1525 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Award for working 1525 different VKFF parks.

25 Belgium Stations Award

Award for working 25 Belgium stations. Mostly made on 30m. From the FT8 Digital Mode Club.

National Bird Week Award 2024

Award for activating a VKFF park during National Bird Week 2024. In my case the park was Aranda Bushland Reserve.

1500 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

 Checking Logsearch found I had reached 1500 VKFF parks hunted.

Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park VKFF-0620

After stopping overnight in Albury continued my drive to Bendigo for the VKFF Get Together weekend. As Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park was on the way turned off to the Hume Hwy to activate it mid-morning. Followed the signs to the park, drove to Honeyeater Picnic Area.

Some picnic tables here, although the wrong shape for attaching a squid pole to. Ended up strapping the squid pole to a wooden bollard in the car park and using my own table and chair.

Shack on the table. Dipole legs out to some nearby trees.

Location in the park. Map from Google Maps

Got on 40m. In good shape. Worked

VK3SG

VK2IO/P VK2GEZ Gerard in VKFF-4814 Congupna H49 B.R. Natural Features Reserve

VK3VIN, VK3WSG, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK3DWL, VK3ZSC, VK5CFW, VK3APJ, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK2VAR/VK2GOM, VK3DL, VK2USH, VK2RK, VK2LEE

As still some distance to drive packed up and headed to Shepparton for lunch.

Woomargama National Park VKFF-0547

Heading down to Bendigo for the VKFF get together weekend I activated a few parks along the way. After lunch at Holbrook stopped off to activate Woomargama National Park VKFF-0547. Turned off the Hume Hwy onto Woomargama Way. Reached the small settlement of Woomargama. Turned off onto Tunnel Road. Followed Tunnel Road for about 10 km, reaching the Tunnel Road picnic area in Woomargama National Park.

Sign for the picnic area.

Picnic area. A single large, shaded picnic table.

A sign for Dannys Loop Walk from the picnic area. A restored gravel quarry.

Set up the radio on the table. Used one of the nearby wooden bollards to support the squid pole.

Radio on the table.

Got on 40m. Signals were fair if a bit low, lots of QSB. Worked

VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK3CEO, VK3SQ/VK2BD, VK3AMO, VK2XD, VK3NCR.

After working VK3NCR he just faded away. Checked the 40m band, it was completely dead. Checked higher bands, also completely dead. Looked like a solar CME or similar had hit. Luckily had 10 contacts to qualify the park for VKFF.

Packed up and headed to Albury for the evening. 

100 Countries confirmed on 17m in QRZ logbook

Noticed I've now got 100 countries confirmed in the QRZ Logbook award for 17m. Another Gold star!

I guess 20m is the next band to aim at 100. Although with only 83 it will take a while to achieve.

Antarctica Award

Another award from the European Ros Club, worked 2 stations in Antarctica. From working RI1ANE and VK0HZ.

100 Countries confirmed on 10m QRZ.

After working Laos on 10m I managed to make 100 countries confirmed on qrz logbook, got a gold star...

So 100 contries on 30m and 10m confirmed. Next most likely will be 17m with 98 confirmed.

1475 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Award for working 1475 VKFF parks. Thanks, park activators.

WWFF Activator Points 11 points award

On WWFF Logsearch noticed I had qualified for WWFF Activator Points 11 points award. A point is granted for reaching 44 QSOs in a park in the same calendar year.  This can be done from multiple park visits in the same year and the park can be reactivated in the next year. This is good as I have activated all the close by parks already.

National Threatened Species Day Award 2024

 National Threatened Species Day was on the 7th September 2024. An award is available for activating a VKFF park on this day. Headed out to a local park, VKFF-0839 Dunlop Grasslands Nature Reserve, activated okay with 38 contacts and 10 P2Ps. Award follows:

The Pinnacle Nature Reserve VKFF-0862

For National Wattle Day headed off to my local WWFF park, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve VKFF-0862. Activated several times but still good for grabbing P2Ps.

Parked off Springvale Dr in Weetangerra near the water tanks. Sign for the park.

