West Jerrabomberra Nature Reserve VKFF-0993

The weather on Friday was not too bad, sunny and around 19c, so decided to activate a WWFF park. Chose West Jerrabomberra Nature Reserve, VKFF-0993. I had lunch at Chisholm not far away.

Pulled into a road off the Monaro Hwy just past Lanyon Drive. It is actually a road to a private property, but enough room to park off the side of the road before the gate. A gate into the reserve nearby. The name for this reserve does seem to vary, the old sign on the gate has it as Jerrabomberra Grasslands Nature Reserve. The sign inside states Jerrabomberra West Grasslands Nature Reserve. Google maps has West Jerrabomberra Nature Reserve.

Set up the dipole using the sign for squid pole support. Looking towards the busy Monaro Hwy

Looking back the other way. The private road is over the fence.

Shack on the table.

Got on 40m. Band was good with strong signals. After spotting worked

VK3PF, VK7QP, VK2EXA, VK2IO

A park to park with VK3BWS/p Barry in VKFF-0747 Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park

VK4TJ, VK3SRC, VK2NP, VK2YAK/VK4YAK, VK1ACE, VK3UH, VK3NCR, VK2ZPF, VK3ZSC, VK3VIN, VK5BJE

Another park to park with VK3GP/p David in VKFF-0213 Grampians National Park

VK2MET/VK1AO, VK2FJG, VK2TDB, VK2TM.

Tried 20m. A bit early for EU, but worked VK4HAT, VK1ACE.

Made 25 contacts, with 2 other activations over the 44 needed to complete the park for WWFF.

Packed up and headed home before peak hour traffic started.

West Jerrabomberra Nature Reserve VKFF-0993

I have only activated West Jerrabomberra Nature Reserve VKFF-0993 once in 2016, with 15 contacts, so needed to revisit to get 44 for a WWFF point. My last activation was off the Monaro Hwy, noisy with traffic and hot with lots of flies, so decided to try another spot. There is a narrow access land bridge between Callum Brea Nature Reserve and West Jerrabomberra, so decided to give this a try. Drove to Callum Brea nature reserve and parked at the usual access point off Narrabundah Lane. Sign for the park

Just inside the park a photo map of the park. Note the thin extension of the park in the SE, headed for this.

In the SE corner of the park a sign explaining the history of the park.

A gate here to enter the Callum Brea farm. This is private property. Headed to the right of the gate along the fence, there was a rough track to follow.

After a short walk reached a gate for the entrance to the connecting land access path between the parks.

Walking along the access path. There is a road under the long grass... not used much, probably only by park rangers. On either side fences marked Private Property, so between farms.

At the end of the access path a gate into West Jerrabomberra Nature Reserve. Note the name on the gate is Jerrabomberra Grasslands Nature Reserve, so the park has had a rename in the past.

A post inside the park, giving the park name as Jerrabomberra West Grasslands Nature Reserve

Just for more confusion the park is labelled as West Jerrabomberra Nature Reserve on Google Maps. Set up close to this sign on a nearby log, operating spot on the map. About a 2 km walk from the car.

Shack set up using a log for squid pole support

Shack on the tarp. Was at least a bit less grassy here.

Got on 40m. Good strong signals, although also some strong lightning static from somewhere distant. Worked

VK3PF 

VK2BYF

VK2MET

VK3BBB, VK2CCP

VK2EXA

VK3MTT

VK2USH

VK4KC, VK4MAD, VK4DOG

VK3DAC

VK5PAS

VK3VDC

VK3SQ

VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4

VK3BEL

Noticed the LifePO4 battery voltage was getting a bit low, dropping to 11.7v on transmit, so decided to pack up and head back to the car. Had 19 contacts in the log, so still need to return to complete the 44.

 

West Jerrabomberra Nature Reserve VKFF-0993

Following a review of WWFF areas on the Australian Capital Territory by Paul, VK5PAS, there was some confusion about the name of the Grasslands area near Jerrabomberra. Google Maps has West Jerrabomberra park just to the West of the Monaro Highway, and Jerrabomberra East off nearby Lanyon Drive. These parks may possibly be known collectively as Jerrabomberra Grasslands Nature Reserve? Figured the only way to find out was to visit and have a look, and do an activation while there...

First drove to Jerrabomberra East Grasslands off Lanyon Drive. Definitely a grasslands area, but no signs to indicate a nature reserve. Noted there was what looked like the remains of a Canberra Nature Park sign nearby, usual big metal frame but no sign in it now. There is a trig on the summit of the hill.

Drove back to the Monaro Highway and found an access gate into what is shown on Google Maps as West Jerrabomberra Reserve. Just near the RFS Helicopter pad at the far Southern end of the park.

 Although the sign on the gate had "Jerrabomberra Grasslands Nature Reserve...

Climbed over the gate and set up on the wooden park sign.

Looking back towards the Monaro Highway. It was close by and noisy with traffic...Used the fence for the dipole leg support.

Tied the other end of the dipole to a fence. There is a road leading to a private farm on the other side.

Set up the radio on the table. Hot in the full sun...The insect spray proved handy...

Got on 40m. Started with a park to park contact with Gerard VK2IO/p in VKFF-1319 Glenrock State Conservation Area, very strong.

A few more huntes, then another park to park with Rob VK4AAC/3 in VKFF-0345 Mount Eccles National Park.

Continued on working hunters in VK2, VK3 and VK7. Usual contact with Rick VK4RF/VK4HA who usually manages to work me...

Saw a spot for a SOTA activation, Mark VK3PI on VK3/VC-007 Mt Macedon, also in VKFF-0972 Macedon Regional Park, managed to work him okay.

After 40 m went quiet went to 20 m. One call from Paul, VK5PAS with a strong 59 signal. After some more calls no takers so returned to 40 m.

Heard some splatter, tuned around and picked up a massive full scale 60+ over 9 signal from Chris VK2SR/mobile VK1. I called him and found he had just driven past me on the Monaro Highway, running 400 Watts! No wonder he was so strong...

At midday had enough of the heat and packed up after 15 contacts. Need to return on a cooler day...