MOVEMBER 6 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA
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NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING MOVEMBER 6 2016.
IN OUR 21st YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
WIA Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer report after their first week. -
WIAs VK2ZRH on "What do we want? A thousand watts! When do want it? Now!" -
WIA Media Guide. -
WIA directors VK6AS and VK5PAS to visit Melbourne Radio Club. -
WIAs new book, 'Wireless Men and Women at War' out soon.
THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE
OF AUSTRALIA 2016 AND FOR WEEK OF MOVEMBER 06
WIA Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer report after their first week.
At the Tuesday night Board meeting the WIA's new Treasurer, Chris Hendry VK3PAT
and Assistant Treasurer Jeff Tubbenhauer VK5IU gave an outline of the financial
and operational position of the WIA. Both Chris and Jeff have significant
corporate experience to tackle the accounting and operational systems of the WIA.
Chris has had a week in the office and reviewing the WIA's accounting records.
Clearly, the WIA is solvent and it can pay its current liabilities such GST,
Employee PAYG and Employee Superannuation as they fall due.
Unfortunately, getting the accounting up-to-date will be both a challenge and a
time consuming exercise. The sub-systems such as the online bookshop, and
MEMNET do not integrate easily with the MYOB Accounting software. Many of the
transactions relating to these sub-systems have been incorrectly entered into
the accounting software. Chris has found that the bookshop inventory is
incorrectly valued in the Accounts and that debtors, that is people who owe us
money, are too high and more importantly may not have been reconciled correctly.
We now have many hours work reviewing all transactions to discover past errors.
This will take two to three months. Producing an accurate Profit and Loss and
Balance sheet to the Board will take some time. Once we are satisfied that the
accounts are accurate our goal is to have a reconciled set of financials
provided to the board monthly. In addition, the Treasurers are developing an
operating budget for 2017 for approval by the Board. A budget compliance report
will be submitted to the Board each month.
Processes have already been put into place to make sure that all expenses are
scrutinized. For any proposed expenditures over $1,000 competitive quotes must
be sought and approved by the Treasurer. All unbudgeted expenditure over $1,000
must be approved by the Board.
Members can be assured that the issues are not life threatening but there are
significant challenges to maintaining our revenue streams and providing member
benefits.
The board has created a new volunteer charter which will be distributed shortly.
There are many operational issues to tackle and to solve these issues a
strategic review is recommended.
(WIA PRESIDENT VK2ASD)
WIA Media Guide
While getting publicity in the news media is not that difficult it does require
some planning and the right approach to get the best results.
Each club needs a person who will be its spokesperson, someone who can talk
knowledgeably about the club and their event or activity, and suitable to be
photographed or even interviewed on television.
The WIA has produced a Media Kit that will greatly assist with obtaining media
coverage. Most clubs will have least one local weekly newspaper, and a
community radio broadcast station.
In other areas maybe local ABC radio and commercial stations too, or even
regional TV.
All of these media outlets welcome local news if it is supplied to them in a
professional manner. It needs to show them what the story is about, how it
should be of interest to their readers or audience, when and where it is
happening and who to contact for more information if required.
The WIA Media Kit has a template Media Release, and gives a guide on how to
prepare and execute coverage in the local media.
It can be found in the Members Section on the WIA website.
www.wia.org.au/members/promoting/mediaguide/
ACMA looks ahead on spectrum planning
The Australian Communications and Media Authority's (ACMA) five-year outlook
sets out the priorities for spectrum management over the period, with
technology-driven demand in focus.
The plan seeks to meet the ongoing mobile broadband update, and plans for
developments including 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), with the
contributions these emerging technologies will make to productivity and
economic growth.
The ACMA has issued a discussion paper for stakeholder consultation and
submissions on the plan should be received by January next. The Wireless
Institute of Australia (WIA) is reviewing the document to see of it impacts
current and future demands of the amateur and amateur satellite services.
acma.gov.au/Industry/Spectrum/Spectrum-projects/Mobile-broadband/five-year-spectrum-outlook-2016-20
This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH from the WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee with a
further instalment on the WIA's licence conditions submission to the A C M A.
