Broadcast - 22 Sept 2024
Late last week NTARC was approached to see if we could assist with an Equine Endurance Ride held at Bangor, located near Lilydale. Normally it is handled by a non-amateur group from the North West, but due to sickness and non-availability of members they were drastically down on “person power” to establish any check points for safety communications and rider progress. By Friday they had managed to recruit friends, relatives and some NTARC help. Ken VK7KKV, put his hand up to help and travelled to Bangor on Friday to locate Ride Base and more importantly the location of the Check Point he was establishing. Ken camped at the remote location as proceedings started at 7 am, luckily he was sleeping in a camper van, opposed to a tent, as temperatures plummeted and wind gusts increased during the night. Ken recorded and relayed horse rider information over the busiest part of the morning. As things quietened down, around lunch time, three other NTARC members arrived to give Ken a break. Their late excuse was “prior club commitments”, which was actually true! They had been helping with the communications setup for “Evandale Festival of Rail”. The day went smoothly and finished with a get together of comms volunteers back at base at the end of the day. Many thanks to our members for helping out another group when volunteers were a bit scarce on the ground.
Well it’s that time of the year again, so I will hand it over to Peter VK7KPC, to tell us what time of the year it is:
“JOTA is coming to NTARC.
The station at Rocherlea is planned to be operational for Scouts and Guides from noon on Saturday 19th of October and 10 am on the next day. Should have an hf station as well as vhf and uhf into repeaters on Mt Arthur and Mt Duncan. Echolink and DMR should also be on air. Some morse code activities planned as well as Skype and electronic kits. JOTI internet chat equipment will be staffed by Rovers with possible help from Venturer unit as per last year. Fox hunting should also be available.
Setup planned for Friday arvo 18th and Saturday morning. Help from any members or other local amateurs with setup or operation over the weekend will be appreciated.
We have heard that Paton Park on North Coast will again be operational.
More info available over the coming weeks.
Please register your interest with Peter VK7KPC at club meetings or via phone on 0408 805 086 or any other any other committee members.
Thanks Peter VK7KPC club JOTA coordinator.”
From Peter’s dates, that is only one month away! ..... So check your calendars and see if you are available for any period of time over the two days, any assistance would be very much appreciated.
As always, pictures will be available on the NTARC Web site under “Blogs” for this broadcast. NTARC Blogs
UPCOMING EVENTS
TestNet and TechNet session - Every Wednesday, TestNet/CW course on 3.580MHz from 7 pm till 7.30 pm, then a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30 pm till 8.30 pm. Your host for the evening is Nic VK7WW.
Club Room Technical night session - The next session will be on Wednesday the 25th September and will commence at the usual time of 6.30 pm at the Club Room Archer Street, Rocherlea.
Coffee Morning - held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Time is from 10 am to noon and we look forward to seeing you all there. So why not pop in check the QSL cards and join us for a cuppa, there is endless tea and coffee along with biscuits available for a donation.
Finally - A reminder to all members that if you have any items of news you would like added to our weekly roundup, no matter how trivial, then please email them to the Secretary at the following address news@ntarc.net all items to be received no later than 5 pm on the Friday prior to the Broadcast.
That’s all folks,
73, Stefan VK7ZSB, Secretary NTARC Inc.
