2025 National Tree Day Award

 Award for activating a park on National Tree Day 27th August 2025. I activated 2 parks VKFF-0697 - Mudlo National Park and VKFF-1632 - Police Paddock Conservation Park

2025 World Ranger Day Award

 For World Ranger Day 31st July 2025 I activated a WWFF park, VKFF-0391 Noosa National Park. Award issued by Paul, VK5PAS

225 VKFF Activator Honour Roll Award

Award for activating 225 VKFF parks. Thank for QSOs

Biddon State Conservation Area VKFF-1280

After stopping overnight in Dubbo continued driving North on the Newell Hwy, stopping at Gilgandra for morning tea. Before reaching Coonabarabran stopped to activate a park, Biddon State Conservation Area VKFF-1280. Fairly easy access. take Biddon-Bearbong Road on the right and then enter the park via Wards Road.

The road was a bit rough so didn't go too far into the park. Found a metal picket spike for squid pole support.

Shack on the table

Operating spot

Phone coverage good here, spotted on 40m. Worked 

VK4MRG, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK4HNS, VK1AO/VK2MET

VK3PF in VKFF-4631 Bonegilla N.C.R. Natural Features Reserve

VK3KAI, VK2EXA, VK3SQ/VK3JT/VK2BD

VK1ACE in VKFF-0845 Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve

VK3CEO, VK3GJG

VK2IO in VKFF-1348 Maroota Ridge State Conservation Area

VK2GEZ, VK2OP

VK4NXD in POTA park AU-7429 Bald Hills Road Bushland Reserve

VK4BWL, VK2EZF, VK3SG, VK4EZZ, VK2OZY, VK2VAR/VK2GOM

Tried 30m. Worked

VK2VH/VK4AAC, VK3SQ/VK3JT, VK2BD, VK3GJG, VK7DW, VK4NH/VK4DXA

VK3PF in VKFF-4631 Bonegilla N.C.R. Natural Features Reserve

VK3KAI, VK3ZSC, VK2LAX, VK4CEG

Returned to 40m to work

VK4SUN in VKFF-0326 Moogerah Peaks National Park

VK2RP, VK2BDR

With 45 contacts had qualified the park for WWFF. Packed up and headed to Coonabrabran for lunch 

Conimbla National Park VKFF-0107

Conimbla National Park is located West of Cowra NSW. I accessed it driving West on the Mid Western Highway between Cowra and Grenfell. There is a sign for the park on the turn off to Kangarooby Rd, followed this until entering the park. The road is unsealed but not that rough. Stopped in the park at Wallaby picnic area.

A couple of picnic tables here. Set up on one of the tables.

Looking into the picnic area

Shack on the table.

Openstreetmap of operating spot

Mobile coverage was poor as at the bottom of a valley. After moving about a bit managed to get Parksnpeaks to load and spotted myself.

On 40m worked VK1AD in VKFF-0474 Tallaganda National Park

VK4NXD in a POTA park Kinkora State Forest

Worked VK2HRX, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK3GCM, VK3DCQ, VK4NH/VK4DXA, VK5WU, VK1ACE, VK2DWP, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3SQ/VK3JT/VK2BD, VK2AB, VK3TDX, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK2MFW, VK3MGM.

With poor spotting didn't try the other bands. Had lunch, packed up and continued heading North to Dubbo for the evening.

WWFF Activator 88 Award

Award for working 88 WWFF parks, with a minimum of 44 QSOs in each park.

1650 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Award for working 1,650 different VKFF parks. Thanks, park activators.

3 Qatar stations Award

Award for working 3 stations from Qatar. From the FT8 Digital Modes Club

Eurobodalla National Park VKFF-0164

Spending a few nights down at Narooma, popped in to activate Eurobodalla National Park in the way. Drove to Moruya Heads. Sign for the park.

I decided to try another spot to activate the park from, Shelly Beach. This had picnic tables and being winter not much demand for them, so used one for the shack. Close to the water. Had a few surfers go past in wet suits, even in winter still some water activity here.

Shack on the table.

Shelly Beach nearby

Operating spot. Map from Google Maps Satellite view

Spotted on 40m on 7.144 and got several callers.

VK2XSE, VK3WSG, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3APJ, VK3DL, VK3ZSC, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK3VIN, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK2EXA, VK2MOE/VK1MO, VK2BYN, VK3CEO, VK2HBG, VK7PJM, VK3CM, VK4NH/VK4DXA, VK3BEC.

Tried 30m, worked a few more

VK7EE, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3ZSC.

Packed up and continued the drive to Narooma.

 

1625 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Managed to get 1625 parks confirmed in the WWFF Logsearch page, applied for the award.

Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985

Anzac day in Canberra was warm and sunny, decided to head out to activate a park, Gigerline Nature Reserve, VKFF-0985. Drove South to the small village of Tharwa, South on Naas Road, turned off to the left onto Smiths Road. There is a sign for Angle Crossing. After a few Km saw a road on the left leading to a locked gate and a sign for Gigerline Nature Reserve.

After passing my gear over the gate headed into the bush to the left of the gate. Found an old fallen tree for squid pole support. Set up the shack nearby.

Looking back the other way.

Location in Openstreetmap

Got on 40m on 7.144. Able to spot myself easily. Worked several hunters, several giving AX prefix calls as can be used on Anzac Day.

