Projects
A key project for SERG has been the encouragement of new licensees.
For the SERG year September 2005 to August 2006 the following people have successfully completed their foundation Licence under the guidance of SERG. Special thanks to our registered WIA Assessors Trevor VK5NC and John VK5DJ supported by Invigilator Dave VK5DG.
Brian Middleton VK5FROB, John Reeves VK3FXJR, Bill Jackson VK5FWEJ, Ian Bishop VK3FNBL, Paula Williamson VK5FOXX, Linley Pollard VK5FRED, Sarah Collie VK5FIRE, Tom Wilson VK3FLAM, Bill tully VK5FWST, Andrew Jackson VK5FLCS, Shane Miller VK5FGTS, Warren Drabsch VK5FSCH, Max Costa VK5FMAX, James Prime VK4FJIM, Bob Prime VK4FBOB, Paul Excell VK5FLOP, Graham Fartch (VK5FSCR), Robert Stewart passed theory.
Two more Standard Licensees as of 17/2/07 and two more Foundation Licensees. Well done fellows - three from across the border and local Max Costa has upgraded from Foundation.
State Emergency Service Project
The club cooperates with the State Emergency Service in the provision of emergency communication and tracking EPIRBs. For this purpose the club has built a special trailer equipped with all amateur frequencies, a collapsible tower, a 5KW generator and antennas to suit. The next two photographs were taken at a Riverland Field Day where the club demonstrated searching for hidden transmitters and the use of APRS.
 Club radio car (owned by Wayne VK5ZX), trailer and tent at Waikerie |
 Close up of trailer by the special emergency operations tent for the SES. |
The satellite antennas of Tony VK5ZAI
who helps schools link to the ISS
Work proceeds on the club shack. Watch this space for some photos of work to date.
Should Charles and Mathew have ironed the curtains before they put them up? Should David VK5HDW have worn a mask or is MDF really good for you? Does Dave VK5NJY like working on his back that much? Should Wayne VK5ZX build the shelves? Should XXXX (anonymous) have thrown all that stuff out of the office?
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The creation of the benches in the club operating room is proceeding. Here David VK5HDW spreads the filler to cover a join. Note the carefully ironed curtains in the background. |
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Here Dave VK5NJY shows skill and creativity by using our vacuum cleaner to remove the fine dust from the MDF board. (Dave must be our OHSW rep) |
JOTA - a report by Charles VK5HPC (now VK5XCP)
On the 18th of October, VK5SR club station helped approximately 50 Joeys, Cubs and Scouts from the 1st Mount Gambier group obtain their JOTA badge.
We started working 20meters and found it was full of other stations doing the same, plenty of VK4s, VK6s even a ZL station. The day was long, as we just seemed to have an endless supply of children working towards their JOTA badge. A lot of the work was performed on the local 2meter repeater. As luck would have it just as the last Scout was on air the HF radio sprung to life with a VK4 calling CQ. As we found out they had just started JOTA for the day and had about 20 Scouts to get their badge. Clyde from 1st Mount Gambier Scouts spent the next 35 mins talking to the scout group from VK4.
JOTA is very important to scouts as a learning experience and to earn another badge. VK5SR was proud to help with JOTA as it just might get some more young people interested in Amateur radio and that can only be a good thing.
Past President of SERG, Wayne VK5ZX, keeps notes
on a JOTA contact
In early June 2007 the Naracoorte Repeater VK5RNC was hit by lightning. A key project for the latter part of the year will be to assist the Naracoorte club in the replacement of this service.