Under Construction

RADIO EQUIPMENT:-

Kenwood TS-430s Icom IC-7000 Kenwood 2Mx FM Motorola GM-339 ICOM IC-551D (6mx all mode) ICOM IC-271 (2Mx all mode) ICOM IC-471 (70cm all mode)

ANTENNAS:-

HF G5RV 5 band Dipole End fed Long wire antenna M2 10-30LP8 (currently down for maintenance) 6MX 3 ele yagi (hor) (currently down for maintenance) 2MX Colinear vertical 70cm Colinear Vertical sat gear 2 × 11 element beam (vert) plus (currently down for maintenance) 2 × 11 element beams (hor)

I am originally from TUMUT NSW have been a licenced amateur for over 40 years.

I first became interested in radio with the introduction of Citizens Band service in the mid 1970’s when I was living in ALBURY NSW. I became interested in both HF and later UHF versions and was fascinated with experimentation especially antenna construction. I held the CB licence NAA595. During that time I built several antennas for the service.

Naturally it was not long before I discovered the amazing hobby of Amateur radio being mentored by Ross VK2PN (sk) Keith VK2ZAA and VK2RE (sk)

I was first licenced as an amateur in 1976 with call sign VK2NUK. At that time I was living in Albury NSW and then later Cooma NSW working for a major commercial bank (CBA). I subsequently took up a position with another commercial bank in Papua New Guinea in 1980 where I held the call sign P29KZZ. I had nearly 5 years in PNG and was active on all bands up to and including 70cm.

On returning to Australia I moved to Wagga Wagga NSW as VK2KZZ. I was very active in the local amateur radio club including a stint as president of the local club. My activities included all bands up to and including 70cm. I also was active on the early series of OSCAR satellites 7 thru 14. I still regard the amateurs in and around Wagga Wagga as being close friends. I try to join the local Wagga nets from time to time.

I have been a member of the WIA almost continuously since I was first licenced. I have always been active in WICEN and a number of the State Emergency Services (NSW, Papua New Guines, WA and NT). I have a significant ongoing interest in emergency communications.

In 1988 a work move saw me end up in Kununurra WA up in the Kimberley’s with the call sign VK6KZZ. I was often HF mobile in my 4WD as I visit many of the outstations and centres around the Kimberley’s. I also hold the outsation callsign VLM32 which has been active in the Kimberleys and outback NT.

I then spent another year on Bougainville Island in PNG. But when the war in Bougainville broke out in 1989, I moved to Darwin and VK8KZZ. A call sign I have held for over 25 years. I only changed my call sign to VK8ZZ in the last few years.

I am a current member of the RADIO AMATEURS OLD TIMERS CLUB (RAOTC), DARWIN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (VK8DA), the WAGGA WAGGA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (VK2WG) and the HILLS AMATEUR RADIO GROUP (HARG VK6AHR) as well as the WIRELESS INSTITUTE of AUSTRALIA (WIA). I am currently a Director and the Secretary of the WIA.

Over the years, I have been active in many facets of the hobby from simple CPM microbee computers and Model 15 on RTTY through to repeater equipment construction and modification, EME, aircraft propagation, Satellite, HF, VHF and UHF.
I have now lived in the small rural community of Wagait Beach on the western side of Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory for over 25 years. In 2017, the local community saw fit to bestow the Citizen of The Year Award for my services to the community of Wagait Beach.

I have been very active in local government at Wagait Beach for over 22 years during which time I have held the position of Council President or Vice President for over 18 years. As Council President, I completed the governance training course conducted by Australian Institute of Company Directors. I have received a 20 year service award for services to local government. I have also served on the executive of the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory, the peak body for local government in the NT. I have recently stepped down as the Council President, but remain on the council.

My current interests lie in VHF and UHF and up. Repeater construction and linking, ROIP, International reciprocal licencing and the security of amateur bands and privileges. I have also recently had a renewed interest in HF, and have been dissapointed with the noise, interferance and coverage on bands below 20 metres.

I have been an active board member in various Not for Profit organisations as well as a board member on several commercial companies over the past 20 years. I am also a member of the Council of the Charles Darwin University. I am a Commissioner for Oaths in the NT.

I am very keen to see the WIA succeed and become a stronger, stable and productive organisation truly representing the Amateur community. To accomplish this the WIA must be open, transparent and work for all Australian Amateurs to ensure the longevity of the hobby and the long-term security of our privileges and bands. A splintered and disjointed institute will not benefit the hobby and will ultimately see the organisation fail. A failure may well result in the long-term loss of amateur bands and or privileges.

Australian Amateurs must support a single national body to ensure their rights and privileges are maintained. So, all amateurs must unite to present a strong institute to ensure our longevity. That said, dissenting voices must be heard, acknowledged and given good consideration.

In the long term we must maintain a strong and united Wireless Institute of Australia.

I was elected as a director of the Wireless Institute of Australia in 2017. I stood for election again in 2019 and was re-elected for a further 2 years. In 2018 I was also appointed the secretary of the WIA.

The WIA is the peak body for Amateur Radio in Australia. It holds the same position as the RSGB does for Great Britain, the NZART in New Zealand or the ARRL in the USA. The WIA is recognised internationally as such. So, amongst other things, we as members get representation both domestically and internationally for our beloved hobby. Those amateurs that are not financial members of the WIA or have chosen to support other splinter groups are, in my opinion, freeloaders, reaping the benefits of that representation made for and on behalf of all amateurs by the Wireless Institute of Australia.

Member subscriptions help this representation and members should be very proud of that.