Hobart Observer July2023

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12 Hobart Observer JULY 2023

Community News

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REAST members (L-R) Tony Matthews, Stephen Smith, Dave Marsland, Richard Rogers,
at the Queens Domain historic radio station. Photo credit: Simon Andrews

Amateur radio group celebrates centenary

A LOCAL group of
amateur radio enthusiasts
with the callsign VK7
celebrated its centenary
in June.
Colloquially known
as “hams”, the group
experiments with a form
of short-wave radio
communication and
digital tools.

The Tasmanian
Division of the Wireless
Institute of Australia
was formed in Hobart in

1923 and is still operating
today, meeting weekly
as the Radio Electronics
Association of Tasmania
(REAST).
Wireless
communications began

president Hayden

first World War, with the
Hobart coastal wireless
station VIH established
on the Domain in 1912.
This station in Hobart
is still used today by
REAST, whose members
include a mix of retirees
and a small group of
younger enthusiasts.
Members meet to share
their common interest
in experimental radio
communications, and
run training sessions so
prospective “hams” can
obtain their amateur
radio licence.
“Amateur radio is the
hobby of a thousand
hobbies,” REAST

“For example, we have
people who combine
it with climbing up
mountains and making
as many contacts as they
can, and we run.a weekly
television show from the
station.

“We’ve managed to
adapt over time, so there’s
always going to be a place
for amateur radio.”

Richard Rogers has
been an amateur radio
enthusiast since 1959,

“T spent 60 years
learning about the old
way of doing radio but
now it’s all different,” he
said.

“T could still build a
morse code transmitter

a5 oe

Larry Hower, Dale Barnes and David Triffett

wanted to, but technology
moves so fast these days.”
Another member,
Larry Hower, began his
obsession with ham radios
in Pennsylvania as a boy.
“The thing about radio
is there’s something
for everyone, that’s the
appeal,” he said. “Amateur
radio is useful as a backup
in natural disasters.
When cellular went down
in Dunalley during the
bushfires, ham radio
worked.”
Anyone interested
in amateur radio or
experimenting with
modern communication
tools can head to the
REAST website:

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