1986 Tamanian AR Magazine news articles

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from AR Magazine 1986 Feb page 56 -
TASMANIAN AMATEUR RADIO
CONVENTION 1986 (TARC 86)
The WIA Tasmanian Division, Northern Branch,
will hold a Radio Convention on the weekend
15-16th March 1986, at the Australian Maritime
College, Newnham Campus, Launceston,
Tasmania.
Activities over the weekend will include the
Tasmanian Annual General Meeting, Annual
Dinner, Displays of RTTY, Satellite, HR VHR UHF and
Video Equipment, Film and demonstrations.
There is also local sightseeing and good
accommodation and meals are available on site.
Further information may be obtained from 
VK7ZZ Rick Bray, Trevallyn, (1986 / 1987 WIA Callbook, not in 2000 callbook) Was once Ian Nichols, a blind amateur in Hobart., VK7NHG Leon or Loon Horbifl VK7NHG    VK7NHG L R Herbig, Youngtown, (1983 / 1984 WIA Callbook through to 2001 WIA Callbook)



Contributed by Loon Horbifl VK7NHG
Publicity Officer TARC Committee





from AR Magazine 1986 Feb page 52 -
"DEVIL NEWS FROM THE NW BRANCH
Officers for 1986 are: 
President — Bob Gore VK7KAB; 
Vice-Presidents — Ross Bonney VK7WP and John Webster VK7KDR; 
Treasurer Bruce Marshal VK7MB;
Secretary — Tony Clayton VK7AH 
WICEN Co-ordinator — John Duncombe VK7ZPT SK; 
Activities Officer — Greg Stammers VK7ZBT;
RTTY — Florian Biner; never held a callsign 
Weekly News Officer — Frank Richards   VK7ZFH; 
QSL Officer — Max Hardstaff VK7KY SK;
Publicity — Ron Churcher VK7RN SK; 
Librarian — Terry McMullen VK7BV. 
There are two positions not filled. 
Youth Affairs and Components and Equipment.
Arthur Trevaskis VK7SE; Ivan Ling VK7XL; John Webster VK7KDR,
Steve Bush VK7EQ; Greg Stammers VK7ZBT and Frank Richards VK7ZFH
were selected for the Broadcast Sub- Committee.

Congratulations to Andrew Hay VK7ZHA now VK7XR, who is awaiting
the allocation of his limited call sign.
Max VK7KY SK was our news contributor and gatherer and he called the columns “Devil News from the NW”. 
from AR Magazine 1986 03 March page 60 –
SEWING CIRCLE STORY
Bob Jackson VK7NBF
Falmouth House, Falmouth, Tas. 7215
The Tasmanian Sewing Circle is not what it
seems. For one thing there is not a needle or reel
of thread in sight. But, there are Morse keys,
valves and aerials aplenty.
This name is a long-standing 'nickname' for a
group of about 50 dedicated amateur radio enthusiasts,
mostly retired men, who get-together
each evening for a chat over the air-waves. They
come from all over Tasmania and their conversation
covers almost every subject imaginable.
The Circle began in 1962, when the late Jack
Batchler VK7JB, and his friend Snowy Harrison
VK7CH, maritime mobile on the MOORINA, had
daily conversations on 80 metres. The mode used
was CW, (it had to be as Snowy swears that he
does not own a microphone, even to this day).
Jack used an Army 122 set.
They were soon joined by the late Bob O ‘May
VK70M and others, but the mode changed to SSB
when Snowy was not on the net. They earned
their nickname one evening when the session
delayed the Batcheler’s mealtime. Jack's wife, Joy
VK7YL, said that the men reminded her of a
sewing circle at school — a select group of
students who were allowed to talk as they sewed.
Jack protested that it was a strange comparison
for a bank manager, a marine engineer and an
Army officer. However, despite his protests, the
name stuck and is still in use to this day.
In 1981, Joe Brown VK7BJ, presented a framed
photograph of a sewing machine which was to be
awarded annually to the most loquacious member
of the group. For the past three years, a barbeque
has been held at the home of Bill VK7NRV, where
the presentation is made. The winner is the sole
judge of the recipient for the next year. The current
holder is Owen Langham VK70L.
Reference material The Southern Star