This week, it's about high power. I can hear the chanting floating across the
valley, here: "What do we want? A thousand watts! When do want it? Now!"
I was asked at a meeting a while back - when are we getting another high power
trial ? My answer was: we're not.
A member at a different meeting asked: when the ZLs can have a kilowatt, why
can't we?
My answer was along the lines that the regulation of radiocommunications in
New Zealand is a matter for the New Zealand government, while the regulation
of radiocommunications in Australia is the business of the Australian
government. Each government makes laws in in its own jurisdiction, as it sees
fit. It's an issue of sovereignty. But, let's not go there or we'll end up
arguing the toss about the role and powers of the governor general !
The Spectrum Strategy Committee has had the issue of the use of high power -
that is, power output of greater than 400 watts peak - on the WIA's "log of
claims" with the A C M A since the end of the now-infamous high power trial in
2013.
Many amateurs ask the question: why is it that we just can't have it, like
amateurs in so many other countries - New Zealand, America, Canada, Japan and
so on?
The central issue comes down to that of compliance with electromagnetic
radiation standards in Australia.
The A C M A uses the term "electromagnetic emissions" - abbreviated E M E - but
the acronym E M R is also widely used for the same thing.
Here's "the kicker" - Australia is unique in the world when it comes to
radiocommunications regulation, embodied in licence conditions, and compliance
with electromagnetic radiation standards. Here, the two things are linked - but
nowhere else in the world.
In Australia, our radiocommunications regulator - the A C M A - has the
responsibility to ensure compliance, and every licensee (not just amateurs) is
required to comply.
And there's no use complaining about, or blaming, what happened with the high
power trial of 2012-13. Consider it as water under the bridge. Complaining that
New Zealand, America, Canada, Japan and other jurisdictions allow "high power"
in their amateur licence conditions doesn't cut it - you're not comparing like
with like.
The A C M A has a responsibility to the public, to ensure that electromagnetic
emissions from ALL radio transmitting systems do not present a harmful
situation. In fulfilling that responsibility, the A C M A needs to know where
possibly harmful transmitter systems are located and that such locations are
recorded on a licence.
With that understanding, the Spectrum Strategy Committee is working with the
A C M A to develop suitable procedures under which amateurs interested in
running high power can make an application that meets the ACMA's technical and
regulatory requirements.
Talks are continuing.
At club presentations, one or two people have asked me the reasonable
questions: what experience have you had with high power, and would you like to
run more than 400 watts?
Early in my career, part of my job was to operate and maintain transmitting
equipment rated at up to ten kilowatts. These days, would I like to run high
power on the amateur bands ? - you betcha ! But responsibly.
This has been Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.
A record participation in Victorian National Parks next weekend
Dedicated and enthusiastic radio amateurs will activate 40 unique VK3 National
Parks during the annual Keith Roget Memorial National Park Award activity
period.
But before we have further details, a well-known Activator and Hunter now has
the Award 'Merit' certificate, having logged reception reports with all 45 of
them. John Dawes VK5BJE, through dogged work has now qualified. He says it has
been great fun over about five years chasing operators in Victorian National
Parks. His log shows some of them were worked while he was portable in
Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
John VK5BJE says proving to be the most elusive for him was the Lower Goulburn
National Park, but last month worked Rob Janoska VK4AAC portable 3 in that
National Park. He is expected to also join the Hunters 6th annual Keith Roget
Memorial National Parks Award activation period on Friday 11th until Monday 14
November.
Some 23 radio amateurs will be involved this year to provide a condensed
weekend of portable activity, to allow as many Hunters and Activators to
consolidate contacts as they work towards their Award goals.
Once again Activators are travelling from VK2 & VK5 to support the activity.
Expect to hear portable in VK3 from John VK2AWJ, Col VK5HCF, Tom VK5EE,
Paul VK5PAS, David VK5DG signing as VK3TUN, and Tim VK5AV.
Many regulars will be there too.
VK3ARH, VK3BYD, VK3PF, VK3TKK, VK3EHG, VK3ZPF, VK3PMG, VK3XCI, VK3OF, VK3BRQ,
VK3AV, VK3SRC, VK3FMPB, VK3SG, VK3MTB and VK3XV.
