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

Noosa National Park VKFF-0391

From Hervey Bay drove down to Noosaville, stopping there for a few days. One of the local parks I activated was Noosa National Park VKFF-0391. Activated from Laguna Lookout, overlooking Noosa Heads

View from Laguna Lookout

To the left of the lookout was a flat open area, the top of a water storage tank. Set up here, away from the crowds going to the lookout.

Shack on the table.

Got on 40m. Worked

VK1AO/VK2MET in VKFF-0528 Werakata National Park

VK4HNS, VK4CCW, VK4NH/VK4DXA, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK4EMP/VK4TI/VK4GKO, VK5WU, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK2VH/VK4AAC, VK4JN, VK4WC, VK2LEE, VK4ABK, VK4MRH, VK3SQ/VK3JT/VK2BD, VK3SG, VK2EXA, 

VK3TUN/VK5DG in VKFF-2403 Mount Wombat-Garden Range Flora and Fauna Reserve

VK4GAP

Tried 30m. Worked

VK2EXA, VK5WU,

Tried 20m. Worked

VK3CEO, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK3ANL, VK6XL, VK3ZPF/VK3JW/VK3PJF, VK7AAE

Returned to 40m for a P2P with 

VK3PF/VK3KAI in VKFF-5790 Rosedale Bushland Natural Features Reserve

Packed up and headed down to Noosa Heads for lunch.

Duggan Conservation Park VKFF-1533

The next park I activated in Hervey Bay was Duggan Conservation Park, VKFF-1533 really in the town close to the sports club. Parked in Tavistock St in front of the park sign

There is a narrow pathway behind the sign, running between houses and the sports oval. Followed this until the oval ended, entered the bush behind the oval. Mainly open paper bark type forest. Set up using a stump for support

A bit far to take the table and chair so just sat on the tarp. Location on Openstreetmap

Got on 40m. Worked

VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK4HNS, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK4WC, VK4WTN

Went to 30m. Worked

VK1RF/VK2MK/VK4CEE, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK5WU, VK4CCW

Went to 20m. Worked

VK1RF/VK2MK/VK4CEE, ZL1HIM, VK1DA/VK2DA, VK3ACZ, KG5CIK, VK3SQ/VK3JT/VK2BD, UT5PI, ZL3MR, F5PYI

Packed up and headed to my accommodation in Hervey Bay.

Vernon Conservation Park VKFF-1669

Staying at Hervey Bay for a few days, activated a couple of nearby parks. The first park I activated was Vernon Conservation Park VKFF-1669. I entered the park off a side road off Dundowaran Road. on the Eastern side of the reserve. Found out later you can drive into the park on the Western side, but this got into the park.

Had to climb over a gate with the gear but not that hard. Set up at the base of the park sign.

Shack on the table near the sign

Location in park on Openstreetmaps

Got on 40m. Able to spot okay. Worked

VK4NH/VK4DXA, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK4GAP, VK2MFW, VK4HNS, VK2CCW, VK2ETI/VK2AIT/VK2AIQ, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK2DA, VK4EMP/VK4TI/VK4GKO

Went to 30m. Worked

VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK2LAX, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK2AOR

Went to 20m. Worked

VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3SG, VK5IS, VK3SO/VK3SFG, VK3APJ, ZL1XS

Returned to 40m. Worked

VK8RR/4, VK4JG, VK4APJ, VK1RF/VK2MK/VK4CEE

Went back to 30m for a P2P with

VK3TUN in VKFF-0556 Yarra Ranges National Park

Packed up and had lunch nearby.

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

Mudlo National Park VKFF-0697

Travelling from Kingaroy to Hervey Bay, stopped mid-morning to activate Mudlo National Park VKFF-0697. Sign for the park

Stopped at the day use picnic area

Set up on one of the picnic tables.

Shack on the table

Able to spot okay. Started on 40m, worked P2P with

VK2EG/P in VKFF-0611 Wallaroo National Park

VK4NH/VK4DXA, VK4MGL, VK4WTN, VK4KLA, VK4DTS/VK4CYA, VK4RE, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, 

VK3APJ in VKFF-4695 Bungalally I49 Bushland Reserve

Went to 30m. Worked

VK3BEL/VK3BEB, 

VK3TDK in VKFF-0621 Churchill National Park

VK3TKK in VKFF-0627 Organ Pipes National Park

VK2VH/VK4AAC, VK2YK/VK5GA

VK2EG/P in VKFF-0611 Wallaroo National Park, a lot stronger on 30m

VK2AAJ

VK3PF/VK3KAI in VKFF-5536 Moondara Bushland Reserve

Packed up and headed to nearby town of Kikivan for lunch at the cafe.

For activating the park on the 27th July qualified for National Tree Day

225 VKFF Activator Honour Roll Award

Award for activating 225 VKFF parks. Thank for QSOs

The Palms National Park VKFF-0485

Driving from Toowoomba to Kingaroy, stopped to activate The Palms National Park, VKFF-0485. 

Sign about the park

Did the walk first as knew rain was coming later. This park was a surprise, not expecting a pocket of sub-tropical rainforest in an area that is mainly open farmland. Photos from the walk

Set up the shack on one of the 2 picnic tables

Location, map from Openstreetmaps

Shack on the table

Got on 40m. Worked

VK2JDS/m, VK2BEL/VK2BEB, VK4IKZ, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK4NH/VK4DXA, VK4WC, VK4BWL, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK4PAA, VK4MWL, VK4ELJ, VK4KLA, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK4QAS/VK4FHEA, VK4PHD, VK4DTS/VK4CYA, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG.

There were a few spots of rain while on air, however it got heavier and had to abandon the activation.  Quickly packed up, luckily the car was not far away.

