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QNEWS - OCTOBER 29 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

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WHY DIDN'T YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


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THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



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VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab
VK4SOA SYD ABRAHAMS 18 AUGUST vk4eka
VK4KCC GRAHAM ANDERSON 9 SEPTEMBER vk7ev
VK4CCF JEFF STINSON 1 OCTOBER vk4zz
VK4FZAK MAREE CHURCHILL 8 OCTOBER vk4djc


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Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

Time is flying thought the calendar this year and I wonder what we can log
as our
accomplishments.
There have been contests and field days and more to come as the summer
months draw
nearer. Often it is the New Year when people do a reckoning if only to
flippantly
make resolutions based on the successes or failures they chalk up. Some
people make
resolutions and actually keep them.

We have heard in WIA National News that nominations for Board members to
succeed the
3 retiring people are needed. I would think that those willing to fill the
roles of
representing all Australian amateurs as much as the members of the WIA
would give
thought to what they wish to achieve both personally and on behalf of us all.

Periodically, I raise the need for more action to recruit people into the
orbit of
amateur radio. Regularly, I receive no obvious reaction or response of
even a dull
yawn for doing this. However I know that there are efforts on line and
within clubs
to promote this hobby by conducting training for fresh candidates. I am
not sure how
many clubs within Queensland are actively promoting training or conducting
sessions.
I and many others would like to see the opportunity given to as many
people as
possible.

Of course, when we have the opportunity to talk with another person about
Amateur
Radio, it is all too easy just to reflect on those areas of interest to
oneself and
not give a broader picture if it is asked about. To this end I have
noticed that at
least one club has a brochure which covers many of the things people might
wish to
have an answer about. Does your club?

Would a poster and brochure to cover all of this wide brown land help with
local
recruitment? Would a press kit help when the media seek to understand us
and learn
it is not just old men playing in their sheds? Would a set of speaker’s
notes help
when a local group asks for someone to say a few words at their meeting?

It is not as if these things haven’t been available before but they appear
to have
lapsed from lack of use or general disinterest amongst those they were
meant to
help. As we know, when the world changes we have to keep up so it is that
these
materials need to be pulled out, the dust blown off and the details
brought up to
date. Is this something that clubs could undertake as they have with many
other
tasks such as managing QSL cards?

I know the issue is that many of us aren’t as spry as we were a few years
ago and
personal circumstances change also. However a group of friends can get a
lot done
when they set their minds to a job. It seems to be a task that is needing
to be done
and doing it from the bottom up may have to be the solution.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

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2023-24 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - OCTOBER 22 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

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DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



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VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab
VK4SOA SYD ABRAHAMS 18 AUGUST vk4eka
VK4KCC GRAHAM ANDERSON 9 SEPTEMBER vk7ev
VK4CCF JEFF STINSON 1 OCTOBER vk4zz
VK4FZAK MAREE CHURCHILL 8 OCTOBER vk4djc


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Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

To all the members of the Scouting movement who have shared with us
this weekend, I trust that you have enjoyed the experience and leave
the JOTA/JOTI weekend having learned some new things.
I trust your time has been well spent and that we can join
up again in 2024. In the mean time, if you would like to learn more of
what we do
please call your operator, your local radio club or contact wia.org.au.
via the
website. We would love to keep our friendship going.

We have been reminded by the media and politicians of how much the cost of
living
has increased in recent times. Basic items like a packet of potato chips
have jumped
almost a dollar in shelf price at one discount grocery chain. That is just
one
example of a close to 30% jump in prices which I have observed. The weekly
shopping
basket is getting more and more filled with store brands and weekly
special buys and
lots of people will be looking as much to the news from the Reserve Bank, on
Tuesday, as they will be barracking for a winner of the Melbourne Cup.

There are the favoured sites that people go to seeking a good buy and
radio amateurs
maintain a reputation for being very prudent with their money. Now, I
wonder how
many radio amateurs have been paying attention to the selling prices of
second hand
gear. The on-line sites that I look over tell a sorry tale to me. The
prices that
people are asking for consumer electronics, brown goods, let alone
recreational gear
such as CB and ham radios seem to go up as they age. Of course we all know
that
items over 25 years old are vintage and must of course be valuable and
collectable
just on the basis of their age.

I have little doubt that some of the advertisers of these items also worry
about the
number of people joining the hobby. I have little doubt that many are
amongst those
who raised their hackles at the high cost of entry by way of exams fees
and the
price of new equipment. I also wonder how these sellers can reconcile the two
attitudes and offer a more economic entry path to aspiring operators?

There are clubs who support new amateurs with loans of equipment while new
person
gets the feel of amateur radio. The Wireless Institute gives a free
membership for
newly qualified hams, if they apply but sadly the person using initiative and
researching their own purchases, in the second hand market, too often are
shocked by
the Gordon Gecko maxim of “greed is good.”

Over many years I have heard stories of various money making ruses used by
so-called
“谤别辫耻迟补产濒别”
amateurs. Buying books at a discount and charging full retail on delivery;
picking
up bargains at hamfest and adding a couple of hundred percent markup when
they list
the items on-line.

I feel these practices are counter productive to growing this great
activity. It
would be wonderful to see sellers adopt a reasonable price regime for
older gear and
demonstrate a welcome to new members.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

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2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - OCTOBER 15 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

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DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



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VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab
VK4SOA SYD ABRAHAMS 18 AUGUST vk4eka
VK4KCC GRAHAM ANDERSON 9 SEPTEMBER vk7ev
VK4CCF JEFF STINSON 1 OCTOBER vk4zz
VK4FZAK MAREE CHURCHILL 8 OCTOBER vk4djc


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Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

What a succession of important events is happening over this week. The
majority of
voting age Australians have been to a polling place and possibly by now we
all know
the outcome of the Referendum. For we amateur radio enthusiasts there will
be a
range of local activities for JOTA/JOTI when we get to share our
activities with the
youth members of the Scouting movement as well as the many seniors with
whom we have
shared time, meals and campfires with in years gone by.

It is a special time when people get to share their interests in a regular
get-together and show what each can offer the community and each other. In
showing
what we can offer we also have the opportunity to understand the benefits
that
another body provides to its members and how it contributes to personal
development.

For the radio ham, the system is less structured and most of us will spend
time
fulfilling personal goals under our own direction. However when we look at
what we
do, it is the growth of knowledge and the experience that we gain in the
vast field
science, electronics, computing and manual arts that gives a sense of
achievement
and also knowing we have skills which can help others as well.

So realistically we can check out how the two approaches blend together to
nurture
the same outcomes for the people involved. Whether we take the words of
the Amateurs
Code or the simple call of the Scout, both our aims are to Do Our Best.

This naturally gets me to wondering how we can extend our contact with
other parts
of the community. The services that aid in times of trouble are so often
in need of
trained communicators.
Whether these be local council Emergency Management Groups, rural fire
brigades, the
Salvation Army which supports those on the front lines and maybe the Red
Cross. I am
sure people can add to this list that applies to their neck of the woods.

Then there are the activity clubs, horse riders, trail bikes riders, cross
country 4
wheel drive contests or canoeing clubs. At times functions held by these
bodies
really benefit from having people who can pass information, handle
messages and
liaise with bodies also involved in the activities. The benefits of the
social
activities is that it allows radio and communications enthusiasts to
practice and
experiment with technology in a safe way that supports others... And the
debrief and
cuppa that follows is a great opportunity for getting to know people and
befriend
them as well.

If people have caught up with the long range weather projections from the
Bureau of
Meteorology,
they can feel some relief in that the summer cyclone season is expected to
be less
dangerous this season. On the other hand, the warmer weather and less
rainfall will
contribute to an extremely perplexing fire season. So it is not only the
solar
flares we need to look out for but also the safety on the ground for this
summer
coming.


I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

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2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - OCTOBER 08 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

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DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?
IPSWICH DID


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



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VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY

VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab
VK4SOA SYD ABRAHAMS 18 AUGUST vk4eka
VK4KCC GRAHAM ANDERSON 09 SEPTEMBER vk7ev
VK4CCF JEFF STINSON 01 OCTOBER vk4zz


It is my sad duty to advise all in the wonderful world of Amateur Radio
that we have lost one of our most keen and knowledgeable practitioners
in the service.

Jeff Stinson VK4CCF went Silent Key in Townsville on Sunday October 1st
2023 following a long battle with cancer.

Despite doing the one step forward, two steps back during his fight
with the big C, Jeff managed to be more active than most in Amateur
Radio, on good days trying out new modes of emissions, getting back
onto APRS and SSTV, trying to add to the many DX contacts he made
over the years on HF, 6 metres and VHF plus getting his equipment back
on air, repairing antennas and getting out of town to do portable
operations.

Jeff, VK4CCF was a member of The Townsville Amateur Radio Club for many
years, hailed originally from Charters Towers where he and Vince
VK4NBS (SK) studied and obtained their Novice tickets. Jeff continued
on the journey and obtained his full call, got stuck into the DX and
new operating modes and occasionally turned up to club meetings when
the family moved to Gulliver.

Jeff had an advantage to obtaining recycled equipment when employed by
Townsville City Council to drive the big front end loaders at the main
Mitre 11 (D-Mart, Dump) and was able to supply the local Radio Amateurs
with much needed materials to make custom antennas and equipment.

Recently on good nights in between treatments Jeff re-acquainted
himself with TARCadians at some Project Nights and Social Meetings,
getting assistance and giving advice.

He was looking on the up but now is transmitting on a higher plane.

Jeff's funeral service was conducted by Charters Towers Funerals
at a graveside service at the Lynd Highway Cemetery, near Vern Kerr
VK4LK Drive, on the Gregory Developmental Road on Thursday 5th October.

Vale Jeff Stinson VK4CCF - Silent Key.

(written and submitted by Gavin VK4ZZ)


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CLUBBING



Ipswich & District Radio Club

Web – www.vk4wip.org.au
Email - vk4wip@...
For a full list of repeaters - www.vk4wip.org.au

This is Allan VK4HIT with news from the September business meeting of
Ipswich and District Radio Club.

First up from Ipswich WICEN – the Pinnacles event was held on Sunday
September 24 with John VK4IE and Greg VK4GJW manning CP1 and Robert VK4KHW
and Kelly VK4KTW taking control of the base station. All went well, even
though the numbers were down with 89 runners in total.

The Mount Glorious Trail event will be held on Sunday November 12 and will
require around 12
people for this event. Contact Greg VK4GJW if you can help.

Ipswich WICEN will then take a break until the first event next year being
the Mount Glorious Trail on April 28, 2024.

