Aug 2nd - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK Oh... and to contact us with your news because If It Matters To You It Matters To Us! Email nationalnews@wia.org.au http://www.wia.org.au (click news in member area) Submit your audio news TWITTER http://twitter.com/VK1WIA Please... If you are only submitting text and not audio, write your story as you would expect to hear it being read back and NEVER send just links & url's. When you upload audio email us the txt version. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING AUG 02 2015. IN OUR 20TH YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS WIA ANZAC 100 being heard worldwide WIA ANZAC 100 a message from the Communications Minister WIA VI4ANZAC on air on Vietnams Veterans day WIA in your inbox THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA 2015 AND FOR WEEK OF AUGUST 2 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Record balloon flight in the news media A network engineer by day, but into the 'balloon scene' in his spare time, Andy Nguyen VK3YT achieved the recent record flight that lasted eight weeks and travelled more than 110,800 kilometres. Now ‘The Age’ newspaper in Melbourne and the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ have reported about the tiny electronics payload at the heart of the flight. Andy, known as the master of miniaturisation, tethers by a fishing line a 25 mW transmitter, using standard HF frequencies in WSPR and the JT9 modes, a GPS, solar panel for power - all weighing a mere 11 grams. The record distance flight was of the standard 90cm balloon PS-46 launched from Melbourne Australia on May 23. It went around the southern hemisphere twice and was lost after leaving South Africa in storm on July 18, just short of its third circumnavigation of Earth. Andy admits being attracted by the challenge of designing and making small light weight electronic parts that work in extreme conditions - down to minus 55 degrees in rarefied air and the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The balloon transmitted every 30 minutes, and received by trackers, many in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, the US, Sweden and Peru. The article by Bridie Smith, the newspaper’s Science Editor, has the balloon’s entire path traced by an online simulation. Read the full article at smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/melbourne-party-balloon-almost-circumnavigates-the-globe-three-times-20150724-gii7j4.html#ixzz3gr2pLChZ (Jim Linton VK3PC) ANZAC 100 being heard worldwide In the first three months the ANZAC suffixed callsigns in Australia, commemorating the Centenary of the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) landing at Gallipoli in WWI, had logged more than 11,000 contacts. The Wireless Institute of Australia activity began on the ANZAC Day weekend of April 25-26 with more than 40 event details until December 20, when the ANZAC troops left Gallipoli, listed on the WIA website. The most popular band used has been 20-metres with 3175 contacts, followed by 40-metres on 2463, although all HF bands and some in the VHF and UHF spectrum were used as well. The predominate mode is SSB on 4888 contacts, closely followed by CW with 4522. The current eight ANZAC callsigns throughout Australia have also been heard on AM, PSK31 and 63, FM, RTTY, JT65, SSTV and via satellite. QSLing via eQSL has been logged for 88 countries already. All electronic logs received online are being uploaded. The WIA has announced that VI9ANZAC will be active on Norfolk Island in May 2016 during its annual general meeting weekend. (Jim Linton VK3PC) ANZAC 100, and a message from the Communications Minister The Waverley Amateur Radio Society, through the VK100ANZAC callsign, is now commemorating the landing of the 2nd Australian Division Signals Company at the Dardanelles in August 1915. To start its 5-day activation yesterday a message was broadcast from The Honourable Malcolm Turnbull MP, Member for Wentworth and Minister for Communications. Let us now hear the Minister. (play audio – outcue “lest we forget”) The Waverley Amateur Radio Society is using VK100ANZAC until Wednesday on 40m, 20m, plus Echolink and D-STAR. Meantime, there will be two separate commemorations of the August Offensive the final attempt to seize control of the Gallipoli Peninsula from the Ottoman Empire. On August 5, and for seven days, the Yarra Valley Amateur Radio Group has VI3ANZAC in conjunction with the Yarra Glen RSL. The West Australian Amateur Radio News group will be VK100ANZAC from August 6, for six days. And in VK4:- VI4ANZAC As part of the VK100ANZAC commemorations the special callsign VI4ANZAC will be activated in Far North Queensland from the 15th August until 21st August 2015. VP (Victory in the Pacific) Day is celebrated on 15 August. This date commemorates Japan's acceptance of the Allied demand for unconditional surrender 14 August 1945. For Australians, it meant that the Second World War was finally over. Some 34,000 Australians were lost forever, but many loved ones would be returning home. In Australia, Prime Minister Ben Chifley announced the news in a radio broadcast at 9.30am on Wednesday 15 August 1945. Australian cities and towns immediately erupted in spontaneous carnival and celebration. By evening, the jubilant crowds were the biggest ever to have assembled in Australia. VI4ANZAC will be on air on VP Day transmitting from the Rocky