A Potted History of wireless and the WIA in Tasmania

       Wireless experimenters were busy in Tasmania before the First        
       World War, 11 stations being listed in 1911.
       A.H.Medhurst and W.P.Hallam contacted visiting warships in 1901.  
       Geoff Hall said his best DX using a spark transmitter and coherer 
       receiver was only 200 yards!
       The Marconi company built a station at Devonport in 1906 to       
       demonstrate communication with Victoria.
       Father Shaw, the "wireless priest" erected a station on King 
       Island in 1911.
       The coast radio station, VIH, was built in Hobart in 1912.

       A wireless and Electrical Club was formed in Hobart after the 
       First World War.

       Following a visit to Hobart by H.R.Gregory, who was involved with 
       the WIA in Sydney, the Tasmanian Division of the Wireless 
       Institute of Australia was formed at a meeting in Hobart on the 
       21st February, 1923.   The Launceston Wireless Club was granted 
       affiliation in October, 1923.

       The club started boldly with its own rooms in Trafalgar Place.   
       However, following an unsatisfactory demonstration of wireless at 
       Hobart's "Palais de Danse" which was probably due to a lack of 
       knowledge of public address, there was dissension amongst the 
       members.   Later demonstrations held in a hall where the audience 
       was quiet and not attempting to dance, were successful, Sydney 
       broadcasting stations being received.

       The split led to the formation of the Hobart Radio Research Club 
       and the Tasmanian Division of the WIA was formally incorporated in 
       Launceston in 1925.

       1924 - the first broadcasting station, 7ZL, opened in Hobart.

       The 5th Federal Convention of the WIA was held in Hobart in 1928 
       when the proceedings took 5 1/2 days.   The Convention was also 
       held in Hobart in 1935 and 1967.

       By 1930 the Divisions meetings were being held in Hobart where the 
       majority of the council members lived.

       In 1931 a news bulletin and QSL bureau started.

       During the 1930s there was much activity in Hobart with field days 
       and dinners.   In photographs of the time the WIA blazers were 
       popular.
       There were other radio clubs active during the 1930s, notably the 
       Devonport Radio Club and Army Signals Radio Club.   The Hobart 
       Radio Research Club was disbanded following the reactivation of 
       the WIA in Hobart.
       Club callsigns listed in 1929-36 included 7HR, Hobart Radio 
       Research Club, 7PR launceston Technical College, 7SR Army Signals 
       Radio Club and 7WI

       The Northern Zone of the Division was formed in Launceston in 
       1948, followed by the Northwestern Zone.

       The annual Remembrance Day contest was first held in 1948, but not 
       many VK7s entered due to late publicity, however they won it for 
       the next three years in a row and many times thereafter.
       The annual dinner of the Division was popular in the 1930s and in 
       1956 was held in Bronte Park, a centrally located village built by 
       the Hydro Electric Commission and now vanished.

       A state wide get together was held in Campell Town in 1935.       
       Campell Town field days continued until the 1960s and in recent 
       years the informal Central Highland Radio Club have held a 
       gathering at Penstock Lagoon each year.

       Statewide get-togethers have been held over the years, the names 
       varying with changes in fashion, the main locations being 
       Ulverstone, Launceston, Campell Town and Hobart.

       3590 KHz has been in use for an informal net each day for many 
       years.   The gathering was named the "Sewing Circle" at the 
       suggestion of ????, the wife of VK7GV.   To enable these voices to 
       meet in person, an annual sewing circle barbecue has been held 
       since ????