WESTLAKES NEWS SUNDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2010

Good Morning this is VK2ATZ, the official station of Westlakes Amateur Radio Club
located at Teralaba, Lake Macquarie.There should be a HF simulcast on 3.565 MHz this morning courtesy of Warren VK2UWP which will be repeated at 7 pm this evening. Westlakes local news is read each Sunday on this repeater, VK2RTZ,at 9am local. Following at 9:30 am is a relay of the Australia-wide news from the WIA.

First this morning is news of three things that are NOT on. Today's scheduled monthly meeting of the Port Stephens Amateur Radio Club has been cancelled - the reason being that the members are exhausted from call "CQ from VK100WIA". The special call has been on air for three days since 10 am last Thursday. The last count seen yesterday afternoon was that over 550 contacts 
had been logged.

The second thing that is not on is the October monthly meeting at Westlakes. The change to future meetings being held on the first Saturday of the month has clashed with the October Day long weekend and a number of the committee and members will be absent.

And the third thing that is not on is Gloria's "jumbo" hamburgers for the next two Saturdays. She will be away, so it looks like BZ's pies and mushy peas will be the go for the next fortnight. 

Something that is on (we hope it's still on) is the new wooden sign manufactured by Mal VK2VON that was attached to the rear wall of the club yesterday. It reads, not surpringly, "Westlakes Amateur Radio Club" and looks very smart indeed. There was plenty of advice given to Mal as to the best location and method of affixture of the sign by the "footpath foremen".

The storeman, Aly VK2AFZ was doing a brisk trade in solar panels yesterday. Eighteen panels were available and ten of these have been paid for and collected. Another five have been reserved by members leaving (at last count) three remaining solar panels that are available. The panels are brand new and have a 20 watt capacity. The cost is $85. See the storeman next Saturday afternoon they won't be there much longer than that. 

Coming up on Saturday week is the 2010 Westlakes Cup. This contest has as a prize two engraved cups that are awarded and retained by the winning Standard/Advanced and Foundation licence holders. The contest only runs for one hour and the rules appeared in the August Amateur Radio Magazine and in the September Westlakes Magazine.So don't forget this year's Westlakes Cup Saturday 18th
September, from 10.30 UTC to 11.30 UTC, only on one band and then only between the frequencies of 3.535 to 3.620 MHz. 

Following the photo that appeared in this month's club magazine of Louie, the Lithgow Yowie, one member, Allan VK2JED  has declared the picture of the beast had been "doctored". The magazine editor denies any complicity in this as the the image was accepted in good faith. And for any who doubt Louie's existence, look no further than next month's magazine when a second photo will appear. And, if further corroboration is needed, purchase a copy of this week's Lithgow Mercury or the Western Advocate (which circulates in the Bathurst region) for news of additional sightings of Louie.

It is just as well that yesterday's monthly meeting was a short one, otherwise the club would have ran out of money. The attendees were in a spending mood - among things approved for purchase were a new oven for the canteen, blinds for the common room, a photo copier, oscilloscope probes, a wall clock, two tables, an air conditioner, a garbage skip, and a load of filling. Narrowly rejected was 
a dish washer.

The earthquake event yesterday in New Zealand is a reminder to us all be aware of the amateur radio emergency frequencies for our region which is called Region 3? The frequencies to listen to or call on on are 3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz. Amateur radio can have an important role to play in emergencies when other communications systems go down.

And finally, yesterday's meat tray raffle. Drawn by our man from the store, Geoff VK2GL, with his sleeves rolled up managed to select the ticket that belonged to Ken VK2UCF. Congratulations once again Ken.

Well that's all the local news we have this week.

Now to wind up. Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. is located in York Street and is open on Saturday Afternoons from around 12 noon until everyone goes home. Also on a Tuesday evening from around 6pm again until everyone goes home. Although a Radio Club, we are on the telephone.Try dialling (02) 49581588. An answering service operates after hours. Visitors are always welcome at the club. We have plenty of tea, coffee, and long-life milk. Plus, there are biscuits too.

Thank you for listening.