Gungaderra Grassland Nature Reserve VKFF-0843

With a fine warm day and a rainy Easter coming up decided to activate yet another park, Gungaderra Grassland Nature Reserve VKFF-0843. Been a couple of years since last activated.

After looking at a map I decided the easiest way to access was to park in Cocoparra Cres Crace. After driving there spotted a stile leading into the reserve and parked nearby. Sign for the park.

The stile for accessing the reserve on foot. Note this was originally a separate reserve, Gungahlin Hill Nature Reserve, until being absorbed into Gungaderra Grassland Nature Reserve. There was an old sign for this former reserve.

Wandered along the track until finding a large log suitable for a seat and squid pole support. Set up.

Looking back the other way. Houses in the subrub of Crace visible, but far enough away to not cause QRM.

Checked the SWR on 40m, good.

Radio and myself on the log.

Got on 40m. Worked a couple of parks first.

VK3NDG Dan in VKFF-0942 Avon Wilderness Park

VK2IO Gerard in VKFF-0484 The Lakes National Park

Spotted on Parknpeaks and called. Several callers.

VK3PF, ZL1BQD, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK4NH/VK4DXA, ZL3RIK/ZL3YB, VK2EXA, VK3ANL, VK3UH, VK3AMO, VK5AYL, VK3NBL, VK3ZSC, VK2LEE, VK3UCD, VK7AN, VK2MES.

Saw a spot for VI10VKFF, special event station for 10 years of the VKFF program, with VK5PAS Paul activating. worked him in VKFF-1701 Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve.

Saw a spot for a SOTA activation for VK3TCP Alan on VK3/VU-002 Mt Wombat.

It was on 30m. I remembered a trick discovered by VK5CZ Ian, disconnected just one of the links on the 20m/40m linked dipole, it loaded up fine on 30m. Worked Alan a good S9. SWR on 30m. A little high but nothing to worry about.

Packed up and headed home for afternoon tea.

WWFF Gungaderra Grassland Nature Reserve VKFF-0843

Saturday afternoon the weather was not too bad for winter, around 10c and fine and sunny, so headed out to do a nearby park, Gungaderra Grassland Nature Reserve. I have activated this previously and just needed a dozen contacts to reach 44 QSOs and complete it.

Last time I had set up in the NE corner of the park, close to Gungahlin Drive. I found this site noisy with traffic noise and also nearby powerline noise, so tried a different spot this time. Drove to the end of Bollard St in Palmerston. At the end was a gate, and after a short walk reached a stile to cross a fence into the park.

Over the fence a sign showing endangered species of flora and fauna in the park.

Set up my squid pole on the sign, dipole legs out to some nearby fences.

Operating spot on a map from Open Street Map

View to the West

View to the East

Shack on the table near the sign.

Got on 40 m. The band was quite good with strong signals. Worked a heap of park hunters

VK3VAR
VK2MOP
ZL1TM
VK3GGG VK3PMG
VK7JON
VK5FANA
VK3PAT
VK2VW
VK4SMA
VK3TKK/M
VI70MI VK5PAS
VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4
VK5FMAZ
VK3UH
VK7QP
VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT
VK4FDJL
VK5PL
VK2IO/P
VK5LA
VK5HS/M
VK4CPS
VK5NFT
VK5MR
VK3FT
VK3FSPG VK3MPR
VK5MRE
VK4FARR
VK5TT
VK2STO
VK2YK
VK2DMS
VK5KLV
VK3VGB
VK3PGK
VK1AT
VK4RF VK4HA

As I had 46 contacts I had qualified the park, even without the last activation...

Tried 20 m before packing up, got a surprising call from VK6XN/p Hans just about to activate a park VKFF-0553 Yanchep National Park near Perth. He was still tuning up, after finishing he was a good 58 signal.

By a co-incidence I worked all the other VKFF representatives from each state

VK2IO Gerard
VK3GGG Mick
VK4SMA Mark
VK5PAS Paul
VK6XN Hans
VK7JON Jonathon

Gungaderra Grasslands Nature Reserve VKFF-0843

After activating WWFF park Mulanggari Grasslands VKFF-0856 on Easter Sunday decided to activate the nearby previously unactivated park Gungaderra Grasslands Nature Reserve on Easter Monday.

The park is on the other side of Gungahlin Drive, to the South of the Canberra suburb of Palmerston. I entered via a lane way off Narryer Close.

This took me to a gate at the far North East corner of the reserve. A locked gate here but easy enough to climb over.

Operating position shown on Open Street Maps

Set up the squid pole using the grasslands sign for support. The mountain on the left is Black Mountain. Hard to see in this photo, but there are 2 Medium Wave radio station towers to the South, 666 2CN and 1053 2CA.

Shack on the table near the sign. Was a bit of a walk carrying the gear from the car...My TS-480 radio running 30 W off my 8400 mah battery.

Got on 40m. Good strong signals from park hunters in VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 and VK7. I was told Mike VK6MB called me but unable to hear him. The park was not that quiet on air, probably some interference from nearby power lines on Gungahlin Drive.

Made 3 park to park contacts, Nick VK3ANL/p in VKFF-0967 Green Lake RP, Justin VK7TW/p in VKFF-1179 Snug Tiers RA, also a SOTA Summit VK7/SC-008, and Marcus VK3TST/5 in Hale CP

Packed up for lunch in nearby Gungahlin town and headed home.