Amateur radio and Emergency Services
The value of amateur radio operators during emergency situations has been proven during many incidents around the world.
Amateur radio cannot replace emergency services communications for police, fire, ambulance and state emergency services, however it does have a role to play in supplementing such communications.
Agencies without dedicated communications systems or requiring additional communications capacity may draw upon amateur radio resources to assist in times of need.
In Australia the Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network (W.I.C.E.N) provides a resource of trained volunteer amateur radio operators capable of supporting emergency communications through High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) networks.
As an example a network of VHF and UHF repeaters are located around Victoria and can be used to provide coverage in local areas, or in some cases wide areas through the cross linking of repeaters.
My local radio club is the Western and Northern Suburbs Amateur Radio Club (WANSARC, serving electronics, computer and radio enthusiasts in the north and western suburbs of Melbourne.
WANSARC is a very active club with over 55 members and early plans are underway to modify a Motorola UHF repeater to operate in the 70cm band as a local repeater.
Discussions are currently being held with local authorities to secure a site for the repeater.
WANSARC
I have been a member of the Western and Northern Suburbs Radio Club (WANSARC) since 1977.
WANSARC has always been a great club to be a part of and my heart and soul has been devoted, over many years, to ensure that their is a spirit of friendship between all members.
WANSARC was first formed in 1969 as the Western Suburbs Radio Club.
Foundation members included Les Johnson VK3ZPB, Ted Howell VK3ZKP and Ted Cusworth VK3ZZO.
Today the club boasts a membership of over 55 members, some with Amateur licences, other keen Short Wave Listeners.
Such is the enthusiasm of the club that in the past two years WANSARC has been placed 1st Nationally in the 6 hour section of the John Moyle Field Day Contest.
From left to right Frank VK3ZO, Mark VK3PI and Dave VK3FXDX wave the WANSARC flag at the 2008 John Moyle Field Day Photograph by Dallas VK3EB.
I am currently writing a history of WANSARC, as in 2009 the club will have been in existence for 40 years.
The Committee of the club is currently considering activities to celebrate this milestone, however it is likely that a 40 year dinner will be held sometime in the year.
If you have been a member of WANSARC, or know of someone who was, or you have a story to tell regarding your memories of the club or its people, drop me a line at WANSARC
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Created on 04/14/2007 11:55 PM by mesadm
Updated on 09/09/2008 09:39 PM by mesadm
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