1989 Bob the link if trouble strikes
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They're On The Road Again. Former
Examiner chief photographer EDDIE KERFOOT
and country roundsman GEOFF WILLSON
are back on the road, exclusively for
The Sunday Examiner...
® LEFT:
Bob
Jackson, 77,
uses a
morse key
tocalla
friend on his
short wave
radio. Bob is
surrounded
by the other
receivers
and
transmitters
he uses for
the local
volunteer
service.
MATEUR seafarers on Mainlanders arriving by boat or follow the boat in, or sometimes a Falmouth, radio communication is unit which was used to entertain
Tasmania's east Coast yacht and seeking the difficult en- visitor is “‘talked” in via radio. an obsession. visitors.
trance to St Helens, or a safe ancho- Through a CB radio Mr Jackson With many radio aerials the
sail secure in the know- rage, seek his advice. *“I'he professional fishermen are house resembles a porcupine. The
ledge that should trouble most helpful,” Mr Jackson said, talks to friends around Tasmania;
When that advice is sought, Mr his volunteer service with RVCP main aerial swings 22in high from a
“and if a mariner is in trouble I call
strike, their mate ashore, Jackson phones his friend and re- the marine police — they're a grand keeps him in touch with mariners I‘!"e tree. When asked how a man of
Bob Jackson, will do his best tired h:u"mrmaswr, Larry Haines ) group.
" and the short wave radio with Dis aged erected the acrial, he re-
at St Helens. friends world-wide. plied: “There was nothing to it. |
to arrange aid. Mr Jackson, a former manager of asked on the radio if anyone had a
Mr Jackson, 77, is a member of Mr Haines then checks whether Hinman, Wright & Manser in of Mr and Mrs Jackson live in Fal-_ pet monkey which could fix an aeri-
the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol fishing boats are leaving or entering Launceston, was 70 when he stud- mouth House, which is on the site of
the port. al to a tree.
and cares for mariners between Ed- ied for and gained an amateur radio an old coach inn. “The next weekend a band of vol-
dystone Point and Bicheno. If so the visitor is told to wait and operator’s icence. Now living at His radio shack is a former guest unteers arrived from IHobart
i Young
e army
Young
army
man’s
proud OB Jackson is in the “I need a sponsor to ins-
day
radio shack every day tal a high frequency
and with military pre- transmitter so I can talk to
cision sends out regular ra- Melbourne and Hobart ra-
dio calls and maintains & dios and use other emer-
Bob and listening watch. geney channels. With such
Margaret Each radio contact is rear an even better service
Jackson were logged along with the name riven to mar-
commissioned of the vessel and the num-
army officers in ber of occupants. Organisers of t
World War 11. Many amateur fisher- Three ks
men’s wives are te
He served 3 phone to put on the
years in the AIF pan because their hus
and CMF before 1s on the way in with fish,
retiring with the Along with the recogni-
rank of T/Major. tion of the RVCP comes in-
structions from Canberra. dio calls are answered and
His proudest
Part of the instructions so grateful in times of need
army service ist “You must report or distress. award fc
was in 1951 whales, whales and calves, R
Earlier this ye
o 'O
less Institute of /
when he led a strange marine creatures Ka(:ht returning to Sydney T'he award a test of
parade through and crocodiles.” ad a major breakdown off and patience of inter-
Launceston to ‘“Now a croc on our East Falmouth. Arrangements state and international am-
mark the arrival Coast would be something were made for the yacht to ateur radio operators, who
of Queen to report,”” Mr Jackson be towed to safety by a pro- depending on their world-
Elizabeth II. said. fessional fisherman, who to location, are requ
The RVCP is Austraia- offset his loss of fishing
Pride of place in contact a prescribed num-
wide with 10 stations time demanded $100 an ber of Tasmanian opera-
his radio shack around the Tasmanian hour. “T don’t care if it’s t‘ors.
coast. Manned by volun- '
goes to a picture $1000 an hour,” the owner
of T ajor teers its main purposes are of the distressed yacht Visitors tor Mr Jackson’s
Jackson with to aid small boat owners at said, “‘just tow me in.”’ radio shack claim that he
sea and to provide naviga- Much of the cost of oper- has a sure snake bite cure.
Queen Elizabeth tion and information.
II. ating the station and the The liquid cure is in a
A proud Tasmanian, Mr phone calls the volunteer bottle whose label says:
The picture was Jackson arranges to send work generates is borne by “Falmouth Snake-bite
taken in 1954, by information to interstate Mr Jackson. Cure (Whisky). Take in reg-
On The Road and international visitors. But he says that the cost ular doses prior to bite.” It
Again team He said: ““Falmouth is of- is no more than pursuing works too. There is no
ten the first landfall for vis- another hobby or sport. record of a visitor to Jack-
member Eddie itors from Sydney. They
Kerfoot. “It’s my life's work, my son’s radio shack dying
are pleased wi,xen their ra- hobby. from snake bite.
Enjoy a Lost Weekend
with these great Innkeeper Packa
Hobart Lenna of Hobart $60 per night phone (002) 23 2911
St Ives Motel §55 per night phone (002) 30 1801
Woolmers Inn §55 per night phone (002) 23 7355