Wattle tree in the park nearby. Fairly common in Canberra.

Headed down the hill to get away from the mobile phone tower here, also to get out of the strong wind. Found an old picket spike, used it to support the squid pole. Set up the radio on the tarp nearby.

Operating spot. Map from Openstreetmaps.

Got on 40m. Good strong signals. Worked a few P2Ps first.

VK2YK/VK5GA in VKFF-0022 Belair National Park

VK2IO in VKFF-1984 Pitt Town Nature Reserve

Worked some park hunters.

VK7PJM, VK3XIF, VK5LA/VK5KAW

VK3PF/VK3KAI in VKFF-2465 Traralgon South Flora Reserve

VK4NH/VK4DXA, VK1RF/VK2MK/VK4CEE, VK2VW/VK2HFI, VK3SG

VK2EG/P in VKFF-1319 Glenrock State Conservation Area

VK5PAS and VK5MAZ in VKFF-4039 Lenger Reserve

VK4JPS, VK4GTX, VK1ARQ, VK3CJN/VK3QHU, VK1CHW.

Briefly tried 20m. Lots of EU activity but not many calls.

VK4NH/VK4DXA, ZL1HIM

Had enough of the strong wind, packed up and headed home.

National Wattle Day Award

1450 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Award for hunting 1,450 VKFF parks. Thanks, park activators.

Saint Lucia Island Award

Award for working 2 stations from St. Lucia Island. It is located in the Caribbean, calls start with J6.

World Ranger Day 2024 Award

Award for activating a park on World Ranger Day 2024. I activated Mulligans Flat NR, VKFF-0855.

 

Molonglo River Nature Reserve VKFF-3184

For National Tree Day decided to activate a park close to home, Molonglo River Nature Reserve VKFF-3184. After about a 10 minute drive from home parked off Stockdill Dr in Holt and entered the park through a gate. Sign for the park.

Walked a short distance into the reserve, set up the squid pole and dipole along an old fence.

Looking back the other way.

Looking West to the Brindbellas. A cold wind blowing, the air temperature was only around 8c but felt colder with wind chill. I was rugged up and partially out of the wind.

Map showing operating spot in the park. From Google Maps Satellite view.

Got on 40m, spotted on 7.139. Lots of callers.

P2P with VK4AAC Rob in VKFF-0729 Cordalba National Park

VK1RF/VK2MK/VK4CEE

VK2IO Gerard in VKFF-0307 Marramarra National Park, also VK2GEZ

VK3GJG, VK3ZPF/VK3JW, VK2TM, VK3APJ, VK3SG, VK2LQ/VK2PCT, VK2VAR/VK2GOM

VK3PF Peter in VKFF-2406 Mullungdung Flora and Fauna Reserve

VK2AB

VK7MAT Matt in VKFF-1154 Tamar Conservation Area

VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2UMC, VK3AMO.

A surprising call from France on 40m, F5PYI Larry.

VK2SO/VK3SFG, VK3ZIP, VK4MPB/VK4GOD, VK7PJM, VK7AN, VK3ZK, VK2JKN

Another P2P with VK3YV Tony in VKFF-0745 Cape Liptrap Coastal Park

VK2KDA, VK3IFR

VK5LA/VK5KAW Andy in VKFF-0372 Murray River National Park

VK3SPG, VK3BEL, VK3CA, VK5TN, VK4JBX, VK3ZDK, VK2SLB/VK3KBT

VK4AAC Rob in a new park VKFF-0206 Good Night Scrub National Park

Went to 20m. found Paul VK5PAS buried under a large EU pileup, managed to get through and worked him in VKFF-4056 Unnamed (No.HA1362) Heritage Agreement

VK4AAC Rob in VKFF-0206 Good Night Scrub National Park again, strong on 20m.

Returned to 40m to get VK2OKR Richard in VKFF-1410 Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park

Packed up as the sun had gone into the clouds and getting cold.  At least not far to go home.

