News From VK4/M

G’Day from GraHam VK4BB from the WIA National News Service. As this is written, Wednesday evening here in the Brisbane area we have almost two Brisbane’s! Roads from the west are cut. From the Southern corridor currently to the other side of the City is via the Clem7 tunnel and up Lutwyche Road. From the East and Gold Coast the Gateway bridge is open but that is a pretty pointless exercise if you are wanting the CBD.

In my “other life” as operator of RadioTAB the Racing Radio Network it’s been a juggling matter staff wise moving some to motels just to our north which provides a safe route to the studios. Many of the country network “running out of juice” as lack of power, little sunshine for solar and roads cut to bring in fuel. Our 2nd digital channel has been renamed 4TABhelp and is broadcasting all phone and web contacts from SES to road closures.

Ham radio wise we have received no reports from WICEN itself, some of their regional officers have reported no call out, and the cell phone system seems to be holding up remarkably well!

A touch of humour heard on the Ipswich District police channel, (try 468.850) when one officer was requesting a boat for help in an evacuation was answered by “HMAS Constable Smith to HMAS Constable Jones”…

Our audio news this week, unless the rains stop and the creeks don’t rise (again!) will be put together by VK3DN Robert Broomhead with input by Felix VK4FUQ as the only way into our Jimboomba Antenna Farm at noon was by driving under the police tape blocking the un flooded entry to our street!

To all our Hams in Toowoomba, the Lockyer Valley and to all VK4 Amateurs effected one way or another by this unfolding tragedy, from the WIA, its members and WIA national news service our thoughts are with you at this time.

Let’s face it transmitting on a piece of ‘wet string’ “ain’t much fun”. - Walk Softly

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