Gondwana Parks Award 5 activations

The WWFF Australia award has a speacial award for working/activating Gondwana Parks during 2019 the 25th year of the parks, see https://www.wwffaustralia.com/gondwana-parks-award.html

After my 2 week trip around NSW, managed to activate 7 of the 28 parks

VKFF-0144 Dorrigo National Park
VKFF-1938 Iluka Nature Reserve
VKFF-0389 Nightcap National Park
VKFF-0197 Gibraltar Range National Park
VKFF-0521 Washpool National Park
VKFF-0385 New England National Park
VKFF-0406 Oxley Wild Rivers National Park

Applied for the 5 activated Gondwana parks award. Received promptly from the awards manager Paul VK5PAS

FT8DMC Worked United States Stations Award 100 contacts

As well as the FT8DMC Hawaiian Award, also qualified for the Worked United States Stations Award for 100 contacts.

FT8DMC Worked Hawaiian Stations Award

There have been a heap of new awards added to the FT8DMC awards list, however lots are for European countries I never seem to work here in Australia. Did manage to get one new one, Worked Hawaiian Stations Award for 5 Hawaii contacts, not too hard here in VK.

WWFF Park to Park 396 contacts Award

Noticed on Logsearch that I'd qualified for the 396 Park to Park Award. Thanks for activators for these contacts. Received promptly from the awards manager ON5SWA Swa.

FT8DMC Worked US Grid Square Awards

After an update to Ultimate AAC software found I had qualified for new awards, FT8DMC Worked US Grid Square Awards. Received for 25 US Grid Squares

50 US Grid Squares

and 75 US Grid Squares worked

FT8DMC New Taiwan China and Members Awards

The FT8 Digital Mode Club (FT8DMC) recently released a whole lot of new awards. After updating Ultimate AAC software to the latest version able to apply for new ones I've qualified for

Worked 5 Taiwanese Stations Award

Worked 5 different Taiwanese Prefixes Award

Worked 10 Chinese Prefixes Award

Worked 100 FT8DMC Members Award

Worked 15 Region 3 Countries

VKFF Activator Honour Roll 150 Award

Latest VKFF Award for me, Activator Honour Roll 150 different parks activated.

VKFF Hunter Honour Roll 800 Award

Found on Logsearch had reached 800 parks confirmed so applied for the VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award 800 parks award. Thanks to park activators.

Sappa Bulga National Park VKFF-1180

After stopping in Dubbo overnight followed the Newell Hwy a short drive out of town, turning right into Panai Ave, then turning right into Morey Pl. At the end of the road reached the Southern end of Sappa Bulga National Park. There was an unlocked gate, so opened it and drove a short distance into the park. Sign for the park.

Set up the squid pole on the sign with the table close by.

Shack on the table. Ran the FT-857D at 40 w

Got on 40 m. Able to spot myself easily here on the phone. Worked the following before UTC rollover

VK3PF
VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT
VK4FDJL/8
VK7FRJG
VK3BBB/m
VK3ARH
ZL1TM
VK4HNS
VK4MGL

After UTC rollover at 10 am

VK4MWB

Park to parks with VK5PAS/3 Paul and VK5FMAZ/3 Maria in VKFF-2387 Mirampiram Flora Reserve. Both good 59 signals.

VK5BJE
VK4FARR
VK4RF VK4HA
VK4MGL
VK3ANL
VK4HNS
VK5NJ
VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT

Tried 80 m

VK2LEE
VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT
VK5BJE

SOTA contacts with VK1DA/2 Andrew and VK1MIC/2 Wade on VK2/SW-027 Mount Tumorrama

As still some distance to drive home packed up. Stopped briefly at Parkes for lunch, then on to Eugowra, Canowindra, Cowra, Boorowa and back home to Canberra.

World Ranger Day 2019 Certificate

The 31st July is designated as World Ranger Day, to commemorate park rangers killed or injured in the line of duty, and celebrate the work they do protecting the worlds natural environments.

Paul VK5PAS offered an award for activating a VKFF park on World Ranger Day. As happened to be on leave at the time activating parks in Northern NSW this was easy for me to accomplish...

Ended up activating 2 parks

VKFF-0385 New England National Park - 17 QSOs including 6 P2Ps
VKFF-0406 Oxley Wild Rivers National Park - 18 QSOs including 7 P2Ps

At New England National Park I actually ended up talking to a couple of park rangers. They stopped to chat when seeing me on the radio, and we had a chat about the use of HF, VHF and UHF and compared to their own radios. Friendly guys,.

Award received from VK5PAS, thanks Paul

Yarrobil National Park VKFF-0617

After activating Munghorn Gap National Park, continued my drive to Dubbo, taking some back roads and going through the historic town of Gulgong. Took the Castlereagh Hwy for a while then turned off onto Laheys Creek Rd then Spring Ridge Rd. Along Spring Ridge Rd came to a sign for Yarrobil National Park.

Set up the station in a clearing at the back of the sign. Operating spot, map from Protected Planet

Shack on the table. Enough room for the 80 m dipole leg extensions.

Got on 40 m. Started with a park to park with VK3PF/p Peter and VK3NRB/p Ray in VKFF-2348 Kings Flat Flora Reserve. They were both quite weak to me, around 41, and park hunters were also having problems. Seems they were only getting a few watts out. They later fixed the issue.

Mobile access okay here, spotted myself and got park hunters calling

VK3BBB/m
VK4FARR
VK3SQ
VK2IO/5
VK7QP
VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT
VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4
VK3MPR
VK4MWB

Tried 80 m as VK2NP spotted unable to copy me on 40 m

VK4RF VK4HA
VK2NP
VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT

Tried 20m, only 1 contact

VK2IO/5

Packed up and drove along Spring Ridge Rd to the Golden Hwy. This took me to Dubbo for the evening.

Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve VKFF-1972

After activating Wollemi National Park continued driving West along Bylong Valley Way, then turning off onto Wollar Rd to Wollar. After Wollar headed SE until entering Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. Stopped when reaching the Moolarben Picnic Area in the reserve.

Sign for Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, map of the park.

Stopped here for lunch, then set up the station on the picnic table in the reserve. Being a week day had the place to myself. Looking into the reserve

Looking back towards the car park

Shack on the picnic table.

Checked the mobile, absolutely no signal on the Telstra network... So needed to get spotted.

Got on 7.144 and found VK3PF/p Peter and VK3NRB/p Ross in VKFF-2259  Bald Hills Creek Wildlife Reserve. After working them Peter offered to spot me and moved off to another frequency to work park hunters.

VK3SQ
VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT
VK2VW
VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4
VK3MH/m
VK7QP
VK2LX

With 13 contacts had enough for VKFF, packed up and moved on. Stopped briefly at Longhorn Gap itself, there was mobile coverage here so in future might be worth operating around here. There is a car park for a walking track near here.

Continued driving on to Dubbo

Wollemi National park VKFF-0544

After leaving Muswellbrook drove West on Wybong Rd to the Golden Hwy, then onto Bylong Valley Way. This followed a valley containing the Goulburn River. Came across a wayside stop within Wollemi National Park, stopped here for morning tea and an activation.

Roadside stop, Phipps Cutting Day use area.

Some information on Phipps Cutting on an information board.

Set up the squid pole using one of the car park posts for support. Dipole stretched across the picnic area and car park. No other cars here.

View down the valley

Looking back to the picnic area. Shack on the table.

It was cool and initially cloudy, however the sun came out. Got on 40 m. Worked before UTC rollover

VK2IO/5
VK3PF/m
VK3NRB
VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT
VK5BJE
VK4FDJL/8
VK4HNS
VK4FARR
VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4

After UTC rollover at 10 am worked

VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4
VK3FLCS
VK2OZ
VK3SQ
VK2NP
VK2IPK
VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT

A park to park with VK3PF/P and VK3NRB/p in VKFF-0745 Cape Liptrap Coastal Park

Still some distance to drive today so packed up and continued driving West along Bylong Valley Way.

Scone Mountain National Park VKFF-0605

After activating Towarri National Park headed to Scone, then to Scone Mountain National Park, VKFF-0605. This turned out to be just on the edge of Scone town and easy to find. Followed Susan St off the New England Hwy to the end, then left along Noblett Rd until reaching the car park for the park.

Set up just outside the car park, using a car park fence post for squid pole support

Shack on the table. While here a few joggers and walkers arrived and passed me.

Got on 40 m. First contact was Lee VK2LEE only a couple of Km away in Scone, very strong now on ground wave. Went on to work the following.

VK4RF VK4HA
VK3SQ
ZL1TM
VK3DBP
VK5FANA
VK3PF
VK2NP
VK3BBB/p
VK6MB/3 Mike in VKFF-2160 Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve
VK4HNS
VK4MGL
VK4FARR
VK4VXX VK4/AG7WB
VK4MWB
VK4BG
VK2PBC
VK2KNV
VK3RN
VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT
VK3UH
VK2IO/5
VK2MG

Went to 20 m

Park to park with VK6MB/3 Mike in VKFF-2160 Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve
VK2LEE, still very strong
VK2IO/5

Went to 80 m

First contact VK2LEE Lee again, he was extremely strong, full scale really.

VK4RF VK4HA
VK3SQ
VK2NP
VK6MB/3 Mike in VKFF-2160 Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve

Lee had invited me over for afternoon tea at his place, only a short drive away. Had a good chat.
Drove on to Muswellbrook for the night.

Towarri National Park VKFF-0495

After Murrurundi Pass National Park continued South on the New England Hwy, after Wingen turned West off onto Cressfield Rd, then North on Middlebrook Rd. Reached the turn off to Washpools Camping Area in Towarri National Park

Quite a pleasant camping area with lots of space, deserted on a week day. Set up on one of the picnic tables.

Shack on the table

Got on 40 m. Worked

VK3PF
VK3SQ
ZL1TM
VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT
VK4RF VK4HA
VK2IO/5
VK2NP
VK2KNV
VK3BBB/m
VK5CZ
VK3MCK

Saw a spot from VK2LEE Lee in nearby Scone, could not copy me on 40 m, so switched to 80 m and got him very strong. We had a chat about accessing his local park, Scone Mountain National Park as he lives quite close to it. Worked a few more on 80 m

VK2NP
VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT

Tried 20 m, only 1 contact, VK2LEE Lee in nearby Scone on ground wave.

Packed up and headed to Scone.

Murrurundi Pass National Park VKFF-0601

From Tamworth headed South on the New England Hwy. I attempted to find Wallabadah National Park but gave up, the road to the park led to a locked gate leading to the town rubbish dump... Continued on to Murrurundi Pass National Park. The only access point on google maps I could see was a road off a truck safety ramp. Drove off onto the ramp road and saw a side road with a locked gate, sign for the park almost hidden in the long grass behind.

Sign from the gate, hard to spot...

Climbed up over the gate and set up the radio using the sign as support

Looking back into the park

Operating spot. Map from Protected Planet

Shack in the grass.

Got on 40 m, Worked the following park hunters

VK3SQ
VK3PF
VK4RF VK4HA
VK2NP
VK5FANA
ZL1TM
VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT
VK3MCK
VK4MY
VK2KNV/m
VK3UH
VK2IO/5

As lunch time packed up and had lunch at nearby Murrurundi.