AX prefix for ANZAC Day

The ACMA automatically allows all radio amateurs to substitute their normal VK callsign prefix with the letters AX, on ANZAC Day, April 25. The AX prefix is popular among prefix hunters and others, with the use of a special QSL card encouraged by the Wireless Institute of Australia.

Among the commemorative events on ANZAC Day will be the former Army Apprentices School ‘Balcombe’ at Mt Martha on the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne. The trades school began in 1948 graduating more than 5,000 Army Apprentices before being re-located to Bonegilla, near Wodonga in December 1982. Former bandsman Johnno Karr AX3FMPB will revisit the site of his former school and be heard on air for ANZAC Day this Tuesday.

The traditional AM & CW event organized by Mike 'Banjo' Patterson VK4MIK will again take to the air for the 7th year. It honours those modes used by service personnel in earlier wars - AM and CW. The Tableland Radio Group of Far North Queensland will be operating from Rocky Creek War Memorial site next to the WWII Igloo, which has been rebuilt by Atherton Rotary Club, under the callsign of AX4GHL.

The Ex-HMAS Diamantina will be operating as AX4RAN from 0300 to 0700UTC on CW on 7020/7025 and 14038/14052 plus or minus. The frigate was operational during World War II.

A number of radio amateurs from Ingham, in North Queensland, hope to be operating from the Herbert River RSL and will be operating on a range of frequencies with the callsign AX4MS.

The Townsville Amateur Radio Club will be AX4WIT from the Club Rooms in Green Street, which were part of the camouflage used to protect the RAAF WWII Pacific Theatre Communications Centre rom enemy bombing. AX4WIT will be operational from 0001Z AM and CW on 7115. Ex-Serviceman Eldon ‘Don’ Bryant will be active during the evening using HF/AM from his home QTH as AX4FNQA.

Nick Watling VK4YT of Cairns will have his military radio set up on air. The US Army radio of Korean War vintage was in use for the early part of the Vietnam War

Hopefully more stations will be also operating and switching to the old modes during the day.

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