from AR Magazine 1986 03 March page 60 -

SEWING CIRCLE STORY
Bob Jackson VK7NBF
Falmouth House, Falmouth, Tas. 7215
The Tasmanian Sewing Circle is not what it
seems. For one thing there is not a needle or reel
of thread in sight. But, there are Morse keys,
valves and aerials aplenty.
This name is a long-standing 'nickname' for a
group of about 50 dedicated amateur radio enthusiasts,
mostly retired men, who get-together
each evening for a chat over the air-waves. They
come from all over Tasmania and their conversation
covers almost every subject imaginable.
The Circle began in 1962, when the late Jack
Batchler VK7JB, and his friend Snowy Harrisson
VK7CH, maritime mobile on the MOORINA, had
daily conversations on 80 metres. The mode used
was CW, (it had to be as Snowy swears that he
does not own a microphone, even to this day).
Jack used an Army 122 set.
They were soon joined by the late Bob O'May
VK70M and others, but the mode changed to SSB
when Snowy was not on the net. They earned
their nickname one evening when the session
delayed the Batchler's mealtime. Jack's wife, Joy
VK7YL, said that the men reminded her of a
sewing circle at school — a select group of
students who were allowed to talk as they sewed.
Jack protested that it was a strange comparison
for a bank manager, a marine engineer and an
Army officer. However, despite his protests, the
name stuck and is still in use to this day.
In 1981, Joe Brown VK7BJ, presented a framed
photograph of a sewing machine which was to be
awarded annually to the most loquacious member
of the group. For the past three years, a barbeque
has been held at the home of Bill VK7NRV, where
the presentation is made. The winner is the sole
judge of the recipient for the next year. The current
holder is Owen VK70L.
Reference material The Southern Star
AR