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2020 MAY 17 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA
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THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK
Oh... and to contact us with your news because
If It Matters To You It Matters To Us!
Email nationalnews@wia.org.au
wia.org.au click news in member area & submit your audio
Please... If you are only submitting text and not audio, NEVER send
just links & url's but write your story as you would expect to hear
it being read back.
Click the links below to download the most recent edition of
National News, BUT this is ONLY the backup site!
wiaq.org.au/ftp/wianews_128.mp3 (28 megs)
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/ (This is the link
to the original text version and original audio on wia site)
THIS LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN
tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
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NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING MAY 17 - 2020
IN OUR 25th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
Today is World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, the anniversary date for the creation of the International Telecommunication Union, the ITU, and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention.
Under a permanent agreement with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) all Australian radio amateurs may use the alternative AX callsign prefix instead of VK on three days in the calendar.
Australia Day - January 26
ANZAC Day - April 25 and
World Telecommunications Day - May 17.
Popular on air among prefix hunters and others is the AX prefix. The use of a special QSL card with it is greatly encouraged by the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA).
WIA
Not a WIA Member? details email nationaloffice@wia.org.au
OR the link on bottom right of wia.org.au
wia.memnet.com.au/MemberSelfService/NewMemberForm/WIA/NewMemberForm.aspx
WIA board minutes can be found on wia.org.au click
WIA Information.
Directors follow
Greg VK2GPK (President), Peter VK8ZZ (Secretary),
Aidan VK4APN (VP Retires coming AGM)
Lee Moyle VK3GK
Philip Shields VK2CPR
Oscar Reyes VK3TX
WIA Directors Board Comment
Howdy,
It is Aidan, VK4APM here with another update regarding our polls.
Poll #2 closed last week with a total of around 1700 respondents.
Some interesting facts: Whilst most people had an opinion on each of the 6 issues raised, around 10% of respondents had no opinion regarding the addition of Resonance, or the WIA Teams proposed changes, a whopping 14% of people had no opinion on whether duty cycles should be included.
Of those who did have an opinion, 81% felt that no new substantive elements should be added without consultation. 83% felt that Amateur Radio should be referred to as a service. 71% felt that Duty Cycles should NOT be added.
65% felt that resonance should not be added. 95% felt we should use Australian Standard symbols and 91% supported the proposed alterations of the WIA team. This has been shared with the ACMA, and our team.
A detailed analysis will be released shortly.
The ACMA has recently released a consultation paper on the Amateur use of the 60M band. By the time you hear this a new poll on the matter will be released. If you have not participated in a poll, and wish to participate in this one, please register at http://poll.wia.org.au. This poll will be open until the end of May, and will be followed by Poll 4.
Many clubs have begun using video conferencing for running their meetings. As many would be aware, the WIA has made available our platforms for our affiliated clubs to use for video conferencing, video broadcasting, email and other forms of collaboration. With well over 10% of affiliated clubs using the platform we invite other interested clubs to email it@wia.org.au so register and become involved. Please send the secretary and president email address in your request and we will get you up and running.
As has been mentioned previously, the latest version of AR Magazine got stuck in a COVID-19 vortex that required substantial alteration to deal with the many events, including our AGM and Conference, that have been postponed, altered, or cancelled. The delayed edition will be released by the End of May with updated information regarding the AGM and Conference.
Thats all from me, 73, vk4apm
And a quick reminder that the Annual General Meeting for 2020 will be a hybrid meeting to be held on 25th July 2020 at the National Office in BAYSWATER VIC with due restraint as to the COVID-19 restrictions.
(WIA Sec)
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WIA Annual Conference 2021
The dates for the 2021 WIA Annual Conference have been set for April 30th
to May 2nd 2021 to be held in Hobart Tasmania and the theme is Antarctic
Gateway.
Do you have some ideas or would like to see something at the 2021 WIA Annual Conference, then please get in contact with the Organising committee at email:
wia2021conference@gmail.com
(WIA Annual Conference Organising Committee)
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Whilst on WIA Matters we have Gordon VK4VP who heads up the team that compiles the WIA National News callback stats each week with some interesting facts about the callbacks for the broadcast year.
This is Gordon VK4VP with some information about the news callback reporting.
As most people are aware at the end of the weekly WIA news broadcast there is usually a process to record the number of listeners that have heard the news.