A small number of National Parks do not have an activation yet. These are the
Burrowa-Pine Mountain, Errinundra, Great Otway, Murray-Sunset and the Snowy
River. If you can help, even for an hour or two, please advise the Award Manager
Tony VK3XV.
The current 40 parks will be activated on several bands and you can expect to
hear both CW and SSB activity across the weekend. The callsigns, times and
location are on the Amateur Radio Victoria website which has the rules, and the
Parks 'n Peak website.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
SO-50 Experiences Terrestrial Interference in 2M Satellite Sub-Band
Recently communications through the SO-50 satellite, over North America, have
been compromised due to a terrestrial station using 145.850 MHz, the uplink
frequency for SO-50. AMSAT-NA reports the station appears to be located in the
south-eastern part of the United States.
STILL IN SPACE AND A PLAN TO TAKE SPACE WEATHER BY STORM
We Hams deal with space weather regularly -- but what about everyone else?
Yes, there is a plan - or there will be one soon in the U.S.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Mike Askins KE5CXP says his countries federal agencies
now have until April 2017 to devise a comprehensive plan to predict, detect and
deal with solar flares and other so-called space weather disturbances that
could mess with the nation's technology, everything from GPS systems to
satellites to the power grid itself.
President Barack Obama's Oct. 13 Executive Order directed Homeland Security,
NASA, the Secretary of Defence and the Secretary of the Interior among other
offices, to find ways to be alert to such occurrences, including geomagnetic
storms.
Obama ordered the agencies to find ways to protect or quickly repair the
infrastructure, consistent with the goal identified in the nation's 2015
National Space Weather Action Plan.
Tom Callas, KC0W, who was forced to abruptly cancel the rest of his
"Cows Over the World" Pacific DXpeditions after his belongings were stolen
in Kiribati, has been regrouping.
"I will be in the Philippines until November 25, and the call sign will be
4 I 7 COW," Callas said on his QRZ.com profile. "This unique prefix has never
been issued before, so it should generate some good interest."
He also reports "fantastic progress" in acquiring 3 C and 3 C 0 licenses.
Equatorial Guinea is number 43 on the ClubLog DXCC Most Wanted List.
Annobon is number 35.
The Radio Society of Great Britain has weighed in following the airing of a
"Nightmare Neighbour Next Door" episode on channel 5 that featured an
Amateur Radio operator.
In the program, neighbours of 75-year-old Armando Martins, M 0 PAM, of Kent,
made unsubstantiated claims that RF radiating from his 30-foot vertical antenna
was detrimental to their health.
"Unfortunately, the RSGB was not invited to be part of Channel 5's Nightmare
Neighbour Next Door programme or to verify any facts," the RSGB said.
"We have, of course, contacted Channel 5 about our concerns and have
highlighted the positive aspects of Amateur Radio. We have also offered our
expertise and input for future programmes where Amateur Radio is mentioned."
Critics complained that the program was replete with false claims and note
that Ofcom has never found any problems with Martins' station.
OPERATIONAL NEWS 2016
Adopt-a-Mill in Australia and radioactivate it
A campaign is about to start to get as many mills on air in Australia via
portable Amateur Radio stations.
While the Mills on the Air event each May has been confined to Europe, plans
are now well advanced to bring it downunder. Around Australia there are many
former mills that processed flour, sugar, timber and wool.
On next week's broadcast we will have details of how one old mill is being put
on air, and it will be asking others to start their planning to join it in May.
Now for more operational news it's to Felix VK4FUQ.
All major Australian contests, rules and results, are on the
Contest Section of the WIA website.
wia.org.au/members/contests/about
November 11-14 The Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award Activation
November 26-27 WIA VHF/UHF Spring Field Day
Nov 26-27 CQ WW DX / CW Contest Always the last full weekend in November)
Dec 1 - 31 Annual Youngsters on the Air (YOTA)
2017
Jan 1 - Dec 31 The Victorian Local Government Award 2017 Challenge
January it's the WIA's Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF Contest
Jan 1 AMSAT CW Activity Day 24 hours. All forms of CW are welcome.
