Dunlop Grasslands Nature Reserve VKFF-0839

With a nice sunny Sunday afternoon decided to do a park activation. I visited Dunlop Grasslands Nature Reserve VKFF-0839 a few years ago and thought it would be good for a repeat visit for the Boomerang award. For something different I entered it at a different point, from the end of Douglas Waterhouse Drive in Dunlop. After a short walk reached the sign for the park.

Next to the sign an entry point for horses. This is part of the Bicentennial National Trail, a horse riding track.

Followed the trail for a while in the park.

Stopped by a fence that provided squid pole support. Strung out the dipole, using a fence and nearby tree branch for support

Looking back the other direction

Set up the radio in the shelter of a nearby tree, to get out of the wind...

Got on 40m. There was a spot for VK1MIC/p Wade on SOTA summit VK2/IL-001 Mount Gibraltar, so worked him first. Then spotted myself on 7.144 and called. Several hunters called me.

VK4HMI

VK2IO

VK3FIMD

VK3PF

VK2FJG

VK2MET

VK4SMA

VK2VW, VK2HFI

VK3GJG

VK5AYL

VK1CT

VK5FANA

VK2DJP

VK2YK, VK5GA

VK2OKR

VK3ZPF

VK2PKT

VK2EXA

After callers dried up switched to 20m. As mid afternoon expected Europe to start coming in, which is what happened, an EU pileup... Some familiar calls from regular WWFF EU hunters.

EA3AGQ

VK2YK, VK5GA

VK6NU

OH1XT

VK4CZ

F1BLL

OH1MM

IW2BNA

IW2NXI

HA0ML

EA5UJ

After callers stopped tuned around and found an old mate of mine, VK5MRD Dave calling CQ, so gave him a call. He was very strong. He was also popular with EU callers.

As the sun was getting low packed up and headed home.

Dunlop Grassland Nature Reserve VKFF-0839

For the VKFF Activation Weekend decided to activate a couple of local parks that had not activated for a while. In the morning headed for Dunlop Grassland Nature Reserve VFFF-0839, which I activated back in 2017. This was mainly to grab park to park contacts as qualified it previously.

As per other activations parked in Binns St Dunlop, and entered the park on foot via a locked gate. Sign for the park

I had a look at where I operated last time, over 3 years the grass had overgrown the log I sat on last time, so this time just mounted the squid pole on the fence and set up the dipole along the fence.

Checked the dipole for resonance, looked okay on 40 m, around 7.124 Mhz

Set up the radio on the tarp. Was out of the sun, although that changed later so needed to move a bit...

Power set to about 40 w. Started by working Paul VK5PAS and Maria VK5MAZ in VKFF-1707 Encounter Marine Park, both good signals.

Spotted myself on Parks and Peaks on 7.160 Mhz. Worked

VK3ANL/p Nick in VKFF-2195 St Andrews Nature Conservation Reserve

VK1VIC/p Tony and VK1EM/p Mark in nearby VKFF-1920 Cuumbeun Nature Reserve

VK3YV/p Tony in VKFF-0626 Morwell National Park

VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4

VK7LTD/p Tony in VKFF-2920 Surveyors Bay Conservation Area

VK2VH, VK4AAC

VK5IS

VK3OF

VK3PF

VK7FAMP/p Angela in VKFF-2920 Surveyors Bay Conservation Area

VK3ARH, VK3HRA

VK2VW, VK2HFI

VK3ZPF

As 12:30pm packed up and headed back home for lunch, then on to my next park

VKFF-0847 Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve

 

Dunlop Grasslands Nature Reserve VKFF-0839

With the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award activation weekend on there were lots of VK3 National Parks on the air, so decided to chase them from a local WWFF park for park to park contacts. I decided to return to Dunlop Grasslands Nature Reserve VKFF-0839. Needed to get 16 contacts to complete the 44 needed for a WWFF point, plus its a nice park to visit.

