VK5PAS

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Scott Conservation Park 5CP-206 and VKFF-0934

Posted: 30 Nov 2020 02:31 AM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2020/11/30/scott-...d-vkff-0934-3/



After packing up at the Encounter Marine Park, Marija and I headed to the
Scott Conservation Park 5CP-206 & VKFF-0934. The park is located about 80
km south of Adelaide.




This park is not to be confused with the Scott Creek Conservation Park
which is located in the Adelaide Hills, or the Mount Scott Conservation
Park which is located in the South East region of South Australia.








We drove north out of Goolwa on Alexandrina Road and then turned left onto
Gould Road. It wasnt long until we reached the northern boundary of the
park which is well sign posted.








The Scott Conservation Park is about 210 hectares in size and is a small
piece of native scrub located on the Fleurieu Peninsula, about 13 km by
road, north of Goolwa.



Above:- An aerial shot showing the Scott Conservation Park, looking south
towards the Southern Ocean. Image c/o Google maps




The park was first proclaimed as a National Park on the 20th day of March
1969 and was re-proclaimed as the Scott Conservation Park on the 27th day
of April 1972.












As you travel west on Gould Road you will see some thick scrub. This is
not the park. These are a number of private properties. You need to
continue west to reach the park.




There is also a small piece of scrub in the north western corner of the
park. This is a Heritage Agreement. Dont get this confused for the park.
There is also another Heritage Agreement to the south of the park.



Above:- Map showing the Scott Conservation Park and the two
adjacent/adjoining heritage agreements. Map courtesy of Protected Planet.




Scott Conservation is a beautiful park. It contains Low Woodland
comprising Brown Stringybark, Cup Gum, Peppermint Box, Heat Tea-tree and
Tates Grass-tree. The park also contains Mallee consisting of Pink Gum and
Peppermint Box.










Birds SA have recorded a total of 148 birds in the park including Common
Bronzewing, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairywren, New Holland
Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Grey Shrikethrush, Cockatiel, Eastern Rosella,
Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Â*Restless Flycatcher, Hooded Robin, and Eastern
Shriketit.




Various native mammals call the park home including Western Grey Kangaroos,
Ringtail Possums and Western Pygmy Possums




There are 2 walks which can be undertaken in the park, the Watercourse Hike
and the Orchid Hike. Details of those walks can be found on the Walking SA
website at..




https://www.walkingsa.org.au/walk/fi...ervation-park/








We parked the vehicle in the small carpark near the gate and then walked a
short distance down the walking trail. We ran the Yaesu FT-857d and the
20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.




First in the log was Peter VK3PF whose signal was well down compared to
usual. Marija and I went on to work a total of 54 stations on 40m from
VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, and VK7. This included the following Park to Park
contacts..



Gerard VK2IO Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041 & VK2/ CT-032Nick
VK3ANL/p St Andrews Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2195Tony VK3YV/p
Tarra Bulga National Park VKFF-0480VK1DI Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature
Reserve VKFF-0847Bill VK3CWF Lerderderg State Park VKFF-0763Mike VK6MB/p
Brookton Highway Nature Reserve VKFF-1846Col VK5HCF/p Ewens Ponds
Conservation Park VKFF-0796Bryan VK3LF/m Crossover Regional Park
VKFF-0965Tony VK7LTD/p Echo Sugarloaf State Reserve VKFF-1799Angela
VK7FAMP/p Echo Sugarloaf State Reserve VKFF-1799








I then moved to the 20m band where I logged just 2 stations, Andrei ZL1TM
in New Zealand, and Mike VK6MB in the Brookton Highway Nature Reserve
VKFF-1846.




We then tried the 80m band, but as was the case at Encounter Marine Park,
we logged just the one station, Adrian VK5FANA on the Yorke Peninsula with
a good strong 5/9 signal.




To finish off the activation we moved back to 40m and logged a further 15
stations including the following Park to Park contacts..



Nik VK3ZK/p Mt Martha Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2152Peter VK3TKK/p
Blacks Creek Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2049Brett VK3MCA/p Gobarup
Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2095








It was approaching 4.30 p.m. local time and Marija and I decided to pack up
and head home. We had a total of 72 contacts in the log including 28 Park
to Park contacts.




Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-



VK2IO (Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041 & VK2/ CT-032)VK3ANL/p (St
Andrews Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2195)VK3PFVK5KLVVK3YV/p (Tarra
Bulga National Park VKFF-0480)VK4NHVK4DXAZL4TY/VK4VK2DGVK4KCVK7QPVK1DI
(Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve VKFF-0847)VK2UXOVK3MPRVK3CWF
(Lerderderg State Park VKFF-0763)VK6MB/p (Brookton Highway Nature Reserve
VKFF-1846)VK5HCF/p (Ewens Ponds Conservation Park
VKFF-0796)VK2VHVK4AACVK2EEMVK3ZMDVK3LF/m (Crossover Regional Park
VKFF-0965)VK7LTD/p (Echo Sugarloaf State Reserve VKFF-1799)VK7FAMP/p (Echo
Sugarloaf State Reserve VKFF-1799)VK3ZK/p (Mt Martha Nature Conservation
Reserve VKFF-2152)VK3TKK/p (Blacks Creek Nature Conservation Reserve
VKFF-2049)VK3MCA/p (Gobarup Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2095)




I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-



VK3PFVK2IO/p (Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041 & VK2/ CT-032)VK3ANL/p
(St Andrews Nature Conservation Reserve
VKFF-2195)VK3SQVK3CUVK2DGVK5KLVVK4NHVK4DXAZL4TY/VK4VK2MG/p (Pambalong
Nature Reserve VKFF-2697)VK3ZPFVK2VHVK4AACVK7QPVK3SXVK3YV/p (Tarra Bulga
National Park VKFF-0480)VK1DI/p (Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve
VKFF-0847)VK3CWF/p (Lerderderg State Park VKFF-0763)VK6MB/p (Brookton
Highway Nature Reserve VKFF-1846)VK5HCF/p (Ewens Ponds Conservation Park
VKFF-0796)VK3LF/m (Crossover Regional Park
VKFF-0965)VK4KCVK4FDJLVK5LBVK7FAMP/p (Echo Sugarloaf State Reserve
VKFF-1799)VK7LTD/p (Echo Sugarloaf State Reserve
VKFF-1799)VK5HMBVK4HATVK5AYLVK3ZK/p (Mt Martha Nature Conservation Reserve
VKFF-2152)VK3TKK/p (Blacks Creek Nature Conservation Reserve
VKFF-2049)VK1VICVK1FLEXVK3MPRVK2EXAVK3DJCVK4SYDVK3BWMVK 3OFVK2KYOVK3MCA/p
(Gobarup Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2095)




I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-



ZL1TMVK6MB/p (Brookton Highway Nature Reserve VKFF-1846)




I worked the following station on 80m SSB:-



VK5FANA














References.




Birds SA, 2020, https://birdssa.asn.au/location/scott-conservation-park/,
viewed 30th November 2020.




Walking SA, 2020,
https://www.walkingsa.org.au/walk/find-a-place-to-walk/watercourse-hike-scott-conservation-park/,
viewed 30th November 2020




Wikipedia, 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Conservation_Park,
viewed 30th November 2020.


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Encounter Marine Park VKFF-1707

Posted: 29 Nov 2020 10:15 PM PST
https://vk5pas.org/2020/11/30/encoun...k-vkff-1707-3/



The weekend of Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November 2020, was the annual
VKFF Activation Weekend for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program. The
VKFF Activation Weekend is all about promoting the WWFF program here in
Australia, and is an incredibly popular event for Australian park
activators and hunters.




Marija VK5MAZ and I had planned to travel to the West Coast of South
Australia, but unfortunately some restrictions were implemented by the
Government re COVID-19 the day before we were planned to leave. As it
turned out those restrictions were lifted about 24 hours later, but we had
already cancelled our trip.




As a result we had to reconsider our plans for the 2020 VKFF Activation
Weekend. The weather was forecast to be 40 deg C on Friday leading up to
the weekend, and then 38 deg C on Saturday. This weather was going to
present a significant fire danger risk so we decided against an inland
activation. As a result of the weather and bushfire risk we decided to do
a beach activation at the Encounter Marine Park VKFF-1707.




We left home at around 8.30 a.m. local time and made the short 26 km drive
south to the seaside town of Goolwa. Goolwa is a beautiful little town and
is a historic river port on the Murray River. I worked at Goolwa back in
the mid 1980s. The name Goolwa means elbow in Ngarrindjeri, the local
Aboriginal language.




