Amateur radio

Greater Bendigo National Park, 2nd January 2014

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Shadbolts Picnic Area Greater Bendigo NP

Shadbolts Picnic Area Greater Bendigo NP

Water Channel in GB NP

Water Channel in GB NP

Greater Bendigo National Park is comprised of a number of sections: two large ones, north and south of the city, with the southern portion divided into two smaller sections. I chose to activate a section of the park just north of Eaglehawk. Shadbolt Picnic Ground is an interesting place with a water channel winding its way through the park with plenty of spots for a picnic. I chose one of the park picnic tables to affix my squid pole and soon got down to business with my first contact at 22:34, VK3MRG, Marshall; VK3YSP, Joe on Mount Donna Buang, VK3 VC 002 in the Yarra Ranges National Park and VK3FOWL, Julie from the same spot. Then followed VK5LY, Larry; VK5KGP, Graham; VK5EE, Tom; VK3NCC/m, Colin; VK5BZ, Bob; VK5KC, David; VK3FQ, Ray; VK5LDM, Dennis; VK5NRG, Roy; and VK3ANP, David, a total of 13 contacts.

Heathcote-Graytown National Park, 1st January 2014, VKFF – 624

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Private Rubbish Dump in Heathcote-Graytown NP

Private Rubbish Dump in Heathcote-Graytown NP

I activated Heathcote-Graytown National Park on route from Wangaratta to Bendigo. We found a small track leading off the main road from Nagambie  to Heathcote, where the Park borders the road and decided to explore that. The GPS reading is S36 48 700 and E145 00 090. It was here that I found the rubbish dumped in a small clearing. If we had travelled on a further two kilometres we would have found a picnic ground. Six contacts were made beginning at 02:34: VK3YSP/p at Mount Sugarloaf in the Kinglake National Park, then VK3FOWL, Julie; VK2TWR/p3, Rod on SOTA summit VK3 SW 007; VK3ARM, Robert; VK2AFA, Sam on SOTA summit VK2 NT 004 and VK5TW, Trevor.

Lower Goulburn National Park, 1st January 2014

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Lower Goulburn National Park - Reedy Swamp

Lower Goulburn National Park – Reedy Swamp

To find an appropriate activation spot in the Park I relied upon the excellent Parks Victoria Visitor Guide for this park. We chose the southern end of the park right near Shepparton. We travelled Wanganui Road until we saw the park sign and then turned right along Reedy Swamp Road. This is the southern most end of the park which then follows the Goulburn River to where it joins the Murray. The Park is on both sides of the River. While the section I used is degraded, at least the land is reserved, protected and will be available for people into the future. This park makes it abundantly clear that the land belongs to the people of Victoria and the nation. My first contact at 23:13 was with VK1NAM/p, Andrew portable on SOTA summit VK1 AC 038; VK3YSP, Joe; VK3FOWL, Julie; VK3MRG/p, Marshall on SOTA summit VK3 VE 001; VK5LY, Larry; VK1MA, Matt; VK5EE, Tom; VK3MTB, Tim; VK5IS, Ian; VK3HRA/p, Allen, on SOTA summit VK3 VS 002; VK1RX/p, Al, on SOTA summit VK2 ST 034; VK3ARR/p, Andrew, on SOTA summit VK3 VC 030; VK3AFW, Ron, on SOTA summit VK3 VC 008; VK5KSW, Steve and VK5DJ, John. Fifteen contacts logged and then the band went quiet. It was time to find Heathcote-Graytown National Park.

Lower Goulburn National Park: near Shepparton

Lower Goulburn National Park: near Shepparton

Juvenile Whistling Kite and White Ibis JCD picture

Juvenile Whistling Kite and White Ibis JCD picture

Alpine National Park, 31st December 2013, VKFF – 619

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Alpine National Park Accord Spur

Alpine National Park Accord Spur

After enjoying Mt Buffalo National Park I decided I would tackle something a little easier in the late afternoon. Thirteen contacts were all great and signals were so different to those I heard in the morning. They were loud!

My first contact was at 06:34 on 7090 with VK3VEK, Kevin; VK3ANP, David; VK3FBP, Len; VK5PAS, Paul; VK3SE, Steve; VK3SOG, Fred; VK5CZ, Ian; VK3ANP, David; VK5EE, Tom; VK5FBAC, Charles; VK2UH (VK1DA) a real rag chew, great contact; VK5KC, David and VK5FMID, Brian, making 13 contacts in all.