Creek War Memorial on the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland. During World War II, the Tablelands area became the largest military base in Australia with camps located throughout the Tablelands region. Rocky Creek was the site of the largest military hospital in the Southern Hemisphere – a 3000 bed hospital which treated over 60,000 patients from 1943 to 1945. This date coincides with the RD contest and the International Lighthouse/Lightship weekend so there will be plenty of activity on the bands. (Dale McCarthy VK4DMC) Vietnam Veterans Day. VI4ANZAC will be on air transmitting from Atherton on Vietnams Veterans day, 18 August and will be operated by Dale VK4DMC, a Vietnam Veteran. There are quite few Vietnam veterans active in amateur radio including your news host Graham Kemp VK4BB and WIA director Ewan McLeod VK4ERM. Vietnam Veterans' Day is celebrated in Australia each year, it commemorates the Battle of Long Tan and those Australians who served during the Vietnam War and is an opportunity to remember those who did not come home. The Battle of Long Tan occurred on 18 August 1966. The battle saw the action of 108 ANZACS against a Viet Cong (North Vietnamese) force estimated between 1,500 and 2,500. The Battle was one of the heaviest conflicts of the Vietnam War as well as one the few battles in the recorded history of the world to be won against such odds. The Vietnam War was the longest twentieth century conflict in which Australians participated; it involved some 60,000 personnel. Each of the three services was involved, but the dominant role was played by the Army. 500 service personnel lost their life and 3,129 were wounded. After the cessation of combat operations in 1972, a limited number of Australian personnel remained in Vietnam, and elements of the RAAF returned in 1975, carrying out evacuations and assisting refugees almost until the moment of South Vietnam's surrender. VI4ANZAC will be activated on the other days of the period allocated by members of the Tablelands Radio and Electronics Club. (Dale McCarthy VK4DMC) WIA BOARD TALK President Phil Wait VK2ASD vk2asd@wia.org.au V President Fred Swainston VK3DAC vk3dac@wia.org.au Secretary David Williams VK3RU vk3ru@wia.org.au Treasurer John Longayroux VK3PZ vk3pz@wia.org.au WIA news in your inbox The Wireless Institute of Australia has news releases on its website. Periodically, these are summarised for members and sent to their callsign@wia.org.au address. Do you have a callsign@wia.org.au email address? They are available free to all members. With a callsign@wia.org.au email address all emails sent to that address will automatically be forwarded to a home or work email account of your choice. The real benefit is you have a consistent email address, and should you ever change ISP, your friends and colleague will continue to be able email you using your callsign@wia.org.au email address. To update your callsign@wia.org.au address all you need to do is fill out the online form on the WIA website, in addition your new email address will also be updated in MEMNET. Are you registered for MEMNET? It’s easy, secure and gives you so much more, it’s how the WIA sends out membership renewal notices and other important communications. The WIA website address is www.wia.org.au When may a person use an Amateur Radio station? This is a question often raised, steeped in some misunderstanding, and causes a few arguments along the way. The Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Determination 2015, or LCD, makes the regulations clear. Not fully reading and understanding their intent and history can be problematical. All Foundation, Standard or Advanced stations, may be used by an unqualified person, for the purpose of self-training in radio communications, provided a licence holder is in charge, in other words, are present and effectively operate. The LCD defines ‘operate’ as meaning, “take an action to control the operation of the station or of a transmitter that is part of the station.” This is particularly useful when a station is used at numerous events, like the Jamboree on The Air, or for example, where a member of the public wants to talk on a microphone. However, the LCD makes only Advanced or Standard licence holders allowed to have a person use the station for the purpose of training or being examined for a qualification - such as the time of a practical assessment. Another misunderstanding that can arise is about the operation of an Advanced station, by those who may hold a lower level amateur qualification. The ACMA only issues an Advance licence to clubs. It asks that a nominated licensee at that level be responsible to ensure that the station is used within its licence conditions, and when it is used unsupervised, that the person does so within their own licence parameters of frequency, power and modes. If the club station is operated alone by a Standard or Foundation licence holder, they must abide by their own licence conditions for which they are personally qualified. This also means that a club callsign may be used portable, such as during a net, provided the conditions applying to the licensee present are met. However, should an Advance licensee be present and in charge, it may at any time be also used as an Advance station under its licence conditions. The WIA hopes this clears up any confusion. It reminds that the LCD provisions apply to all, and is a condition of