Hello All,

Due to a lengthy gap in publishing news articles thanks to an impending holiday season (and the need to have everything done before it arrives), I though it may be wise to consolidate all of the WIA news posts regarding their current political situation into a single post.

This post is politically neutral – neither ORARC or myself endorse or condone any opinion or stance expressed below.  The new articles are linked purely for the information of readers (many of whom may be WIA members).

28/11/16 – Election of Directors – Call For Nominations
Pursuant to clause 14.1 (c) of the Constitution the WIA Board has determined that the election of directors shall be conducted by postal ballot.

01/12/16 – Call for a General Meeting of the WIA
Under clause 8.3 (b) of the Constitution of the Wireless Institute of Australia a call was made on Tuesday November 29 for a General Meeting of WIA members.

10/12/16 – Mediation
A mediation was conducted on Saturday 10 December 2016.

17/12/16 – Minor difference in 2015 accounts but significant 2016 deficit likely
The financial report approved by the annual general meeting at Norfolk Island in May has been checked and it has been found that the annual review and the MYOB figures are very close.

17/12/16 – General Meeting called under Clause 8.3 (b) cannot proceed at this time
On the 1st of December this year the WIA announced that, under clause 8.3 (b) of the Constitution, it had begun the process of calling a general meeting of members to consider motions for the removal of four WIA Directors.

19/12/16 – Claims WIA in trouble with ASIC and ACMA without foundation
Some members have commented that the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has issues with the WIA’s financial processes and is investigating the WIA. 

20/12/16 – WIA Members to Decide Composition of the Next Board
Following the resignation of two directors, WIA members are to decide the composition of the seven-member Board through the annual election process now under way.

For those outside the loop, the above articles are largely in response to the ‘Wireless Institute of Australia Reform Group’.  See their page here for a counterpoint to the links above.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 19 / 12 / 2016 
Author : Fred Swainston – VK3DAC

A teenage boy who is legally blind has been successful at a special assessment for the Foundation Licence.  The Wireless Institute of Australia, through its Nominated Assessors, makes Amateur Radio licence assessments available to people who have a disability.

Nominated Assessor Eric van de Weyer VK2VE said the 13-year old sat the Foundation Licence assessment on Saturday December 17, and was found to be competent.  Eric VK2VE said he had the help of two other assessors, Grahame O’Brien VK2FA and Adam Gardiner VK2YK.

The assessment included the use of several model antennae made by Adam VK2YK especially for the occasion.  It also had Braille text and audio measurement devices to supplement the assessment.  He said: “We did the assessment for the candidate and he was successful in both parts.  He managed fine with the practical test, was quite confident on air, and also with the written paper.”  Eric VK2VE explained that the same level of knowledge under the relevant syllabus had to be demonstrated and assessed.

Any candidate seeking a special assessment due to a disability, needs first to produce a medical certificate that the normal assessment process poses a problem.  Provided to the WIA Office, it does not have to specify the exact nature of the problem, but must come from a qualified medical practitioner.  Inquiries about these assessments may be made to the WIA Exam Service or a WIA Nominated Assessor.

Eric VK2VE has posted all of the assessment paperwork and we will have a new ‘white cane’ operator with his Foundation Licence in early 2017.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 17 / 12 / 2016
Author : Fred Swainston – VK3DAC

The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) continues with its successful Amateur Radio accredited assessors program of licence assessments and callsign recommendations under a Deed with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).  However, a lot of mis-information is circulating about the WIA Assessors and Learning Facilitators, and even the validity of the Australian amateur licence exams.

Recently, the ACMA Deed that underpins the WIA Exam Service has been wrongly interpreted by some, although it had been explained earlier by the WIA.  The Deed with the Commonwealth sets out the conditions of how the WIA manages examinations, the issue of certificates of proficiency and callsign recommendations.

Periodic reports on it include key performance indicators, which measure the performance of the WIA along with its meeting of the Commonwealth’s cost recovery guidelines and the maintenance of standards.  The Deed requirements have been met, the WIA assessments are valid, and will continue while the current structure is in place.

Now, let us look at the history of how it began.

The WIA, led by then-President Michael Owen VK3KI (SK), signed a Deed of arrangement with the ACMA in 2009 to formalise the contractual arrangement, which included that the WIA would later also give callsign recommendations.  After running successfully for some time, it became evident that maintaining a Registered Training Organisation for the WIA was not realistic, due to the high cost.  The WIA brought the issue to discussion meetings with ACMA and the exam instructions were changed to allow for flexibility in the WIA’s Amateur Exam Service.  This means that the WIA training is compliant as long as the Assessors and Learning Facilitators continue to meet the ACMA and WIA agreed standards.

The WIA is not in breach of the Deed, as has been claimed.

Fred Swainston VK3DAC 
Trainsafe Australia 
WIA Nominated Training Organisation

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 16 / 12 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The callsign VK2FDU for FISTS Down Under has been on the air for six months with it operated portable by members who had a lot of fun.  So far it has been activated in VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK5 on a roster basis of usually a week with nine taking up the offer.  The same VK2FDU callsign program will be used in 2017 and roster slots are available.  Maybe the club’s other callsign ZL6FF in New Zealand will join the move.

The FISTS Down Under club runs two evening nets, the CW Net on Tuesday by Arthur VK2ASB and the QRS Net (Slow Morse) on Wednesday from Garry VK2GAZ.  The FISTS CodeMate initiative is available to help anyone learn or improve their CW skills.  See the URLs below:.

New FISTS website: Link  (http://www.fdu.org.au)
VK member volunteers for VK2FDU: Link
VK2FDU log: Link
Club net details: Link
FISTS CodeMate: Link

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 08 / 12 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

Radio Australia will turn off its shortwave service to the Pacific and Papua New Guinea on January 31, in favour of more localised FM radio outlets and internet streaming.  The independent international media organisation is part of the government-funded public Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

The ABC International shortwave services will be replaced by a more robust FM transmitter network and an expanded content.  While shortwave has served audiences well for many decades, it was now nearly a century old serving a very limited audience.

At the same time, the ABC will end its shortwave service to the Northern Territory for basically the same reason.  ABC’s domestic shortwave service has stations at Roe Creek (Alice Springs), Katherine and Tennant Creek, with all three able to be received in parts of the Kimberley Region.  The ABC said the move is to dispense with outdated technology and expand digital offerings.  The majority of the Northern Territory audience currently access ABC services via AM and FM and all ABC radio and digital radio services on the Australian Government funded a free-to-air Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service.

The ABC, working alongside SBS, is planning to extend its digital radio services in Darwin and Hobart, and to make permanent its current digital radio trial in Canberra.  Extending DAB+ to eight capital cities will ensure ABC digital radio reaches an additional 700,000 people, increasing the overall reach of the public broadcaster to 60% of the Australian population.