More clubhouse upgrades are being planned with broad member support for
solar panels on the roof to offset electricity bills. Before this can
happen, quotes need to obtained and then club can apply for grants.

This next item probably applies to all amateur radio clubs in Queensland –
Ipswich members were briefed about changes to incorporated association
rules.

One of those involves adding a grievance procedure to the club
constitution. Another welcome change sees the club classified as small,
which means the requirement for an annual audit by a qualified CPA has
been replaced by a more common-sense approach to reporting and managing
the books.

And a warm welcome back to our latest members – Rod VK4KPR and Karen VK4DKP.

Reporting from Ipswich this is Allan, VK4HIT.


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Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

Here it is not even summer and we are seeing distressing stories on
the nightly news and our news feeds on-line. October is here and the
southern part of the country has been suffering fires and floods and
the experts are putting the severity down to climate change. It seems
to be a good example to ensure our preparedness for the coming cyclone
season is as good as can be.

If you are short on information on disaster type preparedness, take a
look at Phil Waite’s article in the current issue of Amateur Radio
magazine and perhaps also check your local government web site for
advice in your area.

On another type of preparedness, we are often reminded that we need to
recruit and retain to ensure that amateur radio continues to exist.
The big issue surely is, what is there to attract people to join this
recreational activity? When you look at the situation, there has been
over 20 years of falling involvement in community activities and our
Wireless Institute is likewise looking for people to take on
volunteer roles.

We, from time to time, witness spats of dissension brought about on
the basis of ages and attitudes that go along with the various
generations. We cling to the memories of the halcyon days, or so it
seems, and the more anxious newbie show frustration at the seeming lack
of ambition to grab on to and run with the world as it is today.

Within the microcosm of local clubs there will tend to be a group ethos
that is defined by the people that attend and the things that interest
them within amateur radio. Small memberships of ageing people may find
it hard to canvass the opportunities and then progress seeking
candidates to join but then that is why we have a peak body,
the Wireless Institute of Australia.

Here is the double bind, the Institute has vacancies for people to fill
and it doesn’t seem to speak out to its audience showing a leadership
role in promoting the joining and participation in ham radio. The
perception seems to be that the club sector will take care of this but
the clubs need leadership. As much as the clubs would benefit by
guidance and encouragement in this direction, we, as individuals, can
also benefit by being prepared to talk with people who enjoy the
challenges of technology and science and the art of communication.

With so much available, why is it that we seem to be left to slumber
into obscurity, or is that my mistake? With a section of the community
campaigning to be heard via the referendum process, are we just
acquiescing to the process of ageing gracefully and disregarding the
good we can bring to our families and the community generally? We need
to be heard by our peak body and we owe it to ourselves and those who
might miss out on the pleasures of this great recreation if all that
happens is people sit on their hands and listen to the white noise of
dissatisfaction.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

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2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - OCTOBER 1 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*


VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab
VK4SOA SYD ABRAHAMS 18 AUGUST vk4eka
VK4KCC GRAHAM ANDERSON 9 SEPTEMBER vk7ev


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Silent Key VK4CCC

It is with sadness VK7, North West Tasmania Amateur Radio club
advise of the passing of their member Graham Anderson VK4CCC.

Graham was born on the 26 December 1941 and passed the
9th September 2023. Aged 81 years old.

According to his Daughter Tracey, he achieved his novice amateur
license in Toowoomba Qld in 1977 and his full amateur license in
1979 and has been very active on the airwaves locally and across the
globe ever since.

He grew up in Toowoomba and was a fitter and turner by trade and later
moved to Brisbane in 1978 owning a convenience store for 2 years.
He then worked for Telstra for many years as a line technician and in
customer service before retiring. He also had a passion for aircraft,
having flown a light Cessna aircraft in his younger years.

He more recently moved to Tasmania last year and was very happy to be
welcomed into the local NW radio club in June 2022 and made many new
friends. He was also an active participant in the local Stowport Hall
coffee mornings every week.

Graham was active on the local repeaters and would join in on the
Wednesday night Mt Duncan repeater net, as well as keeping in-touch
with his VK4 amateur friends on EchoLink and IRLP modes, and had
attended many NWTARC meetings, and events.

Graham enjoyed listening to local aviation and marine frequencies from
his new granny flat at Natone, on his daughter's property.

His funeral service will be held at Parkside Funeral Home on East Cam
Road in Burnie, on Wednesday the 4th of October at 11am.

Tracey Anderson, Grahams daughter has invited any amateurs to attend
the service

Vale Graham VK4CCC

(Eric VK7EV News Officer NWTARC)



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CLUBBING


BUNDABERG



Gidday, I’m David VK4DN in Bundaberg QLD.

Just wanting to remind everyone about the exciting 2024 WIA National AGM
and Convention happening in Bundaberg on Star Wars Day (May 4th) next
year!.

It promises to be an amazing weekend! with keynote presentations, a
Hamfest / Open day and we have even scheduled a contact with the Space
Station!

The annual AGM and Gala dinner will be held on the weekend as well as a
Commercial Expo with many exhibitors including ICOM Australia, Jaycar and
many others attending.

The Hamfest will be held at the same time as the Expo where you can find
yourself a bargain or sell your unwanted Amateur Radio equipment.

Also, we are looking for amateurs who would be willing to give a talk
on-stage about a subject you are passionate about. (preferably related to
Amateur Radio of course!) – but whatever your interest and if it’s
something you would like to share, let us know! . (what is your passion?
Antenna design / SDR equipment / Digital modes / High Altitude
Balloons/WICEN/CW / Vintage radio? Your talk can be from 30mins to 60mins
and the subject of your choosing.

Also, If you would like to reserve a space or table at the Hamfest, book
your spot early by either contacting the secretary of the Bundaberg
Amateur Radio Club, or registering via the WIA website later this year
when registrations open. An early bird registration fee will be available.

While you are in Bundy that weekend, you might consider visiting some of
the many great attractions we have up here including the historic
Bundaberg Rum distillery tour and the Bert Hinkler Museum. There is a
nearby Beach at Bargara and many other interesting things to see and do.

We also have lots of great cafés and restaurants or grab a nice steak at
one of the clubs or pubs.

Stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the event.

I’m David VK4DN – From the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club – We look forward
to welcoming you on May 4th/5th 2024 here in Bundaberg QLD! Cheers!




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Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

During the week I was reminded of how far we have progressed in the
technology that
makes amateur radio what it is. Posted on a social media site was a black
and white
photo of a home built receiver. Here were through hole components and the
project
was using the then novel solid state components and all mounted on a piece of
perf-board. At the time this photo was taken, much construction of amateur
gear was
still based on valve technology and transistors were strange and
expensive. Today we
are using integrated circuits which contain hundreds of them and computing
counts
them in the millions.

I then thought about the activities that people undertook in their social
lives in
these years. Things like tennis courts, cricket pitches and golf courses were
classed as community assets and people could be seen utilising them
weekdays and
week ends. Fishing was also a sport or relaxation which captured the minds
of the
young through to the older generations. A black billy can hung over a camp
fire was
the sign of good times for many people.

It was a post from our News Editor that caused this reverie but in the
view of Mr.
BakerBaker it was the pall of smoke filtering through the country air near
his home
and not recollections of more pleasant times of many years ago. I saw that
around
that area the authorities had issued warnings to people to use their bush
fire plans
and be in a watch and go status.

In this long weekend, the weather has been forecast to be pleasantly warm
for most
of the State and farmers are already dealing with what is being called
drought like
conditions, according to news reports. The Weather Bureau has finally
declared an el
Nino and the prognosis as we lead up to Christmas is for warmer and drier
weather.
In a few weeks the official reading of straws in the wind will come out as
the
assessment of conditions for the cyclone season.

There are contests and club events on many people’s calendars and no
longer is it
acceptable to cook the sausages on just an open fire. Back in those balmy
days, when
you could smell the electronics in a 辫别谤蝉辞苍’蝉 radio shack, outdoor cooking
in the
town was likely to be on a specially constructed barbeque and fuelled by
wood. These
days it is safer to use park bbq plates using electricity or at least your
own with
suitable store bought fuel.

At this time of year, if the Spring clean hasn’t happened, now is the time
to play
catch up and make your living area and radio shack as effective and safe as
possible. It seems that it is not just the space weather and solar storms
that we
have to look to but also the more earthly weather which will keep us on
our toes.

The good news is that VK4BB was spared more drama and still gets to ride
his lawn
mower over green grass.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



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-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - SEPTEMBER 24 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*


VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab
VK4SOA SYD ABRAHAMS 18 AUGUST vk4eka


--------------------------------------------------------------------*


Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

It has been a topsy-turvey week on the shortwave bands with the forecast
solar
radiation causing some very poor conditions, if my monitoring has been
anything to
go by. This is one of the thrills or disappointments of the active peak in
a sunspot
cycle; the good conditions can be unbelievably good and the poor are
something that
is best forgotten.

With about a month to go, the announcements of JOTA/JOTI are appearing on the
various internet platforms and hopefully amateurs and radio clubs have been
preparing for this annual event. Like us, the Leaders in the Scouting
movement give
up their time to participate in activities and we have that common
understanding and
bond in promoting jamboree events such as the one currently being run for
the Cubs.
However the international nature of JOTA for radio amateurs gives us the
opportunity
to show the best of our pursuit into the various fields of STEM and at a
peak of a
sunspot cycle when recourse to the internet is not inevitable.

I hope we are able to hold the traditions of joint activities between
Scouting and
hams to a once again successful outcome whether we work from our home
shacks of from
facilities provided by the Scouts.

Then to move along to something that got me thinking this past week. I
happened
across a video on YouTube which showed the adaption of a mains powered
domestic TV
to run on an off-grid supply such as we would use in our shacks, that is,
a nominal
12V DC source. I was intrigued as I haven’t looked behind the back cover
of a modern
flat screen recently. The unit was an internationally known European brand
and the
power supply circuit board had the pads and components installed ready for
a plug to
be inserted.

It really was an elementary type of adaption but the techniques used in
this video,
I felt were far from the standards of safety required. A drill was used to
put a
hole in the metal work holding the rear section of the TV. Fine, you say, but
without covering the surface mount components below the hole, the swarf
was allowed
to fall over the electronics, a simple knot tied in it to prevent the
wire from
stressing the board connection. The freshly drilled hole wasn’t filed
smooth nor was
an adequate cable clamp used.