The number of listeners is forwarded back to the WIA so there is a
record of how many people heard the news.
I tally this up each week and currently send out a report to the news callback co-ordinators.
The figures.
Generally we get between 800 to 900 checkins after the news across all states and territories
This is made up as follows on an average week
VK1 25 to 30
VK2 180 to 200
VK3 100 to 115
VK4 100 to 130
VK5 160 to 180
VK6 150 to 160
VK7 100 to 110
VK8 20 to 30
VK5 is being bolstered by Bevan VK5BD and his excellent video of the
news he creates and uploads to Youtube.
I also note the number of audio and text downloads from the WIA website which averages 700 for audio and 350 for the text.
In total we get about 120,000 checkins and downloads for the year or about 2,300 amateurs a week interested in whats going on
with our hobby.
The most important task is to checkin at the end of the news so you are counted and the second most important task
is to get those numbers back to the right person via email. This is the responsibility of the callback co-ordinator
that records the numbers and these are then sent to Callbacks@wia.org.au or some rebroadcasters use an automated system.
There is some excellent information on the WIA webpage to help you if you want to start up a local rebroadcast in your area and
also how to send in news items for the news. It is much better if you compile the a text based news item for Graham to
record or even better record the audio yourself rather than just suggest a topic. It is quite a job to put the news together
each week and if there are some self compiled pieces it makes Graham's life a bit easier.
Well until next time, this is Gordon VK4VP.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL, RAC, NZART AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE & the World Wide sources of
the WIA.
Or should this segment be renamed to COVID or Lockdown-News HIHI
In a similar action to the RSGB, France's national amateur radio society REF has made both the April and May editions of its magazine Radio-REF available for free download as convenient PDF's
REF President Jean-Louis Truquet F5DJL said "The functioning of our amateur radio community has been profoundly changed. Many events are canceled or
postponed: trade fairs, meetings of radio clubs, the rules for participation in competitions are changed. Strict compliance with official recommendations in order to protect yourself and yours is absolutely necessary in all forms of the practice of our activities.
However, we radio amateurs are fortunate and used to being able to easily keep in touch with each other over the air and thus minimize the effects of the social distancing imposed on everyone during this period. Multiple initiatives have emerged to this effect : regular QSOs have been set up daily, the attendance of our bands has increased , as well as participation in days of activities and contests, etc."
Many French hamfests and amateur gatherings have been postponed, the
REF head office has changed its operations and amateur radio examination sessions have been suspended until further notice.
Jean-Louis Truquet F5DJL, president of REF
https://tinyurl.com/FranceREF
April Radio-REF
https://www.r-e-f.org/images/flippingbook/2020_04/2020_04.pdf
May Radio-REF
https://www.r-e-f.org/images/flippingbook/2020_05/2020_05.pdf
(southgate)
On the back of last week's report that the ARRL has experienced a 700% increase in demand for assessment services - the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) have experienced a threefold increase of people wanting to sit licensing exams since the government rules on lockdown
Amateur radio has been called upon to partner with the NHS ‘Get on the air to care‘ campaign, this has been encouraging people to chat and support each other and as as reminder there are 75,000 licensed radio amateurs registered in the UK.
What is Amateur Radio?
http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio
Free UK amateur radio online training courses and FAQ that describes how to apply to take the Foundation exam online from your own home
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/april/online-training-for-amateur-radio.htm
(southgate)
In Assam, India, Ham radio operator and police officer - Taheruddin Ahmed, is constantly monitoring the movement of ambulances that are ferrying cancer patients for treatment who have run out of money. These people came to the notice of the West Bengal Ham Radio Club and organised with the help of and NGO for the Ambulances to bring these people back to their homes.
Ahmed founded and runs the Central Amateur Radio Activity Centre in Guwahati. Thisorganisation has been keeping tabs on the convey of Ambulances to ensure they can get through COVID blockages to reach their homes.
In the wake of the outbreak, a group of ham radio operators are trying their best to fill the void in the flow of information and helping adminstrations and police track down mass gatheringsand creating awareness about this deadly virus.
Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/75237881.cms
https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2020/05/04/ces2-wb-lockdown-ham-radio.html
In another ham radio story from India - The Indian Institute of Hams in Bengaluru, has set up an amateur radio station at the war room in chief minister’s Balabrooie Guest House to regularly update information related to COVID-19. Likewise, some HAM clubs from Tamil Nadu too approached the government to set up a radio station at the control room in Ezhilagam.