from AR Magazine 1986 March page -
The Branch now has a group of people who are
going to gather news and arrange broadcast
announcers for when the broadcasts are done on
the north west coast. A gathering of these people,
together with some from the north and south, will
shortly meet with the intention of making our news
more interesting.
VK7AX Tony, has asked
members for their total support with Camp Quality.
Camp Quality is a group that has a camp for
children with cancer and it is planned that the NW
Branch will help with communications, etc.
A local equestrian club has forwarded details of
an event, to be held In March at Ulverstone, and
they have asked for help with communications for
the Jumps Events. There were some volunteers
so, John Duncombe VK7ZPT SK, the WICEN Officer for the
Branch suggested it would be a good WICEN
exercise.
Funds have been
allocated for a new system for VK7NW Lonah and
VK7RAD Mt Duncan now VK7RMD is complete and ready to go. The only
problem is to get the man- power to install it at the
repeater site.
The QSL Bureau had 152 cards inwards and 78
outwards for the month.
Max VK7KY SK was our news contributor and gatherer and he called the columns “Devil News from the NW”. 

from AR Magazine 1986 April page -
NORTH WESTERN BRANCH
Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each
month at the Penguin High School, beginning at
7.30pm. Activity and club station nights are held
every second Friday, same location, 8.00pm.
Visitors are always welcome. Club call sign is
VK7NW and postal address is Box 194, Penguin,
Tas. 7316.
Interests within the Branch include HF operation;
ATV; Special Communications; Antennas
and Computing.
Further information may be attained from the
President VK7KAB Bob Gore, the Secretary VK7AH Anthony Clayton, or
VK7's WP Ross KDR John Webster, MB Bruce Marshall.


from AR Magazine 1986 April pages 52 & 53 -
DEVIL NEWS from the NORTH WEST
Camp Quality (see last column), will be held
from 8 - 14th December and discussions of the
requirements needed for communications have
been discussed. Communications will be from
Penguin to Ulverstone and Kimberley to
Ulverstone, with a station on air at the camp
during the week. Assistance will also be required
to provide a video of the day’s activities for resting
children to view. The local Apex club is also taking
part in the video venture.
Club members assisted with communications
for the Boys Brigade Billycart Derby, held on 22nd
March. VK7s WJ Jack Wright SK, ZPT John Duncombe SK, ZBT Greg Stammers and ZHA now XR Andrey Hay donated
their time to this cause. Assistance was also
provided for the Horse Club Trials during last
month.
Andrew Perkins VK7ZAP became VK7KAP has been constructing two
diplexer units and the Branch was asked to
consider an extension of the allowance to build
another five filters for installation at a special
communications repeater on Mount Duncan VK7RAD now VK7RMD, and
also, the Lonah repeater VK7RNW. The money was made
available for Andrew to conclude his good work.
About 83 QSL cards were received for the
month and 30 were dispatched.
Broadcast Officer Frank Richards VK7FH, has advised
that Broadcast Rosters are being produced,

Max VK7KY SK was our news contributor and gatherer and he called the columns “Devil News from the NW”. 


from AR Magazine 1986 May page 52 -
DEVIL NEWS from the NORTH WEST
Branch members were thrilled when the Penguin
High School, where Branch functions are held,
made available a bigger storeroom for storage of
equipment such as the base station and RTTY
gear.
All repeater modes are well in hand and the
next activities night will see the six and two metre
aerials underway.
VK7FH Frank Richards, the Branch News-Co-ordinator advised
that the last news broadcast was pre-recorded
and sent to the news-reader, ready to go to air. It
was well received.
The Horse Trials, held at Westella, just out of
Ulverstone, was a great success, with 11 Xrators 
taking part. Some had two jumps to look after,
others had three. The base was set-up at the
start and as the horses left they were put on a
stop-watch. As the proceeded through the course,
their positions were relayed back to base, also the
results of each jump, how many clean jumps, how
many refusals, etc.
An ambulance had to be called on two
occasions, and help was on hand very quickly.
The operators were thanked for a job well-done
and their presence at another one being staged
shortly was encouraged.
Operators at the Horse Trials;
Photo - From left: 
Bill Lester VK7WL SK; VK7EG Noel Davies; Tony Bedelph VK7AX; 
Ross VK7WP; VK7WN Noel Walker SK; John Webster VK7KDR; 
Owen Langham VK7OL.
Front: Greg Stammers VK7ZBT; Max Hardstaff VK7KY SK; 
John Duncombe VK7ZPT SK and Jack Wright VK7WJ SK.