Ham Radio On The Ferries 12th of March
WIA's John Moyle Memorial Field Day 18th-19th March 2017
WIA's Harry Angel Memorial 80 meter sprint Saturday May 6 10:00 -11:46 UTC
May 13-15 Mills On The Air
VK SHIRES June 10 and 11.
Trans-Tasman Low-Band Contest 160/80/40 Saturday night July 15 and Start Time
is 08:00 UTC and finish time is 14:00 UTC
10-10 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONTEST Aug 5 - 6
WIA's Flagship contest the Remembrance Day Contest 12th & 13th August
Aug 19-20 ILLW the 3rd full weekend in August since 1998
October CQ WW DX / SSB CONTEST (always Octobers Last full weekend)
Running ALL year 'til Dec 31 Victorian Local Government Award 2017 Challenge
Until November 13 SN 4KIDS
Polish radio amateurs are supporting UNICEF in its fight against child
malnutrition.
It is the intent of the Hams4KIDS initiative to help children in need,
particularly in Southern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, by focusing the
collective efforts of the global radio amateur community to provide
meaningful financial support to UNICEF's anti-malnutrition program.
The initiative's radio station, SN4KIDS, is on the air until 13th November
on all the HF bands plus 6m. For every unique QSO with the station, the
organisers will donate 2 cents to UNICEF. So, the more QSOs, the more
money gets raised.
For more information take a look at facebook.com/hams4kids/ or
www.hams4kids.org
(RSGB)
Members of the Radio club Admira in Romania are on the air with special event
calls YR 95 HMK and YP 95 HMK until the 15th of November to mark the 95th
birthday of King Michael.
Activity is on 160 to 10 metres using CW, SSB and RTTY.
Radio Amateurs of Canada has told us that it has secured permission for all
Canadian Radio Amateurs to use special call sign prefixes to celebrate the
150th anniversary of Canada's Confederation.
National, regional and local events will take place throughout 2017 to celebrate
the anniversary and Canadian Amateurs will let their counterparts around the world
know of their celebration by using the following special prefixes:
CF CG CH CI
These special prefixes are optional and Amateurs can choose if and when to use
the special prefix vs their normal prefix at any time during 2017.
For more information on Canada150 visit
http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1342792785740
(RAC)
VP 6 AH
Active from Pitcairn Island is VP6AH until 25th November.
SSB and Digital. QSL to the home call which is DL 2 AH
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, DA.
Special event station DR777RI is QRV until the end of 2016 to mark the
777th anniversary of the town of Rinteln.
QSL via DL 8 OBQ.
BELGIUM, ON.
Lions Clubs International Belgian Amateur Radio operators are QRV as OR 100 LCI
until March 2017 to mark its 100th anniversary.
Activity is on the HF bands using CW, SSB and RTTY.
QSL via ON 8 ZL.
Rarotonga Island (IOTA OC - 013) TILL November 25 2016 E 51 RR.
MEDIA WATCH
Who and Where are our broadcast stations?
http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
'Wireless Men and Women at War' - a new WIA publication out soon
Fully researched history stories covered in words and pictures trace the
development of wireless communications in the lead up to, and during
World War 1, and through subsequent years and conflicts.
It details the actions of many of the radio amateurs in those years and makes
for interesting reading.
WIA Historian Peter Wolfenden VK3RV and the Publications Committee are proud
to make the book available soon via mail order from the WIA bookshop.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - Video
arvideonews.com
hamradiotube.com
youtube.com
qdg.org.au
BATC videos on YouTube
Videos of the talks at the recent British Amateur Television Club
Convention are now available on YouTube.
Among the many talks are Receiving and Presenting HamTV from the ISS by
Noel, G8GTZ, VHF/UHF Propagation by Mike, G0MJW and A Practical Operators
Guide to 146MHz Reduced Bandwidth TV by Shaun, G8VPG.
See www.youtube.com/channel/UCUWLnUZllytlcCFd93tnBzw/ .
(RSGB)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
http://rsgbiota.org
Island On The Air activities:
NA-057. John, AD8J, will once again be active as HR9/AD8J from Roatan Island
until November 12th. When not he is not scuba diving, look for John on
80-10 meters using mostly CW. QSL via his home callsign, AD8J.