We drove to the end of Beach Road where there is a large carpark, a cafe,
and surf life saving tower. Despite it being quite early in the morning
the carpark was a hive of activity. Marija and I deflated the tyres on our
Toyota Hi Lux 4WD and we then drove onto the beach at Goolwa. We didnt
even reach the beach proper, before encountering one poor sole who had
bogged his 4WD in the sand on the track leading to the beach.




The Encounter Marine Park stretches from Port Noarlunga in the southern
suburbs of Adelaide down along the western coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula
and across to the eastern part of Kangaroo Island. It continues down along
the southern coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, passing the mouth of the
Murray River and includes part of the Coorong National Park.



Above:- Map showing the location of the Encounter Marine Park. Map
courtesy of Protected Planet.




The park includes spectacular snorkelling and diving locations, top fishing
spots and has excellent whale watching areas. The park includes the
majority of the shoreline of the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula which is a
very popular tourist destination. The Fleurieu Peninsula was named by
French explorer Nicolas Baudin duing his exploration of the south coast of
Australia in 1802, in honour of Charles Pierre Claret de Fleurieu who was
also a French explorer and hydrographer. Â*



Above:- The Encounter Marine Park (shaded in blue). Map courtesy of
Protected Planet.




The park takes its name from Encounter Bay which in turn was named by
explorer Matthew Flinders after his encounter on the 8th April 1802 with
French explorer Nicolas Baudin (photos below are courtesy of Wikipedia).








The two videos below will give you a great feel for the Encounter Marine
Park.
















It was a warm morning with an expected cool changed in the afternoon
including some predicted rain. Although the clouds looked threatening,
there was no rain during our activation.








The Goolwa beach is separated by sand dunes with the Coorong and Hindmash
Island on the other side of the dunes.








We drove about 1 km along the beach and then backed the vehicle up to the
dunes and rolled out the awning of the 4WD. We were on the beach and set
up by around 9.50 a.m. Although it was still relatively early in the
morning, the beach was very busy with 4WDers, swimmers, people searching
for the famous Goolwa cockles, and others just enjoying the sunshine. We
were lucky though to find a relatively clear spot with plenty of room to
string out the 20/40/80m linked dipole which sat up on the top of our 7
metre telescopic squid pole. We pegged off the ends of the legs of the
dipole in the sand.



Above:- An aerial view of Goolwa Beach showing our operating spot. Image
courtesy of Google maps.




We ran the Yaesu FT-857d for this activation. For a good portion of the
activation we ran just 10 watts PEP to comply with Marijas Foundation
licence. Other times I cranked the power up to about 40 watts to work on
20m.








First in the log were Theo VK3AP and Haydon VK3LOC, who were both in the
Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620. It was a nice way to start
the activation with a Park to Park contact.




Marija and I logged a total of 18 stations on the 40m band before the UTC
rollover. This included numerous Park to Park contacts as follows..



Theo VK3AP Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620Haydon VK3LOC
Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620Mark VK1EM Cuumbeun Nature
Reserve VKFF-1920Tony VK1VIC Cuumbeun Nature Reserve VKFF-1920Andrew
VK2PEZ Bomaderry Creek Regional Park VKFF-1779Bob VK2BYF Bomaderry Creek
Regional Park VKFF-1779Brett VK3MCA Crosbie Nature Conservation Reserve
VKFF-2073Nick VK3ANL St Andrews Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2195Tony
VK3YV Morwell National Park VKFF-0626VK1DI/p Dunlop Grassland Nature
Reserve VKFF-0839




For the VK5s propagation on 40m seemed to be out to around the 200km +
distance. We were able to log Ian VK5IS in the Beetaloo Valley (5/9 both
ways) and John VK5MJC in Crystal Brook (5/9 both ways), both who live in
the Mid North of South Australia about 280 km north of Goolwa. We also
logged Les VK5KLV in Port Augusta 5/9 both ways) about 380 km north of
Goolwa. We also logged Ian VK5CZ in the Clare Valley (5/5 sent & 4/3
received) about 225 km north of Goolwa. Ron VK5MRE at Barmera in the
Riverland also featured in our log (5/9 both ways), about 275 km north east
of Goolwa. But the winner of the strongest VK5 signal was Sue VK5AYL at
nearby Hindmarsh Island who was 5/9 plus.