On 20th February, two NW Branch members
ventured to Crotty. Crotty is situated in the southwest
of the State, which is approached firstly by a
bitumen road, then gravel with the final approach
being either by four-wheel drive or foot. The
intrepid Winston Nichols VK7EM and Arthur Trevaskis VK7SE
chose to walk.
Crotty was a mining town which closed down
around 1900. At that time, it had a good railway
service to Pillinger and some of the carriages still
remain in the bush — one with a large tree
growing through it. Arthur Trevaskis and Winston Nichols walked
down to Kelly Basin along the old railway track.
Contacts were made back to VK7BV Terry McMullen, VK7KAB Bob Gore,
VK7KC Kirby Cunningham and VK7WZ Geoff Clarke SK on 80 metres. The intrepid
venturers were using a small home-brewed rig,
(built by Winston), a lead-acid battery and a dipole
aerial slung over a couple of trees. 
Reports were 5 x 7-8.
A CW contact was also made, with good copy,
on another home-brew transceiver, complete with
key and speaker in a Strepsils tin.
The boys must have looked quite a sight, lying
on their stomachs in their tent, trying to cope with
the rain and understand Morse signals which they
had both thought they had forgotten, but the most
memorable event of the trip must surely have
been when Arthur Trevaskis produced a three-layer sponge
cake complete with candle to celebrate Winston's
birthday.

Max VK7KY SK was our news contributor and gatherer and he called the columns “Devil News from the NW”. 

from AR Magazine 1986 June page 52 -
DEVIL NEWS from the NW Branch
We have been told that when we do the
communications for the horse trials next year, we
will have to be on our best behaviour as HRH
Princess Ann will be competing. (We may have to
wear a collar and tie for the occasion!).
The horse trials, held at Wynyard, proved to be
a successful day. The operators provided
emergency communications and score transfer for
the event and was the biggest event covered by
the Club to this date.
The course has 31 fences for the senior
competitors to jump and the novice competitors
had 26 fences to jump. There were 12 operators
used, 11 at field stations with one at a central base
station receiving messages from the field stations.
Members who participated were VK7s ZPT John Duncombe SK;
ZHA now XR Andrew Hay; ZBT Greg Stammers; EG Noel Davies; AX Tony Bedelph; WL Bill Lester SK; ZAP became KAP Andrew Perkins; OL Owen Langham; DC Dave Cleland; WJ Jack Wright SK; KDR John Webster and ZRD Robert Duncombe ZPTs Johns son
The Billycart Derby, that was held at Lillico
Straight was also a great success, with plenty of
spills and thrills for the competitors. Thanks to the
operators who participated at both events.
Max VK7KY SK was our news contributor and gatherer and he called the columns “Devil News from the NW”. 