licences issued by the ACMA. (Jim Linton VK3PC) WIA AGM 2016 taking bookings now The Wireless Institute of Australia annual general meeting in May is also an ideal opportunity to get away and visit the many tourist attractions of Norfolk Island. The destination was raised at the WIA AGM in Canberra, where it gained support from about 100 people. Added to that list are others who subsequently filled in an online expression of interest. All were sent an advance email of details and a booking form. This was followed up by the information posted on the WIA website and through the WIA weekly broadcast. The reasons for visiting Norfolk Island are varied, some just want to be there in support of the WIA, while most see it as an opportunity to also enjoy other tourist holiday activities. A half-day tour is offered to partners during the WIA AGM and open forum. The weekend program also includes a dinner with a guest speaker, the ANZAC 100 program callsigns, Summits On The Air, and a lot more. We hear some may apply for a VK9 callsign, or operate portable VK9 and try some DX contacts. The WIA has some good prices for flights from Sydney and Brisbane, and a range of accommodation available - although some places are limited. Booking deposits for the WIA AGM package close on August 25 - so be quick. For more details of the WIA 2016 AGM May 27, 28, & 29 on Norfolk Island and the online booking form, see the information on the WIA website. This is Fred Swainston VK3DAC, Vice President of the WIA. HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. VK3 The 2015 Winter expedition to the Bogong High Plains will run from the 11th to the 14th August. VK3FMAW, VK3GT and VK3SN will lead the group who plan to camp out on the roof of Victoria at elevations of up to 1800m. All necessary gear will be carried and the guys will set out on back-country skis from Falls Creek, covering up to 20 km of Australia’s most beautiful alpine high country each day. Tents, igloos and remote huts will provide shelter each evening and radio will form a vital communication link throughout the adventure. As usual, the group will be active on 40m each afternoon and 80m most evenings using solar powered QRP gear and simple wire antennas strung up in snow gums. Other bands are also likely to be activated if conditions permit. Many 2m repeaters in north-east Victoria will also be activated over the course of the trip, so listen out on these if you’re in the vicinity. Snow depth currently looks good, so let's hope that it remains nice and cold with plenty more precipitation! Listen out for the team and make contact with the guys as they operate from the Victorian Alps (Stephen VK3SN text only) VK7 vk7 local news, email vk7regionalnews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vk7regionalnews/ Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club Future events have this club thinking outside the box.. well done. September meeting – Wednesday night 9th speaker will be member Tammy Jones, Counsellor, Alzheimer’s Australia Tas. Topics covered during the talk will cover: · The brain and memory · What is dementia and dementia statistics · The dementia “umbrella”, Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular and other dementias · Diagnosis of dementia and the importance of diagnosis · Research areas · Communication strategies · Alzheimer’s Australia Tasmanian services · Planning for the future e.g. Wills, Powers of Attorney, Enduring Guardianship, Advance Care Directives: and · Capacity – legal and medical This should be a very enlightening and stimulating talk so we suggest you note this one in your diary now. This condition can affect any of us. (VK7NEWS TEXT ONLY) SILENT KEY http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/about/ Silent Keys are best sent to AR Magazine and your local state or club news rather than this WIA National News Service. INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL, Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA. RSGB Construction Competition Another great idea from the RSGB. They have an annual Construction Competition which is open for entries and judging will take place at the RSGB Convention in October. The competition can be entered by individual members or groups of RSGB members where the build team will be treated as a single entrant. Projects that have been built for local UK club construction competitions or as part of a club night construction can be entered. Boeing demonstrates digital GPS navigation signals Boeing has successfully demonstrated a digital version of GPS III navigation signals, a breakthrough that could contribute to significantly modernising the service. The company said the development overcomes the limitations of current GPS analogue payloads in combining multiple signals and accommodating future requirements. It also has fewer components, weighs and costs less, is simpler to integrate and test, and is able to incorporate future signals. Boeing is developing the digital waveform generator in support of a US Air Force solicitation for GPS III alternate sources. The demonstration validated that the basic GPS signals can be generated digitally in different code combinations with variable power levels and meet stringent signal requirements. http://www.radiocomms.com.au/content/transport/news/boeing-demonstrates-digital-gps-navigation-signals-1210897375 Sweden bans sale of light On the site of the Swedish Amateur