Alpine National Park

Alpine National Park

‘The Alpine National Park stretches from central Gippsland all the way to the New South Wales border where it adjoins Kosciusko National Park. Within the park are some of Australia’s most stunning alpine landscapes, including mountain peaks, escarpments and grassy high plains’ (Parks Victoria brochure). Bon Accord Spur was accessed from a track near the East Branch of the Ovens River. So our visit was at the Northern end of the park. We have previously visited the Alpine National Park on two occasions approaching from Gippsland and making our way to the Wonnangatta Station. It was not a National Park then: but Crown Land and Forrest Commission Land. In 1973 and 1977 when we visited, it was known to a much smaller group of 4 x 4 enthusiasts than it is now. The trip into Wonnangatta from Gippsland was regarded then as challenging, with quite a few river crossings and steep climbing on narrow tracks. It may be more challenging now dealing with the extra traffic and the chopped up tracks and damaged river crossings. Our approach to driving here was cautious: as it was our first real excursion to an out of the way location. We were self-taught 4 x 4 drivers. We did not join a club until late 1998 in South Australia. We walked every river crossing before venturing in! The picture shows that I walked this crossing (a baby one) but I will admit JCD walked more! Here are a few more pictures from the VK5BJE archives.

A great camping spot on the way to Wonnangatta Station March 1973

A great camping spot on the way to Wonnangatta Station March 1973

JCD driving our short wheel-base Toyota Land Cruiser across one of many river crossings, March 1973

JCD driving our short wheel-base Toyota Land Cruiser across one of many river crossings, March 1973

House ruins at Wonnangatta - accidently destroyed by fire in 1957

House ruins at Wonnangatta – accidently destroyed by fire in 1957

Sota Summit ‘The Horn’ in Mt Buffalo National Park, 31st December 2013, VKFF – 339

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Sota Summit VK3 VE 014 is a special point on the Mt Buffalo plateau: called ‘the Great Granite Plateau’ in the ‘Park Notes’ published by the Victorian Government. Its elevation is 1723 metres and is at the end of a 1.5k track, which the sign board says takes 45 minutes, is a lookout giving spectacular views for 360 degrees. After arriving there I did not think I could safely activate from that point and proceed to look for a suitable location within the activation zone. I eventually set up my gear and called CQ on 7095. I did not get a response and tuned around to find a pretty quiet band. I did hear VK3YSP/p, Joe and VK3FOWL/p, Julie calling from the Lower Goulburn River National Park. They were attracting considerable interest. I joined the queue and after a successful contact with both of them asked Joe to let people know that I would be operating on 7095. I migrated there and enjoyed contacts with VK3BHE, Phil; VK3FMPB/p, John in the Kinglake National Park, VK3MJB, Tim in the La Trobe Valley and VK3AMB, Bernard. Received signal reports ranged from 5 and 0 to 4 and 3. Six contacts means I have successfully activated this SOTA summit. But it was a difficult activation. While I enjoyed the reasonably difficult climb, the views and speaking to quite a number of people, I thought I might be louder! It was not to be.

Back on top! 'The Horn'

Back on top! ‘The Horn’

I did propose to activate ‘The Hump’. I found the walk challenging as have some previous SOTA activators. I got quite a way up the track but decided to quit: it was warm and I was tired. My wife Jenny got to the top and she said the last bit was quite tough. I was sorry that I was not able to activate this peak – maybe next time! Perhaps I was being too ambitious?

Cathedral - Hump Track

Cathedral – Hump Track

The Hump - Just a mere pile of rocks!

The Hump – Just a mere pile of rocks!

Warby-Ovens National Park, 30th December 2013

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Warby Ranges Ryans Lookout JCD picture

Warby Ranges Ryans Lookout JCD picture

After travelling from Wangaratta to Beechworth I then checked the map and travelled about 14 kilometres out to the Warby-Ovens National Park. The location I chose was Ryan’s Lookout. I was on the air on 40 metres at 0601 and my first contact was with VK3SOG, Fred; then followed VK5EE/p QRP, Tom in Calectasia Conservation Park, in the South East of South Australia not far from Mount Gambier. As the band was very busy with established nets and lots of SOTA and Park activities by QRP portable stations it was not possible to find a clear frequency. So I became a portable chaser and used that wonderful facility available to us as amateurs: frequency agility! With five changes of frequency between 7080 and 7110 I had the following contacts: VK3MRG/p, QRP, Marshall on VK3 VE 007; VK5PAS, Paul; VK5GRW/p, Greg at Mount Buller (not in the Park sadly); VK5FMID, Brian; VK3AMB, Bernard; VK5FTRL, Tom; and those peripatetic folk, VK3YSP and VK3FOWL, Joe and Julie at Gunbower National Park; VK3HRA, Allen on VK3 VE  007; VK5TKK, Tim at Mount Gambier; VK3ANL, Nick and finally, VK3HCF, Col at Penola Conservation Park. Thanks to all those amateurs who gave me a call today, especially those 15 who helped make my visit to Warby-Ovens National Park so enjoyable.

Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria, 30th December 2013, VKFF – 620

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After celebrating Christmas in Sydney with our family, we are, in the words sung by Willie Nelson, ‘On the road again’. Today after travelling from Gundagai, I was a able to visit the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park.

The place I chose to activate from was Woolshed Flat, only a short distance into the Park not far from Beechworth.

