vk5pas

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Telford Scrub Conservation Park 5CP-226 and VKFF-0805 and the VK Shires
Contest

Posted: 13 Jun 2017 04:25 AM PDT
https://vk5pas.org/2017/06/13/telfor...hires-contest/


After leaving the SERG Convention, Marija and I decided to head out to the
Telford Scrub Conservation Park 5CP-226 & VKFF-0805 for a few hours for the
VK Shires Contest which had commenced at 0600 UTC that day (3.30 p.m. South
Australian local time). Â*Telford Scrub is just 15 km north of Mount
Gambier, just off the Riddoch Highway.
Map showing the location of the Telford Scrub Conservation Park. Â*Map
courtesy of Protected Planet.

Telford Scrub is 175 hectares in size and was first proclaimed on 12th
March 1987. Â*The park features a 100 metre long boardwalk which takes you
along the forest canopy about 4 metres off the ground. Â*There are various
interpretive signs along the way.
Aerial shot, showing the park, with Mount Gambier in the background. Â*Image
courtesy of Google maps

The park supports four major vegetation types: Â*Brown Stringybark open
woodland, Brown Stringybark/Rough-barked Manna Gum open woodland, Swamp Gum
open woodland; and low open shrubland. Â*More than 20 species of native
orchid can be found in the park.



About 117 species of bird have been recorded in the park including the
Crimson Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb
Fairywren, White-browned Scrubwomen, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Satin
Flycatcher, and Southern Boobook. Â*During our visit, a vehicle arrived in
the carpark. Â*It was a gentleman about to head off on a night walk through
the park to photograph owls and Tawny Fromouths. Â*It is truly amazing who
you meet when you visit these parks.

A large amount of native wildlife can be found in the park including
Western Grey kangaroos and koalas.The vulnerable Southern Brown Bandicoot
and the endangered Sugar Glider can also be found.





Below is a great video of a Sugar Glider in flight.



Marija and I set up in the carpark off Grundys Lane. Â*We were all set up
and ready to go by around 0710 UTC (4.40 p.m. South Australian local time).
Aerial shot of the park showing our operating spot in the southern section
of the park. Â*Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

There was plenty of room here to string out the 80/40/20m linked dipole.



Telford Scrub is located in the District Council of Grant (GD5 for the VK
Shires Contest). Â*It is quite strange how it works down in the South
East. Â*The town of Mount Gambier comes under the City of Mount Gambier
Council, whilst the land around it is the District Council of Grant.
Map showing the Grant Council area surrounding the town of Mount Gambier,
and our operating spot at Telford Scrub.

I started off on 7.115 on the 40m band. Â*The band was quite busy with
stations calling CQ Contest. Â*My first station worked was Andrew VK2UH,
followed by Geoff VK3SQ, and then Hans VK6XN who was operating portable in
the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park VKFF-1454. Â*I logged a total of 52
stations including another Park to Park contact, this time with Phil
VK6ADF/p who was in Lesueur National Park VKFF-0285.



The 40m band had slowed a little, so I headed to the 80m band. Â*We found
Tony VK3XV/p calling CQ on 3.610 from the Terrick Terrick National Park
VKFF-0630. Â*We both logged Tony, and I then moved down to 3.605 and started
calling CQ Contest. Â*I logged 12 stations before swapping the mic with
Marija.

Marija wasnt real keen on the contesting, but wanted to qualify the park
with 10 QSOs for the VKFF program. Â*She soon reached that total in around
10 minutes, with contact number 10 being Michael VK3LM.



I then took charge of the mic again and logged an additional 15 stations on
80m including Bill ZL2AYZ in Blenhiem in New Zealand. Â*Marija and I swapped
the mic so she could log our good friend Ivan VK5HS when he called in, and
also Bill in New Zealand. Â*To finish off the activation, Marija logged a
handful of stations after tuning across the 80m band.





Marija had a total of 15 stations in the log from VK2, VK3, VK5, and New
Zealand, all on the 80m band. Â*I had a total of 80 stations in the log on
the 40m and 80m bands. Â*It was time to head back into Mount Gambier for
some dinner, with the local time being just after 7.00 p.m. local time.

I had logged 61 different shires for the contest:

AC2
AC5
BB3
BC3
BL2
BN4
BU7
CB2
CK2
CN2
CO6
CS3
CW6
DG4
DN6
FC3
FC4
GB3
GD5
GG3
GS7
HC7
HI2
IP4
IS3
KH7
KY2
LC3
LE2
LS3
LV4
MD5
MG3
MM3
MO3
MP3
MZ3
NA2
NC2
NS3
OC5
QP2
RP5
RM6
RX5
SB4
SG3
UA2
UH2
UL2
WD2
WH3
WO2
WR3
WV2
WW2
WW7
WY3
YP5
YV2
YV3


We headed to Fasta Pasta, and while Marija was inside ordering, I made a
total of 6 contacts on 40m and 80m from the vehicle. Â*This time in the
Mount Gambier Council area (MG5 for the VK Shires Contest).

