vk5pas

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Kiata Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2347

Posted: 10 Dec 2019 02:26 AM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2019/12/10/kiata-...rve-vkff-2347/


Our final park for our trip away was the Kiata Flora & Fauna Reserve
VKFF-2347.Â* The park is located about 361 km northwest of the city of
Melbourne and 14km east of the town of Nhill.

Again this was to be another unique park activation for the World Wide
Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.


Above:- Map showing the location of the Kiata Flora and Fauna Reserve in
western Victoria.Â* Map courtesy of Protected Planet.



The park is located just south of the town of Kiata.Â* The name Kiata is
believed to have derived from an Aboriginal word describing summer heat.Â*
Much of the Kiata area was taken up for farm selections during the early
1870s.Â* TheÂ*township of Kiata was surveyed in 1876.Â* In 1879 the Kiata West
school was opened, and in 1881 the Kiata East school was opened.Â* In 1884
an Anglican church was opened.Â* The railway line was opened in 1887, and
later there was a hotel, a store and a blacksmith.

In 1903 Kiata was described in the Australian handbook:



Today Kiata is just a small settlement.Â* The former Little Desert Hotel is
now closed, while the school closed way back in 1968.







The park can be located just to the south of the town of Kiata on the
southern side of the Western Highway, the main highway between Adelaide and
Melbourne.


Above:- An aerial view of the Kiata Flora & Fauna Reserve looking west.Â*
Image courtesy of Google maps



The park is about 197 acres in size and conserves a small area of remnant
bushland which was previously widespread in western Victoria prior to the
area being cleared for farming by European settlers.






The park was alive with Rainbow Bee Eaters during our visit.Â* A number were
quite happy to sit up on branches just a short distance from where we were
operating.





We accessed the park via Kiata South Road.Â* We took a 4WD dirt track near
the cemetery.Â* We ran the Yaesu FT-857d and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for
this activation.


Above:- AN aerial view of the Kiata Flora & Fauna Reserve showing our
operating spot.Â* Image courtesy of Google Earth.



We only had a short time in Kiata, so I was hoping to whiz through the
contacts as quickly as possible.Â* I called CQ on 7.140 and this was
answered by Peter VK3PF who gave me his other two calls so I could reach
the 10 and 44 QSOs quicker.Â* This was followed by Ivan VK5HS, Rob VK2VH,
and then Ron VK3AHR.

Contact number ten came in just 5 minutes with a contact with John VK5NJ.Â*
I logged a total of 28 contacts on 40m before Marija jumped into the
operators chair.



Marijas first contact was with Adrian VK5FANA, followed by Ian VK5CZ/m,
John VK5NJ, and then Ray VK4NH.Â* Marijas tenth contact was with Peter
VK3KAI.Â* Marija logged 15 contacts and had qualified the park for VKFF, so
took control of the mic once again.

I logged a further 12 contacts on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK5, and VK7.Â* I now
had 40 contacts in the log and was just 4 QSOs short of the target of 44.Â*
I moved to the 20m band and logged 5 stations from VK2 and VK7.Â* My 44th
contact was with Adam VK6GA/2.



Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK5FANA
VK5CZ/m
VK5NJ
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK2LX
VK3GJC
VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK3GV
VK5PL
VK2IO
VK2VH
VK4AAC/2


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK3GV
VK5HS
VK2VH
VK4AAC/2
VK3AHR
VK2VW
VK5FANA
VK5NJ
VK5WG
VK2LX
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK5PL
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK3PAT
VK3SQ
VK3ATO
VK5KLV
VK3AXF
VK5WU
VK5LA
VK5CZ/m
VK5JN
VK2NJ/5
VK2UXO
VK5YX
VK7LG
VK7PSJ
VK3FKL
VK2PKT
VK5ZLG
VK3PWG
VK2YK
VK4FDJL/5


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK2LX
VK2YK
VK7LG
VK6GA/2
VK2IO


We packed up and headed into the town of Nhill and went to the Australian
Pinball Museum.



The museum features pinball machines from a wide range of eras.






Some of the classic machines include Kiss (1979), Playboy (2002), and Star
Wars (2017).
Click to view slideshow.

The museum also features original pinball advertising memorabilia such as
original advertising flyers, posters, and promotional products.





Below are a few videos I took in the museum.





