1875 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Award for working 1,875 different VKFF parks. Thanks, activators for contacts.

Goorooyaroo Nature Reserve VKFF-0841

After checking the last activation dates of VK1 parks, found 7 that had not been activated in 2026. Headed for one of these, Goorooyaroo Nature Reserve VKFF-0841. Last activated in 2025, by me in 2019 so due for another visit.

The park is large with some access points off Horse Park Dr. I used Wilay Gate. The sign refers to the annual Kangaroo cull in the ACT, you are okay to access the park between 6am and 6pm.

After passing the gate, there is another gate and fence close by. Headed for the log I used last activation in 2019. Set up the radio on the log., squid pole on a nearby tree.

Operating spot, from Google maps satellite view.

Shack on the log. I am using my base radio IC7300 now if the walk is not too far. A lot more comfortable to operate compared to the FT857D.

Got on 40m, worked a P2P with VK2BYF and VK2HBG in nearby VKFF-2016 Wanna Wanna Nature Reserve.

I was about to spot on 7.155, asking if in use was answered by VK2YL Norma in VKFF-0307 Marramarra National Park. She had just finished here after getting over 44 contacts. I spotted and called here.

Worked several VK2 VK3 VK4 and VK5 stations. Another P2P with VK3IDK Jamie in VKFF-4720 Cairnlea Estate Nature Conservation Reserve

After calls stopped on 40m went to 30m, 10.125 Mhz.. A bit quieter, with QSOs with VK4EW, VK4WTN, VK3AMO and VK4FW.

Went to 20m 14.310 Mhz. Worked VK4EW, VK4FW, KG5CIK. Bill VK4FW advised me of a POTA park activator on 14.305, W6IWN Bobby. Tuned down here and heard him weak but readable. I called him several times for a P2P but got walked on by the strong stations calling at his end. Bill VK4FW gave me a hand and asked him to beam my way, he heard me weakly at 52 so a P2P with the USA, in US-4469 Tahoe National Forest. He had a portable beam!

Returned to 40m for a P2P with VK3TUN David in VKFF-5189 Kaladbro H20 Bushland Reserve.

Packed up and headed home for afternoon tea.

 

150 New Zealand stations award

Award for working 150 different New Zealand (ZL) stations. From FT8DMC.

150 Chinese Stations Award

Award for working 150 stations in China on digital modes. Thanks for QSOs, award manager.

1850 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Award for working 1,850 different VKFF parks.

Indonesia Call Area 7 Award

Award from the YB6DXC group for working 30 stations in YB7 call area. Completed after working YB7AAE in West Kalimantan on 10m FT8.

WWFF 1844 Hunter Award

Award for working 1844 different WWFF references. This is a WWFF award so includes overseas parks. Thanks, award manager CT7AOV  

WWFF Parks Hunted per year

Looking in Log4OM Awards noticed you can apply a date filter to an award, so for the WWFF award I applied filters for each year from 2012 to the present, and entered the total number of parks worked each year into a spreadsheet.

There were not many WWFF park activations until 2015, when a lot of parks got added, including the ACT Canberra Nature Parks.

The slump in 2020 was due to Covid 19, put a stop to activating parks...

I retired in 2021, giving me the chance to hunt parks on the weekdays. Peak seemed to be around 2023. The solar cycle tends to affect park activations worked too. Having peaked in 2025 would expect this year to be down, although there are more park activators now which might help bring this up. 

1825 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Award for hunting 1825 different VKFF references

1800 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Award for hunting 1800 VKFF references. Thanks, activators.

Saint Kitts and Nevis Island Award

Award for working 1 station in Saint Kitts and Nevis Island. I worked V4/SP9FIH

2026 World Amateur Radio Day

An award for operating on World Amateur Radio Day, 18th April 2026 from WWFF Australia. I activated Jarramlee Grassland Reserve VKFF-3180. A local park to me, only around a 10-minute drive from home. Managed to make 42 contacts in the morning. Thanks Paul VK5PAS for the award.