We then headed back to the motel room for dinner.

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK3XV/p (Terrick Terrick National Park VKFF-0630)
VK3GH
VK3FSLG
VK5FANA
VK3FAAJ
VK3SQ
VK3ER
VK3WMM/p
VK3PF
VK3LM
VK5HS
ZL2AYZ
VK3C
VK5KBJ
VK2YW/p


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK2UH
VK3SQ
VK6XN/p (Shoalwater Islands Marine Park VKFF-1454)
VK2NEO
VK2KDP
VK4QQ
VK2BBQ/p
VK2KJJ
VK2KT
VK5FANA
ZL2AYZ
VK2TCL
VK4NH
VK3OHM
VK2LEE
VK2YW/p
VK7JGD
VK4FMAX
VK3PI
VK2SR
VK5KPR
VK5NJ
VK2MTM
VK2VVV
VK2NSS
VK3GYH/p
VK7ZGK
VK3NLK
VK3ARH
VK3MRG
VK3TNL
VK2PHL
VK2PAW
VK3GC
VK4FE
VK7JON
VK3FPSR
VK2ND
VK3JP
VK2NSW
VK2MT/p
VK6ADF/p (Lesueur National Park VKFF-0285)
VK7DW
VK3GTS
VK2QH
VK3WMM/p
VK2QK
VK6FBOS
VK2VOL
VK4SMA
VK5MR
VK2GGA


I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK3XV/p (Terrick Terrick National Park VKFF-0630)
VK3SQ
VK5KBJ
VK2YW/p
VK2BFC
VK3LDB
VK3VKT
VK5FANA
VK3WMM/p
VK3LM/p
VK2ARL
VK7GG
VK2GGA
VK3PF
VK3GH
VK5PO
VK5HS
VK3OHM
VK3LM/p
VK3CWF
VK3FSPG
VK3NXT
VK3GC
VK6VCK/p
VK3CWM
ZL2AYZ
VK3ER
VK4QH




References.

Birds SA, 2017,
http://www.birdssa.asn.au/location/t...ation-park/gt;,
viewed 13th June 2017

National Parks South Australia, 2017,
https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/pa...vation-parkgt;,
viewed 13th June 2017


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Douglas Point Conservation Park 5CP-057 and VKFF-0795

Posted: 13 Jun 2017 02:51 AM PDT
https://vk5pas.org/2017/06/13/dougla...and-vkff-0795/


Our second activation for Saturday 10th June 2017 was the Douglas Point
Conservation Park 5CP-057 and VKFF-0795. Â*The park is situated and about 42
km south (by road) of Mount Gambier and about 470 km south east of Adelaide.
Map showing the location of the Douglas Point Conservation Park. Â*Map
courtesy of Protected Planet.

The Douglas Point Conservation Park is 31 hectares in size and was
proclaimed on 8th May 1997 to protect the state endangered and nationally
vulnerable plant species, Sand Ixodia. Â*Douglas Point is the only reserve
in Australia containing this plant. Â*In addition to this, the Park is a
significant refuge for two plant species of conservation significance.
The habitats of the Douglas Point Conservation Park vary from exposed cliff
top to coastal heath, principally Coastal Wattle / Coastal
Beard-heathÂ*scrubland.
The Park is located within the traditional lands of the Boandik
people. Â*The remains of scattered middens are evidence of Aboriginal
habitation in the past.
The exact origins of the name, Cape Douglas, are unknown. Â*Lieutenant James
Grant sailed through the area on the Lady Nelson in December 1800 and named
several features including Cape Northumberland. Â*On the 5th of April 1802,
the French navigator Nicholas Baudin passed Cape Northumberland in his ship
the ‘Geographe’ whilst travelling west along the coast. Â*Baudin
subsequently met Matthew Flinders, who was travelling from the west to
east, in Encounter Bay. Â*Later in 1802 Matthew Flinders charted the area on
the Investigator, with crew including boatswain Charles Douglas. Captain
William Bloomfield Douglas helped Captain Benjamin Germain chart the waters
around Cape Northumberland and Port MacDonnell in 1860. Â*It is possible
that Cape Douglas was named during one of these exercises.
William Bloomfield Douglas. Â*Image courtesy of wikipedia

The park is home to over 60 species of bird. Â*A total of those are of
conservation significance including the Rufous Bristlebird and the
Beautiful Firetail, and also the nationally endangered Orange-bellied
Parrot.






During our visit to the park we spotted a Crested Tern and a Nakeen kestrel
(I think).




Recreational activities undertaken in the Park include bush-walking,
surfing, diving, fishing and 4WDriving.

Just outside of the park on the Cape Douglas Road, you can view an
interpretive sign regarding the Admella, a passenger steamship which was
shipwrecked on a submerged reef off the coast of nearby Carpenter Rocks.