SA-028. Members of the Cabreuva DX Team will be active as ZV2TA from
Tamandua Island (New DIB-SP021) between November 19-20the on 80/40/20/15/10/2
meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. QSL via PY 2 XIZ.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- MEDICAL
IHS = www.groups.Yahoo.com/group/IHSradio/
IHS = www.IHSOFMN.org
PHARMACISTS = www.malpensa.it/iphg
Medical Amateur Radio Council www.marco-ltd.org/
Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) knows that talking about communication can't
just be idle chatter when it concerns emergency response capability during a
disaster.
The Cascadia Rising 2016 earthquake exercise held Throughout the Pacific
Northwest tested the emergency management ability of multiple government
agencies, and the recent Washington State assessment from that disaster drill
was that the area still has work to do to be adequately prepared, especially
concerning communication.
According to Terry Lerma, NHB Emergency Preparedness manager, it was a foregone
conclusion going into the exercise that being able to communicate is key to
providing medical support to those in need when trying to handle a disaster
such as an extensive earthquake, along with the associated aftermath.
"Even though HAM RADIO may be viewed as an ancient technology, it HAS proven
its reliability, dependability and versatility," stated Lerma.
Lerma notes that in any disaster or large scale drill that went bad,
communications - or lack thereof - is always one of the top issues that falters.
Adding HAM radio capabilities enables contact outside the command to keep staff
members informed.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
IARU REGION 3
Emergency Centre of Activity (CoA) frequencies
3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz
WICEN Weather Watch
Cyclone Season is about and northern Hams need to be in the know about curly
wind movements to be ready for activation.
Townsville Amateur Radio club have prided a series of very useful interweb
links to enable you to keep an eye on these
TARC suggest you check regularly the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website
and the alternate ones given in this weeks emailed text news.
http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/cyclone.shtml the Coral Sea
http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/forecasts/tcoutlook.shtml the Gulf of Carpentaria
http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone for any cyclone warnings.
Alternative source for information regarding cyclone formation at
https://metoc.ndbc.noaa.gov/JTWC/ Joint Typhoon Warning Centre
http://www.meteo.gov.vu/ Vanuatu Meteorological Services
http://www.met.gov.fj/ Fiji Meteorological Service
And if you happen to be in the Townsville area this weekend - Cyclone Sunday -
promoting community awareness of the Cyclone Season organised by the Townsville
City Council is at Strand Park 9am to 12pm Sunday (6th November)
November 1st marked the start of the Cyclone Season, but, are you Cyclone Ready?
Whether you are a new resident to Townsville or have lived here for years
Cyclone Sunday is a must attend community event.
With an active monsoon season predicted there is no better time to prepare
yourself, your family and property.
Speak to over 30 organisations that can assist with your wet season
preparations, grab your free waterproof document wallet, have your important
documents scanned onto a USB, chill out in the kids zone, go into the draw to
win some great prizes and enjoy the entertainment provided.
Get there Now, Because Later is Toooo Late !
Find out more at
https://whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au/events/cyclone-sunday
(theTARCinc)
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- SUMMITS ON THE AIR
www.sotawatch.org
www.sota.org.uk
SOTA activations exceed expectations
Last week Ed brought you details of the Summits on the Air, Australia to Europe
Summit to Summit Super Event where seventy three summits were activated -
Now the RSGB have reported a similar event is being discussed between
European and North American SOTA activators.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
http://www.raotc.org.au
Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW with the usual reminder that tomorrow,
Monday November 7th the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club of Australia's monthly
News and Information bulletin will go to air.
This month as well as all the usual RAOTC news, we feature two items, one on
bitumen and the second on Microwaves. What the connection between bitumen and
amateur radio is I have no idea but Ian VK3JS will enlighten us tomorrow.
The principal HF transmission will be on 20 metres on 14.150 MHz upper sideband
starting at 0100 UTC beamed north from Melbourne for the eastern states.
An hour later at 0200 UTC Chris VK6JI will repeat the program, transmitting
from Perth on 40 metres on 7088 kHz lower sideband, simultaneously with a
transmission via all linked NewsWest repeaters.
