Ken Millin VK7KA
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THE TASMANIAN MASON — June, 1993 — Pagé
by Jeff Boyes
HOBBY TALK -
Communicator with the world at his fingertips
of both Freemasonry and
Amateur Radio, it is little won-
der that strong though informal
links exist between the two
The front room of the Millin’s memberships. Ken Millin sus-
home in West Hobart is Ken’s pects that there are amateur
Den and almost half the room is networks providing contact be-
taken up with what is known in tween Freemasons throughout
Amateur Radio circles as ”the the world and probably some
shack”. In Ken Millin’s case, the Lodges who have close associa-
shack comprises three desks and tions with Amateur Radio. If any
shelving which house a radio reader has detailed knowledge of
transmitter, several communica- such activities, we should be glad
tions radio receivers, five radio to hear of them.
transceivers (which combine the
functions of both receiver and By no means all of W.Bro.
transmitter), matching and Millin’s leisure time has been
measuring equipment and com- spent on the Amateur airwaves.
puters, keyboards and screens. For many years he was a
For W.Bro. Millin, in company painstaking builder and sailer of
with many other Freemasons, is yachts, from centre-board ding-
a very active member of another hys to off-shore cruising yachts,
great world-wide, truly interna- notably Melita and Runaway.
tional fraternity, that of the For many years he was in a
Radio Amateur. part-time partnership with Ship-
A Radio Amateur (with a capi- builder Geoffrey Cuthbertson at
tal A) is notjust a non-profession- Montague Bay, contributing to
al radio operator. He or she is one the mechanics and fitting out of a
who has studied the theory of number of wellknown and
radio propogation and reception, beautiful cruising yachts.
equipment, regulations and * Radio Amateur, W Bro Ken Millin (VK7KA) with the world at his fingertips. The home-made 1959 transmitter (left) dwarfs the
morse code and has passed the Brethren who have been
battery of modern transmitters that make up a modern Amateur radio station. associated with W.Bro. Millin in
necessary examinations for the
Amateur Operators’ Certificate his Masonic life will know that
long time Amateurs, Ken Millin Many Amateurs engaged on crossing outback deserts or sail- he has contributed to the enrich-
of Proficiency. He or she may has shoe boxes stacked with QSL ing the world’s oceans, thus en-
then be licensed with an long distance travels by car and ment of Lodge and most associ-
cards from the most distant parts caravan or yachts, fit radios and suring their safety and a wel- ated orders with the same
Amateur call sign to communi- but is especially proud of cards come at their destination.
cate on a number of bands of are licensed as "mobiles”. Whole thoughtfulness and zeal as he has
from North Dakota and Anchor- networks exist for the purpose of In view of the world-wide, in- to his family and all of his life’s
frequencies with other amateurs age, Alaska. maintaining contact with those ternational and fraternal nature varied activities.
(some 700 in Tasmania and
10,000 throughout Australia) in As Amateurs gained experi-
ence, the sets they built got
any one of 320 countries and
geographical regions throughout bigger and more sophisticated.
the world. Ken Millin’s 1959 model stands 6
feet tall in a corner of the room,
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L LTARL Waldd niees Al A d AR THIC LITINAR ADDY D
Apdiu Iom proviaing more UWailillyg it Jaultiy vl 1uouciis
transceivers measuring some 28
§LA
BH8L, BAVUWVIN NI
effective communication with
low power or in poor conditions, x 12 cms high that radiate the PICKERS
morse code breaks down lan- same power. AND
guage barriers during interna-
tional working. A Radio Amateur 1958 and 9 were obviously INDUSTRIES
may also be a professional oper- vintage years for VKTKA and
Ken. Certificates bear witness to
HERITAGE MUSEUM
ator or administrator and many
are. Amateurs are often referred successes in international com- The Museum is set out in a former Pty. Ltd.
to as “Hams” but most prefer the munications such as: A third in
the New Zealand - Australia DX packing shed, which in its heyday
term Amateur.
Contest, recognition of having gave employment to fifty workers.
Ken Millin inherited an enthu- “two way communication with 1059 Cambridge Road,
siasm for both Freemasonry and other amateur stations in each of The displays will transport you back to
radio from his father and like so the six recognised continental Cambridge
many other young boys of that areas of the world” and having these days, showing you 500 different
time, had built his own crystal scored 10,764 points in an Ameri- varieties of apples, restored working
set and had the thrill of hearing can World Wide DX Contest on machines, also the Carpenter’s and
for the first time in his head- CW (Morse). Blacksmith’s shops, the kitchen,
phones local broadcasting sta- Phone 48 5155
tions “loud and clear”. Ken Millin came into Amateur lounge and other rooms of an era long
Radio at a time when half the gone.
After service in the R.A.N. pleasure was in the building of
during W.W. II, Ken Millin com- your own equipment and its suc-
pleted a trade course at the cess in doing what it was in- When you start on your guided tour Fax 002 48 5092
Hobart Technical College and tended to do. With increased (optional) and see the displays, arti-
then set about qualifying for his technical sophistication and facts and photographs, you will travel
Radio Amateur Certificate which miniaturization every item of
he gained with his call sign factory-made equipment can be back in time a hundred years to when
VK7KA in 1948. He built his - bought off the shelf from the people worked by candle light and Manufacturers of:
own small (2 watt) transmitter retailers. Ken admits to gaining earned approximately 5/- (50c) per
and logged his first contact with the greatest pleasure from week.
VK7GB, Ted Burne over the hill designing, building and P.V.C. Office stationery
in Lenah Valley. maintaining his own components The welcome then, is how it still is
and some of these of matchbox or today — warm and friendly.
In those earlier days, Radio tobacco tin size have the appear-
Amateurs built their own trans- ance of intricate jewelry.
Conference satchels
mitters and receivers working
The biggest changes in
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
from basic circuit diagrams and
then adding experimental mod- Amateur Radio since the forties 9.30 am-5 pm Promotional binders
ifications of their own design. and fifties has been not only in On the Grove Straight, 25 mins from Hobart
The proof of the pudding was the range and miniaturization,
but in the diversification. Hob- Phone 66 4345 AH 66 4222 Screen printing and
measured in the range and quali-
ty of their transmissions. byists may now specialise on
bands of very high and ultra-high hot foil stamping
When two Radio Amateurs frequency (VHF and UHF) equip-
establish contact with each other ment working through repeaters
over long distances or into re- on hilltops throughout the coun- Tents, tarpaulins and
mote areas, the fact is recorded try or even satellites. They may
by an exchange of QSL cards become enthusiasts for packet all canvas goods
recording the date, time, signal radio” in which computers store
strength and quality and often a and transmit messages at ultra- manufactured to order
brief description or picture of the high speed as time on a single
location. Amateurs collect QSL frequency becomes vacant, or in
cards like stamp enthusiasts col- teleprinter telegraphy and com-
lect stamps. Great value is placed puterised decoders for transmit- Repairs
on those that are rare. Like most ting and receiving morse code. An early mechanial apple peeler & corer.
See it working!