Crows Nest National Park VKFF-0121

After stopping overnight in Goondiwindi headed to Toowoomba, stopping briefly to activate Wondul Range National Park. I didn't make many contacts there, had no phone reception. Stopped several days in Toowoomba. Did a day trip to Crows Nest National Park VKFF-0121. Sign for the park

Lots of picnic tables available. Set up the radio on one of them.

Radio on the picnic table.

Operating spot in Openstreetmaps

Good phone coverage. Spotted on 40m, worked

VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK5CZ/VK5XE, VK4GAP, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK4EMP/VK4TI/VK4GKO, VK4ACK, VK2YAK, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK4YAK, VK2VAR/VK2GOM, VK4AAT, VK3TDX.

Went to 30m. Worked

VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3GV

Went to 20m, Worked

VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3GV/VK3NDG, VK3FACD, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK5AYL, VK3SQ/VK3JT/VK2BD, ZL1GA, VK6XL, VK2RK, VK2ACR, KG5CIK, VK5DO, VK3ZSC

With 47 contacts had qualified the park. Packed up. As I was pulling down the dipole, noticed some strange looking branches in the tree I had tied it to.

A pair of Tawny Frogmouth birds. They pretend to be branches but the tree they picked not a good match.

I went for a walk in the park. A sign of some of the walks

I walked as far as the Bottlebrush Pool. Nice

Headed for my next park, Ravensbourne National Park, where it poured with rain :( Made some contacts in a picnic shelter but still quite wet. One to return to. Headed back to Toowoomba for the evening.

 

Boronga Nature Reserve VKFF-2541

After stopping overnight in Moree drove up to Boomi, near the NSW/Queensland border. After morning tea at Boomi drove East towards Goondiwindi, stopped off to activate Boomi Nature Reserve VKFF-2536. Didn't take photos for a blog though. Next stop was at Boronga Nature Reserve VKFF-2541, which had a sign for the park behind a gate in the Southern part of the park.

The sign indicated authorized vehicles only, so unable to drive into the park. Not that I would want to, the road looked very overgrown.

Set up the antenna, using the park sign for support.

Location, map from Openstreetmaps

Shack near the sign, off the road

First went to 30m to work P2P

VK3PF in VKFF-6327 Reef Hills Reference Area

Called on 7.144 Mhz, worked again

VK3PF in VKFF-6327 Reef Hills Reference Area

VK3KAI, VK4KLA, VK2LEE, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK3ALF, VK4SMA, VK2MOE/VK1MO, VK1AO/VK2MET

Changed bands to 30m. Worked

VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3SQ/VK3JT/VK2BD

Tried 20m. Worked

VK6XK

VK3PF in VKFF-6327 Reef Hills Reference Area

VK3KAI, KG6CIK

Had a late lunch, packed up and headed to Goondiwindi for the evening.

 

Killarney State Conservation Area VKFF-1334

After lunch in Mount Kaputar National Park headed back to Narrabri and headed North on the Newell Hwy to Moree. A few Km out of town turned off onto Killarney Gap Road on the right, followed this until reaching Sammin Road on the left, and into Killarney State Conservation Area VKFF-1334. Sign for the park.

I drove down this for a bit, but it got sandy, so returned to near the park sign and set up, near the junction with Boundary Road. Used my table for squid pole support. Station photo

Location in park

Able to spot easily here. Got on 40m, worked

VK1AO/VK2MET, VK3SG, VK2ICR, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK2BYN, VK2MFW

VK3PF/VK3KAI in VKFF-4768 Chiltern I87 Bushland Reserve

VK2SS, VK2JAP, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK4NH/VK4DXA, VK4BWL

VK3GRK in VKFF-3601 Black Range S.R. Natural Features Reserve

VK2JEF, VK2CDR, VK2AMA, VK3SQ/VK3JT/VK2BD

Went to 30m. Worked

VK3ACZ, VK1RF/VK2MK/VK4CEE, VK4NH/VK4DXA

Returned to 40m to work

VK2OKR in VKFF-0595 Hunter Wetlands National Park

VK2AUS, VK2BXB

VK3ARM in VKFF-4882 Deep Lead West Bushland Reserve

VK2IO in VKFF-3260 Maroota Historic Site

Packed up and headed to Moree for the evening.

SOTA Mount Kaputar VK2/NW-001

After stopping overnight in Narrabri headed up to Mount Kaputar. The road up is unsealed but easy, although some narrow sections where you need to look out for oncoming cars, as not enough room to pass. Reached the car park of Mount Kaputar, 1500m ASL

It was cold, some remnant snow on a log near the car park.

 Went to the lookout. A nice clear day, no clouds and wind, good views.

Set up the dipole on the wooden deck out to the trig. Unlike the last time I activated here it was not blowing a gale, so able to put the squid pole up all the way.

As only a short walk from the car I had my 40aH battery pack, so able to run the FT857D at 50w. Got on 40m, able to spot easily here. Worked

VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK1RT, VK2XGB, 

VK3ZK in VKFF-0978 Tocumwal Regional Park

VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK4NH/VK4DXA, VK4JG, VK3SG, VK4CCW, VK2LAX, VK4AJP

VK4AAC in VKFF-4737 Carlyle H120 Bushland Reserve, VK2VH

Went to 30m. Worked

VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK2EGC, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3ZPF/VK3JW/VK3PJW, 

VK4AAC in VKFF-4737 Carlyle H120 Bushland Reserve, VK2VH

VK1MCW, VK2YK/VK5GA, VK3ZK

VK3PF now in VKFF-4768 Chiltern I87 Bushland Reserve

Went to 20m. Only worked ZLs

ZL2BB, ZL1IM, ZL1KB

Packed up and headed down to have lunch.