Numerous local relays also take place. Details for your local area
transmissions can be found at the RAOTC website, www.raotc.org.au.
From Tuesday you can download the audio file from this website. Membership
details can also be found here.
Everyone, RAOTC Members and non-members alike, is invited to listen to this
interesting half hour of Old Timer news and information and we hope to hear
your call sign amongst the call backs afterwards..
Once again, the RAOTC November bulletin is on air tomorrow Monday November
7th.
73 from Clive VK6CSW.
Rewind, a look back on our history
The latest HACKADAY magazine has part two of HAMS IN SPACE, well worth a read
although in their "over to you" reader comments a bunch of ex hams seem to have
that "Angry Old Men" syndrome... funny that!
Now comes word from WIA's Jim Linton VK3PC of an interesting video on ARISS
through the years.
The advent of the International Space Station launched in 1998 as an unmanned
module, and its progression to a full research facility with crew is shown by a
new video. Gaston Bertels ON4WF traces the history including it making history
in 2001 with a hand-held transceiver bringing the very first Amateur of the
International Space Station or ARISS contact.
That milestone in September of that year was with a school group near Chicago
USA.
Both the Federal Communications Commission and Russia had issued amateur
service callsigns for use by the astronauts. Gaston ON4WF says there have been
many such contacts putting schools in contact with space travellers via Amateur
Radio.
His video looks at the development over the years of the ARISS equipment in
space. It also talks about the Ham TV project that began in 2014, and a future
slideshow facility for it. An uninterruptable power supply is proposed to power
ARISS equipment.
This YouTube video of 12 minutes covers the past, present and future milestones
for ARISS. It is well worth viewing whether you are keenly interested in ARISS
or just want to know a bit more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufuyki21G6M
SOCIAL SCENE 2016
This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH with a snippet of social news concerning
Dick Smith VK2DIK.
On Saturday 22 October, I joined a throng of electronics industry identities
past and present at Dick Smith's home on Sydney's north shore.
The invitation-only event drew key past and long-term employees, industry
identities from the 1970s and 80s, and some of Dick's partners in various
adventures around the world.
The proprietors of widely-known electronics stores, Altronics, Jack O'Donnell,
and Jaycar's - Gary Johnston, joined the small group in Dick's helicopter
hangar. Both adopted the DSE electronics retailing model and built successful
businesses. Altronics is based in the West Australian capital of Perth, while
Jaycar is headquartered in Sydney. As it happened, Phil Wait VK2ASD was there,
too.
Other industry identities of the 1970s and 80s swelled the crowd, including
Owen Hill of Microbee fame, Greg Ackman of Mobile One - the famous manufacturer
of mobile antennas, and Collyn Rivers, publisher of Electronics Today
International in that era, where Phil Wait and I worked.
Dick's very first employee, Marshall Gill, turned up; he worked for Dick in his
original car radio business in the late-1960s. Also there was Ross Tester, who
ran Dick's advertising division for years, and the architect of those famously
crowded magazine advertisements, with black and white illustrations and tiny,
tiny type!
One of the longest-serving employees, Chris Ayres appeared, who started with
DSE as a components buyer and survived through all the ownership eras beginning
with Dick himself, then Woolworths and finally, Anchorage Capital.
In his typical ebullient style, Dick stood on a chair in his helicopter hangar
and harangued the audience with his views on the myth of 'continuous growth'
and how the management of Dick Smith Electronics by Anchorage Capital brought
on the final collapse of his and wife, Pip's, "baby". Dick told us all that he
and Pip dreamed that the firm would last 50 years; in the end, it lasted 47.
It had taken 15 years for Dick and Pip, and a phalanx of enthusiastic employees,
to build Dick Smith Electronics and sell out to Woolworths for some $20 million
in the mid-1980s.
In reviewing DSE's history, Dick echoed the words of DSE's administrator,
McGrathNicol, on what went wrong - dumb management blunders, such as expansion
beyond belief, buying too much inventory, wrong product choices and too much
debt.
Dick was highly critical, saying the tragedy was a typical example of
"professionals" that didn't know retail, never worked in the business and
thought that, ". . if a dummy like Dick could make money, just think what
"professionals" could do!"