The reason I detail this story is that it provides a very good basis for
safety
presentations at clubs and training sessions. Whilst not directly
addressed in the
practical tests that many of us have completed it certainly is common
sense to share
what are proper standards when we dare to put our hands inside equipment
and make
modifications. We don’t always need a guest to give a good presentation as
so much
material is available from the internet. So will we take the opportunity
to take the
examples and help others see and understand what safety is about?

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



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QNEWS - SEPTEMBER 17 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

WHY DIDN'T YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*


VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab
VK4SOA SYD ABRAHAMS 18 AUGUST vk4eka

Sydney Owen Abrahams VK4SOA

Syd became active in Amateur Radio after retirement in 1992.

He grew up in Brisbane after being born on 11th May 1927, and had
various jobs in Brisbane, Coolangatta and more. With an interest in
radio and strong church connections he met Evelyn and they raised two
daughters and a son. He became an ordained minister in the Methodist
Church then after 1977 in the Uniting Church. There were strong links to
each community he served and even after retirement he made a huge
contribution to Drought Relief in Central Western Queensland on behalf
of Lifeline.

In retirement he was an active member of Bayside District Amateur Radio
Society, where he was secretary for 4 years, and was a regular
broadcaster on FM 101 Community Radio in Logan. Before moving into
Nandeebie Retirement Village he was a regular on a local CW group in SE
Queensland. His community life was curtailed by poor mobility after a
fall in 2019 and Syd lost his wife Evelyn last year and we lost him on
18th August 2023.

VK4SOA another Silent Key




--------------------------------------------------------------------*


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.


Whether it is for personal use or for the benefit of others, these days the
forecasts of a generation ago have come true. The internet has become the
well
spring of instant information as well as the dumping ground for fakes,
frauds and
scams. With social media platforms grabbing instant responses and
publishing instant
reports of varying quality, video sharing sites accumulating more than one
辫别谤蝉辞苍’蝉
possible lifetime viewing each day and the world wide web stolidly
accumulating
information, propaganda and records of journeys placed in the public
domain, it is
not surprising that this surfeit of information is very much the chaff
when all we
need is the grain.

Of course what I am speaking about is the publicly available parts of the
net, not
the dark web or the private domains of military and commerce. What we seek
to use
has to be recalled easily and quickly and that makes it so much easier for
the
fraudulent operator to get away with their bad intent if we aren’t savvy
in our own
behaviours.

I am old enough to have suffered the traps set for the seeker, the
student, where a
site presents worthwhile material on a subject only to reveal a trap of
viruses and
or porn when you clicked on the next page. There is nothing like trying to
clean
your computer of viciously deposited malware when deadlines for a project
is running
down. These days it is the phishing scams that are played, particularly on
social
media with counterfeit accounts and innocent looking posts that seek personal
information which can be used to hack a 辫别谤蝉辞苍’蝉 privacy that we seem to
encounter
the most.

So what I am getting at is that we all need to use a level of caution and
build our
knowledge of the habits and ways of the internet and those users we
encounter. This,
to my mind, is an extremely good topic to follow up in our club
structures. Perhaps
articles in newsletters and talks at meetings will help. Many of us with
grey or
thinning hair have joined the personal computing age without the level of
cynicism
that many newer devotees display. The experts want parents to educate
their off
spring in safe ways of the internet and I really think it is a matter all
of us
should take on board.

In the manner that marked amateur radio of old, here is an opportunity to
share
information and experience for the benefit of all members.

No doubt as Spring envelopes us we are planning our activities for the
summer months
and into next year. How does talking about getting new members or running
support
sessions for members wanting to learn new skills fit into those plans?
There is no
time like now to get stuck into planning and the better the planning the
better the
outcome.


I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

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QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
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Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

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-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - SEPTEMBER 10 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

WHY DID YOUR CLUB NOT TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*


VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab






--------------------------------------------------------------------*


Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

When we look at the many things that we enjoy in life we seem to find the
most
satisfaction in those that provide a challenge. Sports are a good example
where the
individual has the thrill of beating their last performance whether as an
individual
or as a member of a team. When we look at the myriad opportunities that a
recreation
called amateur radio provides the chances of finding that involvement are
multiple.

Many operators enjoy the thrill of contesting where the battle is to use
the bands
and radio conditions to amass a score and a memento that signifies
success. Others
look to increasing the tally of exotic contacts that we call DX. When the
natural
world grants the opportunity to contact someone remote with the power of a
butterfly’s beating wing in their antenna, that is a challenge which when it
succeeds is a thrill that spurs a person to try again. Likewise when a ham
tackles a
project that is new and different and succeeds in creating a something
that improves
their station, there is a satisfaction of knowing the challenge was taken
and won.

We can look at our club’s activities and see the various opportunities
that arise to
be challenged in filling roles that privately just don’t come up at home.
Field
days, public displays and so many more items are there and getting them
set up and
run the best that you can is a challenge with its own rewards and recognition
amongst the members. Even the mundane things can have a reward of having
helped our
fellow members get more from their involvement.

As we move towards JOTA/JOTI this is something that members of the
scouting movement
practice as part of their personal development. Scouts and Guides are
helped on the
path to growth in ways that many find outside of the normal routine. The
shoulder
patch and the blanket full of patches tells a personal and group story of
challenges
undertaken and opportunities that have been enjoyed.

Amateur radio is in many ways providing a similar pathway for people to
learn and
try new things that spur mind and body to engage in new and interesting
things. The
one difference that I see is that once a ham passes the first licence
test, there is
no true road map to follow. Like the explorer of old we peer into the
distance and
cross the mountains and streams that our pursuit provides. Yes some people
do give
up but many more continue to find contentment and excitement in the
engineering,
technology and science that are the foundations of amateur radio.

The biggest opportunity is perhaps the challenge to try oneself in the
contest. And
like the follower of a sporting code, you may find you are not a player
but better
suited to the role of spectator. That role has its own level of thrill and
satisfaction and you go forward better prepared than someone who never tried.


I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

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QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
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Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

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-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - SEPTEMBER 3 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*


VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab



--------------------------------------------------------------------*

---------------------------------------------------------------------

CLUBBING
---------------------------------------------------------------------


CAIRNS


Hi, Bob VK4BOB here with news from tropical Far North Queensland.

Several members of the Cairns Amateur Radio Club lit up Grassy Hill,
Cooktown, on Saturday 19 August, with our portable station for the
lighthouse weekend. We planned to operate only the one day due to other
commitments of each of us, and we were set up by 10am and packed up by 9am
Sunday.

We had Cook Shire Council permission to operate from a public area there
and to disregard the sign at the bottom of the hill instructing that
vehicles over 7 metres were prohibited so that I could take my camper up
to the top carpark. At first there was just a light breeze but by
mid-afternoon the gazebo was trying to imitate Mary Poppins with the usual
Cooktown winds even though we had beautiful clear sky, so the gear was
moved “indoors” into the camper trailer.

We set up an EFHW 40m antenna in an inverted L ten metres high and a 5.8m
telescopic antenna on a flyscreen ground plane. It was too breezy to set
up the three element 10 metre yagi on the 4 metre high tripod. The four
bandpass filters the club recently purchased proved their worth as we
could at last operate on different bands with different radios at the same
time.

For the first few hours we worked were VK2-3-4-5-6-7-8 and ZL.
Mid-afternoon though saw the DX start up so we were able to have QSOs with
Malta, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Panama, Portugal, South Africa, Spain,
USA (lots of them), and Vietnam. Also heard at strength 1 but no QSO
possible were a lighthouse station in each of Scotland and Wales. We had a
total of 50 QSOs. Not bad for a couple of IC7300s running just barefoot.

Operators of VK4GHL which stands for Grassy Hill Lighthouse, were Steve
VK4SJB, John VK2FUZZ, Bob VK4BOB and guest Mike MM7MMW. We were visited by
the Mayor of Cook Shire Council, Peter Scott, and his wife; Marge Scully
of the Cooktown Historical Centre and her husband; Pat Edmunds VK4MUY, the
only licensed ham in Cooktown though she is no longer on the air; and Rod
VK5KFB who was passing through Cooktown.

All being well we’ll be doing it again next year!




Ipswich & District Radio Club

Web – www.vk4wip.org.au
Email - vk4wip@...
For a full list of repeaters - www.vk4wip.org.au


This is Allan VK4HIT with news from the AGM and August business meetings
of Ipswich and District Radio Club.

The club is in safe steady hands following the annual general meeting held
on August 19.

The executive committee for the year ahead consists of:

President Peter VK4SIR
Vice president Mark VK4SMA
Secretary Greg VK4GJW
And new treasurer Ian VK4LIP

President Peter provided a detailed report on the year which included
noting an increase in membership and repeaters and the valuable
contribution WICEN makes to the club through members supporting events
with safety communications.

The club has also signed a long-term agreement with River 94.9 for
continued use of facilities on The Knobby at Glamorgan Vale.

The Ipswich Analogue Repeater Network added its sixth site on Saturday
August 26.
A new 70cm Toowoomba repeater - VK4RTW - is now on-ar. Ipswich club thanks
Darling Downs Radio Club for housing equipment which significantly
improves the Ipswich network coverage in this area. Ipswich club station
manager Rob VK4AB was supported by Greg VK4GJW, Mark VK4SMA, Andrew VK4QF,
Alistair VK4MV and Tony to conduct the successful installation.

Toowoomba and surrounds can now access VK4RTW on 439.775 with 7 MHz offset
and 91.5 tone.

Seven megahertz offsets for new repeaters were adopted for most of the
70cm band in 2015.


Reporting from Ipswich this is Allan, VK4HIT.





--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

To all the fathers listening I hope you have a wonderful day that fills
you with
memories and brings a smile to your face.

Some 60 years ago, the writing and composing team of Lerner and Lowe
produced an
iconic musical to the theatre and subsequently the cinema. That was “My
Fair Lady”
which was an adaption of the Irish writer George Bernard Shaw’s play titled
“Pygmalion”. Why I mention this is that one of the songs was entitled
“When Spring
crept over the window sill”. After the farewell to Winter that many parts
of the
east coast of the continent have endured I would have expected Spring to
bounce into
our consciousness taking away the memories of the recent storms. But “No”
say the
weather experts with a glint in their eyes, welcome to the annual storm
season.

As band conditions of short wave have been a little so-so recently, it is
nice to
have the expectation of the changes that the warmer months can bring to
our radio
activities. Hopefully we have managed to do the annual maintenance and our
stations
are prepped for the changed band conditions and we can take the
opportunity for some
outdoor operating and some DX on the higher HF and into the VHF parts of the
spectrum. This is where we have the tussle of the increased atmospheric
noise and
the benefit of the openings from the sunspot cycle and other space weather
phenomena.