Worked All Great Britain Award

After working Isle of Man on 30m had contacted all Great Britain call areas. Award from FT8DMC

 Also award from European Ros Club

5 Kuwait Stations Award

Award for contacting 5 stations from Kuwait. From the European Ros Club

50 Polish Stations Award

Award for contacting 50 Polish stations on FT8. Thanks for QSOs, award manager.

40 Little Countries Award

Award for working 40 Little Countries, defined as less than 1000 square km. From the FT8DMC Club

Worked Tuvalu Awards

Some European Ros Club awards for working stations in Tuvalu Islands

For 1 station

For 2 stations

1775 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Latest award for working 1775 different VKFF references. Thanks, Activators for QSOs.

WWFF 110 Activator Award

Following my WWFF park activations on the South Coast, reached 110 parks activated with at least 44 contacts in each park. The Award.

WWFF 2025 Marathon Awards

The Awards for the WWFF 2025 Marathon were made available to download. I picked up several, a trip up to Queensland activating several parks on the way probably helped lol. 

 

Eagles Claw Nature Reserve VKFF-2593

Staying at Merimbula for a few days, decided to activate a few WWFF parks around Eden. One of these was Eagles Claw Nature Reserve, VKFF-2593. This is a small park just to the South of the town of Eden, not far from the Eden port. Followed Bramble St to the East, turned off onto an unnamed road and parked. After a short walk reached a Rotary lookout in the park.

Not far from here a sign on the fence, Eagles Claw Nature Reserve set up to protect Little Penguins nesting here.

Good views from the lookout.

Set up the squid pole on the railing of the lookout.

Strung out the dipole legs just below the lookout.

A handy seat at the lookout for the radio and myself.

Location. Map from Openstreetmaps

Got on 40m. Worked

VK2VAR/VK2GOM, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK2EXA, VK3SQ/VK2BD/VK3JT, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3BEL/VK3BEB, VK3CEO, VK3HAK, VK3ZSC, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK2HEY/VK2YOU/VK2FANG, VK5IS, VK2VIC/VK1VIC/VK2GOY.

VK2XWB in VKFF-0048 Kamay Botany Bay National Park

VK2BQO, VK3AKD, VK3AXH

Went to 30m. Worked

VK2IO/VK2GEZ, 

VK2XWB in VKFF-0048 Kamay Botany Bay National Park

VK5CZ, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK4EMP/VK4TI/VK4GKO

Went to 20m. Worked

VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG

With 47 in the log had qualified the park.

WWFF VK8 Parks Worked

There are 70 WWFF parks in VK8, Northern Territory.

Statistics on parks worked per band

A total of 18 parks or 25% total parks worked.

Interestingly the most popular band is 10m. The 40m contacts were all around Alice Springs, at the Southern end of VK8. VK8 is quite rare for me, I hardly work them, even not in parks. 

Map of VK8 parks worked. Mainly around Darwin and Alice Springs.

WWFF VK7 Parks Worked

The next State to make a Log4OM award for was VK7, Tasmania. It has 323 active WWFF parks.

Breakdown of parks worked per band

97 parks worked and 30% of all parks worked. Seem to mainly work mainland activators on holidays there, although there are a few VK7s active. Most contacts on 40m. 20m is actually too close for me, it's only around 600 km or so to Northern Tasmania from Canberra. Southern Tasmania is about 800 Km away, so can work VK7 on 20m around Hobart.

Map of VK7 parks worked.

WWFF VK6 Parks Worked

Western Australia, VK6 has a total of 544 WWFF parks active. List in Log4OM Award.

Statistics for VK6 parks worked per band.

20m is the best band. Due to distance 40m is quite hard, mostly made to Southern Western Australian parks in the evenings.  Only a total of 28 parks worked, or 5% of all parks worked. Just hard due to distance and not many activators.

Map of parks worked in VK6

WWFF VK5 Parks Worked

Next State to look at was South Australia VK5. A total of 489 active parks.

Far enough away from me to make good use of bands above 40m, although 40m still the most popular band. 20m works well. A total of 235 parks or 48% worked.

There are not that many parks compared to Eastern States, however the ones there are very large, eg Lake Torrens, Flinders Ranges. Map of VK5 parks worked.