Event – White Ribbon Coastal Walk 2016

White RibbonORARC has been invited to assist with communication for this year’s White Ribbon Coastal Walk.  Henry VK2ZHE writes:

The White Ribbon Coastal Walk is a free community event consisting of walking the Coastal Walk from Lighthouse Beach, Flynns Beach or Town Beach Kiosk to the Town Green to raise awareness about White Ribbon Day, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

This year’s White Ribbon Coastal Walk takes place on Sunday the 27th of November 2016. The walk commences at 8 am from the Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Club at Lighthouse Beach. The finish is at the Town Green in Port Macquarie. Walkers can start from Lighthouse Beach, Flynns Beach or from the Town Beach Kiosk. A bus will transport walkers from the Town Green to the Lighthouse Beach and Flynns Beach starts.

Full details of the walk and an entry form are available here.

Members of ORARC provided the safety communications for the event last year and we have been invited to provide the safety communications again for this year’s walk.

This is a call for at least 10 volunteers to assist with communications for the walk on Sunday the 27th of November 2016. The bus for walkers leaves the Town Green at 07:30 am and the opening address at the start at the Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Club takes place at 07:50 am with the walkers starting at 08:00 am. The event should be over by 12 noon. Communications will need to be in place by 07:30 am. Net control will run from the Town Green and check points can close down when all the walkers have reached the next check point. The walk is an important community event that the club is proud to support.

Check Points:

  1. Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Club at Lighthouse Beach
  2. Shelly Beach Picnic area
  3. Flynns Beach Surf Life Saving Club
  4. Town Beach Kiosk
  5. Town Green Port Macquarie

Two operators are needed for each check point so that someone can remain at the radio in the event that it is necessary to speak with the officials at the location.

If you can help, please contact Henry Lundell VK2ZHE via the normal channels.

Sunday the 27th of November is the day after the VK2BOR Spring VHF UHF Field Day at North Brother Mountain. Both these events will be discussed at the ORARC November Friday Night Get Together in the SES Building at 7:30 pm on Friday the 18th of November 2016.

The WIA AGM 2017 details released

Hahndorf

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 13 / 11 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The Wireless Institute of Australia annual general meeting weekend is in historic Hahndorf South Australia from Friday May 19 to Sunday 21, with the event now being outlined here on the WIA website.

Those attending the main event will head for the Adelaide Hills Convention Centre.  The theme for this event and associated activities is ‘Inspiring Leadership: the Future of Amateur Radio’.  The location is the tourist township of Hahndorf, only half an hour from Adelaide, within reach of the famed wine district of the Barossa Valley and near the Lofty Ranges.

The event starts on Friday night with an optional restaurant gathering, the AGM on Saturday along with the open forum, and followed by technical presentations.  During this time there is a partner tour, and all will come together for the traditional gala WIA dinner on Saturday night.

The Adelaide radio clubs have been busy organising the weekend, and when final touches are put on the program the WIA will open bookings.  The available accommodation, transport, and the many tourist attractions are already on the WIA website.  It’s suggested that now is the time to make plans to be part of the WIA AGM 2017 on May 19-21.

Pre-sales of history book begin

wirelessatwarbook

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 11 / 11 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The WIA Bookshop is now taking orders for the ‘Wireless Men and Women at War’ publication that details the history of wireless communications before World War I, and in later years and conflicts.  The price is $29.95 plus postage for members and $35 for non-members, plus postage.

The pre-sale period is now available, with a discount applying for orders received by December 21.  The pre-sale price for Members is $23.00 and non members $28.00.

WIA Historian Peter Wolfenden VK3RV has fully researched the content.  Together with numerous additional contributors, the WIA Board fully supports this timely record of history as a must read volume.

Selected Contents 
World War I: 

  • An inspired experimenter and leader: Walter Hannam – his part of the jigsaw!
  • The spark gap signal that changed ANZAC history: Telegrapher William Wolseley Falconer, RAN 

Between the Wars: 

  • Bert Billings XJP, his service through WWI and WWII [The First and Last ANZAC Wireless Operator?]
  • YLs at War
  • HK Love A3BM/VK3KU: WW1 fighter pilot, engineer, magazine editor, explorer, electronics developer, WIA executive

World War II: 

  • “Snow” Campbell VK3MR, International DXer, Prisoner Of War
  • Making ‘Winnie the war winner’
  • Recollections of Air Warning and Coast Watching in New Guinea

The modern Era:

  • Australians at war get a radio station – Radio DJ Vietnam
  • Things Naval

Epilogue 

  • The ANZAC 100 activities begin
  • The Centenary of Gallipoli: The opening address for the Centenary celebrations
  • Closure of the ANZAC Centenary
  • Stories from Centenary activation events.

Plus many more articles previously published in Amateur Radio magazine and several new stories.

The WIA Publications Committee is proud to make it available and after printing the book will be a mail order item from the WIA Bookshop.  To secure your limited edition copy, visit the WIA website via this Link.  Be sure to let others know of its availability.  A campaign has begun seeking a wider market for the publication, including libraries, RSL clubs, and those with an interest of this historical subject.

Purchase your copy today – click the following Link.

Mills on Air event has first Australian mill

millFrom the WIA, original post here.

Date : 11 / 11 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The Amateur Radio activation of Anderson’s Mill at Smeaton in central Victoria in May has gone through its approval and logistic stages, with a clear go-ahead given by all to the project.  The five-storey bluestone flour and oat mill, part of the 19th century gold field region, is on a creek that helped drive its iron water wheel.

The Anderson’s Mill Heritage Weekend in 2017 will have Amateur Radio as part of the festivities.  Anderson’s Mill is managed by Parks Victoria with the free public event supported by the Hepburn Shire Council and many others.

The Mills on Air event run by the Denby Dale Radio Club, through the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, has had only European mills up to now, but that is about to change.  The Central Goldfields Group VK3BI will be active the Anderson’s Mill on May 13 to 15, using 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m and VHF IRLP and UHF Echolink.  Behind this ambitious project are locals Alan and Cheryl Just, and Peter Rafferty VK3CC.  Now they invite more mills throughout Australia to join them on air in May.

It is an ideal club or individual project to activate many of the mills throughout Australia.

There is plenty of scope with old mills once used for sugar, wool, cotton, flour, and timber. Is there one near you? The challenge is to join the Mills on Air event in May 2017.

STEM symposium goes ahead

stem

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 11 / 11 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The Wireless Institute of Australia symposium on the STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program in to take place in Canberra at the Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club.  Fred Swainston VK3DAC told the recent meeting of the WIA Board that the initiative had been well received with 30 expressions of interest, and a number of papers already been received.

The WIA symposium is to look at how a few radio amateurs can impart their knowledge and skills through the STEM program, and help through teachers inspire a greater thirst or awareness.

Fred VK3DAC says it will seek to identify a few realistic outcome projects and those to manage them.  There will be a guest speaker, and is to include a presentation on how to develop a possible teacher resource on STEM projects.

Those attending the invitation-only event on November 19 at the Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club venue, will receive more details next week via email.  To allow for catering, please make a booking to attend by contacting the WIA Office on bruce [at] wia.org.au.

The outcome of the symposium will be reported on this broadcast and on the WIA website.