Radio National Society, Ingemar SM 5 AJV reports that a disco light has been banned from sale A Google Translation reads: Recently reported a disco light, according to our measurements did not meet applicable standards. Electrical Safety Board had carried out similar tests and confirmed that both disturbances conducted and radiated emissions were above the allowed values. The lamp also lacked a valid EC declaration. Electrical Safety Board issued the ban on sale and also an order for liability of the Agency's costs. An earlier compilation of sample of LED lights are here: ssa.se/forteckning-over-led-produkter-som-ssa-anmalt-till-elsakerhetsverket/ SSA News in Google English http://tinyurl.com/SwedenSSA Our last story truly does have an international flavour// The Marconi Radio Rover launched A state-of-the-art outside broadcast or OB van that bears the Marconi family crest is now available for radio stations after being launched at Sydney's Queen Victoria Building. It has been named in honour of Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi’s daughter, Princess Elettra Marconi, aged 85, who on medical advice, was unable to visit Australia. However, the Princess sent a message from Rome, acknowledging her father’s dedication, and the contributions made by Ernest Fisk to Australia. The event on July 20, marked her birthday, and the day Guglielmo Marconi died in 1937. Marconi was a young man when he began, resulting in the famous trans-Atlantic transmission in 1901. He had the first England-Australia radio contact. Later, the Sydney Town Hall lights were turned on by radio from a yacht in Italy, to open an electrical and radio exhibition. The fully equipped Marconi Radio Rover accommodates a production team and announcer. A documentary that includes footage of Marconi equipment will be launched later this year. ============================================================================= WEIRD AND WONDERFUL Morse code used in car battle The advertising experts thought they had really struck gold by deciding to include a Morse code message flashed by car headlights - and even hired a translator for the job. Soon after the advertisement for a Scat Pack variant of the Dodge Charger, the advertisers took to YouTube explaining to those not familiar with the code that it was "I'd rather walk than drive your car”, taken as a swipe at its opposition. Following this success, a second version was more pointed by actually naming the competitors vehicle. While undoubtedly creative, some purists doubt that the Morse code is accurate, with radio amateurs now describing it kindly as coming from a very poor fist, and another declares it as nothing but gibberish. The light-hearted flashing had thousands trying to figure out the message, and achieved a purpose of advertising - plenty of discussion - making the marketing folks really chuckle. (Jim Linton VK3PC) Who and Where are our broadcast stations? http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/ OPERATIONAL NEWS 2015 10-10 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONTEST Aug 1 - 2 Remembrance Day Contest August 15 and 16 ALARA YL CONTEST Saturday 29th August 0400 UTC – 1359 UTC Sunday 30th August 0400 UTC – 1359 UTC Oceania DX contest Voice First full weekend in October Oceania DX contest Continuous Wave Second full weekend in October. 2016 Harry Angel 80 mtr sprint (WIA) provisional date Saturday 7th May. 10-10 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONTEST Aug 6 - 7 2017 10-10 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONTEST Aug 5 - 6 2018 10-10 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONTEST Aug 4 - 5 Later in this bulletin we will hear from Lesley ALARA contest manager so make sure you remain tuned! Contesting Review Group reports The RSGB President's Review of Contesting, which commenced at the beginning of May, has reached its finale with a day-long workshop. There were 18 participants, from different parts of the UK, with diverse experience. The workshop produced agreement that substantial change is needed in certain areas. Volunteers are now needed to work with the contest committee, who will develop, consult on, and implement improvements in time for 2016 Contest Calendar. Key outcomes are available on the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/publications/president-review SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX, BEACON REPEATER AND NET ADVICE Tim, VE6SH is QRV as V 29 SH from Antigua Island, NA-100, till 8th August. Activity will be mainly on 30, 17 and 12 metres using CW, SSB and some RTTY. QSL direct to home call VE6SH EGYPT, SU. Ivan is active as SU 9 IG from Cairo until the 15 June 2016! Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to home call, OM 3 CGN Jim, Phil and Matt, will be QRV as F/G6AY/p from Cezembre Island, one of the rarest European IOTA groups, EU-157, on 26th-28th August. They will operate CW only on 30-10 metres with two 100-watt stations and vertical antennas. Activity will be during their daylight hours only, as it is not permitted to stay on the island overnight. QSL via G3SWH. (RSGB) Special Callsign EI 80 OPC Pat EI4HSB has been given the special event call sign EI 80 OPC (Echo, India, 80, Oscar, Papa, Charlie) This call sign is to celebrate 80 years of the first residents moving into O’Neill Park Clones, County Monaghan. Work started on the development in early 1933 and by 1935, 118 houses were built, the largest estate ever built in Ireland. EI 80 OPC will be on air until the end of August, but most active over the weekend of the 14,15,16 August. WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ARDF WIA ARDF COORDINATOR VK3WWW Jack vk3www@wia.org.au http://users.mackay.net.au/~ron/ http://www.homingin.com http://www.ardf.org.au 10th IARU Region 3 ARDF Championships held in JA, 6th till 12th of September. WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW FISTS Club - East Asia www.feacw.net FISTS Club - Australasia www.fistsdownunder.org FISTS Club - UK & Europe www.fists.co.uk FISTS Club - Americas www.fists.org Mikes Morse Mania Display Do you really appreciate really well preserved radio equipment ? Well here is a chance to view 60 plus exquisitely restored Morse keys and other heritage radio gear which is just part of the collection of Mike/VK4MIK The next Mikes Morse Mania display will be happening at the Cardwell Telegraph Museum - The Bush Telegraph - in conjunction with the Cardwell Gathering on Saturday 3rd October from 9am to Midday. Mike hopes that you can make the journey and see the collection and at the same time take in the other communication wonders on display at the Bush Telegraph. WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL Microsoft releases open-source SDR. Microsoft researchers have announced that their high-performance software radio project is now open sourced through GitHub. The goal for Microsoft Research Software Radio (Sora) is to develop the most advanced software radio possible, capable of implementing the latest wireless communication technology easily and efficiently. http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/sora/ "We believe that a fully open source Sora will better support the research community on more scientific innovation," said Kun Tan, a senior researcher on the software radio project team. There are now more than 50 universities and research institutes using Sora for wireless research or communication courses. As the wide range of adoption has raised more demands for new features and other extensions for the Sora platform, Microsoft Research has decided to make Sora a fully open source project. The open source Sora system provides a lot of features, including, Customizable RF front-ends, A customizable RCB (including the timing control and synchronization function, new processing accelerators, etc.,) and Support of new communication models, e.g., full duplex radios http://blogs.technet.com/b/inside_microsoft_research/archive/2015/07/20/sora-microsoft-research-high-performance-software-radio-now-open-source.aspx (Sourced from the Inside Microsoft Research Blog Site via vk7news) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FEMALES IN RADIO ALARA - AUSTRALIAN LADIES AR ASSOCIATION http://alara.org.au Net is held each Mondays on 3.570± MHz, commencing at 1030 UTC. (1000utc during daylight saving) geencee@picknowl.com.au email vk3vip@wia.org.au Hi, This is Lesley, VK5LOL, the Alara Contest Manager. Just letting you know that our YL contest is coming up at the end of this month: Saturday 29th August 0400 UTC – 1359 UTC Sunday 30th August 0400 UTC – 1359 UTC two 10 hour slots. You can gain an extra 40 points during the contest by having 4 contacts with either Jenny VK5FJAY or myself, VK5LOL – 10 points per contact. ECHOLINK contacts will also be accepted. Details of the contest are on our website – www.alara.org.au in our latest Alara magazine or in the latest AR magazine. Looking forward to hearing many Yls and Oms on the last weekend in AUGUST. 73 & 33, Lesley VK5LOL WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ILLW Ancient marine navigation given a publicity boost Portable stations are ready for the annual fun-event on August 15 and 16, with nearly 60 in Australia, including many regulars who would not miss the annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend. Victoria leads with 14 registrations, followed by New South Wales on 14, VK5 has 10 including the South East Radio Group VK5SR at four lighthouses, VK4 has nine, always supportive VK7 on eight, with Western Australia at North Mole, Casuarina Point, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste lighthouses. In all 390 marine beacons from 33 countries have so far registered. Organisers predict that at least another 100 are to be made in the next fortnight. (Jim Linton VK3PC) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS http://www.raotc.org.au Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW with the usual reminder that tomorrow, Monday August 3rd the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club of Australia’s monthly News and Information bulletin will go to air. This month as well as all the usual RAOTC news, we have for your delectation stories on Heil Microphones, Square Kilometre Array weak signal reception in Australia, how Monopoly aided POWs in World War 2, and possibly a little more on Lithium batteries. The principal HF transmission will be on 20 metres on 14.150 MHz upper side band at 0100 UTC beamed north from Melbourne for the eastern states. An hour later at 0200 UTC there will be a 40 metre transmission from Perth on 7060 kHz lower sideband plus a simultaneous transmission via all linked NewsWest VHF and UHF repeaters. As well, numerous local relays will take place. Details for your local area transmissions can be found at the RAOTC website, www.raotc.org.au