I was on the air at 01:38 UTC and my first contact was with Joe and Julie, VK3FOWL, on 7090 who were portable at Terrick Terrick National Park. Joe said he was operating from the location I chose at the day visit area. How great to start with a Park to Park contact and give me another Park as a chaser. The followed contacts with VK5PAS, Paul; and then on 7095, with VK3FMPB, John; VK3SOG, Fred; VK3ANL, Nick; VK3TKK, Peter; VK5NIG/p, Nigel in Belair National Park, South Australia; VK2BNN/p, Brett, on VK2 CT 014; VK3BL/p7, Bob at St Helens in Tasmania; VK3JY/p, QRP, Steve at Lake Eildon National Park; VK3BH, Phil at Bendigo; VK3ANP, David; VK3CM (VK5BM) Brenton; VK3PRF, Peter at Bairnsdale; VK3NCR, Craig; VK5LY, Larry; VK3YSP, Joe for a second contact and finally, again, VK3FMPB,John. I then shifted to 7100 and had a contact with VK5STU/p, Stu at Belair National Park. I then moved to 20 metres and had a tough, but successful contact with ZL2KE, Steve, near Wellington. I gave Steve 5 and 2 and he gave me 2 and 3. However, it was a legitimate contact: he copied my call sign and signal report. The followed VK4ZD, Bill and VK5EE/p, Tom in Furner Conservation Park. Deleting duplicate contacts I enjoyed qso’s with 21 stations.

Woolshed Falls: people enjoying the waterhole

Woolshed Falls: people enjoying the waterhole

Barmah National Park, Victoria, 23rd December 2013

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Entry to Barmah NP from Barmah township: about eight kilometres

Entry to Barmah NP from Barmah township: about eight kilometres

Today I went on a Murray River cruise which motored up-stream though a very narrow part of the River called the ‘Barmah Choke’, on in another brochure ‘The Narrows’. The cruise, with Kingfisher Cruises, was great. It was a grey and rainy day when the boat left at 10:30 local time and the sun was beginning to burn off the cloud when the cruise finished at 12:30pm. The boat left about 100 metres outside the National Park, and upon return I could not but take the chance to activate the Barmah National Park!

The cruise boat moored in Broken Creek

The cruise boat moored in Broken Creek

The Murray at its narrow point

The Murray at its narrow point

I found the old cattle yards just inside the Park and set up my station there. I used my FT817 and a linked dipole for 40 and 20 metres. Sixteen contacts later I packed up as a drive to Wagga Wagga was before me. The 40 metre band was in much better condition than over the last few weeks and I was astounded by the signal reports although distances covered were not great.

A great place for a camp

A great place for a camp

The Shack - supporting the Squid Pole on the fence post

The Shack – supporting the Squid Pole on the cattle yard post

I called first on 7090 at 01:55 and VK3VEK, Kevin, answered my call. Kevin is in Stawell and my signal report was 5 and 7.  I gave Kevin 5 and 9. I thought that conditions were going to be better than recently on 40m and I might have a bit of fun! But I had to go searching and I heard VK3XX, Gordon signing off from a contact on 7146 at 02:05. Signals were 5 and 9 both ways. I then had a contact with SOTA station, VK3XPT/p QRP on VK3 VT 052, Mount Fatique on 7090. Perrin gave me 5 and 1 and I gave him the same: I was really pleased to have a contact with another SOTA station. I then moved to 7100 and there I stayed contacting in turn, VK5PAS, Paul; VK3BWZ, Bob; VK5WG, Nev; VK3NJ, Ross; VK3ATT/QRP, Yuri who made a video of the contact; VK3TCX, Ian and VK3SOG, Fred who lives near the Toy Shop. Which Toy Shop? There is only one Toy Shop! How dangerous is that! I had more contacts, VK3CMG, Glenn; VK3JD, John; VK3VCE, Dave, VK3EE, Tom, VK3JP and finally Yuri to advise of the video.

Sleeper cutting in Barmah Forrest July 1972

Sleeper cutting in Barmah Forrest July 1972

On an earlier camping trip to the Barmah Forrest in July 1972 we saw sleeper cutters at work – probably cutting red gum sleepers for the still significant Victorian Railways.

Terrick Terrick National Park, Victoria, 22nd December 2013, VKFF – 630

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Terrick Terrick National Park entrance

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

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

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.

Peebinga Conservation Park, 21st December 2013

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After my reasonably successful activation of Karte CP, I moved onto Peebinga Conservation Park. While I thought the band sounded in reasonable shape, there were few signals. Perhaps people were visiting their local shopping centres or engaging in sporting activities or perhaps contemplating Christmas?

Any way after tuning up and down the band and doing a fair bit of listening and then calling CQ on 7.100 I decided, out of desperation, to call into a group on 7055. There was a group at work. I apologised for calling in – but isn’t amateur radio about doing just that? Thanks to VK3OL, Jim at Bendigo, whose 5 and 9 signal was very enticing I gained a successful contact. Jim gave me a 5 and 1. I copied other members of his group, VK3YG, Pete from Lake Glenmaggie, where I have been camping in an earlier life; VK7RP/p2 5 and 7; and VK2ATY, from Albury, 5 and 7.

What is the lesson for the day? Post one’s intentions in advance  if at all possible.