Of course one of the things that we should take account of in the storm
seasons is
the possibility of static discharges and lightning strikes. Protecting our
equipment
is part of safe operating practice and having suitable grounding and
disconnection
of external paths such as antenna cables and mains and copper telephone
circuits is
also a protection for our families and homes as well. A direct lightning
strike can
not only fuse metal, it can cause other materials to explode and also
burn. When you
have seen people who have been through the experience of losing all their
white
goods from the stove in the kitchen to the washing machine and dryer in
the laundry
as well as all their electronics you can appreciate their angst and hurt.

What I am endeavouring to do is remind us all that it isn't just the time
when the
suburban grass needs cutting more frequently and trips to the swimming
pool are a
comfort, it is also the time when we should check our homes and
surroundings for
things that are potentially unsafe. Many will have seen the video of the
people
taking shelter during a lightning storm and they huddle under the canopy
of a tree.
When the tree takes a direct strike, it seems the 3 people all die. Here is a
message, a lesson to pass onto our family and friends that we should
understand what
is safe in the circumstance and not put ourselves in danger because of
ignorance.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section



VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned
auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
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-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - AUGUST 27 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?
GOLD COAST DID

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*


VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab



--------------------------------------------------------------------*

---------------------------------------------------------------------*

CLUBBING

---------------------------------------------------------------------*

GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY

IRLP Node 6702


Hi, I’m Mark VK4DMH, from GCARS on the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society was involved with radio
communications for the Pacific Airshow last weekend, providing
schedule timing and aircraft movement updates from the various
airfields back to the airshow command in Surfers Paradise.

There were 10 Amateur Radio operators engaged for 3 days at four
different airfields and locations, spanning a distance of close to
100km. Many of us also had aircraft radio certifications so we could
communicate with the pilots on airband as necessary.

The Amateur Radio operations for last weekend’s were –

Mark VK4DMH

Aidan VK4APM

Ron VK4RH

Simon VK4TSC

Jamie VK4XD

Geoff VK2DLA

Ed VK4JEN

Chris VK4CBX

Dylan VK4NFS

Syd VK4TVR


A complete new 70cm repeater network was commissioned for the event,
designed and built by Andrew VK4QF. There were four repeater sites …
Mt Glorious, Mt Coot Tha, Springbrook Mt and a Surfers Paradise
Hi-Rise building, all linked together via 70cm link transceivers.
In addition, we installed a crossband aviation to commercial UHF
repeater on a hi-rise in Surfers Paradise, giving the Airshow Air
Bosses an expanded area of aircraft radio coverage.

All of the installation work took place over a period of weeks with
the assistance of Andrew VK4QF, Aidan VK4APM, Jamie VK4XD and myself,
VK4DMH.

There were 50 aircraft participating in the airshow, with both
civilian and military machines, some first flown in the 1940’s.


Each airfield presented unique issues for our Amateur Radio
operators, as we needed to see and report on each aircraft from
pushing out of the hanger, to engine startup, taxiing, then finally
takeoff. Even though two airports had Air Traffic Control towers, we
weren’t allowed access, so our radio operators had to make best
from airside ground positions.

The third airfield was the Southport Flying Club, hosting 25 of the
show’s aircraft, and within a CTAF zone, which is pilot
self controlled with no Air Services Traffic Controllers. The upper
balcony of the Southport Flying Club gave us a good place to operate
from, with a full view of the runway, and about 60% view of the
taxiways. As Southport was within the 119.0 MHz CTAF zone, it became
necessary for me to communicate on airband direct to the aircraft as
they were warming up their engines then taxiing to the runway. I was
also able to warn any incoming aircraft if there were hazards like a
flock of birds on the field or a kangaroo had strayed in from
the neighbouring nature reserve.

The Gold Coast Airport hosted 11 aircraft, included the small
privately owned fighter jets, the US Marines Ospreys, and three WW2
fighter planes. There was a Special Event Zone setup airside for the
aircraft which allowed our Amateur Radio operators to freely move
about the aircraft and talk with the pilots. Once again there were a
few blind spots at Gold Coast Airport so our radio operators had to
improvise so they could transmit aircraft status reports.

The Brisbane International Airport radio operators had a large area
of airfield to deal with, where the Airshow pilots lounge being
around 8km from their three military jet aircraft were parked, being
the US Air Force’s C-17 Globemaster & KC-135 tanker, and Canadian
CC-150 tanker. Once again, our radio team improvised making use of
Flightradar24 and binoculars so they could verify on radio the ground
movements for these heavy-lift aircraft.


The Surfers Paradise Command Centre crew were well prepared to deal
with the continuous loud aircraft noise from the airshow. They had
noise cancelling pilot headsets connected into their handheld
transceivers, and with only two city blocks to the 70cm repeater,
they had excellent radio coverage. Seated alongside our two
Amateur Radio operators in the Surfers Paradise Command Centre were
two Air Services Australia representatives and a CASA representative.
The three Air Bosses were able to get the latest aircraft updates
from our crew, and all three groups constantly liaised on aircraft
movements, including those aircraft in the area that weren’t in
the airshow.

The Pacific Airshow is confirmed to be on the Gold Coast for another
four years, with an additional five-year option to extend the show to
ten years. Next year’s event promises to be even bigger … more
aircraft and a more refined display. GCARS is already planning the
radio coverage for next year’s event, implementing small changes that
came to light from this year’s event.

Again, thanks to Andrew VK4QF for his extensive support with putting
together a 70cm radio network for the Airshow.

73, Mark VK4DMH, from the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society


--------------------------------------------------------------------*


Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

One of the mysteries of life is how the big businesses actually operate in
a world
that supposedly has operating rules. Most of us have used the national postal
service which seems to be neither an arm of the government or a fully
commercial
business. I recently made some purchases on-line with the hope of
improving my
capacities when operating portable. In keeping with saving the planet was
a small
computer which is regarded as old. For me, the fact that it would run
basic amateur
radio software and give me an opportunity to go digital seemed a good thing.

From when I bought this unit until it arrived for a collection signature

from
interstate was only a matter of days. Strangely the charger unit it needed
and
which was bought on the same day came from another source and took a
further four
days to reach me. It seems that the postal service which is now
advertising next
day delivery in some metropolitan markets hasn’t improved its delivery
times since
I had a Christmas job several decades ago and trains were the main mail
carriers
not road. I see people complaining that they have posted items and paid
the premium
for fast delivery only to have things like documents miss legal deadlines.

The computer has been fun to set up and then terribly frustrating. The
device is in
good condition and performs well, as far as I can test it for my needs.
There is a
roadblock to my plans. Because of its age, the computer runs Windows 10
and is not
really suitable for upgrading the operating system.
I have had a Murphy experience, in that there is a bug in that OS in that
it won’t
connect to the app store to get the software I want to run. You know it is
recommended not to use non-official download sites and the software
developer hasn’t
fixed the bug in 7 years. The one suggestion on their website didn’t work
and this
operating system is claimed to be supported until some time in 2025. Am I
missing
something?

It doesn’t seem all that long ago when our politicians were sprouting the
benefits
of global markets and on-line shopping. I received and item during the
week that,
according to the tracking, took 14 days to reach me after arriving in the
country.
Processing through the postal service and customs and delivery which was
done in
about 3 days is frightening when this is a slack period well before the
end of year
climactic rush. Should we be buying anything we need from overseas now
just to
ensure we will be able to wrap it and fill the stocking at Christmas?

To me it is a pity that consumer protections from major international and
national
businesses seem to be out of sight and out of mind. I can’t seek a remedy
for my
malfunctioning software as I am not the original purchaser. It seems that
like all
of us, I have to put up with the vagaries of postal delivery that when it
works it
is as good as when all sorting was done manually back in the middle of
last century
and when it fails, it seems to be protected by a stone wall of
indifference if
reports are correct. On that basis we should feel sorry for the businesses
that try
to serve our community.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?


-------------------------------------------------------------------*


2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section



VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned
auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - AUGUST 20 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*


VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab






--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hi, This is Alan VK4SN, Remembrance Day contest manager.

The last day for log submission is Sunday the 26th at 0300z.
My internet service provider sometimes thinks that logs coming
to me is spam and are blocked.

Please make sure that if you've sent a log, that your callsign
is showing in the submitted logs link on vklogchecker.com
If not, please email me. Details on the WIA RD page.

I type up paper and attached logs to email, and submit
to vklogchecker.com. All operators will get an automated
acknowledgment when submitted. Success or failure is shown
on screen when the log is submitted.


Good luck
This is Alan VK4SN


---------------------------------------------------------------------*


CLUBBING



---------------------------------------------------------------------*


BUNDABERG



Transitioning from Foundation Amateur Licence to a
Standard Amateur Licence!

Gidday I’m David, VK4DN from the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club.

Now that you have your Foundation licence, Congratulations!! You can
now experiment on a number of bands and frequencies (and even operate
in the world of digital modes!) As you would know by now, having
your Foundation licence gives you a number of privileges and allows
you make contacts with friends locally and from all around the world.
However, you can only legally operate at 10 Watts of power and still
can’t operate on a number of amateur bands!

Why not consider upgrading from your Foundation call and sitting for
your “Standard Licence”?

It opens up more frequencies and even gives you up to 100 Watts of
power to play with!

A lot of Australian amateurs rave about the 20meter band!
(and rightly so!) it is much quieter than many of the lower
frequencies, and sometimes opens up when other bands are unusable!
(Foundation stations are not allowed to use the 20 meter band.)
A Standard licence will also give you access to a portion of the
6 meter band as well! (once again a favourite band for a lot of
experienced amateur operators in Australia!)

The process of upgrading from Foundation to Standard, is pretty
straight forward and easy enough to do! You can find resources online
that will take you through the requirements/ practice exams.
Personally, I found going from Foundation to Standard qualification,
was really not that difficult to do! (in fact from memory, I think
I went from Foundation to Standard in only a couple of weeks!)

The Standard exam process comes in two sections –
the Theory exam and the Regulations exam!

Both exams are usually taken on the same day and in both cases,
you will need at least a 70% mark to pass.

Upgrading from Foundation to Standard is definitely easy enough to do
if you are willing put in the time to study and do some online exam
practice.. (there are a number of webpages you can visit to do some
trial exams until you are confident enough to sit for your Standard
exams)

For more information and to book your exams for the upgrade, contact
your local amateur radio club! – a list of amateur radio clubs in
Australia can be found on the WIA website.

wia.org.au

Definitely worth doing guys!
Good luck and Cheers from Bundaberg!
David VK4DN



--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

I hope that the people out and playing radios for the contests are getting
many
contacts and the spirits are holding up.