Unsurprisingly, there was a smattering of radio amateurs among the throng,
aside from VK2DIK himself; Ike Bain VK2AIG, Chris Ayres VK2YUS, Mark Plowman
VK2MP, and Sandy Brucesmith ex-VK2AD and a ZL now. I'm unsure if I caught up
with all those with a callsign.
A small, but significant event.
Now, back to VK1WIA and more "Socialising."
Gold Coast HamFest 5th November
Melbourne QRP by the Bay at Chelsea beach November 5 from 3pm
Nov 6 VK5 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society HamFest 8am (VK5KC)
NOV 15 VK3 EMDRC MEET WIA
WIA Directors Andrew and Paul to visit the Eastern and Mountain District radio
club, EMDRC.
So.. Who doesn't like a sausage in a piece of bread, if you are keen for a snag
and a chat with WIA directors Andrew Smith VK6AS and Paul Simmonds VK5PAS, the
Eastern and Mountain district Radio club invites you to our clubrooms in
Burwood, Tuesday night, the 15th of November when Paul and Andrew will visit
our club.
We will fire up the BBQ from 6:30pm, and the director chat will start at 8pm
upstairs in our rooms.
This gathering is open to all hams, so, come along and meet your new WIA
directors when they travel to Melbourne and see what they have to say.
The EMDRC Clubrooms are located at 13a McCubbin St in Burwood, down the dirt
driveway.
For more information head to the clubs website at
http://www.emdrc.com.au/ or just search VK3ER on Facebook.
We hope to see you on the night. Thanks EMDRC.
Nov 20 VK3 Rosebud RadioFest tickets on sale 8am (vk3pdg)
This is Tim VK3TJC of the Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Club reminding
listeners that the Rosebud RadioFest will be held once again this year on
Sunday, the 20th November.
As usual, the event will be held at the Eastbourne Primary School at Allambi
Avenue, Rosebud, with outdoor displays open from 8 am and the main sale area
open from the new earlier time of 9.30 am, continuing through till 1.30 pm.
If you have pre-loved equipment to sell, tables are still available at $10 and
can be booked on-line at www.rosebudradiofest.com
But be quick as only a few tables are available.
Technical forums will be held as part of the Rosebud RadioFest and topics
include: the SPARC auto-tune high efficiency mobile antenna project, a
presentation by Jack Bramham, VK3WWW, on ARDF Foxhunting, and finally a
presentation by Peter Parker, VK3YE, on Handheld QRP antennas.
The event has full catering, plenty of off street parking and great door prizes.
The entry fee is only $6 with under 12's free.
This event presents an ideal opportunity to make a family day of it, so bring
your family and enjoy the Rosebud RadioFest, the beaches, parks, wineries,
shops and restaurants of the Mornington Peninsula.
See you in Rosebud on the 20th of November.
73 from the Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Club.
Nov 26 VK7 Miena HamFest Saturday 26th. (vk7wi txt)
Submitting news items
A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't plug commercial
traders "on air", but we at the WIA will put your supporters in this text
edition "no worries."
If you would like to submit news items for inclusion in the
VK1WIA broadcasts, please email your item in text to nationalnews@wia.org.au
and don't JUST send url's links but take the time to pen YOUR contribution.
To submit audio read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on
http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/
Remember the sooner you submit material the more the likelihood of it being
broadcast in the very next edition of WIA National News. Each item will only
be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please submit different
slants to keep your event 'fresh 'and always if the news room is to read your
item write in the 3rd person.
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WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.
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The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to
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We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of Australia
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in the spirit in which they were submitted."
Material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, a credit to
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Who listens to radio? A weekly 'tally sheet' is sent to all rebroadcasters
and interested listeners, to get your free copy send a blank email to:-
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Put the word subscribe in the title or subject field
How do I join this National News List? (subscribe for an automatic weekly feed.)
Email to vk1wia-news-join@lists.wia.org.au
from the email account that you wish the emails to go to.
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Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want to unsubscribe.
Send mail to the list unsubscribe address vk1wia-news-leave@lists.wia.org.au
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Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will probably
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and at that point you should stop receiving messages.
National News compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA.
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