Professor Jaisakthivel, department of journalism and communication, University of Madras says along with community radios, HAM operators are also helping mitigate the panic surrounding the
pandemic.
https://thefederal.com/features/community-radios-a-pacifier-amid-covid-19-panic-lockdown-silence/
And to finish off our COVID-19 and Ham Radio update we have a funny story - not quite ham radio related however funny all the same!
Recent research undertaken at the University of Munich by researcher Jonathan Harrington suggests that periods of isolation brings forth accents. This is not a new phenomenon and there are recorded
instances where isolated tribes end up with whole new dialects. In fact it is part of language development. However the applicability for COVID situation comes from studies done in Antarctica
with the British Antarctic Survey it showed there where phonetic changes within isolated groups - wintering in Antarctica. It is not clear at this stage whether the changes are permanent.
For more information goto https://www.zmescience.com/science/self-isolation-accents-07052020/
And now for a COVID-19 free part of the Broadcast........
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WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - WOMEN IN RADIO.
News from ALARA.
Good morning everyone, Last year it was decided that ALARA would facilitate a Grants scheme for prospective YLs, or those who wished to up- grade their licences. It was hoped that this would encourage
more YLs to take up the hobby of amateur radio, or raise their level of radio knowledge and also introduce them to ALARA. Currently, this is done by paying half of their study course and examination fees and also half the cost of their licence. One year’s
free subscription to ALARA is also included. This has proved to be very popular and to date we have supported seven successful applicants, two of whom are only 10 years old!
Hopefully, all will be long term supporters of amateur radio and ALARA.
Unfortunately, due to the Corona Virus, we have had to postpone our triennial ALARAmeet, which was planned to be held in Bendigo during October this year. This will now be held from the 1st to the 4th of October 2021, and the venue will still be the Shamrock Hotel
in Bendigo. We look forward to meeting many of you then.
Hopefully, we won’t still be in “lockdown” or “social distancing” by the end of August, but if we are, one thing that all amateurs can participate in without getting “into trouble”
is the annual ALARA Contest. This is always held on the last full weekend in August and this year it will be on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th of August.
We have a new Contest manager, Sue Southcott VK5AYL and further details will be published in Amateur Radio magazine, in the July ALARA Newsletter and on our website at alara.org.au
The Contest is open to OMs as well as YLs, and we look forward to working as many of you as possible in this friendly contest.
33/73 Linda VK7QP
President of ALARA
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HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
Oceania DX Contest
Recorded by Martin VK7GN
Good morning this is Martin VK7GN from the Oceania DX Contest committee.
After some lobbying by entrants we have agreed to try new start and finish times this year. So for both the phone and cw contests in October they will run from 0600z on Saturday to 0600z on Sunday.
We think this is the 75 year of the contest. There were two contests pre-war one run by WIA and one by NZART. A third set of rules in 1937 was overtaken by the close down of Amateur Radio for the war.
Post war there were a couple of VK international contests in 1946/47 but the first VK/ZL contest was in 1948. Hence 2020 is the 75th running of the contest.
For many years organisation of the VK/Zl contest alternated between WIA and NZART.
The rules and organization fluctuated from year to year. Poor publicity and changing
rules caused activity to decline such that WIA was talking about abandoning the contest.
In 2000 a committee of vk and zl contesters took over the organisation of the contest aiming to save and grow the contest. It was renamed the Oceania DX Contest in order
to get more stations on from this part of the world thus attracting people in the northern hemisphere to turn their beams this way.
The committee has developed further with the inclusion of a representative from Indonesia.
Karsono YB0NDT is providing excellent contributions from the many amateurs in YB where contesting is catching on with many stations active. This has resulted in increasing
numbers of participants even in these times of low sunspots.
The results for 2019 contests are now available on the web site
oceaniadxcontest(all one word).com So make a note for the first and second weekends in October join in for the 75th anniversary of one of the worlds oldest and best on air contests.