from AR Magazine 1986 July page 52
On the first Sunday in May, the VK7WI Weekly
Broadcast began at 0900 EST and resulted in
Andrew VK7ZHA now XR being awarded the Gong Award
for the month — he forgot the change of time and
slept in
The club now has its own QSL card for station
VK7NW club station, which coincides very well with the
setting-up of the station in another part of the
Penguin High School. Recent Activity Nights have
been taken up with the move as the new room is
on the opposite side of the building. As the new
room is much larger for the permanent set-up of
VK7NW, regular operation from the station should
be much better.
Meetings of the Branch are held at the Penguin
High School, on the second Tuesday of each
month, commencing at 7.30pm. Visitors are most
welcome and are directed to the venue via the two
metre repeater — Repeater 3 Lonah.
On 20th April, the North West ATV Group
commissioned its second Amateur Television Repeater.
It is operational under the call sign of
VK7RAE.
The repeater is located on Kelcey Tier, near
Devonport on the property of Ron Churcher VK7RN SK. Ron
has kindly made his properly available as a site for
the repeater and thanks are extended to him.
The prime role of this repeater is to allow
amateurs in the Devonport area to transmit and
receive noise-free pictures in Devonport and the
surrounding area.
Uplink vision carrier frequency is 444.250 MHz
and downlink 579.250 MHz (Horizontal Polarisation).
Persons interested in viewing the output
channel are reminded that the downlink frequency
falls In Band 4 allocation of the UHF Television
Spectrum (put simply, this appears at Channel
34V4 on a standard UHF television tuner). However,
the proverbial piece of wet string will prove
insufficient for noise-free reception of the device
as its power output is relatively low. A good quality
high gain antenna cut for UHF will guarantee good
pictures.
The radiation pattern is omni-directional with a
full 360 degrees in the horizontal plane.
Known amateurs to be transmitting good quality
pictures through the repeater are Jack Wright VK7WJ SK
and VK7ZAR Alan Ruthven, 
It may be timely to point out to listeners that we
often hear and read that the majority of amateurs
are Black Box and appliance operators these
days, and where are the true amateurs ???This
repeater and the other ATV repeater, (VK7RTV,
which is Installed on Mount Duncan), with the
exception of the receiver IF systems, are completely
home-brew. This includes the receive
converters, control systems, transmitters and all
antennas.
To date, much experimental work has been
carried out by the ATVers with antenna and
propagation on the UHF bands.
Max VK7KY SK was our news contributor and gatherer and he called the columns “Devil News from the NW”. 


from AR Magazine 1986 August page 55 -
DEVIL NEWS from the North West
It was also announced to the 16 members present
that VK7RAD Mt Duncan to become VK7RMD was operational from VK7ZAP's Andrew Perkins became VK7KAP
QTH, and attention was drawn to the recently
completed Diplexer, which was on display for
members to see before it was put into operation.
The rest of the evening was spent learning
about Camp Quality with the assistance of a short
video and a talk from John Willet. John explained
the facts and requirements of the camp. The camp
is from December 8 to 14 and during that time,
those involved will have their entire day and some
of their evening fully occupied. This fact must be
understood by volunteers and their families before
they commit themselves.
The men will be involved in communications for
the camp and a station for contacts with other
children for the camp children to talk to. Others
will be involved in the activities side of things as
well as a Video.
Max VK7KY SK was our news contributor and gatherer and he called the columns “Devil News from the NW”. 





from AR Magazine 1986 Sept page 57 -
DEVIL NEWS — from the North West
Guests were Barry Fraser VK7FR SK and Joe Gelston
VK7JG SK. Joe was representing State Council,
being Guest Speaker for the night.
During the course of the evening, Joe advised
that instead of State Council paying for repeaters
VK7RNW Lonah, VK7RAA Mt Arthur, etc, each Branch will be
responsible for their own local repeaters. This
matter will be discussed further at the next State
Meeting.
Andrew Perkins VK7ZAP became VK7KAP is having success with repeater
VK7RAD Mt Duncan and has had it running on test at his
QTH. It looks as though it will not be too long
before it will be installed on the mountain top.
The new room at the High School is still
progressing well and is becoming more homely
with a donation of carpet from Don Purton SK VK7DP and
coffee mugs from VK7ZAR Alan Ruthven,

Max VK7KY SK was our news contributor and gatherer and he called the columns “Devil News from the NW”. 


from AR Magazine 1986 Oct page 56 -
DEVIL NEWS from the North-West
Letters of thanks were read from the Boys
Brigade, Apex and the Horse Trials at Ulverstone,
for the communications help given to them by the
Club.
Several items were tabled for discussion, one of
them being Camp Quality. After much discussion
it was decided to use the club call sign VK7NW,
for the camp station. Operations from Camp
Quality will be from a caravan.

