from AR Magazine 1986 May page 52 -

DEVIL NEWS from the NORTH WEST
Branch members were thrilled when the Penguin
High School, where Branch functions are held,
made available a bigger storeroom for storage of
equipment such as the base station and RTTY
gear.
All repeater modes are well in hand and the
next activities night will see the six and two metre
aerials underway.

Frank, the Branch News-Co-ordinator advised
that the last news broadcast was pre-recorded
and sent to the news-reader, ready to go to air. It
was well received.

The President of the Branch is calling for ideas
and help to establish a base-station at Wynyard
High School.

Frank VK7ZFH, was the recipient of the Gong
Award for the month. Frank attempted to make
contact with VK3 through the repeater but he was
talking on simplex and did not get through!

The Horse Trials, held at Westella, just out of
Ulverstone, was a great success, with 11 Xrators 
taking part. Some had two jumps to look after,
others had three. The base was set-up at the
start and as the horses left they were put on a
stop-watch. As the proceeded through the course,
their positions were relayed back to base, also the
results of each jump, how many clean jumps, how
many refusals, etc.
An ambulance had to be called on two
occasions, and help was on hand very quickly.
The operators were thanked for a job well-done
and their presence at another one being staged
shortly was encouraged.

On 20th February, two NW Branch members
ventured to Crotty. Crotty is situated in the southwest
of the State, which is approached firstly by a
bitumen road, then gravel with the final approach
being either by four-wheel drive or foot. The
intrepid Winston VK7EM and Arthur VK7SE
chose to walk.
Crotty was a mining town which closed down
around 1900. At that time it had a good railway
service to Pillinger and some of the carriages still
remain in the bush — one with a large tree
growing through it. Arthur and Winston walked
down to Kelly Basin along the old railway track.
Contacts were made back to VK7BV, VK7KAB.
VK7KC and VK7WZ on 80 metres. The intrepid
venturers were using a small home-brewed rig,
(built by Winston), a lead-acid battery and a dipole
aerial slung over a couple of trees. 
Reports were 5 x 7-8.
A CW contact was also made, with good copy,
on another home-brew transceiver, complete with
key and speaker in a Strepsils tin.
The boys must have looked quite a sight, lying
on their stomachs in their tent, trying to cope with
the rain and understand Morse signals which they
had both thought they had forgotten, but the most
memorable event of the trip must surely have
been when Arthur produced a three layer sponge
cake complete with candle to celebrate Winston's
birthday.
On the return hike, the boys spoke to VK7PS
and listened to the Sunday Morning Broadcast.
Truly a trip to remember.

Operators at the Horse Trials;
Photo - From left: 
Bill VK7WL; Noel VK7EG; Tony VK7AX; 
Ross VK7WP; Noel VK7WN; John VK7KDR; 
Owen VK7OL.
Front: Greg VK7ZBT; Max VK7KY; 
John VK7ZPT and Jack VK7WJ.

Contributed by Max Hardstaff VK7KY       AR