We continued west and into the little town of Keith.Â* It was just a little
before 6.00 p.m. local time and we planned on having a meal at the local
pub, so we had a bit of time to have a look around the town.Â* One of the
interesting sights in a landrover on a pole.

During the 1940s, the CSIRO found prosperity in the area. With the addition
of trace elements, the area became a very productive area. The AMP Society
funded the clearing of land to set up farming establishments.Â* There is
also a display telling the story of the AMP Land Development Scheme.








We had a look at Pilmore Park where you can find a memorial for Andy
Caldecott who was an off-road motorcycle racer.Â* He was born in Keith in
1964 and died in 2006 from a neck injury sustained in a crash in the Dakar
Rally.

In the park, you can also see a Centurion army tank which spent the
majority of its working life in the 1st Armoured Regiment and also saw
service in Vietnam from late 1969.







We enjoyed a beautiful meal at the Keith Hotel.Â* I had kangaroo which was
cooked to perfection, while Marija had salmon.

We continued west and stopped briefly at Culburra which was once a thriving
self-supporting township.Â* Today very little remains, but there is a very
interesting information board in the town which tells the story of the town.









We arrived home at around 9.00 p.m.

THANK YOU to everyone who called us during our 4 days away.Â* We had a lot
of fun.





References.

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

Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Caldecott, viewed
10th December 2019

Wikipedia, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith,_South_Australia,
viewed 10th December 2019


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Glenlee Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2323

Posted: 10 Dec 2019 01:34 AM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2019/12/10/glenle...rve-vkff-2323/


Our third park for Monday (2nd December 2019) was the Glenlee Flora & Fauna
Reserve VKFF-2323.Â* The park is located about 371 km northwest of the city
of Melbourne and about 19 km south of the town of Jeparit.

This was to be another first-time activation for the World Wide Flora &
Fauna (WWFFO) program.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Glenlee Flora & Fauna Reserve.Â* Map
courtesy of Protected Planet.

The Glenlee Flora & Fauna Reserve is a large park comprising about 1,369
acres of remnant scrub which is split into blocks.
Above:- An aerial shot of the park looking north.Â* Image courtesy of Google
maps.

The park consists of Buloke, Box, Cypress Pine and Sugar Gum.






During our visit to the park, we encounter the resident Hooded Robins and a
bird of prey who was being harassed by some smaller birds.





We set up on a track in the northern section of the park.Â* Our operating
equipment was the Yaesu FT-857d and the 20/40/80m linked dipole supported
on the 7-metre telescopic squid pole.
Above:- An aerial shot of the Glenlee Flora & Fauna Reserve showing our
operating spot.Â* Image courtesy of Google Earth.

I kicked off the activation by calling CQ on 7.144.Â* First in the log was
Peter VK3PF, followed by Rob VK2VH, and then Grant VK2LX.Â* Seven minutes
into the activation and I had qualified the park for VKFF with a contact
with Ian VK5CZ who has recently become a regular park activator and hunter.

I logged a total of 30 QSOs on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7.Â* I
then handed over the mic to Marija.



Marija called CQ on 7.144 and logged John VK5NJ, Adrian VK5FANA, Ian VK5CZ,
and then Rob VK2VH.Â* About five minutes later Marija had qualified the park
for VKFF with a contact with regular park hunter Grant VK2LX.

Marija logged a total of 23 stations on 40m before I jumped back into the
operators chair.



I logged a further 7 stations before heading off to the 20m band.Â* I logged
a total of 12 stations on 20m from VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK5.Â* Contact number
44 was with Ray VK4NH.Â* I then moved to 80m where a number of CQ calls
resulted in just the one contact with Ivan VK5HS.

To complete the activation I called CQ on 21.244 on the 15m band where I
logged a total of 6 stations from VK2, VK4, VK5, and VK7.



Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-I worked the following
stations on 40m SSB:-

VK5NJ
VK5FANA
VK5CZ
VK2VH
VK4AAC/2
VK5PL
VK3AHR
VK3AZN
VK2PI
VK2LX
VK3UH
VK5KLV
VK7OT
VK3MIJ
VK5WU
VK3PF
VK3SQ
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK5HS
VK5KBJ
VK5JP


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3PF
VK2VH
VK4AAC/2
VK2LX
VK5FANA
VK7OT
VK2IO
VK5LA
VK5HS
VK5CZ
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK2VW
VK5NJ
VK5PL
VK3MCK
VK5WG
VK4FDJL/5
VK3UH
VK3FCMC
VK2YK
VK5FAAH
VK3AHR
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK3PI
VK3MIJ
VK3SQ
VK5KBJ
VK3BCM
VK3AZN
VK5KLV
VK3KAI
VK3GV


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK3PF
VK3KAI
VK3GV
VK5WG
VK5KLV
VK2LX
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK3SQ
VK2IO
VK3EKA


I worked the following station on 80m SSB:-

VK5HS


I worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

VK7JON
VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK2VW
VK5FANA




References.

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


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Gerang Gerung North Flora and Fauna Reserve VKFF-2319

Posted: 10 Dec 2019 01:17 AM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2019/12/10/gerang...rve-vkff-2319/


Our second park for the day (Monday 2nd December 2019) was the Gerang
Gerung North Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2319 which is located about 353 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 Gerang Gerung Flora & Fauna
Reserve.Â* Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

As we drove along the Gerang-Glenlee Road we saw two signs.Â* The first was
for Mallee Dam Flora Reserve and a little further on was a sign for
Gerang-Gerung Recreation Reserve.Â* We consulted the maps and confirmed that
we were in the right place and this was, in fact, the Gerang Gerung Flora
and Fauna Reserve.





The park is located on the northern side of the Western Highway, the main
highway between Adelaide and Melbourne.
Above:- An aerial view of the Gerang Gerung Flora & Fauna Reserve, looking
west.Â* Image courtesy of Google Maps.

The park is about 267 acres in size and conserves a piece of remnant bush
surrounded by cleared farming land.Â* Angle Road and the Gerang-Glenlee Road
dissect the park.






We drove down a dirt track on the northern side of the park and set up
amongst a clearing in the scrub.
Above:- An aerial shot of the Gerang Gerung North Flora & Fauna Reserve
showing out operating spot.Â* Image courtesy of Google Earth.

I called CQ on 7.144 and this was answered by Peter VK3PF, followed by
Geoff VK3SQ, Grant VK2LX, and Rob VK2VH.Â* Contact number ten came 5 minutes
into the activation, with a QSO with Adrian VK5FANA.

Despite it being a weekday, there was a steady flow of callers.Â* The 40m
band was in good shape again, with close-in propagation existing again into
VK5 and around VK3.



With 20 contacts in the log, it was time for Maija to qualify the park for
VKFF.Â* Marija called CQ on 7.140 and this was answered by regular park
hunter Peter VK3PF, followed by another regular Don VK3MCK, Chris VK3PAT,
and then Ron VK3AHR.

Marijas tenth contact came just 6 minutes after calling CQ, with a QSO with
Les VK5KLV.Â* Marija logged a total of 13 stations on 40m from VK2, VK3, and
VK5, before we again swapped the mic.





I logged a further 9 stations on 40m before heading to the 20m band.Â* First
in the log on 20m was Mr. Reliable John VK4TJ with a good 5/7 signal.Â* I
logged a total of 9 stations on 20m.Â* I was very surprised to be able to
work David VK5PL in the lower Barossa Valley and Les VK5KLV in Port Augusta.

I then moved to 80m, logging 4 stations from VK2, VK3, and VK5.Â* To finish
off the activation I tried 15m where I logged four contacts, all from
Queensland.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3PF
VK3MCK
VK3PAT
VK3AHR
VK2VH
VK4AAC/2
VK5FANA
VK2VK
VK2VW
VK5KLV
VK5WG
VK5LA
VK3SQ


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3PF
VK3SQ
VK2LX
VK2VH
VK4AAC/2
VK2IO
VK5QD
VK5WG
VK2VW
VK5FANA
VK5PL
VK3ZLT
VK5HS
VK5WU
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK3UH
VK2YK
VK4FDJL/5
VK3AHR
VK5FRSM
VK2UXO
VK5LA
VK5KLV
VK3PAT
VK5NJ
VK3DRT


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK4TJ
VK4/Ac8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK4SSN
VK2LX
VK5PL
VK2IO
VK2VW
VK5KLV


I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK5HS
VK3PF
VK2VH
VK4AAC/2


I worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

VK4NH
VK4DXA
ZL4TY/VK4
VK4TJ




References.

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