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Reminder of the VK SHIRES contest over the June long weekend - June 6-7
Trent VK4TS has sent the WIA National News some COVID 19 Rule Variations that include no multi ops, no rover section, repeat QSO can be every four hours, in the 8 hour category
you must nominate two by four hour segments, there is a start time of 00:00UTC and it takes place on ahll HF contest bands (160,80,40,20,15 and 10m)
wia.org.au/members/contests/wavks/
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IARU HF World Championship July 13-14
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TRANS TASMAN LOWBAND CONTEST
Next contest - 17 JUL - and has the aim of encouraging
Low Band activity between VK and ZL on 160 80 and 40M using
SSB, CW and RTTY OR PSK
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RD or Remembrance Day Contest will be August 15 - 16
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And finishing with an interesting DX opportunity coming up -
New Zealand Sub Antarctic Islands (OC-037) Update
The Perseverance DX Group (PDXG) has some unfinished business.
Several PDXG members participated on the 2012 ZL9 activation that was cut short by weather.
After their successful VP8PJ South Orkney Islands 2020 DXpedition, PDXG is pleased to announce their intention to activate the New Zealand Sub Antarctic Islands (ZL9), Clublog #24 most wanted, in the 2021-2022 time frame.
The plan includes 160-10m operation, CW/SSB/RTTY/FT8, with emphasis on 160, 80, 60, 40 and, propagation dependent, 12 and 10 meters.
The landing permit process is pending and discussions with transportation partners have begun. However, the Covid-19 lock down has caused significant delays and uncertainty.
Additional information will be published as it develops.
Questions to: zl9@pdxg.net
https://dxnews.com/forum/forum/dxing/26779-new-zealand-sub-antarctic-islands
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And remember all major AUSTRALIAN contests, rules and results, are on the Contest Section of the WIA website.
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WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ATV
arvideonews.com
hamradiotube.com
youtube.com
qdg.org.au
www.reast.asn.au/special-interest-groups/amateur-tv/
tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MICROWAVES
VK7 has acheived their goal of have 23 participants on 23cm during their post-broadcast 23cm QSO Party. The driving force has been Rex Moncur VK7MO who has held many 23cm Yagi antenna building days at his home.
Rex then started the 23cm QSO parties as a way of getting these new antennas on air. This has even expanded out to 23cm being popular during the day and night with amateurs listening out on 1296.150 when in the shack.
Last Sunday 10 May 2020 saw 23 people participate in the 23cm QSO Party. 21 in Hobart on FM and two from Launceston using WSJT mode - QRA64.
Congratulations to Rex and all who participate in the 23cm QSO Parties each Sunday.
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WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - QRP RADIO
During the week the contest manager Andrew VK1DA/VK2UH let everyone know the outcome of the VK QRP contest for 2020. It was held on April 18 and runs in two blocks - digital/CW from 10:00-10:59UTC and SSB/digital voice from 11:00-11:59UTC. Power is limited to 5W and it is 80m only.
General comment was that it was very noisy challenging band conditions.
Mike VK2IG took first place in the CW section and Lawrie VK5LJ took out first place in the SSB section. Congratulations to all who participated.
http://www.vkqrpclub.org/qrp_new/qrp1_contest_page.php
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WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
New Chinese Amateur Satellites Expected to Launch in September
Two new Chinese amateur radio satellites are now expected to launch on September 15, 2020. The first of these satellites, CAS-7A, is a 27 kg microsat with three-axis stabilization and several transponders.
The transponders include a 15m to 10m linear, a 15m to 70cm linear
transponder and a 2m to 70cm linear transponder.
Then second satellite is CAS-7C, a 2U CubeSat with a VHF/UHF linear
transponder and a CW beacon. CAS-7A and CAS-7C will launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center into a 500 km sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 98 degrees.
Satellite Distance Records Set
Satellite operators are rapidly pushing towards the 7,942 km theoret-ical maximum range on RS-44. The 7,859 km record held by KI7UNJ and JA0CAW was eclipsed on 06-May-2020 at 19:00 UTC with a QSO between EA4CYQ and UA0STM, a distance of 7,894 km. On 09-May-2020, this record fell again when W5CBF in Louisiana, USA worked LA7XK in Norway, a distance of 7,916 km.
Another claimed DX record was also claimed on May 6. This time it was on Satellite PO-101 (Diwata2PH). EA4SG reports working R9LR at 23:03 UTC. The distance between the two stations is 5,128 km.