One of the issues that gets thrown up from time to time is the growing
amount of
e-waste that our consumer society generates. There was a time when much of
what is
regarded as rubbish such as broken white goods and non-working electronics
were sort
for parts that could be repurposed into other projects. There was many an
electric
motor from an old washing machine that found a new life driving a concrete
mixer or
wood working machinery. It hardly needs to be said that the larger
components from
electronics were popular, too. Tuning capacitors from broadcast radios were
scavenged and put into crystal sets or if they were from valve equipment,
home
constructors looked at re-using them in receivers, transmitters and
antenna matching
units, for instance.

I know that there is still a cadre of enthusiastic builders who keep up the
tradition and especially those lucky enough to live in a local government
area that
conducts kerbside collections every year or two. I see posts to groups and
pictures
too of valuable pieces of gear from computing, industrial and home
entertainment
prior lives that have been saved from the recycler’s skips. There is one
YouTube
creator who has a few years of presentations on items that he has rescued
from the
skips in the building where he works.

Locally I see volunteer groups with collection points for items which
carry a bounty
like glass bottles and aluminium cans and these groups not only make funds to
sustain them but contribute to the cleanliness of the local areas in which
they
operate. My question then becomes, what can we radio and electronics
enthusiasts do
to re-purpose e-waste?

When you consider the ubiquity of home computers and 20 year old audio
gear there is
a source of gold and other metals, if you want to go that route, or
components and
equipment that can be used as training and teaching aids. One of the big
issues
these days is that it is possible to come into amateur radio with simply a
book
learning background. Like many adult learners, I feel that when I construct
something and apply the formulae and consider the design principles, the
theory put
into practice fixes the lessons in the memory. The teaching becomes learned
knowledge and the satisfaction comes with an item that was made and which
works.

From the humble wall wart, the computer power supply to the old sub

woofer with a
good audio amplifier there are things that can be learned by taking them
apart,
modifying them as needed and putting the result to use in the shack. How
much more
exciting is the club class when the learner has a physical reward as well as
completing a lesson on the whiteboard?

What I am suggesting is that for groups that have the basic resources of
space to
collect and sort e-waste there are opportunities to enhance the things
that they
already do, save some good gear and make some money from the leftover, if
possible.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section


VK4 - Redcliffe Club CarBoot Sale NEXT Saturday 26 August at
club house Kippa Ring (VK4TFN)


VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned
auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - AUGUST 13 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*


VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab



---------------------------------------------------------------------*

CLUBBING

---------------------------------------------------------------------*


Redcliffe and Districts radio club.



Redcliffe Club Carboot Sale Update

Greetings from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC

Robert Thomson VK4TFN here.

The Redcliffe Club will hold our Annual CarBoot Sale on Saturday 26th
August 2023 at our club house in MacFarlane Park at Kippa Ring in the City
of Redcliffe.

The raffle prize is an IC-T10 dual band FM analogue hand held
tranceiver. Two metre and 70 centimetre.

Vendors in at seven, breakfast is at eight, gates open at nine, the raffle
draw is at ten thirty

$10 per car boot or table, gold coin admission.

Go to www dot redclifferadioclub dot org dot au for more information.

Thank you and 73 from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC.


Thank you and 73
Robert Thomson
VK4TFN


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.



To the intrepid folk who have enjoyed the RD Contest overnight and those
joining in
to log some more contacts, I trust the bands have been gracious to you.
Sadly there
are times when propagation just doesn’t run in the directions we need or
seems to
hibernate when we need it the most. I did my own level of monitoring
during the past
week and found that 20m lived up to its reputation of providing good DX
whilst 40m
was a more problematical band in the mid to late afternoons.

So in the south of the State the current weather forecast for the period
of the
Brisbane Ekka is still without the promise of the dreaded westerly winds that
normally accompany this event. Notwithstanding this, I would suggest that
if you are
intending to sample the delights of the food stalls or the events in the
arena, you
take the necessary precautions as it is the time when hospitals and doctors
surgeries get overrun with people who came home with a dose of the
seasonal flu. If
anything has been learned from the pandemic experience, it is the worth of
good
hygiene in preventing the spread of illness. Here is an opportunity to put
that
experience into practice for our own safety and that of those we come into
contact
with.

Although we are not receiving the amount of information that we had during
the
height of the COVID-19 pandemic, news from the Health Department is that
there are
still people being admitted to hospital for both Covid and influenza. We
seem to
receive more road safety messages than we do about the current infectious
diseases.

Sadly during the week it was announced that another business serving the
amateur
community is shutting its doors, this time in VK6. Times are hard for so
many in the
community and the desire save money is very strong. It is hard to
reconcile that the
cheaper purchases from overseas may in the long run see a local trader
shut up shop.
It is ironic that the motto thrown out to radio operators to populate the
bands is
just as valid in the supply of gear and components from local sources. It
seems that
we should be translating those words into our shopping preferences too and
that is,
“use them or lose them”.

I will offer a suggestion to the “contesters”, this month, and that is to
submit a
log to the contest manager within the nominated time frame. You may not be
wanting
to collect an award but others will and having check logs is a great help
in keeping
the results correct and weeding out errors in scoring. So even if you only
give out
a few contest numbers, please send in the log as it will help in the
overall process
and in the RD, it might just help your State get more than an honourable
mention.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section


VK4 - Redcliffe Club CarBoot Sale Saturday 26 August at
club house Kippa Ring (VK4TFN)


VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned
auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - AUGUST 6 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*


VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

---------------------------------------------------------------------*




CLUBBING

---------------------------------------------------------------------*

(J)
Redcliffe and Districts radio club.


Redcliffe Club Carboot Sale

Greetings from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC
Robert Thomson VK4TFN here.
The Redcliffe Club will hold our Annual CarBoot Sale Saturday 26th
August t our club house at Kippa Ring in Redcliffe.

Vendors in at seven, breakfast is at eight, gates open at nine, the raffle
is at ten thirty.

$10 per car boot or table, gold coin admission.

Go to www dot redclifferadioclub dot org dot au for more information.
Thank you and 7s from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC

Robert Thomson
VK4TFN


---------------------------------------------------------------------*

Ipswich and District Radio Club VK4WIP
For a full list of club repeaters - www.vk4wip.org.au

This is Allan VK4HIT with news from the July business meeting of Ipswich
and District Radio Club.

In WICEN news - The Guzzler Ultra Marathon for 2023 was run over the
weekend July 22 and 23. The weather was perfect for the event with the
record for the 100Km run being smashed by nearly 50 minutes, well done to
Tim Locke.

A big thank you to all operators who manned the checkpoints, especially
those on CP2 and CP3 who got smashed with nearly 800 runners transiting
through their checkpoints. All in all there were very few errors and no
dramas, so the event went very well. Stay tuned for next year’s event on
the July 27 and 28 2024. Thanks also to Brisbane WICEN for the use of
their repeater.

Craig VK4CJM is still looking for volunteers for the upcoming Lake
Manchester Trail event to
be held on Sunday August 20. If you are available, please let Craig know
ASAP. Email ipswichwicen@...

There are two more WICEN supported events later this year – the Pinnacles
Classic Sunday September 24 and Mt Glorious Trail Sunday November 12.

In July the club welcomed another two new members – Kay Swinton VK4SF and
John Boxall.

On the repeater maintenance front – VK4RSM Spring Mountain 70 cm repeater
was visited by Rob VK4AB, Mark VK4SMA, John VK4MUD and Greg VK4GJW. The
purpose of the trip was to replace the aging and unserviceable solar
panels. All went very well, and the batteries are now receiving a very
healthy 10.4 Amps as opposed to the 4.0 Amps from the hail damaged panels.

It’s that time of year again when annual membership fees are due prior to
Annual General Meeting on Saturday August 19 at 1000Hrs. Check your emails
for the official notice of the AGM. To be eligible to vote at the AGM you
must be a financial member.


Reporting from Ipswich this is Allan, VK4HIT.


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

Have you got your contest hat on?

Yes it is August 2023 and we have two important contests this month.
Coming up first
is the Remembrance Day Contest, or RD, next weekend, the 12th and 13th of
August.
The second is the ALARA Contest which runs for 24 hours over Saturday and
Sunday
26th and 27th of the month.

Well known as the friendly contest, the RD has been an institution amongst
radio
amateurs for longer than most of us can remember. As a way for our sector
of the
community to remember those people who joined the armed forces and served in
conflict for over a century it is also a reminder of the sacrifices that
have been
made in the name of our country. As a mark of respect to those who died,
there is a
period of 15 minutes radio silence prior to the transmission of the
opening address
before the contest starts.

Using the main bands from 160 through to 10 metres but excluding the WARC
bands and
modes of AM, SSB and FM along with CW and RTTY there is plenty of scope
for making
contacts with propagation hopefully seeing the benefit of a high point in the
sunspot cycle.

If we think of the RD Contest as the Friendly Contest then the Australian
Ladies
Amateur Radio Association is the classic getting to know you contest. With
the
purpose of having as many amateurs contact YL operators, this contest gets
people
out and actually enjoying contacts with our often unheard operators, the
women
operators.

The major differences in requirements between these two contests are that
ALARA does
not include the 160m band but it does permit the use of Echolink. Phone
and CW, the
same as the RD, are the ways to get on air and the scoring provides
incentives to
make contacts with ALARA members and Yls especially. So as we bid farewell
to the
cooler period of the year, here is a way of getting active in friendly and
enjoyable
weekend operating.

The links to the rules are in the text edition of the news.





So now is the time to check out the rules, get the logging materials
prepared and
the rig dusted off and look forward to a couple of weekends of radio
enjoyment.


I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section


VK4 - Redcliffe Club CarBoot Sale Saturday 26 August at
club house Kippa Ring (VK4TFN)


VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned
auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*




On behalf of Kempy, VK4BB, who's too cold to do this himself after some
time in VK7 😉

Best 73

JW

QNEWS - JULY 30 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?
THE WIA HELPED OUT BUNDABERG BY HIGHLIGHTING THE WIA AGM.

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*


VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab






--------------------------------------------------------------------*

---------------------------------------------------------------------*




CLUBBING






---------------------------------------------------------------------*



(j)
BARC

or, by E-mail to vk4ba@...




(J)
BANANA SHIRE





(j)
BAYSIDE





(J)
BORDER RANGERS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB





(J)
BUNDABERG



Hello QNEWS listeners and readers, this is Steven Green VK2TSG,
one of your WIA national board members.