The committee have started thinking about the
Ham fest which will be held on the North-West
Coast.
A WICEN exercise will be held next year in
conjunction with an air pageant at Wynyard. This
has the makings of a very interesting exercise.
The VK7RAD now VK7RMD repeater will shortly be installed on
top of Mount Duncan. A working party has already
made the arduous climb to install the housing for it
on August 10. The party consisted of VK7s ZAP Andrew Perkins now KAP
ZHA now XR Andrew Hay, AX Tony Bedelph, WR William Reid, WN Noel Walker SK, OM Robert Harper SK, ZBT Greg Stammers, and WJ Jack Wright SK, with
Andrew Perkins VK7ZAP became VK7KAP in charge.
They assembled at the Penguin High School at
around 9.45 am and proceeded to the walking
track in four-wheel drives and a utility. A variety of
materials were then transported to the peak via
the backs or hands of the party. Ross VK7WP and
Noel Davies VK7EG carried the large and bulky steel
housing for most of the trek.
Approximately two and a half hours were spent
working on and inspecting the equipment already
at the site.
The hardy adventurers had an eventful trip back
down the mountain due to two trekkers taking a
wrong path halfway down and proceeding for
some distance before realising their error. At the
base another two headed in the wrong direction in
a four-wheel drive but were able to find their way
eventually.
Max VK7KY SK was our news contributor and gatherer and he called the columns “Devil News from the NW”. 


from AR Magazine 1986 Nov page 56 -
DEVIL NEWS from the North-West
The repeater, VK7RAD/VK7RMD, on 146.625 MHz is now
on site and operational. The repeater is run by
solar power and is being turned off at night
because the cold weather turns it on and leaves it
running all night. Andrew Perkins VK7ZAP became VK7KAP turns the
repeater on prior to going to work in the morning
and off again at night. This on/off routine will
continue until he has time to go to the site to make
some adjustments to the unit. These adjustments
have to be made when the temperature is minus four
degrees, so it is going to be an unpleasant
task. If the repeater is abused to the extent that it
is unable to be used or normal use, it will be
turned off completely until the adjustments are
made A special thanks is extended to all the
amateurs who have participated in the repeater
project.
The club station has still not been on-air from its
new QTH, as members have had other
commitments, however it is hoped things will be
underway shortly.
Possibly contributed by not attributed to Max VK7KY SK was our news contributor and gatherer and he called the columns “Devil News from the NW”. 


from AR Magazine 1986 Dec page 56
There will be communications activity at Easter
time at the Horse Trials. There has been a good
response from members and It appears there is
enough volunteers.
The Club Radio Room is almost ready for
habitation, there is only the carpet to be laid, so
volunteer help is sought.

Photos:

Photo - Andrew VK7ZHA now XR and Andrew Perkins VK7ZAP. became VK7KAP

Photo - Greg VK7ZBT, rests on Mount Duncan.

Photo - Andrew Perkins VK7ZAP became VK7KAP and Tony Bedelph VK7AX, attended
the Installation of the special
communication repeater, VK7RAD now VK7RMD, on
Mount Duncan.

ACTIVITIES WEEK FOR DEVONPORT HIGH
SCHOOL — VK7DHS (School call sign)
Tony Clayton VK7AH, and his group had a very successful
week. Activities included a tour of the Able
Tasman Wireless Room and a demonstration of
life-boat drill, a walk to the summit of Mount
Duncan to the site of one of our repeaters, a
display of Army radio and a field exercise in trucks
and jeeps to witness radio demonstrations.
Tony thanks all who assisted with the activities,
and especially to Jack Wright VK7WJ SK, for his assistance
with lectures and the amount of time he gave.

NORTH WESTATV GROUP
The first meeting of the group was held on
October 15, at the home of the group leader, Tony
Bedelph VK7AX. There were 13 in attendance.
Tony said that is should be emphasised that this
is not a "splinter group" to the Wireless Institute of
Australia, and is to support the Institute as
required.
The evening was spent discussing the group's
plans and intentions, which include the promotion
of ATV activities amongst amateur radio members
in conjunction with other radio activities.
It is hoped to encourage activities and provide
assistance to interested people, support and
maintain VK7RTV Mt Duncan and VK7RAE Kelcey Tier repeaters,
encourage outdoor activities using portable video
equipment, provide assistance to organisations
requiring videotaping, etc, reintroduce ATV
broadcasts and to include the occasional social
outing of the group.

Max VK7KY SK was our news contributor and gatherer and he called the columns “Devil News from the NW”. assisted by Tony VK7AX photo courtesy Jack Wright VK7WJ SK