Award from VK5PAS Paul for National Tree Day

2 Guadeloupe stations award

Award for working 2 stations in Guadeloupe on digital modes. From the European Ros Club.

1000 Oceania stations award

 Award for working 1000 stations in Oceania on digital modes. From the European Ros Club.

YatteYattah Nature Reserve VKFF-2779

Staying a few nights at Ulladulla, headed off to activate WWFF park YatteYattah Nature Reserve VKFF-2779. I had activated it before, needed several more contacts to reach 44. Also wanted to check how its recovering after the 2019-2020 summer bushfires.

Drove North of Milton on the Princes Hwy, parked near the entrance gate to the reserve. Noted there is now a National Parks NSW sign for the park. Not sure if a typo with their sign, the park is spelt Yatte Yattah with a space. 

Walked down the hill to a gate, and a stile for walkers to access the park.

Further walking down the hill reached a new sign for the park. 

Set up the squid pole on a nearby stump.

Radio on the tarp in the grass.

Set the power at 25w as only had the 4.3Ah Lifopo4 battery. Got on 40m on 7.144. After spotting got a steady stream of hunters.

VK3HJW, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK3SG, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK3ZSC, VK3PF, Vk3AMO, VK3SO/VK3SFG, VK1MF, VK1CHW, VK3WSG, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK2MOP, VK3CEO, VK2TER/VK2BM.

Tried 30m. Worked

VK3SQ/VK2BD, VK2IO/VK2GEZ

Tried 20m. Worked

VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK3SQ/VK2BD, VI60IOTA, op Paul VK5PAS, VK5KFB.

A park to park with VK6DS in VKFF-3330 Wyvern Road Nature Reserve.

More than enough contacts to get over 44. Packed up and headed back to Ulladulla for the evening. A word of warning, traffic late afternoon in Milton is heavy...

SOTA Mogood Lookout VK2/SC-049

Headed down the NSW South Coast to Ulladulla for a few days to escape the Canberra cold. Decided to activate a SOTA summit on the way,  Mogood Lookout VK2/SC-049. Been a while since I last activated it in 2019, wanted to see what happened to it after the 2019-2020 summer bushfires.

After driving down to Batemans Bay and lunch headed along the Princes Hwy to Ulladulla, turning off onto the Old Princes Hwy, an unsealed road but still an easy drive. Turned left off onto Barkshed Rd, then the River Rd. Crossed over Shallow Crossing, a large water ford over the Clyde River. Luckily the river level was low so no issues. After crossing the river turned right onto Backhouse Rd, which becomes Clyde Ridge Rd. Reached the Cattlemans firetrail, a sign here for the lookout.

A short steepish climb up to the lookout. The large tree on the summit had died in the fire, but the trig was still okay, if a little beat up. The name plate Mogood no longer readable.

Still good views here. Looking North to the Budawang ranges

Looking South East to the coast. 

Set up the squid pole on the trig. As had a table and chair a very comfy SOTA activation.

FT857D on the table.

Got on 40m on 7.090Mhz, SOTA call frequency.  Easy to spot, good mobile signal here. Worked

VK1AO, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK1AD,

VK2TER in VKFF-2783 Parramatta River Regional Park

VK2VAR/VK2GOM, VK5TUX, VK7XX, VK3PF, VK3SG.

A summit to Summit with VK7FADZ Stuart on VK7/WC-013 Mount Field East.

VK2MOE in VKFF-1320 Goodiman State Conservation Area

Tried 30m. Worked VK2YW/mobile, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3ZPF.

Tried 20m, no answers to my calls. Packed up and headed to Ulladulla for the night. Took about an hour on dirt roads even though not that far away.

10 Arab League Prefixes Award

 An award from the FT8DMC, for working 10 Arab League Prefixes

100 Spanish stations award

After working a few Spanish stations on 15m FT8 qualified for an award, for working 100 stations from Spain. From the YB6DXC group.

300 Asean stations Award

Another award from the FT8DMC, for working 300 Asean stations on FT8 mode.

1425 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Award for working 1425 different VKFF parks. Thanks, park activators.