We wish to congratulate the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club on their
successful submission to the Board requesting to host next years
WIA Annual General Meeting, this will be held in May 2024. Not only
will the AGM be hosted, but it will be combined with a showcase of
Amateur Radio activities in a 'HamVention'. The Bundaberg Mayor and
Council CEO specifically endorsed the clubs bid for the event and
were keen to secure their town as the venue. There are still
many details to be arranged, so please be on the lookout for future
updates on the WIA website as details come to hand as we would like
to see many of you there as possible in May.

73 from Steven VK2TSG













FROM CB RADIO OPERATOR
TO
AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR?
(THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!)

Have you thought about getting your amateur radio licence?
This article will explain the easy process of going from a Citizen's Band
(CB) radio operator to a licensed amateur radio operator in Australia. CB
Radio operators are some of the most passionate radio enthusiasts in our
community! And just like amateur stations, CB operators enjoy the thrill
of contacting distant stations and also making friends over the air. But
CB is limited to a couple of bands and very limited power output.
Amateur Radio opens up a whole new world of possibilities! Once you have
your license, you are able to use a range of different bands and
frequencies – Everything from satellite communications to digital modes
(connecting you to repeaters all over the world!) If conditions on one
band are not ideal, you can often change to another band depending on the
time of day / and other conditions.
To begin with, it's worth noting that while CB radio operators are not
required to have a license in Australia, Amateur radio operators must
obtain a license from the Australian Communications and Media Authority
(ACMA) to operate their equipment legally.
The first step towards obtaining your amateur radio license is to acquire
the necessary knowledge and skills. This can be done through self-study or
by attending a course. (Your local amateur radio club will offer courses
and exam services, but you can also find lots of resources online to help
you.)
Once you have the required knowledge, you can apply to sit for the ACMA's
Foundation License examination. This exam covers topics such as radio
theory, operating procedures, and regulations. It is a multiple-choice
exam, and you need to score at least 70% to pass. You also need to sit the
practical exam, which covers the basics of setting up a station and other
basic skills. ( Note: For the Practical you need a 100% mark to pass.)
Once again, this is easy enough to do if you are willing to put in the
time and effort! And it is actually much easier than you think!
After passing the exams, you will need to apply for your Foundation
License through the ACMA. The application process involves submitting the
appropriate forms, along with a fee. Once your application has been
processed and approved, you will be issued with your own call sign, which
you can use to identify yourself on the airwaves to stations all over the
world! (with amateur callsigns, you also have the option of applying for a
unique callsign and if its available, it will be assigned to you.)
It's worth noting that the Foundation License is the first step in a
series of license classes, each of which allows you to operate more
powerful equipment and access more frequencies. As you gain experience and
knowledge, you can progress through the classes, ultimately reaching the
highest class, the Advanced License!
Getting an amateur radio license is one of the most rewarding things you
can do as a hobby if you are interested in radio! (It opens up so many
amazing possibilities!)
We hope this information has been helpful to you. If you have any further
questions or would like more detailed information, please contact your
local amateur radio club who will be more than happy to help you with all
the information you need to get your callsign and on the air on the
amateur radio bands. Good Luck! 😊



(J)
Bunya Mts & District AmCom Inc

bunyaamcom.org.au



(INPUTS)
Caboolture


VK4 - Caboolture Radio Club Hamfest July 11 (vk7jea)



(J)
CABOOLTURE SPECIAL SCHOOL AR CLUB





(J)
CAIRNS





(J)
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB





(J)
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION






CITY OF BRISBANE RADIO SOCIETY
COBRS





(I)
DARLING DOWNS RADIO CLUB

vk4wid@...





(J)
GLADSTONE AR CLUB "Radio_Active".

IRLP Node 6246
President John Hinde VK4JWH
gladstone_ar_club@...




(J)
GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY

IRLP Node 6702



(J)
GYMPIE COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS GROUP





(J)
HERVEY BAY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB





(inputs)
Ipswich & District Radio Club

Web – www.vk4wip.org.au
Email - vk4wip@...
For a full list of repeaters - www.vk4wip.org.au




(defunct)
LOCKYER VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB





(J)
MACKAY AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION






MARYBOROUGH ELECTRONICS AND RADIO GROUP





(J)
Redcliffe and Districts radio club.



WHILST AWAY

Redcliffe Club Carboot Sale
Greetings from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC
Robert Thomson VK4TFN here.
The Redcliffe Club will hold our Annual CarBoot Sale
on Saturday 26th August 2023 at our club house at Kippa Ring in the
City of Redcliffe.
Vendors in at seven, breakfast is at eight, gates open at nine, the raffle
is at ten thirty
$10 per car boot or table, gold coin admission.
Go to www dot redclifferadioclub dot org dot au for more information.
Thank you and 73's from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC

Thank you and 73's
Robert Thomson
VK4TFN


(J)
ROCKHAMPTON AND DISTRICT AMATEUR RADIO CLUB





(J)
SOUTHSIDE AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY





(INPUTS)
SUNSHINE COAST

Maleny VK4RSC 146.850 and 438.075 VK4RSN 53.7
Noosa Heads VK4RSL 146.825 and 438.175


VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned
auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba



(J)
TABLELANDS RADIO AND ELECTRONICS CLUB

vk4wat@...





TOWNSVILLE

vk4wit@...
4773 1196 or 0408 001142
po box 333 Garbutt East, QLD 4814
www.tarc.org.au





VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV
SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND ATV GROUP






VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
QUEENSLAND DIGITAL GROUP

438.200 MHz IRLP Node 6964
President: Alan Wills VK4YAR




(J)
VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- HISTORICAL RADIO
HISTORICAL WIRELESS SOCIETY OF SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND
www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/HistoricalWirelessSocietyOfSouthEastQueensland/





VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- LEARN OUR CRAFT
RADIO AND ELECTRONICS SCHOOL






(input)
VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- NOELS NUTTY CAMPERS







(input)
VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VHF
BRISBANE VHF GROUP






VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- WICEN





ALARA - SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS









--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.


One of the hallmarks of amateur radio over the years has been its capacity
for
adaption and innovation. Before the world had sliced bread from the
supermarket or
corner store, bread came in unsliced loaves which had to be sliced before
use. The
term breadboard has become well known from the early days of valves and
batteries
and stays with us today as a building platform sold ready to insert
components.

I remember seeing a 2 metre transmitter and receiver both built on metal
cake tins
bought at the local shopping centre. This was a convenient way to get a
strong pair
of chassis for some home brew projects published by the ARRL. Vertical
loop antennas
called cubical quads became popular but the mechanics of construction
presented some
issues, especially for the short wave bands. From the tropics and
subtropics, bamboo
became a sought after material for making these directional loops. Today
we can
purchase ready made synthetic composites from the local hardware or from
sporting
stores in the fishing section, for instance.

What shack would be classed as complete without a termination for the antenna
socket, the proverbial dummy load? Back in time, the more expensive
incandescent
lamps using a carbon filaments instead of tungsten were sought after as they
provided a great tuning aid for valve based transmitters. Some people even
went to
the extent of using rare gas lamps mounted across the antenna terminals
for a more
precise visual aid.

So it is these days with so many people joining the amateur ranks and
growing up in
the age of disposable consumerism that off the shelf solutions are seen as
the way
to build one’s station. Yet there are still the opportunities to adapt and
innovate
with bits and pieces not designed for electronics or radio. Over 100 years
ago the
first patents for using a living, growing tree as a radio antenna were
granted,
towards the end of the First World War. Our magazine, Amateur Radio, has
carried
articles on doing this some years ago.

One feature of the semiconductor age has been the reduction in size and
weight of
commercially available gear. This has given rise to more frequent portable
operations from tops of hills, gazetted parks, the surrounds of
lighthouses and
grain silos to mention a few operating venues. The lightweight but
inherently strong
squid pole has seen the development of specific collapsible masts which
can be
comfortably transported and easily erected from such places.

I have specific needs and my variant has been to use some recycled
fibreglass poles
to extend a multisection tapered support from an advertising flag. Join
this with a
speaker tripod stand and strap it to a copper earth rod and lo and behold,
there is
the basis for a simple vertical wire antenna. Currently I have a
non-resonant OCF
which is tuning nicely and bringing in the signals.

What I am suggesting is that there are ways of doing things which have
been proven
before. Dry bamboo could be cheaper than a fibreglass pole. Just let the
mind go
free and see what you can come up with and add another level to your
recreation.


I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section


VK4 - Redcliffe Club CarBoot Sale Saturday 26 August at
club house Kippa Ring (VK4TFN)


VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned
auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - JULY 23 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?
BUNYA and REDCLIFFE DID.

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*


VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab



--------------------------------------------------------------------*

---------------------------------------------------------------------*

CLUBBING


---------------------------------------------------------------------*

Bunya Mts & District AmCom Inc

bunyaamcom.org.au

G'day this is VK4GRB Gary of the BUNYA MOUNTAIN AND DISTRICT AMATEUR
RADIO CLUB , On the 15th of July the ABC Southern Queensland Radio
Station held a interview with Jake VK4JRA , The Publicity Officer
and Vice-president explaining what the Hobby of Amateur radio is and
Some Club History of the Bunya Mountain and District Amateur Radio
Club , A Link is below of the entire Radio interview. This is
VK4GRB GARY At Fairyland for the Bunya Mountain and District Amateur
Radio Club. 73

youtu.be/6WhrKiGnZFI


Redcliffe and Districts radio club.


Redcliffe Club Carboot Sale
Greetings from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC
Robert Thomson VK4TFN here.
The Redcliffe Club will hold our Annual CarBoot Sale
on Saturday 26th August 2023 at our club house at Kippa Ring in the
City of Redcliffe.
Vendors in at seven, breakfast is at eight, gates open at nine, the raffle
is at ten thirty
$10 per car boot or table, gold coin admission.
Go to www dot redclifferadioclub dot org dot au for more information.
Thank you and 73's from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC

Thank you and 73's
Robert Thomson
VK4TFN


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

It is good news that the ACMA has granted the holders of Standard Licences
access to
the whole 6m band. Whilst there have been many amateurs seeking this right
for some
years it is still a mystery why we haven’t managed to grant access to a
similar
range of frequencies to our Foundation Licensees. Within a pursuit that
internationally is defined as a self education activity, this seems to
defy the
logic of life long learning.

I know that many old timers and self appointed gurus tenaciously cling to
the idea
that restricting operators both by power levels and modes as well as band
access
provides some sort of incentive to work towards a so-called higher level of
qualification. Certainly we can see this is the case with the transition
from the CB
band into amateur radio where the former is tightly proscribed in its
operations and
the latter is given more latitude. One is based on having type approved
equipment
and the other can only be accessed by being assessed as to competency.

