The Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club

The Sunshine Coast Club is one of the very active Clubs in Queensland having been blessed with farsighted and energetic executives and members for many years.

They have a major clubhouse established in what was the Toll booth infrastructure house on the highway from Maroochydore to Noosa. They have established good relations with their community and have been granted significant support by Local and State governments, particularly for emergency services and Wicen activities. They have a membership of about 100

The Fest at Wombye is an annual event and is one of three significant fests around Brisbane, the others being the Gold Coast Fest in November and the Brisbane Brisbane Amateur radio Club BARCfest usually in May.

Wombye is about an 80 minute sedate drive North of Brisbane up the Bruce Highway.

This year the WIA team consisted of Ken (VK4KF) and Patricia Fuller and Eddie DeYoung VK4AN handling the QSL Bureau.

The purpose of Ken and Patricia was to promote the WIA and the benefits of being a member.

This is about the fourth SCARC fest we have participated in on behalf of the WIA and it really is a joy to meet amateurs these days. We remember the days when we had people complaining about the fee structure, the delays in the exam system, the failure of the Melbourne office to answer mail and telephone calls, the in-fighting between competing interests, the delays in the call book publication. Lo! none of that now. Of course some still remember the days long gone and feel hurt� but even these bad memories are fading in many minds as the new WIA racks up points on the board. Yes it is indeed a pleasure to represent the WIA at these fests.

On membership we had 5 new members join. People are looking for the WIA table and expect to get their questions answered.

The Club had about 200 visitors who thoroughly enjoyed the presentations of both new and old treasures.

Those represented with tables selling gear and promoting their activities included the Sunshine Coast, Caboolture and .Maryborough Clubs and several satellite communications groups plus a number of other individuals. New equipment .was presented by Ozgear who have become a well known supported of fests in recent times.

As usual there were great opportunities that some picked up by quick decision making while others were lost while buyers pondered the pro�s and cons until of course someone beat them to the punch. At ham fests it pays to decide quickly!.

Ken Fuller VK4KF

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