Mike Jenner Amateur Radio History
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Hi Justin,
Here is a "potted" history of my involvement with the WIA.
I have been involved, particularly in the Southern Branch since about 1957.
I first got interested in amateur radio when I was in High School in the fifties. I lived in New Norfolk and boarded in the Springvale Hostel in the grounds of the school, and over the back fence from Keith Johnston, VK7RX (SK), who we used to hear on our crystal sets. He was the first amateur station I visited.
I was Short Wave Listener L7007. I bought an AR7 receiver from Ken Millin, VK7KA (SK). To attend the WIA meetings in Liverpool Street after I left school, I would catch the bus to Hobart and after the meeting, Ken would take me to his place where I would sit in his "shack" reading American ham magazines till after midnight and then run down to Argyle Street and catch the bus home at 0045 next morning!
Still in the fifties, the Sunday morning broadcast was read on 3672 and 7146 by Jack Batchelor, VK7JB (SK), Bob Fulton, VK7AF (probably SK) (Bob and Toms Service Station in Sandy Bay Road) and others. I used to go to their shacks and read the Short Wave Listeners news.
Late in 1960 I sat for the Limited Licence and was not going to do anything until I passed the Morse exam. Bob Milne, VK7ZAL (SK) (a distant relative, and at that time living in Richmond) talked me into taking out a "Z" call and lent me a home brew six metre rig. I took the next call in line, VK7ZAV, ("The Voice of the Derwent Valley") and my first contact was with David Thorne, VK7ZAI (SK) on 15/02/1961.
The early pages of my log book are full of contacts with Reg Emmett, VK7ZAO (now VK7KK) and his brother, Wilfred, VK7ZAQ, who lived in Lenah valley at that time.
My "DX" contact in the early days was Alan Moresby, VK7MY (SK) at Cremorne.
We, the "Z" calls, formed the VHF group. My first home brew rig was a 10 watt AM six metre transmitter paired with a tuneable converter built by Neville Campbell, VK7NC (SK) into the AR7. My first 2 metre rig was a mobile transceiver built by the well known VHF pioneer in Hobart, Athol Johnson, VK7AJ (recently SK at that time).
I met my first wife through amateur radio, Anne, then VK7ZYL (later VK7LY and now VK7BYL).
The Tasmanian Division of the WIA was at that time based in the south with branches in the North West and the North. Ted Beard, VK7EB (SK) and myself used to produce a monthly bulletin, typed on a "stencil" and wound out on an "armstrong" Roneo machine.
I achieved the full call in about 1968, and used to relay the broadcast on either 80 or 40, or originate it. At various times I was Treasurer and for a year, President.
For some time Phil Corby, VK7ZAX, was the Federal Councillor for the WIA and I accompanied him as an observer to the AGM in Melbourne at which Martin Luther, now VK7GN, proposed a complete restructure of the WIA. If I remember rightly it was not a particularly popular idea in Tasmania at the time, but has proven to be very successful.
So, in short, I have had a long and active involvement with Amateur Radio in Tasmania, and in particular with the weekly broadcast.
I dont believe that there is anything constructive that I could contribute to the Committee but I may be able to provide information or comment on queries that may be raised by the Committee.
I well remember most of the individuals who have contributed to the hobby, and particularly the WIA in Tasmania and may be able to fill in gaps the Committee may encounter.
I do not really have the drive and commitment to be actively involved any more than that, but I am looking forward with interest to the celebrations.
Cheers and all the best,
Mike Jenner
Treasurer Friends of Tasman Island
https://tasmanisland.org.au
Volunteer Home Operator, Tasmaritime Radio
tasmaritime.com.au
Amateur Radio Station VK7FB
https://www.qrz.com/lookup/vk7fb