Distance records for all satellites are maintained at:
https://www.amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/
[AMSAT News Service]
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
www.iota-world.org
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
IARU Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz
IARU Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360 kHz
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ROAR
ROTARIANS OF AMATEUR RADIO
website: www.ifroar.org
email: webmaster@ifroar.org
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/RotariansROAR/
0645z - 0730z ANZO Net 7.118 (varies due to propagation)
0730z - 0830z International net 14.293 (varies due to propagation)
WEIRD AND WONDERFUL FILE
Radio amateurs gather to support the Hamburger Factory
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the Poway Amateur Radio Society rallied to support the Hamburger Factory restaurant on Saturday, May 2, holding a take-out food rally in the parking lot!
The restaurant has hosted the weekly PARS Saturday breakfast for over 30 years and at these meetings, ham radio operators woould discuss technologies, radio communications procedures and plans to support the local community during declared emergencies.
Given the COVID-19 and social distancing requirements - Vice President Charlie Ristorcelli NN3V and the amateur radio society organised take out and amateur sat in their cars and
conversed thus giving their support to the restaurant’s employees business.
According to Ristorcelli, of the 45 PARS members, 32 participated, resulting in “good business and $325 in tips for the employees.”
https://www.sandiego
uniontribune.com/pomerado-news/news/story/2020-05-06/ham-radio-fans-gather-to-support-the-hamburger-factory
(southgate)
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FINAL FINAL
2020 Social Scene
KEEP ONE WAVELENGTH AWAY AT 144 Megacycles
#2MetersMatters
Due to the COVID-19 situation, please check these events'
direct for up-to-date status information.
2020
VK7 - VK7 biennial HamFest November (vk7tw)
VK4 - Rockhampton Amateur Radio Annual Dinner Sat Nov 21 (tarc)
VK4 - TARC Xmas Party - Sun 13th December from 2pm (tarc)
VK4 - TARC Xmas Lights Tour - Fri 18th December from 7pm (tarc)
2021
VK2 - WYONG FIELD DAY (tentative) February 28 (vk4zz)
VK - WIA Annual Conference Hobart April 30 - May 2 (vk7tw)
VK - ALARAMEET 2021 Bendigo October 1 - 4 (vk5yl)
SOCIAL DISTANCING
KEEP ONE WAVELENGTH AWAY AT 144 Megacycles
Reminder from our segment with Gordon VK4VP - the most important task is
to checkin at the end of the news so you are counted and the second most important task
is to get those numbers back to the callback co-ordinator who sends them through to
Callbacks@wia.org.au.
A huge thank you to Graham VK4BB who has given VK7 a chance to bring you the news for the last fortnight.
73 and stay safe from the VK7 National News team which this week was Catherine VK7GH, Mike VK7FB, Linda VK7QP, Peter VK7PD, Idris VK7ZIR and yours truly Justin VK7TW.
Submitting news items
If you would like to submit news items for possible inclusion in the
VK1WIA broadcasts, please email your item in text to
nationalnews@wia.org.au and don't JUST send url's links or posters,
but take the time to pen YOUR contribution.
To submit audio email nationalnews@wia.org.au and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/
We would appreciate items certainly no longer than 1.5 minutes in
length as we only have a half hour.
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 it in the 3rd person. (First if YOU are reading your own item)
A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't plug
DEALS from commercial traders "on air", but we at the WIA will put
your supporters 'goods' in this text edition "no worries."
We cannot give blatant 'plugs' to raffles.
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WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.
TWITTER twitter.com/VK1WIA
Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed prior to
the actual broadcast date, e-mail nationalnews@wia.org.au
Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers you may
lodge a quick reply to let us know you read it, who knows, you might
even get a "cheerio call".
Thanks to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize
their time and equipment in bringing you this weekly broadcast.
Who and where are they?
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to
WIA affiliated clubs and active amateurs residing in Australia and
the globe.
We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of
Australia and participation in the activities of local clubs.
Opinions expressed in "WIANews" are those of the writers who submit
material and do not necessarily reflect those of the rebroadcasters,
nor the National WIA, but IF broadcast, are done so in the spirit in
which they were submitted."
Material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form,
a credit to WIANews wouldn't go astray...
If you have call-backs to contribute to the National News call back
tally then please send through your call-backs to
callbacks@wia.org.au
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.
How do I leave this National News List? (unsubscribe your weekly feed)
Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want to
unsubscribe from. Send unsubscribe to the list
unsubscribe address vk1wia-news-leave@lists.wia.org.au
You will be sent a confirmation mail and must follow the instructions
given in that mail to complete the unsubscription.
Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will probably
receive another message confirming your unsubscription from the list,
and at that point you should stop receiving messages.
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