For several years now, the United Kingdom has permitted holders of Foundation
Licences to operate on many more bands and just to prove to the naysayers and
critics in this country, the sky has not fallen in. Indeed for those
people who
pursue their interests in amateur radio, the capacity to experience the
various
differences between bands and modes is the real incentive to seek more
operating
privileges. The connotation that goes with tests and examinations is more
likely to
be negative and for a recreation that we want to pursue and expand this very
implication will surely be a disincentive.

Sadly there hasn’t been too much promotion of AR in the past few years
because of
various circumstances but now as we feel a sense of normality returning,
we have a
great opportunity to expand out thinking and go along the recruitment
path. When we
look around, the members of this hobby seem to be using up more of the
world supply
of grey hair dye or perhaps it is a sign of Nature’s progress amongst our
members.
With ageing comes the natural loss of numbers and this issue that we face.

I realise that it becomes harder for many people to continue life at a
previously
achieved level but without having more people joining the ranks we face
history like
dinosaurs and dodo birds. What we need is a pathway to follow that not
only attracts
people to get a licence but to also stay involved and get the greatest
benefit of
what hams and ham radio has to offer. What we need is a focused approach
from us as
individuals and guidance and support from those who represent us. Then
with the
impending changes to licensing conditions we hopefully will see an
expansion in
activities that are available to all members of the amateur radio
community and not
just the few.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section

Redcliffe Club will hold our Annual CarBoot Sale
on Saturday 26th August 2023 at club house at Kippa Ring

VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned
auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - JULY 16 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK? BRISBANE AMATEUR
RADIO CLUB and IPSWICH AND DISTRICT AMATEUR RADIO CLUB DID.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*


VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY
VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab


Peter VK4OD and his previous call of VK4JPH (just pot holes) passed
after a heart attack Monday around noon July 10.

Peter was a WIAQ board member when I started QNEWS (which morphed into the
WIA NATIONAL NEWS) and when we first used the internet to disperse the
news was the guy who would encode my audio cassette into an audio format
for the fledging INTERNET.

The "JUST POT HOLES" came from an infamous trip to Rockhampton where he
ferried the WIAQ board to a 'central' gathering and we all reckon he found
EVERY pothole on the old Bruce HiWay.

Peter's Service will be held THURSDAY JULY 20 at 1:30pm in Browns Plains
Logan. Swanborough Funerals 10/59 Eastern Road Browns Plains


And thanks to his God Son Andy VK4BAB for this sad info.

GraHam VK4BB







--------------------------------------------------------------------*

---------------------------------------------------------------------*




CLUBBING






---------------------------------------------------------------------*



(j)
BARC

or, by E-mail to vk4ba@...

Hello, this is VK4CEG Graham.

VK4BA the Brisbane Amateur Radio Club station established clear voice
contact with S77SARA, the Seychelles Amateur Radio Association
station on 8 July 2023 using 15 meters.

We have been working towards this goal for some considerable time
using WSPR and other ionospheric prediction tools to establish a
time and frequency that suits both groups as there is a 6 hour
time difference. VK4BA was using an Icom 7300 with a 3 element
Steppir antenna and S77SARA was using an Optibeam multi element
antenna.

S77RP Rick, and VK4MWL Michael were on the microphones for this
attempt but everyone was very excited as this has been a very
difficult path with many people from both clubs involved in the
attempt.

73 from VK4CEG Graham for the Brisbane Amateur Radio Club.





Ipswich & District Radio Club

Web – www.vk4wip.org.au
Email - vk4wip@...
For a full list of repeaters - www.vk4wip.org.au

This is Allan VK4HIT with news from the June business meeting of Ipswich
and District Radio Club.

Firstly, in WICEN news - the Guzzler Ultra Marathon is approaching on July
23 and 24. All those who have volunteered their time have been allocated
to the various checkpoints and should have received instructions via email
from Greg VK4GJW. If there are any major changes, members will be notified
ASAP.

Craig VK4CJM is looking for volunteers for the upcoming
Lake Manchester Trail on Sunday August 20. If you are available,
please let Craig know as soon as possible.

There are two more WICEN events later this year – the Pinnacles Classic
Sunday September 24 and Mt Glorious Trail Sunday November 14.

Please consider helping at our WICEN events if you can. This extends to
all amateurs in southeast Queensland. Email ipswichwicen@...

Our club keeps welcoming new members – In June VK4ABS Sean Carley became
the club’s newest licenced member. We also welcomed Byres to the club as
an associate member.

It’s that time of year again when annual membership fees are due prior to
Annual General Meeting on Saturday August 19 at 1000Hrs. Check your emails
for the official notice of the AGM. To be eligible to vote at the AGM you
must be a financial member, and as such membership renewals are due on
August 1.


Reporting from Ipswich this is Allan, VK4HIT.









--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.


Well it would appear that Winter has caught up to VK4 at last. What a time
it is to
have consistently cooler weather only matched by higher costs for electricity
supplied to the home. It is either ironic or unbearable as we see the
current world
wide increase in living costs. What a great opportunity to invest in QRP
operations!

I have been mulling over my own attitudes to the various sources of
information that
relate to my peculiar amateur radio interests. These days, I turn to the
various
internet sources if I don’t have a ready solution at hand or the right
book isn’t
sitting on the shelf. Some time ago I made mention of a rather prolific
presenter of
video material who, in my opinion, blotted his copybook, by getting some
inexperienced people to undertake a construction project without using the
various
materials provided by the supplier. Here was someone who publishes in
various media
on technical topics and against what most would class as good practice,
has novices
go blindly into a project.

I have reflected periodically on my bias against this author and whether I
should
stop ignoring his material. I really haven’t made a firm decision yet as
when we are
confronted with poor or wrong information or given results that are based
on poor
technique, it leaves a lingering doubt. I know that some of the text books,
affectionately dubbed as the bibles, which have been produced have printed
information which has been corrected or deleted in subsequent editions. I
still have
copies of these manuals on my bookcase. So is it right that I still doubt
that I can
completely trust this other writer?

Here is the issue, major publications are usually well resourced with editors
overseeing writers and peers reviewing the drafts before they are sent off
to the
publisher. Individuals have to provide this scrutiny and verification
before it gets
drafted in a form that can be published. I once drafted and article which I
forwarded off for a review. I used material from sources which I would
reference in
the final article. Somehow, the review never happened and the draft with
all its
copyright material went to print, much to my embarrassment. Obviously the
material
was thought acceptable but normal editorial practices failed and put egg
on some
faces, mine included.

What I am driving at is the fact we all need to have some way of getting our
information that isn’t going to lead us in wrong directions and the
practice of
mentoring or as our US cousins call it, “elmering”, can be a good start.
It is not
to say that our guide will always get the facts right but the lived
experience will
have shown where traps are and what hints and kinks can make things simpler.

As we get the opportunity to help people into a full enjoyment of ham
radio, it is
something to consider whether what we are doing is the right thing for
ourselves and
is it correct for those we tell?

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section



VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned
auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - JULY 9 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?
BUNDABERG AND CAIRNS DID.

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



---------------------------------------------------------------------*




CLUBBING






---------------------------------------------------------------------*



(J)
BUNDABERG



Gidday - I'm David VK4DN

The Bundy radio club have some exciting news to share!!
Our club has been selected to host the annual National WIA
Convention / AGM May 4 and 5 2024 up here in Bundaberg!
The event promises to be an amazing weekend full of interesting
activities for kids of all ages.

We will hold our "HamFest 2.0" / Commercial industry Expo which will
be 10 times the size of the HamFest we held in April this year!
Icom Australia will be there and many others to be confirmed-
We will take the opportunity to have another Open Day / Show and Tell
showcasing our hobby and our club to the local community and
visitors.

The weekend will include a keynote speaker and open Forum as well as
a formal dinner and of course, the WIA AGM.. More details to follow!

Hope you can join us on Saturday / Sunday May 4th / 5th 2024!

Bye for now - From Bundaberg - I'm David VK4DN




(J)
CAIRNS


(J)
TABLELANDS RADIO AND ELECTRONICS CLUB

vk4wat@...




News from the Tropics, up in Far North Queensland

The first recent combined Cairns Amateur Radio Club and Tablelands Radio
and Electronics Club outing was a great success. We started with a group
briefing at the Atherton emergency services depot before heading out in
various vehicles to our two locations.

We had six members at the Lake Eacham site, only thirty metres from the
water’s edge. We set up in a public area with lots of walkers, swimmers
(yes, in June up here in Far North Queensland), picnickers and one young
lady wearing a barely-there bikini who caused a short break in
transmissions. The public location meant that we had to be very careful
with our antenna so erected a 40 metre end-fed half wave wire strung up
through one tree to another tree. Not ideal but it worked. Our IC-7300 fed
into an RM Italy linear putting out about 200 watts. The mike was passed
between each of the hams to get their tally of QSOs up to ten for the VKFF
award. Stu, VK4SDD, had arranged to have the VI10VKFF special event
callsign for the day, it got lots of attention not the least caused by the
mouthful! Being in a valley, the operators had to work for their QSOs but
managed contacts with all call areas from VK1 to VK7 plus ZL.

Our other group of 7 members headed up to Gillies Lookout. Fortunately
four wheel drives are the vehicles of choice up here in Far North
Queensland so once we turned off the wonderfully-named Boar Pocket Road
onto the muddy narrow track up the hill, amusingly referred to as Madigan
Road on the map, it wasn’t too hard, just engage 4WD low and off you go.
There was only one challenging section to drop a wheel into a hole while
catching the diff on the peak, otherwise it was mind-the-ruts, keep going
forwards gently and minimise wheel slip. The chosen location was just back
from the removable fence where hang gliders sometimes launch themselves.
The view from there is nothing short of sensational, at 600 metres ASL
looking over a valley to other peaks in the Great Dividing Range. Of
course this amazing location meant it was cool, constantly windy and
drizzly.

Antenna construction was no problem, with lots of suitable trees for
another 40 metre end fed half wave, and a 10 metre three element Yagi on a
4 metre high tripod. The equipment was also an IC-7300 driving an RM Italy
linear for 200 watts out. This group had more luck with contacts and had
quite a few pile-ups, with over a hundred QSOs. As they say in real estate
and ham radio, “location location location”!

Around lunchtime the Lake Eacham crew packed up as the rain started, and
headed off for the 30 minute drive to join the others at the Gillies
Lookout. About 3pm the equipment was packed up as was the large 6x3 gazebo
with side wall, fortunately, brought by Ben ex VK4UMB now VK4YT. Then we
all gingerly made our way back down in 4WD low, successfully avoiding any
sliding off the track into the greenery.

