VK5PAS

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HEMA Heatherdale Hill VK5/ HSE-009

Posted: 26 May 2021 06:57 PM PDT
https://vk5pas.org/2021/05/27/hema-h...l-vk5-hse-009/

After packing up at VK5/ HSE-042 and having a chat with John VK5HAA, the
VK5 HEMA Manager, I decided to head to Heatherdale Hill VK5/ HSE-009 for
another HEMA activation.
The summit is located about 71 km

(by road) south of the CBD of the city of
Adelaide.

Above:- Heatherdale Hill near Myponga. Image c/o Google Earth.
Heatherdale Hill is easily accessible via Reservoir Road at Myponga. The
exact summit itself is on private road, but you are well and truly within
the activation zone if you operate from the side of the road.

Above:- An aerial view of Heatherdale Hill looking north towards Adelaide.
Image c/o Google maps.
Heatherdale Hill is 353 metres above sea level and has 112 metres of
prominence.


Once at Heatherdale Hill, you can enjoy some terrific views north, back
along the coastline of Adelaide and Gulf St Vincent.


And to the east there are some nice views of the township of Myponga and
across the valley to VK5/ HSE-042.


During my activation I had a couple fo Wedge Tailed Eagles soaring above in
the thermal currents. I also managed to snap a few photographs of a Black
shouldered Kite.


It was extremely windy at Heatherdale Hill and I set up on the side of the
road, right alongside of the farmers gate which leads into the actual
summit.
First in the log was John VK5HAA with a lovely 5/9 signal, followed by Tony
VK3YV, and then Marija VK5MAZ. I logged a total of 11 stations on 40m from
VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK5. Contact number 4, qualifying the summit for me for
HEMA, was with Nev VK5WG.
I then moved to 3.610 on the 80m band where I logged 8 stations from VK3
and VK5. This included Marija VK5MAZ who was super strong from Ashbourne

(gave me 5/9 plus 50) and Tony Vk5MRT at Strathalbyn who gave me 5/9 plus
30. Adrian Vk5FANA was also very strong and gave me a 5/9 plus 25 signal
report.
I decided to have a quick listen on 20m on 14.310 where I logged 3 stations
from VK4, VK5, and Vk6.


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK5HAA
VK3YV
VK5MAZ
VK5WG
VK5FANA
VK3PF
VK4JAL/m
VK3SX
VK4NH
VK2MET
VK2IO
I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK5HAA
VK5MAZ
VK5MRT
VK5PL
VK5CZ
VK5FANA
VK3SX
VK3BHR
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK5HAA
VK4NH
VK6NU


References.
HEMA, 2021, http://hema.org.uk/fullSummit.jsp?summitKey=59858, viewed
27th May 2021.
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VI100AF at HEMA VK5/ HSE-042

Posted: 26 May 2021 06:22 PM PDT
https://vk5pas.org/2021/05/27/vi100a...a-vk5-hse-042/

After packing up at the Stipiturus Conservation Park, I headed for my first
every HEMA activation, Trig Point VK5/ HSE-042.


The summit is located in the area of Hindmarsh Valley, right on the border
with Myponga, on the Fleurieu Peninsula about 67 km south of Adelaide. The
summit is located in between the Yulte Conservation Park and the Gum Tree
Gully Conservation Park.

Above:- VK5/ HSE-042, located in between the Yulte CP and the Gum Tree
Gully CP. Image c/o Google Earth.
I travelled along Pages Flat Road from the Victor Harbor Road towards the
town of Myponga, and was able to see the summit clearly as I travelled
towards Myponga. The summit has a number of communication towers on the
top.
The summit is referred to as Trig Point on the HEMA website, but it is
referred to as Myponga Hill on a number of communication tower sites.
Myponga is an aboriginal word maippunga meaning locality of high cliffs.


The summit is easily accessible at the end of Trig Point Road which runs
off Springmount Road. Trig Point Road is dirt but is in good condition and
can be accessed via a conventional vehicle.

Above:- Aerial view of VK5/ HSE-042 at the end of Trig Point Road. Image
c/o Google maps.
The summit is 442 metres above sea level and has 148 metres of prominence
just 2 metres short of qualifying for the Summits On The Air

(SOTA)
program. Yes, just 2 metres!

Above:- VK5/ HSE-042. Image c/o Open Street Map.
There are a number of communication towers on the top of the summit. This
includes a digital TV broadcast site.


There is also an old trig point at the site, but it is not in great
condition. Two of the blue coloured poles can be seen in the photo below,
while the third is bent and buckled. A farmers bale of hay sits in the
position of the trig point.


There are some great views out to the south-west, the west, and north-west
from the summit. You can see the township of Myponga, the Myponga
Reservoir, and across to another HEMA summit, Heatherdale Hill HSE-009.
Unfortunately it was a very average day weather-wise and it was blowing a
gale and it was very hazy.


I set up on the side of Trig Point Road. I used a fencepost as an anchor
point for the 7 metre telescopic squid pole with the help of an octopus
strap. As this was an easy drive up summit I had the comfort of a deck
chair and fold up table.
First in the log was Ken VK3HKV, followed by Marija VK5MAZ, and then Adrian
VK5FANA. Wal VK2WP then called from a SOTA summit, VK2/ CT-001. Wal was
my 4th contact and as a result the HEMA summit was qualified.
It was quite slow going on 40m and with 13 stations in the log, I decided
to head to the 80m band. I called CQ on 3.610 and this was answered by
Adrian VK5FANA. I logged a further 5 stations on 80m. This included my
wife Marija VK5MAZ who had a huge signal on 80m. I also logged John
VK5HAA, the VK5 HEMA Manager.
To conclude the activation I headed to 14.310 on the 20m band. The 40m and
80m bands had been quiet, but there was an S5 noise floor on 20m, possibly
from the communications towers. I logged 3 stations on 20m from VK3, VK5,
and VK6.
With 22 stations in the log, and the HEMA summit well and truly qualified,
I decided to pack up and head off to VK5/ HSE-009. I was not upset about
packing up as it was extremely windy and quite cold.


I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3HKV
VK5MAZ
VK5FANA
VK2WP/p

(SOTA
VK3PF
VK3PI
VK5KVA
VK3SRC
VK3GTV
VK2IO
VK2KMI
VK3ARH
VK5PL
I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK5FANA
VK5HAA
VK5CZ
VK5PL
VK5MAZ
VK5BJE
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK5HAA
VK3SX
VK6NU


References.

Australian Explorer, 2021,
https://www.australianexplorer.com/myponga.htm, viewed 27th May
2021.HEMA, 2021, http://hema.org.uk/fullSummit.jsp?summitKey=59891,
viewed 27th May 2021.Oz Digital TV, 2021,
https://ozdigitaltv.com/transmitters/SA/673-Myponga-Hill, viewed 27th May
2021.