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.

2024 Clublog statistics

A look at QSO statistics for 2024 in Clublog.

Generally worked less stations on both Phone and Data than 2023, but a record number of DXCC countries, 102, compared to other years.