VK2HAK/AX2HAK

VK1AO/VK2MET/AX1AO/AX2MET in VKFF-1332 Karuah State Conservation Area

VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3DL, VK3SG/AX3SG, VK3ACZ, AX5QA, VK3CEO

AX3PF/AX3KAI in VKFF-4745 Carrajung H34 Bushland Reserve

VK2EIS, 

AX3YV/VK3YV in VKFF-6192 Yarragon Bushland Reserve

VK2LQ/VK2PCT, VK3EB, VK2YL, VK3ZPF, VK3JW, VK3PJF, AX2LEE/VK2LEE, VK2VW/VK2HFI

VK3OAK/VK3GUM in VKFF-3836 Puckapunyal SS.R. Natural Features Reserve

VK3SG/VK3SFG, VK3SQ/VK2BD/VK3JT, VK3BAP, VK2GQR, VK3EJ, VK3BCM, AX3WSG, VK3APJ

VK7IAN in VKFF-1674 Weyba Creek Conservation Park

Hunters dried up on 40m. Switched to 30m. Signals nice and strong here.

VK3SQ/VK2BD/VK3JT, VK3CJN/AX3CJN/AX3QHU, VK5HS/AX5HS, VK2EXA, VK3EJ, VK3ACZ, VK3ADX, VK2YW/AX2YW, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, 

VK3OAK in VKFF-3836 Puckapunyal SS.R. Natural Features Reserve

VK3ANL/AX3ANL.

As more than qualified the park packed up and headed to nearby Tharwa general store for an ice cream.

 

1600 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Award for working 1600 different VKFF parks. Thanks, park activators

25 Mexican Stations Award

Award for working 25 Mexican stations. From the FT8DMC club.

2 Micronesia stations award

After working V6WG recently on FT8 on 10m, had 2 stations worked in Micronesia and applied for the FT8DMC Micronesia award. The other QSO was with V6EU in 2023, Micronesia does not come on air that often.

1000 stations from Europe

Award for working 1000 stations from Europe. From the FT8 Digital Mode Club.

10 Slovakian stations

An award for working 10 stations from Slovakia. Getting lots of European awards as the bands are quite good to Europe at the moment, especially 17m.

25 Croatian stations

Awards for working 25 stations from Croatia

From FT8DMC

From European Ros Club

5 stations from Sri Lanka Award

After a QSO with 4S7SPG had 5 contacts with Sri Lanka. Despite being not far from Australia rarely hear this country on air. Award from the European Ros Club.

 

Broulee Island Nature Reserve VKFF-2546

Stopping down the NSW South Coast for a few days, decided to activate a park that does not get visited much, Broulee Island Nature Reserve VKFF-2546. Drove to Broulee, to the end of Harbour Dr where there is a car park for the walk to Broulee Island. After a short walk reached Shark Bay. Walked up to Broulee Island Nature Reserve

The southern side of the island is just rocky platforms and cliffs, so headed to the beaches on the northern side of the island via a narrow walking track. Easy beach walking.

Found a suitable log to support the squid pole, also made a handy bench for the radio and seat.

Looking at the station from the sea

Radio and myself on the log.

Location on OpenStreetMap.

Got on 40m just after UTC rollover. Band quite good with strong signals.

VK3IMD, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3SQ/VK2BD/VK3JT

A SOTA/P2P contact with VK2HRX Compton on VK2/SC-051 Durras Mountain. Also in VKFF-0371 Murramarang National Park.

VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK1AD/VK1NAM

A park to park with VK2GOM Col in VKFF-2698 Parma Creek Nature Reserve

Tried 30m. Also, quite good strong signals.

VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK4EW, VK2BED.

Tried 20m. Managed to just work VK2GOM Col in VKFF-2698 Parma Creek Nature Reserve, quite weak.

A strong signal from VK5PAS Paul on 20m.

Returned to 30m. Tuning around heard VK4QYS Doug on Lord Howe Island, worked him after he finished with a VK2.

Also worked Alan VK1AO/VK2MET.

Packed up and walked back to the car. Drove to Tomakin for lunch at a cafe.

1000 Oceanian stations Award

Award for working 1000 Oceanian stations on FT8 mode. From the FT8 Digital Mode Club.

5 stations from Sardinia Award

Award for working 5 stations from Sardinia. From the FT8 Digital Mode Club

100 Stations from China Award

Award for working 100 stations from China. From the FT8 Digital Mode Club.

5 different Prefix stations from Brazil

Award for working 5 different Prefix stations from Brazil. South America is rare for me from Australia.

1575 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Award for working 1,575 different VKFF areas. Thanks, park activators.

100 stations from Canada Award

An award from the European Ros Club for working 100 stations from Canada. Note any digital mode counts, several contacts made on JT65 mode dating back to 2011.

25 Stations from Portugal Award

Award for working 25 stations from Portugal. From the European Ros Club

25 Finnish stations Award

Award for working 25 different stations in Finland on FT8. From the FT8 Digital Mode Club.

25 Canary Islands stations Award

Award for working 25 Canary Islands stations. From the European Ros Club

25 Thailand stations Award

 Award for working 25 stations in Thailand on digital modes. From the European Ros Club.

2 Andorra Stations Award

After contacting a station in Andorra, C31CT on 30m, had worked 2 stations from Andorra, applied for an award from the European Ros Club. If like me you don't know where Andorra is, it's a small mountainous country on the border between France and Spain. I don't think it has many hams as rarely heard on air.

25 Finland Stations Award

An award from the European Ros Club, worked 25 stations from Finland.