Centenary of transmission between Queenscliff and Devonport 2006
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SUNDAY TASMANIAN — 57 +
July 2, 2006
SR ‘‘This was not
just an
Australian
jords first, it was
also the first
transmission
across hroadcast
over water in
the Southern
Hemisphere”
water said of the re-enactment. “We
will do the introductions in
morse code, as occurred in
Communications have come a |ong' 1906, but then we will let
people speak to each other.”
way in a century, Gill Vowles re ports Mr Churcher said the cele-
brations would continue until
July 16 with a special event
station being set up at the
" PPN
over water in the Southern Maritime Museum.
NE of the Centenary Commitiee “This will allow us to talk
Hemisphere,” he said STRAIT-TALKING: Faye Gardam, right, and Tony Bedelph of the Marconi
most signifi- MARSDEN to people around the world on
Mr Churcher said fears tap out a message on some old telegraph equipment. Picture: ROSS
cant events over Germany’s expansionist amateur radio.”
sence of Tasmania’s Gover- Government passing a Navi-
in Australia’s communi- intentions to the 1906 transmission. nor, Sir Gerald Strickland, gation Act in 1912 making it The Maritime Museum will
cations history will be re- communications trial. “It was quite controversial trans- compulsory for all ships in also host an exhibition of old
with sceptical made deliverin g the
enacted in Devonport “There was a great ker- at the time, rs accepting mitted messages complex. Australian waters carrying radios and communications
next week. passengers to artefacts from July 12-16.
fuffle at the time with the local bookmake the trans- “When a message for the more than 50 nt.
In 1906 the Marconi Wire- Germans already in New bets on whether succeed. Governor came through, it have wireless equipme A highlight of the celebra-
mission would
less Telegraphy Company Guinea,” Mr Churcher said. was written out by the opera- Next week’s re-enactment tions will occur on July 13
“The British Colonial Sec- “Many of the town council- when students from the Dev-
transmitted the first Austral- a boy on a has been organised by the
ian telegram across open retary, Joseph Chamberlain, lors said such a new-fangled tor, taken by boatman of a Devonport
bicycle to the City Council, onport and Reece high
never work and schools will use either ama-
water, between Queenscliffin approached Prime Minister thing would who ferry, who rowed it across the North West Amateur Radio
the only dignitary Group and Devon- teur radio equipment or a
Victoria and East Devonport. Alfred Deakin about con-
transmission in river and took it to the local Interest tele-bridge to speak to astro-
On July 12, the 100th structing a chain of shore attended the the Town telegraph office for transmis- port Maritime Museum.
Devonpor t was nauts on the international
anniversary of the transmis- stations around the Austral- John Luck.” sion to Hobart. The Victorian event has
sion, the event will be re- ian coastline for ship-to-shore Board chairman, “The reverse procedure de- been organised by the Queens- space station.
communications and the gov- On the other side of Bass “That just shows how far
enacted in both Devonport Queenscli ff had more livered the Governor’s reply cliff City Council and Geelong
ernment agreed to give the Strait, we've come,” Mr Churcher
and Queenscliff. and it was all accomplished Amateur Radio Club.
Marconi Centenary Com- Marconi Company a tempo- luck in attracting VIPs, with in 40 minutes.”
Deakin, “The original messages of said. “In 1906 it was aston-
rary licence conduct Prime Minister ishing to be able to send a
mittee secretary Ron Church- Governor -General Lord Mr Churcher said many greeting s and goodwill were
experiments Bass morse code transmission
er said the 1906 experiment Northcote and Victorian Gov- later communic ations devel- transmit ted using a spark
was a landmark event. Strait.” could be traced to transmit ter but we will have across water; a hundred
Talbot among opments
“This was not just an Aus- Mr Churcher said almost ernor Reginald the 1906 experiment. to. use a modern transceiver years later were talking to
tralian first, it was also the the whole population of the 250 guests. pecple in space.” |
Devonport had attended the Mr Churcher said the ab- This included the Federal and antennas,” Mr Churcher
first transmission broadcast