As per last time drove to the Canberra suburb of Fraser, parked next to the gate closing off Binns St, and walked to the reserve. As some distance to walk just took a carry bag with the radio, battery, antenna, and squid pole, no table and chair this time. Sign for Dunlop Grasslands Nature Reserve, a Canberra Nature Park.

 
Near the sign a gate for entrance to the park. Despite the sign didn't see any cattle, only kangaroos. As you can see the gate was locked, so just climbed over it.

Walked into the reserve until finding the log under the large gum tree I operated from last time.

Set up here. Map showing the location in the park, from protectedplanet.net website.

Set up the squid pole on the log. Dipole legs tied out to a couple of nearby trees.

Shack on the log. Made a good table/seat with some shade.

Got on 40m. On air just in time to hear Gerard VK2IO/p in a park, asking for last calls before going QRT. I quickly called him. He was in VKFF-2014 Wambina Nature Reserve.

Also worked Andrew VK2UH in Yass, for once I could hear him, NVIS has not been good lately for close by stations... Then chased another park activation on ParksnPeaks, Jonathon VK7JON/p in VKFF-1133 Bay of Fires Conservation Area.

Went on to work some of the regular park hunters. VK2NP Cliff, VK2HHA Dennis, VK2YK Adam,
VK4TJ John.

Got called for another park to park with VK3ANL/p Nick in VKFF-2104 Gresswell Hill Nature Conservation Reserve with a good signal.

Worked usual park hunter Rick VK4RF/VK4HA with a good signal, then a stream of park to park contacts.

VK3PF/p on Arthurs Seat SOTA summit VK3/VC-031, also VKFF-0750 Arthurs Seat State Park
VK3SRC/p Joe in VKFF-0621 Churchill National Park
VK4HNS/p Neil in VKFF-1574 Knapp Creek Conservation Park
VK5PAS/p Paul and VK5FMAZ/p Maria in VKFF-0113 Coopracambra National Park
VK3FLCS/p Brett in VKFF-0264 Kinglake National Park

Worked a few more park hunters. VK3SQ Geoff, VK2PKT Keith
Another SOTA summit, VK3IL/p on VK3/VE-036 Mt Winstanley

Another park to park with VK2JNG/p Gerard in VKFF-0491 Tooloom National Park with a good strong signal.

Worked VK3SFG Sergio, then VK3OAK/p Malcolm in VKFF-0728 Cobboboonee National Park

Had a very weak call from VK7BEN/p Ben, he was difficult to copy but think I got him in VKFF-0347 Mount Field National Park. 

Gave 20 m a try. Managed to contact VK6NI Nigel, VK7BEN/p again, a little bit stronger on 20 m and VK5QI Mark.

Went back to 40 m before packing up for a last listen. Heard VK3PF/p calling in another park, VKFF-0333 Mornington Peninsula National Park.

Well and truly qualified the park, headed home.

Dunlop Grasslands Nature Reserve VKFF-0839

Dunlop Grasslands Nature Park lies North of the Canberra suburbs of Dunlop and Fraser in the far Northwest corner of the ACT, one side right along the NSW border.

Drove to Binns St in Fraser and parked. Note the loop at the end of the street is closed to traffic, so you need to walk past a road barrier.

Sign for the park. There is a locked gate nearby which I climbed over to enter the park.

Walked until finding a suitable large log for squid pole support and a radio shack bench.

Looking the other direction. Dipole legs tied to a couple of tree branches nearby. A bit windy but stayed up okay.

Radio shack on the log bench

Got on 40 m. The band busy with stations in the VK Shires contest, also some SOTA stations on air. Worked Paul VK3HN/P on VK3/VN-027, Rod VK2TWR on VK3/SM-085. Settled on 7.144 Mhz and worked several VKs in VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK5.

Switched to 20 m and spotted myself. Got a good pileup of EU callers, some of the regular hunters such as S58AL and ON4VT. Lots of German, Italian and Spanish stations, a good solid signal from M0HDX. Most up around S8 and were giving my puny 5 w signal up to S7. One local caller, Paul VK1ATP not that far away.

Band seemed to die around sunset, getting cold so packed up and headed home after 28 contacts.

Sunset over the grasslands