Terrick Terrick National Park entrance
After enjoying a number of contacts with activators in Terrick Terrick National Park over the past year or so, today it was my turn to become an activator. I drove into the day visitor area at the base of Mount Terrick Terrick, about one and a half kilometres into the Park from the Southern access point. It is a beautiful spot in a most interesting park. Terrick Terrick National Park was created by gazettal in 1998. Its first ten years was as a State Park. I am assuming that this means it had a lesser status then. This is the first National Park in Australia’s Riverina bioregion according to the Parks Victoria brochure. What is immediately obvious to visitors is the White Cypress Pine Forest.
White Cyprus Pines from the operating position
It was a warm day with high humidity and not unpleasant. Every now and then during my activation there was a light sprinkling of rain, but not enough to be a nuisance. I set up my station on a Park picnic table and had the whole place to myself.
My first contact was with VK2TWR/p and QRP, Rod, on Mount Townsend, VK2/SM 002. Both our signals were 5 and 7 at 0330 UTC. I was delighted to have such an enjoyable contact and earn a few more points as a chaser. Then followed VK3SE, Steve; VK5PAS, Paul who kindly alerted all and sundry, thanks Paul; VK5FMID, Brian; VK5KC, David; VK5EE, Tom; VK3XPT/p and QRP, Perrin, near but not in the Wilson’s Promontory National Park. Watch out for Perrin over the next few days as he will be in the Park and activating two summits. I enjoyed quite a chat with Perrin before more contacts: VK5LY, Larry; VK5WG, Nev; VK3JP, Ron; VK5FMID, Brian again and finally VK3FAVE, Andrew from Nyah West, making 12 contacts for the day.
I have now activated four Victorian National Parks and am aiming for ten!
VK5BJE near canoe tree Terrick Terrick National Park
This tree has an identical scar on the opposite side from me indicating that it was perceived as valuable by the earlier inhabitants of this land and, perhaps, that such trees were not overly common in the area.
vk5bje 
Hi John, do you operate on 20m from the parks? I find it difficult to copy VK5s on 40m. Thanks I enjoy reading about your adventures in the outback and remote parks.
73
Andrew, VK1NAM
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Hi Andrew, I do, but I find if I cannot put up a spot, I don’t have much success, probably because I don’t stay out long enough for the band to open to the EU. If I can spot I usually pick up a few contacts. I tried 30m (Advanced calls only) from Belair NP last weekend (2nd May 2015) and got quite a few calls (10) which I thought was really good. I also tried 17 and 10 metres without success. I could hear signals in 17 and 10 and some were good. I also called CQ on both bands. May be I should start off on 20m? I think SOTA lends itself better to 20m because the requirement for contacts is a bit easier (four as against 44). This is amplified when one looks at the distances covered to gain access to some of the more remote parks. The temptation is to go for broke on 40m so to speak!
I am looking forward to saying hello and catching up in Canberra later in the week.
Cheers
John D
VK5BJE