Well it was action at the club yesterday with Colin and Brian, Norm and a few others playing again with squid poles. Not sure what they were doing but I guess they had a happy ending.
Well the big blue Falcon drove into the Westlakes ground and guess who got out of the car? It was VK2FDNE ( Diane ) who had just spent 14 days in the Mater Hospital. Diane would like to thank all those Members who wished her a speedy recovery.
Diane was busy again ( blind as bat in 1 eye with patch ) Di was asked to pick this weeks lucky meat tray winner. The hand went into the barrel and came the winners ticket which read VK2FJW Frank. Frank is also on the sick list. Get well Frank.
The Contest Manager was once again at the club. Leonie has advised that she has page with no names on for the up and coming RD contest. Go on ladies and gents lets put Westlakes back on the contesting map again. Please contact Leonie if you can help.
From the Education Officer - WESTLAKES.
Licence upgrades are now once again available from the Westlakes A.R.C. at Teralba. Those budding amateurs wishing to obtain their
Foundation licence or those current Foundation licence holders wishing to upgrade to Standard or Advanced Licence please contact
Michael via email vk2oi@wia.org.au
Its a great hobby to get involved in. You meet and talk to so many people locally and worldwide.
Did anyone manage to see NBN news on Wednesday night? On it was the marine rescue vessel from Lemon Tree Passage of which Richard VK2FRKO is a member. Richard told us that around $25 thousand worth of damage was done. The rescue vessel should be back in action in around 3 weeks.
Did you see the specials in the store yesterday? Ally was busy showing some members the list. Specials are on each Saturday.
Don't the grounds look good. Thanks to the hard workers who did the work. Please see Barry VK2BZ if you can assist in further mowing days.
President Geoff VK2EO did a flying trip to club yesterday. Perhaps Geoff called in to settle his nerves before his big game. ( AFL.)
NEWS FROM SOUTHGATE AMATEUR
Resurgence for amateur radio in Australia
A lengthy well-researched article by Katie Cincotta in The Age newspaper today, distributed mainly in VK3 but also interstate, features many aspects of amateur radio that we all enjoy.
It begins with a picture of Justin Stewart VK3FLIP and Monique Golub VK3FWPZ as the youngsters take to the airwaves at Sherbrooke Community School and is peppered with personal accounts of activity.
Maths teacher Edward Seeto VK3LIP of the Sherbrooke Community School, which has its own radio club VK3KID, demonstrates on a hand-held radio, typing in a code on a keypad and accessing a web-enabled local repeater to connect to a user in Dallas, Texas. His experience at the school includes the use of a gazebo with students learning the ropes from volunteers Randall McDonald VK3RM and Jim McNabb VK3AMN.
The students have learnt to be resourceful through building their own equipment. Amateur radio is encouraging them to pursue maths and sciences, and providing social interaction. Grade 8 student Monique Golub VK3FWPZ achieved her Foundation Licence in grade 6 and now competes in amateur radio challenges such as the 160-metre Trans-Tasman contest.
The 13-year-old was the first female in the club and has since enabled others to join the fun. Another relative newcomer with five years experience is Richard Holmes VK3TXD, keen to dispel the amateur radio stereotype of old blokes tinkering in beeping sheds.
He hopes a new generation will find clever ways to evolve the hobby and embrace its global connections. One of the main things that got him into the hobby was the lure of long-distance or DX contacts.
The article touches on the serious side of things. Amateur radio proved itself to be relevant and invaluable during recent natural disasters in Australia, Japan, China, Pakistan and Haiti. It quotes veteran Doug McArthur VK3UM on his Black Saturday bushfires experiences, and even before that, the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Of course his moon-bounce and beyond exploits from the giant dish on his country property is featured.
Eastern and Mountain District Radio Club president Jack Bramham VK3WWW regards amateur radio as the original social network and likes digital technology. He’s preparing for the IARU Region 3 Championships that are being hosted late this year by the WIA.
Jack VK3WWW can be seen and heard televising broadcasts on Wednesday nights on frequency 446.500 MHz via the Melbourne Amateur Radio Repeater on Mount Dandenong.
Wireless Institute of Australia spokesman Jim Linton VK3PC says one of the biggest things to happen to amateur radio is the removal of Morse code as a minimum requirement for an operator to obtain an HF licence. The Foundation Licence is now simple enough for young children to acquire, although many progress to the higher grades as Standard and Advanced which give them more.
The two-page article featured in the newspaper’s well-read Green Guide and promoted on page 2 in the main editorial section, notes 20,000 Australians have amateur radio licences, with increasing interest being shown by younger people and women.
There was virtually no one interested before the arrival of the newest entry level. Now we have more activity on air, increased numbers being assessed and a higher level of club membership. The article which involves wide research giving a coverage to amateur radio, concludes with some useful links to get more information.
he pioneering electronic social network is experiencing a resurgence.
WHEN you think of the instant communication at our fingertips thanks to web-enabled mobile devices and the social media explosion of Twitter and Facebook, it's easy to dismiss amateur radio as a dusty relic destined for oblivion.
But the bastions of ham radio believe the century-old form of radio communication is as relevant as ever - it proved invaluable during recent natural disasters in Australia, Japan, China, Pakistan and Haiti.
One amateur radio veteran of more than 50 years, Doug McArthur (whose call-sign is VK3UM), lived through the Black Saturday bushfires, relying on his UHF CB radio to warn neighbours of the approaching flames.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/ham-radio-far-from-over-or-out-20110706-1h135.html#ixzz1Rb4bCzXc
CLUB REMINDER LIST
Wafflers net is progressing well on Wednesday nights. Operating frequency is 146.525 MHz simplex and commences at 1900 hrs. All welcome.
Our club Field Day will be held on the 18th September this year so clean out your bedrooms, radio shack and garages for anything that
might be of some value that you might like to donate to the club for it auction table. If you have any items please bring them down and
give them to a Committee member.
Do you have a news item that you would like read out on a broadcast? Contact Richard VK2FRKO on email address vk2frko@tpg.com.au
or give the item to Richard at the club.
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. is located in York Street an is open on Saturday Afternoons from around 12 noon
Also on a Tuesday evening from around 6pm. To make contact at other times, try dialling (02) 49 581588 where an answering service
operates. Visitors are alway welcome at the club. We have plenty of tea, coffee, long-life milk, and an interesting selection of
biscuits.
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