It was during the early hours of Saturday 6 August 1859 that the ship
struck the reef, resulting in survivors clinging to the wreck for over a
week. Â*Many took days to die as they glimpsed the land from the sea and
watched as one rescue attempt after another failed. Â*With the loss of 89
lives, mostly due to cold and exposure, it is one of the worst maritime
disasters in Australian history. Â* ItÂ*remains the greatest loss of life in
the history of European settlement in South Australia. Â*Of the 113 on board
24 survived, including only one woman, Bridget Ledwith. Â*Of the 89 dead, 14
were children.
SS Admella. Â*Image courtesy of Wikipedia

The GPS showed that we had a short 20 minute drive to get to the
park. Â*WRONG!. Â*It took us to a carpark at the end of Pelican Point Road at
Blackfellows Caves. Â*There was no access to the park via the coastal road
as the GPS indicated. Â*So we headed inland and eventually reached the park
via Cape Douglas Road.



There werent too many operating options here. Â*It is very exposed to the
ocean as you are above some clifftops overlooking the ocean.
Aerial view of the park showing our operating spot. Â*Image courtesy of
Protected Planet.

There is a 4WD track leading further into the park. Â*And it is definitely
4WD. Â*It is extremely rocky and then sandy.
Aerial shot of Douglas Point Conservation Park. Â*Image courtesy of Google
mapsÂ*

For this activation we ran the Yaesu FT-857d and the 80/40/20 m linked
dipole, supported on the 7m heavy duty squid pole. Â*It took some belts of
the hammer to drive the squid pole holder into the ground, as the ground
was very rocky.



The rugged coastline of Douglas Point provided some great views along the
coast and out across the Southern Ocean. Â*Fortunately there was only a
gentle breeze blowing and the rain was holding off.








There were also some nice views back out to Umpherstone Bay and back to
Mount Gambier. Â*Centennary Tower in Mount Gambier and Mount Schank were
clearly visible in the distance.





This was to be another unique park for both Marija and I, for both the
World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program and the VK5 National & Conservation
Parks Award. Â*Marija started off the activation calling CQ on 7.144. Â*It
didnt take long and Marija had her first caller in the log, Geoff VK3SQ in
norther eastern Victoria. Â*This was followed by Greg VK2EXA, Andy VK3AJA,
and then Paul VK3AFB. Â*Marija had qualified the park for VKFF, with 10
contacts in the log within 10 minutes. Â*After logging 11 stations, Marija
was happy to hand over the mic.





I then called CQ on 7.144 which was answered by Peter VK3PF, followed by
Don VK3MCK, and then Craig VK3NCR. Â*Mike VK5FMWW then called in and
although being quite low was readable in the park. Â*Sadly Mike was
struggling with noise at his end and we couldnt quite complete the contact
with a valid signal report exchange. Â*Contact number 10 for me, qualifying
the park for VKFF, was with Greg VK2MTC in Cooma.

I had reached contact number 40 on 40m within one hour. Â*I still needed
another 4 contacts to qualify the park for the global WWFF program. Â*As
things had slowed a little on 40m I headed off to 14.310 on the 20m band
where I logged 4 stations from VK2, VK4 and VK4. Â*Contact number 44 was
with Allen VK3ARH whose signal was very low. Â*But as there was no noise in
the park, and Allen was suffering from a low noise floor at his end, we
were able to comfortably log the QSO.

To finish the activation I headed off to 3.610 on the 80m band. Â*Allen
VK3ARH (signing as VK3HRA) had followed me down and was first in the
log. Â*I logged only one further contact, that being with Ken VK2KYO. Â*Cliff
VK2NP also tried, but although readable in the park, Cliff was unable to
hear me above his noise floor.






With 11 contacts in the log for Marija, and 46 for me, it was time to pack
up and head back into Mount Gambier.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3SQ
VK2EXA
VK3AJA
VK3AFG
VK7DW
VK3ELH
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK5FMWW
VK7FOLK


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3PF
VK3MCK
VK3NCR
VK2EXA
VK3SFG
VK3OHM
VK3AFB
VK3AWG
VK2YS/4
VK2MTC
VK3SQ
VK2NP
VK2HHA
VK7DW
VK3BBB
VK4TJ
VK4/AC8WN
VK4/VE6XT
VK3FRC
VK5IS
VK7GG
VK7AN
VK3ELH
VK2KYO
VK2TCL
VK3PTE
VK2VW
VK3FDAP/p
VK5HSX/2
VK7JON
VK5MBD
VK7FOLK
VK4RF
VK4HA
VK7EE
VK3ZZS/p
VK2UH
VK2FRJH/m
VK6VRO


I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK4FI
VK2NP
VK2IO/m
VK4AAC/2
VK3ARH


I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK3HRA
VK2KYO


At the end of the activation Marija and I headed in to Mount Gambier and
the Scout Hall for the SERG Convention. Â*It was great to catch up with a
lot of familiar faces. Â*I also had a browse through the buy and sell. Â*My
only purchase for the day, much to Marijas pleasure, was a cup of coffee.








References.

Department for Environment and Heritage, May 2003, Douglas Point
Conservation Park Management Plan.

Wikipedia, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Admellagt;, viewed 13th
June 2017