around
Marija getting 10 contacts to qualify the park for VKFF in the World Wide
Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Little Desert National Park.Â* Map
courtesy of Protected Planet.

We chose the Horseshoe Bend campground as our operating spot.Â* This is a
beautiful spot on the banks of the Wimmera River.






The campground was alive with birdlife including White-plumed honeyeaters,
Red-rumped parrots, Eastern Rosellas, Yellow tailed Black Cockatoos.







There were also plenty of Western Grey kangaroos out for an evening graze.





We found 7.130 clear and I placed up a spot for Marija on parksnpeaks.Â* It
didnt take long and Marija had a mini pile-up going.Â* First in the log was
Ken VK3UH, followed by Scott VK4CZ, and then George VK4GSF.Â* Contact number
ten, qualifying the park for VKFF, came just 6 minutes into the activation,
with a QSO with Ross VK7ALH.

A few QSOs later and Marija had her first Park to Park in the log for this
activation, a contact with Peter VK3ZPF/p who was activating the Kurth Kiln
Regional Park VKFF-0971.

It took Marija just 40 minutes to qualify the park for the global WWFF
program.Â* Contact number 44 was with Danny VK5DW.

Marija also spoke with young Alicia, the daughter of VK2EZT.





With Marija having qualified the park, and it being a beautiful balmy
evening, we decided that I would put out some CQ calls.Â* The 40m band was
in brilliant shape, and in just 20 minutes I had 21 contacts in the log.Â*
Some of the biggest signals were from Peter VK2UXO (I was 5/9 to Peter) and
Brad VK2BY (I was 30/9 to Brad).

To complete the activation I moved down to the 80m band and logged a total
of 12 stations from VK3 and Vk5.



After a very fun time in the park, we packed up and headed back to the
motel room.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3UH
VK4CZ
VK4GSF
VK5FANA
BK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK3ANL
VK7FRJG
VK7ALH
VK3PF
VK5PE
VK3MB
VK3ZPF/p (Kurth Kiln Regional Park VKFF-0971)
VK5CZ
VK3ZD
VK3CC
VK5FAAH
VK2IO
VK3AWG
VK5WG
VK5NJ
VK2BY
VK3MCK
VK3AMJ
VK3BEB
VK2LEE
VK5FDJK
VK2YW
VK3FNDR
VK5LA
VK2LX
VK3JX
VK3MCL
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK2AB
VK4SMA
VK3FVMR
VK2EZT
VK1JH
VK5DW
ZL1TM


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK5LA
VK4CZ
VK5DW
VK7ALH
VK3BL
VK3MCL
VK3FSPN
VK3MB
VK5HS
VK3AB
VK2YW
VK5FAAH
VK1JH
VK2UXO
VK2LEE
ZL1TM
VK2BY
VK7FMAC
VK2FF
VK5ZRK
VK3KSK


I worked the following stations on 80m SSB;-

VK5HS
VK5LA
VK5WG
VK5CZ
VK5DW
VK3ANL
VK3GV
VK5WF
VK5FAAH
VK3MKE
VK5FLKJ
VK3WAR