We used the Millaa Millaa repeater south of both locations for comms
between our two groups as the 20km driving distance between us included
many hills meaning direct two metres comms didn’t work.

All thirteen of us had a great day out in the country, had fun playing HF
radio and meeting each other. We are definitely going to do it again!
Operators were:
Mark VK4JU, Stu VK4SDD, Mike VK3XFX, Dave VK4DNF, Ben VK4UMB, John
VK2FUZZ, Fred VK4FE, Steve VK4SJB, Bob VK4ABI, Bryan VK4BDD, Tony VK4AER,
Tony VK4XL and Bob VK4BOB.

Both clubs can be contacted via their respective websites listed on the
WIA clubs page.






--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

One of the State’s biggest insurance providers issued a warning this week.
It is
something that is becoming increasingly important as the technology
changes. Like
the importation of radio equipment which doesn’t meet EMC standards and
items which
produce RF noise which interferes with radio frequency equipment, there is
another
ubiquitous item that probably the majority of us will have somewhere around.

As much as the big battery complexes are being installed to stabilise
electricity
grid supplies and smaller units are hopefully supplying cheaper than the
commercial
tariff power to homeowners, the smaller lithium based batteries are
everywhere from
motor vehicles to power tools and single cells are readily available from
online
sales. There are so many benefits to using these batteries compared to the
older
commonly used ones we have grown up with. There is also, sadly, a down
side which is
that if they are allowed to overheat, particularly when they are
overcharged, they
combust! We have seen the graphic TV footage of battery cars burning for
several
hours and suburban houses gutted by fires started by the battery packs of
items such
as electric scooters.

RACQ has issued the warnings in conjunction with the Queensland Fire and
Emergency
Services. QFES has reported attending 40 structural fires this year whilst
in the
past 3 years, the insurer has dealt with over 1200 claims for fires
related to
lithium ion batteries. These are hardly things we want to see in the
community.

Whether it is the power tools we use, accessories such as jump starters
and tyre
inflators for the vehicles we drive or medical equipment such as CPAP
machines or
mobility scooters, there will no doubt be some or many items around your
home that
use some form of lithium based battery. If we look at the gear we have for
our
pursuit of amateur radio, there is likely to be battery packs in test
equipment and
batteries for use when travelling or outdoors. Those lucky enough to be
running off
grid will probably have larger batteries to power radios and domestic items.

Now I haven’t researched the standards that apply to this technology but
with the
history we have of allowing non type approved gear to be imported and
sold, indeed
imported from the manufacturing countries direct to the consumer there
would appear
to be no means of checking safety compliance. I would think that the
insurance
industry which bears the cost of replacement of damaged goods would have a
vested
interest in ensuring goods which we use do meet Australian Standards. As
we have
seen, in previous years, the solar photovoltaic industry, has demonstrated
many of
the issues of lack of compliance and compatibility.

Is there a solution? Well in the mighty behemoth of bureaucracy it might
be a long
time coming but for you and me, I think we should research the matter and
ensure our
use is a safe as possible. Like all things, wrong use can be dangerous but
safe use
requires understanding.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section



VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned
auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)



VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)



TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

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-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - JULY 2 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

Another month has gone and we are faced with the prospect of snow falling
on inland
Australia. It is such a rare event that it makes the news but we will have
to see if
it happens under the weather system that has wet so much of the continent.
For we
lucky Queenslanders, the new system that came down from the north west
promises a
wet start to the week for much of the State.

However in the world of amateur radio, the big news of change is the
Discussion
Paper released by the UK Regulator, Ofcom. Amongst its various suggested
changes is
that power limits for the various licence grades be increased with the top
level
able to radiate the magic kilowatt, measured at the antenna. This would
bring the
United Kingdom cohort into line with many other jurisdictions including
our friends
in New Zealand.

Now I find it ironic that the various regulators all claim to follow
international
standards for exposure to radiation but in this country it appears that the
decisions of ARPANSA differ on the interpretation of the international
standards and
VK-land tops out at 400W. If so many other countries find the radiation
from sources
such as amateur radio are not a threat why is the iconic bronzed Aussie at
so much
risk?

As they say on social media, just asking for a friend.

I wonder how many clubs are getting prepared for the next events on the
calendar?
For that matter, I wonder how many shacks and portable stations are ready,
too. With
the strong possibility that we are heading into a La Nina event, the
probable drier
weather will be making it easier for outdoor activities, especially as we
start to
enter the warmer months. JOTA and Remembrance Day are two features of the
event
calendar each year and some forward planning certainly sets the scene for
successful
participation. They are only weeks away but we still have time for getting
the stage
set.

In the past week there have been reports of conditions lifting with the New
Caledonia repeater being received on the Sunshine Coast and ducting along
the east
coast. DX has been working well on the HF bands but with some strong
atmospheric
interference at times. The space weather reports have indicated that
flares and
sunspots are going to strongly influence operating conditions for a few
more days,
it seems.

It is always a scramble to get skeds lined up for the JOTA stations to
ensure the
Scouts have the best experience of ham radio. Those people who will be
running event
stations can take this opportunity to send us a brief audio spot for
inclusion in
QNEWS to help people plan ahead.

So enjoy your radio and until next week, I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s
what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section



VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned
auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)




2024 Social Scene

VK - WIA AGM MAY - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)




TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - JUNE 25 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*



--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.


Electromagnetic compatibility seems to be one of those vexed issues that
gets tossed
around like flotsam on a stormy sea. In this country we have standards
which are
administered by both State and Commonwealth bodies and things seemed to
get lost in
the system and issues that arise are neglected or glossed over.

Years ago, I drove a car which had a crazy response to using a 2m. radio. The
flasher unit suffered a seizure and would increase the flash rate to well
past the
legal maximum of 300 flashes per minute. We have probably all seen the
reports of
other strange behaviours from the electronic technology which has been
migrated into
our road vehicles. Whilst generally there is a level of safety implied by
the design
rules which determine what things must be included and how they work,
there is an
area where there doesn’t seem to be such a set of rules.

It may seem strange that I raise the subject of mobility devices but from
the two
wheeled terrors on the public footpaths of the more agile to the necessary
three and
four wheeled scooter and electric wheelchairs that more people are now
using there
seems to be a lack of design rules or certification for many of these
devices.

I am aware that it seems to be a rite of passage for radio amateurs to
take delivery
of equipment and get it operational without reference to the user manual.
I let that
ritual go last week when I read the owner’s book of instructions for an
electric
wheelchair. When we unbox a radio, we expect to see certifications from
various
regulators, most notably the FCC of the USA but also we have thing like
the C tick
in this country and these markings indicate that certain standards of
design have
been met when the item was certified. There was no such certification that
I could
see, either on the device or withing the booklet and it wasn’t until
almost the last
page that a stern warning was printed.

Considering this unit is for conveying a person with less than 100% physical
capacity you may say safety warnings are necessary. I won’t dispute that
point.
However here was a blanket warning about the use of radio transmitting
equipment
whilst operating the chair and it specifically mentioned the inclusion of
mobile
phones. If there is a need to ensure EMC standards are applied, surely it
is with
what is loosely described as a disability aid. So for the person who uses
a safety
pendant, UHF CB or a 2m handheld, you are told that it is unsafe to use
it. Then you
have to ask why the battery and the chair itself includes a USB charging
outlet.

This is an ironic and confusing set of facts and somewhere there must be
answers but
in the meantime I won’t be leaving my phone at home just so I can use this
mobility
aid. It is not simply the radio spectrum users that are bedevilled by lack
of EMC
enforcement but other much larger sections of the community also.


I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section



VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned
auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)





TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*

QNEWS - JUNE 18 2023 - VK4 ON AIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?


--------------------------------------------------------------------*

THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE
Available in Audio RIGHT NOW

QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
203.31.7.19/wianews/

QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from
www.wiaq.org.au

Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS)
in your podcast.



--------------------------------------------------------------------*

--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

This week sees us with the shortest daylight hours in the year and in the
southern
hemisphere it suggests that we are experiencing mid-winter. It would seem
that the
weather bureau has been correct in its long term forecast of our having
warmer
winter nights. I remember those hours near to sunrise when the frost
crunched under
foot and the yellow blast of sunrise marked the beginnings of a warmer day.
Thankfully, in my area, I have had nothing worse than some single digit
temperatures
and some dramatic sheets of fog.

I would suppose most of us have seen the official description of amateur
radio as
published by the governing bodies. One of the features is that it ties in
with idea
of life long learning which has been supported by the tertiary and further
education
sector. For most people in the workforce, there is a process of learning and
adapting as our environment changes. So it is within the regulated
activity called
amateur radio, or as some new devotees are calling it, just “ham”.

We have witnessed the demise of many specialist publishers and the
booksellers that
carried the publications which the more senior of us cut our teeth on.
Book learning
was the principal way of getting education outside of various schools. It was
customary for people to have a library which could be accesses to answer
the knotty
problems that came up and the magazine from the newsagent went on to fill
in on more
recent advances. In house publications, which a few such as our own
Amateur Radio
magazine continue but often with reduced numbers of issues.

This is where, I believe, our club network can play a big part in helping
people
upskill or stay abreast of some of the many interests that capture the
minds of our
fraternity. Within individual clubs there is an understanding of what
various people
are doing and where their interests are taking them. There can also be an
awareness
of things that we all might want to know and this gives an opportunity to
fill the
gap.

Many clubs have been able to arrange presentations from people from within
and
outside their membership. There can be the person who is having fun with
microwaves
and there can be the person from a company involved in transmission
services. There
can be demonstration of building, testing and using station accessories
and even for
some people learning the basics of soldering and breadboarding. This is
without
mentioning the arts of coding microprocessors or installing software and
applications using another operating system such as linux.

It is a shame when club life is devoted to business meetings or coffee
mornings
only. Operating and experimenting are the fundamentals of this recreation and
practising the skills that we have picked up leads us onto more adventures.

For the remote amateurs there can even be a network for them to engage
with others
who don’t get to clubs. What I am saying is here is opportunity to develop.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------*



2023 Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section



VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned
auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@...)





TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-

Send SCRIPT to qnews@...
send audio to

QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA

If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in
QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:-

qnews@...

THEN submit audio:-

To submit audio email qnews@... and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on




Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will
only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please
submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .‘

Subscribe: [email protected]
Group Owner: [email protected]
Help: [email protected]

TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:-
Unsubscribe: [email protected]

-----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*