Remember as from Tuesday you can download the audio file from this website. Everyone, RAOTC Members and non-members alike, is invited to listen to this interesting half hour of Old Timer news, information and anecdotes and to participate in the call backs afterwards, and we hope to hear your call sign amongst them. Once again, the RAOTC monthly bulletin is scheduled for tomorrow Monday August 3rd. 73 from Clive VK6CSW. WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO IARU REGION 3 Emergency Centre of Activity (CoA) frequencies 3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz USA Radio hams honoured as 'unsung heroes' The La Verne City Council gave a heartfelt 'thank you' to seven amateur radio operators described as 'unsung heroes' when disaster strikes The San Gabriel Valley Tribune says: If no one else can communicate, the LASERS can, council members said Monday night after giving certificates of appreciation to La Verne Amateur Services Emergency Radio Support President and his team “If anything goes down, call on us,” advised Jack Swank W6FAM, also a Federal Communications Commission examiner for Americans taking tests to become licensed ham-radio operators. “If all else fails, amateur radio operators can get through during any natural disaster or major emergency. “We’re under the radar. Many people don’t know we exist,” he added, but if disaster strikes, these seven volunteers swing into action to open and keep lines of communication going among emergency and public-safety personnel and people fretting about the survival and condition of loved ones in an affected area. Read the full story at sgvtribune.com/social-affairs/20150722/la-verne-ham-radio-operators-honored-as-unsung (TEXT ONLY) SOCIAL SCENE 2015 Sep 12 VK4 SUNFEST Woombye Sep 25-27 VK4 CHARC AGM Weekend Camp Fairbairn near Emerald Oct 2-5 VK4 Cardwell Gathering, Beachcomber Motel and Tourist Park Oct 25 VK3 Ballarat Amateur Radio Group Hamvention Greyhound Track Oct 25 VK4 Gold Coast HamFest Broadbeach Nov VK3 QRP By the Bay details from VK3YE held 2nd Saturday 2016 Feb 13 VK3 MERC Hamfest 10am at Werribee Masonic Centre Feb 28 VK3 EMDRC HamFest Great Ryrie Primary School Heathmont. Ap-May 29- 2 VK4 Clairview Gathering check Mackay ARS website. (theTARCinc) June 11-13 VK5 VK Foxhunting Championship & SERG convention Mt Gambier (VK5HCF) Submitting news items A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't plug commercial traders "on air", but we at the WIA will put your supporters in this text edition "no worries." If you would like to submit news items for inclusion in the VK1WIA broadcasts, please email your item in text to nationalnews@wia.org.au and don't JUST send url's links but take the time to pen YOUR contribution. To submit audio read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/ Remember the sooner you submit material the more the likelihood of it being broadcast in the very next edition of WIA National News. Each item will only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh ‘and always if the news room is to read your item write in the 3rd person. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ============================================================================= WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide. TWITTER http://twitter.com/VK1WIA Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed prior to the actual broadcast date, e-mail nationalnews@wia.org.au Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers you may lodge a quick reply to let us know you read it, who knows, you might even get a "cheerio call". Thanks to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize their time and equipment in bringing you this weekly broadcast. Who and where are they? http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/ The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to active amateurs residing in Australia and the globe. We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of Australia and participation in the activities of local clubs. Opinions expressed in "WIANews" are those of the writers who submit material and do not necessarily reflect those of the rebroadcasters, nor the National WIA, but are broadcast in the spirit in which they were submitted." Material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, a credit to WIANews wouldn't go astray... Who listens to radio? A weekly 'tally sheet' is sent to all rebroadcasters and interested listeners, to get your free copy send a blank email to:- wiabroadcasters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au Put the word subscribe in the title or subject field How do I join this National News List? (subscribe for an automatic weekly feed.) Email to vk1wia-news-join@lists.wia.org.au from the email account that you wish the emails to go to. How do I leave this National News List? (unsubscribe your weekly feed) Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want to unsubscribe. Send mail to the list unsubscribe address vk1wia-news-leave@lists.wia.org.au You will be sent a confirmation mail and must follow the instructions given in that mail to complete the unsubscription. Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will probably receive another message confirming your unsubscription from the list, and at that point you should stop receiving messages. National News compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA. . -------------