WESTLAKES NEWS FOR THE 2ND MARCH 2014.

Well today's broadcast was going to be LIVE from the Newcastle Show where we have been since Thursday afternoon but the location we have turns out to be a RF hole where we could not trigger VK2RTZ. The rain was again with us and became very heavy during Thursday night and completely swamped our gazebos and turned them inside out. Greg VK2CW was left in charge of the night watch and in the early hours of Friday morning made frantic phone call to Dave VK2RD to advise of the destruction. An early morning inspection found 2 of our 3 Gazebos were destroyed. A clean up found no other damage to equipment or display items so a quick executive decision saw Barry VK2VBF and Geoff VK2GL sent out to source another heavier duty unit. This was duly erected on their return with the help of our new found friends at the Police display just near us, Many thanks guy’s. What we have on display is an old VHF transmitter that set a record as the first 2 metre contact in 1947 to New Zealand. An original spark gap transmitter, broadcast receiver,a computer with the Morse code song playing plus various other forms of communications equipment. There were multimeters for sale at a bargain price, Michael VK2CCW had his man pack operating and using various types of antennas managed to make a few contacts. Maurie VK2CD had his magnetic loop operating and was pulling in the Russians on a 5x7 signal. Steve VK2LW was walking around with his ATV transmitter and while close by the picture on the TV screen was great BUT once Steve started walking away only some 100 feet the signal degraded and disappeared. It was agreed that a better receive Antenna was required. He was after all only running less than 100 Milliwatts. A special thanks to Dianne and her sister for Security patrol on Friday night and to Max VK2TTI for the Saturday night shift. The 50 year club shirts looked real smart on everyone who wore them. Only time will tell if the club gained any members out of this venture. If you are going to the Show today, please call into our stand near the Exhibition Hall and say G’Day. From the Committee to everyone who assisted at the Newcastle show A BIG THANK YOU. Last Sunday was the Central Coast ARC Field day. The big event went well according to all reports and the rain mostly held off. I am sure that if anyone has any suggestions on making this a bigger and more interesting day I'm sure that the CCARC would be happy to hear from you. Well in the interest of Amateur radio in Australia, the W.I.A. has increased it membership fees from $80 to $95 for full membership. Concessional membership will be $80 per year. All other membership categories will rise in the same proportion, except for student membership, which – at $35 a year – will not change. To ease the burden of paying your full membership fee up-front – for those of you who may wish to do so, the WIA is introducing the OPTION of quarterly membership payments by direct debit from your bank account. The WIA Board made these decisions at its February teleconference after many months’ research and lengthy, detailed discussions at previous monthly teleconferences. Our next major upcoming event will be our 50th Anniversary Luncheon at Cardiff RSL on Sunday 6th of April for an all you can eat Smorgasbord at a cost of $25.00 per head. The club will subsidise the remainder. If you wish to attend then please make a booking with Greg VK2CW or Dianne VK2FDNE by Saturday 29th March to register. Also during the month of April the club will use the special call of VI2ATZ50 to celebrate the formation of the club by Keith Howard VK2AKX (SK) in April 1964. A club award will be available for qualifying for certain amount of contacts and each contact will receive a QSL card in acknowledgement. Well that's all the news we have this week. Do you have a news item that you would like read out on a future broadcast? Then Contact Richard VK2FRKO on email address vk2frko@tpg.com.au or give the item to Richard at the club. Now to wind up. Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. is located in York Street, TERALBA - and is open on Saturday from around 11:00 am. Also on a Tuesday evening from around 6:00 pm. 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, a good Canteen and an interesting selection of biscuits.