After the UTC rollover Marija and I logged a further 38 QSOs on 40m. This
included the following Park to Park contacts



Tony VK7LTD Surveyors Bay Conservation Area VKFF-2920Angela VK7FAMP
Surveyors Bay Conservation Area VKFF-2920Tony VK1VIC/ Cuumbeun Nature
Reserve VKFF-1920Mark VK1EM Cuumbeun Nature Reserve VKFF-1920Tony VK3YV
Morwell National Park VKFF-0626Brett VK3MCA Crosbie Nature Conservation
Reserve VKFF-2073Liz VK2XSE Micalong Swamp Flora Reserve VKFF-3067Peter
VK2KNV Micalong Swamp Flora Reserve VKFF-3067Bill VK3CWF Lerederderg
State Park VKFF-0763Nik VK3ANL St Andrews Nature Conservation Reserve
VKFF-2195Mike VK6MB Brookton Highway Nature Reserve VKFF-1846




We were very surprised by the strength of Mike VK6MBs signal all the way
over in his park in Western Australia.








When callers slowed down, we lowered the squid pole and removed the links
for the 20m section of the antenna and headed to the 20m band. I logged a
total of 14 stations on that band including the following Park to Park
contacts..



Marty VK4KC/p Fort Lytton National Park VKFF-0179Mike VK6MB Brookton
Highway Nature Reserve VKFF-1846Tony VK3YV Morwell National Park
VKFF-0626Gerard VK2IO Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041 & SOTA VK2/
CT-032




We then decided to try our luck on the 80m band as we had not logged many
VK5 contacts. Sadly our only contact on 80m was with Adrian VK5FANA on the
Yorke Peninsula who had an excellent 5/9 signal.




We then moved back to the 40m band where we logged a further 29 QSOs,
including the following Park to Park contacts..



Allen VK3ARH Cobram Regional Park VKFF-0961Peter VK3TKK Ben Major Flora
Reserve VKFF-2266Gerard VK2IO Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041 &
SOTA VK2/ CT-032Alan VK2MG Pambalong Nature Reserve VKFF-2697Brett VK3MCA
Runnymede Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2184




We also logged David VK3IL, Andrew VK3JBL, and Glenn VK3YY who were
activating SOTA summit VK3/ VE-074.




Our only local contacts this time around on 40m were with Rick VK3VCR and
John VK5HAA both in the Adelaide Hills, both of whom had low down signals.
But it was still working well into the Riverland with Ivan VK5HS being 5/9
plus.








The weather started to cool down and towards the end of the activation the
weather had dropped to about 21 deg C. We made some enquiries and found
that inland from the beach, the temperature had also dropped. Based on
this we decided to pack up and head for the Scott Conservation Park which
was just a short drive away.




Between the two of us we had logged a total of 121 QSOs. This included 58
Park to Park contacts. We were incredibly happy with the activation.




Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-



VK3LOC/p (Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620)VK3AP/p
(Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620)VK1VIC/p (Cuumbeun Nature
Reserve VKFF-1920)VK1EM/p (Cuumbeun Nature Reserve VKFF-1920)VK2BYF/p
(Bomaderry Creek Regional Park VKFF-1779)VK2PEZ/p (Bomaderry Creek Regional
Park VKFF-1779)VK3MCA/p (Crosbie Nature Conservation Reserve
VKFF-2073)VK3YV/p (Morwell National Park VKFF-0626)VK3ANL/p (St Andrews
Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2195)VK1DI/p (Dunlop Grassland Nature
Reserve VKFF-0839)




Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-



VK7FAMP/p (Surveyors Bay Conservation Area VKFF-2920)VK7LTD (Surveyors Bay
Conservation Area VKFF-2920)VK5MREVK5KLVVK2CCPVK2VHVK4AACVK1VIC/p (Cuumbeun
Nature Reserve VKFF-1920)VK1EM/p (Cuumbeun Nature Reserve VKFF-1920)VK3YV/p
(Morwell National Park VKFF-0626)VK3ARH/mVK3MCA/p (Crosbie Nature
Conservation Reserve VKFF-2073)VK7QPVK3BBBVK3PFVK3KAIVK3FIMDVK2XSE/p
(Micalong Swamp Flora Reserve VKFF-3067)VK2KNV/p (Micalong Swamp Flora
Reserve VKFF-3067)VK3CWF/p (Lerderderg State Park
VKFF-0763)VK3MTVVK3ZPFVK3CTMVK3ANL/p (St Andrews Nature Conservation
Reserve VKFF-2195)VK6MB/p (Brookton Highway Nature Reserve
VKFF-1846)VK3LF/p (Crossover Regional Park VKFF-0965)VK5HSVK2DGVK3ARH/p
(Cobram Regional Park VKFF-0961)VK3TKK/p (Ben Major Flora Reserve
VKFF-2266)VK2VWVK2HFIVK3SQVK3IL/p (SOTA VK3/ VE-074)VK3JBL/p (SOTA VK3/
VE-074)VK3YY/p (SOTA VK3/ VE-074)VK2IO/p (Blue Mountains National Park
VKFF-0041 & SOTA VK2/ CT-032)VK2MG/p (Pambalong Nature Reserve
VKFF-2697)VK3MCA/p (Runnymede Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2184)




Marija worked the following station on 80m SSB:-



VK5FANA




I worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-



VK3AP/p (Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620)VK3LOC/p
(Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park
VKFF-0620)VK5ISVK3BBBVK2CCPVK2VHVK4AAC/2VK4NHVK4DXAZL4TY/VK4VK3OFVK3PFVK1EM/p
(Cuumbeun Nature Reserve VKFF-1920)VK1VIC/p (Cuumbeun Nature Reserve
VKFF-1920)VK2PEZ/p (Bomaderry Creek Regional Park VKFF-1779)VK2BYF/p
(Bomaderry Creek Regional Park VKFF-1779)VK5MJCVK5AYLVK3ARH/mVK3MCA/p
(Crosbie Nature Conservation ReserveVKFF-2073)VK5KLVVK3ANL/p (St Andrews
Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2195)VK3YV/p (Morwell National Park
VKFF-0626)VK3UPVK5CZVK1DI/p (Dunlop Grassland Nature Reserve
VKFF-0839)VK3MPRVK5MRE




I worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-



VK7LTD/p (Surveyors Bay Conservation Area VKFF-2920)VK7FAMP/p (Surveyors
Bay Conservation Area VKFF-2920)VK3CUVK1VIC/p (Cuumbeun Nature Reserve
VKFF-1920)VK1EM/p (Cuumbeun Nature Reserve VKFF-1920)VK3YV/p (Morwell
National Park VKFF-0626)VK3MCA/p (Crosbie Nature Conservation Reserve
VKFF-2073)VK2XSE/p (Micalong Swamp Flora Reserve VKFF-3067)VK2KNV/p
(Micalong Swamp Flora Reserve VKFF-3067)VK3CWF/p (Lerederderg State Park
VKFF-0763)VK3ANL/p (St Andrews Nature Conservation Reserve
VKFF-2195)VK3CTMVK3KKPVK6MB/p (Brookton Highway Nature Reserve
VKFF-1846)VK3LF/p (Crossover Regional Park VKFF-0965)VK3ARH/p (Cobram
Regional Park VKFF-0961)VK3TKK/p (Ben Major Flora Reserve VKFF-2266)VK3IL/p
(SOTA VK3/ VE-074)VK3JBL/p (SOTA VK3/ VE-074)VK3YY/p (SOTA VK3/
VE-074)VK5VCRVK4FDJLVK7QPVK2IO/p (Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041 &
SOTA VK2/ CT-032)VK3ZPFVK2MG/p (Pambalong Nature Reserve VKFF-2697)VK3MCA/p
(Runnymede Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2184)VK5HAAVK3PF




I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-



VK4SYDVK4KC/p (Fort Lytton National Park
VKFF-0179)VK7RGVK5AYLVK2VHVK4AACVK6MB/p (Brookton Highway Nature Reserve
VKFF-1846)VK2UXOVK3DNHVK7VZVK2ETA/p VK3YV/p (Morwell National Park
VKFF-0626)VK2IO/p (Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041 & SOTA VK2/
CT-032)VK2PKT














References.




National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2020,
https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/find-a-park/Browse_by_region/Fleurieu_Peninsula/encounter-marine-park,
viewed 30th November 2020.




Wikipedia, 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goolwa,_South_Australia,
viewed 30th November 2020.




Wikipedia, 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleurieu_Peninsula, viewed
30th November 2020.