March 2004

PRESIDENTS REPORT - From the Desk of Terry and Kay

Here we are with the first quarter of 2004 almost over. What a busy time it has been with Kan and I having to run our daughter and son-in-law’s guesthouse in Berrima for thee weeks over Christmas while they went to New Zealand for Christmas with the other grandparents. We do hope you all had a great Christmas and look forward to an exciting New Year with the Club’s next event being the AGM at Casino Village.

It was a sad day when we heard Phil (our secretary) had had a heart attack. It is still ongoing with a number of bypasses planned to take placed in the very near future. We wish you all the best Phil for a quick recovery. As the rest of the Committee will now have to produce this Newsletter, it highlights two important points. At the AGM we will be asking for nominations as Assistant Secretary to help Phil, and secondly someone to take on the job of Editor for our Newsletter.

If you are unable to make the Casino meeting but would be willing to help, please give myself or one of the Committee a ring.

In this newsletter you will find the Agenda for the AGM and the itinerary of event organised by Kevin and Sue, the managers of Casino Village. They have organised a top 4 to 5 days for us. A great time will be had by all.

You are invited to come earlier and I know a number of people will be arriving a week or so before. If you plan to arrive earlier please let the managers know and that you are coming for the HF Club meeting.

I am in the throws of trying to organise an Industries representative to spend a day or so giving us a lecture on HF and UHF radios along with the latest technology on GSP and HF email service.

Wayne Reid from “The Bush Telegraph” VMS469 (whose network of bases we share will also be there for the weekend so that we can all put faces with Selcall numbers and hear what Wayne has done with his data frequencies for Email services.

Don’t forget to ring or email the office to let us know if you are coming to Casino from 21st to 27th April with the AGM on the 24th

It appears at this early stage we will have a turn up of over 100 members so come and join us – meet all the members you hear and talk to on the morning and afternoon sket.

See you all at Casino – but most of all
Keep it turned on!

Secretary’s Secretary’s Report

I would like to thank everyone who contacted us either by phone, email, mail or radio for their kind thoughts and wishes, but at this time Phil is still in waiting as his specialist has informed us that he will need a quadruple bypass before the end of March. So we are still waiting.
Thanks for the card Ron and Val Young – it was appreciated.

He did ask if anyone wanted to live with him to learn the secretary’s job – NOW would be a good time. PLEASE. Ed. I dare you.

The Prostate Cancer Council raffle was drawn and the following people won the prizes.

1st prize of the Teddy Bear was (serial no 226895) ticket 152 – P & C West
2nd prize of the shopping voucher was (serial no 226895) ticket 9 – Helen Ashlin.

As the club is trying to save money it makes and to find new ways to make more, please note the following.

1. It is up to YOU to let the Secretary know of any change of address, as if any newsletters or other mail comes back marked NOT AT THIS ADDRESS that member will not receive their mail until we, at the office, has the correct information.
2. There are still many members’ update forms not returned. Even the committee has been a bit slack getting their’s back. If you have mislaid yours, it will take a short time over the phone for it to be done, or ask us to send out another one to you, but a form returned would be better, as that will be kept on file.

Thanks also to Ray & Anne Corbin and Ray & Peg Lawson for the encouraging guidance they have given me whilst Phil’s off.

There will be no Secretary’s report as Terry has told him to relax and don’t do too much until the doctor has given him the all clear. He is not allowed to drive until seven weeks after the operation.

Due to this we are unlikely to be in attendance at Casino, but we will have the Ass. Secretary in attendance, please accept this as our apology.

Thanks again, Helen

Ho!!! Him to.

Treasurer’s Report

Hi all!

Just a quick report this quarter as I have put the books into the auditor to be checked so that I will have a full report available at the AGM held in Casino on the weekend of the 23rd to 26th April.

The financial report will be sent out in the next magazine for those who can’t attend the Casino meeting.

We are, at this time, awaiting the return of the IPC from Codan Communications, as it had to go in for repairs. By the time you read this report, everything will be working fine, hopefully.

As you would be aware Phil has taken a bit crook. We hope he gets better real quick and has a speedy recovery.

Income and Expenditure for the months of December through to the end of February are as follows:

As has been reported BEFORE if any members have any queries re their telephone accounts, ring Bob Locking (2284) in the first instance and if you can’t contact Bob, then ring me. Please don’t ring Phil at the office, as he doesn’t have the records there.

Don’t forget to have a look at this site and have a go at joining up – it isn’t really that hard and the Best part is it’s free.

Contact myself or Garry Tustian (6609) if you have any questions. http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/HF_Radio_Club

Regards
Kimbo (4928)

Peg-Ray’s Report

Hi to all

From Tasmania where we have been travelling now for three months and really finding out how the HF Radio Club network is working so far away from our base stations and our members on the big island. The 7.30 am and 4.30 pm Eastern Standard Time sked on 7899 is working really well. We have had many contacts from long distances and it is proving to be a good way to keep in contact with others on the road and at home. This is a good way to learn how to use your radio so that you can use it in the case of emergencies. May I suggest that you give it a go and talk to others?

Note – don’t hog the airways – keep your call short, so we can give others a fair share of the time.

How did your recruiting for a new member go? We would be pleased to hear how you got on and welcome them to the Club.

When talking to them, please make sure you tell them that the HF Radio Club Inc. can supply new and second hand radios. They are all fitted out with all the frequencies that he Club has the licence to operate and are easy to install. Contact the writer by phone or email and we will have a talk on how easy it is to get on air.

I am arranging on my return to Australia on April 2nd, to have a HF Radio members get together at Hannah Watts Park, High Street, Milton, East End. Page 115, Melway in Victoria.

For a lunch break and talk about our club activities and where we are heading, if you are in the area, we would like to meet you. Please confirm to Arthur on Selcall to 1211 or phone 0438 526 021 to confirm that you would like to come. We could have a counter lunch – see you there.

If you are going to the CMCA rally in Tasmania, please invite your friends to come with you to the HF Radio Seminar that I’ll be giving – a talk about HF Radio and communication whilst on the road.

Should you want to know more about the use of HF radio or have a friend who would be interested to know more, please contact me on 0428 191 454 or email pegray1@bigpond.com or Selcall 9724 and I would be pleased to have a talk.

Kind regards
Ray Lawson

STOP PRESS

Ed. Could someone let Ray know that a RED light means that you are to STOP! Otherwise it could cost you $110.00.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH FELLOW MEMBERS AND FAMILY BY USING YOUR HF RADIO AND INTERCONNECT SERVICE.

PROGRESS WITH A NEW CONSTITUTION

A word from Campbell Cripps-Clark, who is preparing a draft constitution to meet our particular circumstances (our travelling Australia wide membership) and avoid some of the complications that have, or could have, occurred in the past with the Constitution we currently work under. You will recall that Campbell and John Hudd have been working on this for quite a while, since our last AGM actually, but it is a slow process – getting the general ideas formulated, then writing it all down in an unambiguous way, which is still quite understandable.

Campbell and Wendy are currently roaming around Tasmania and having a good time, with good weather and seeing plenty. They have been up in the NW, then into Cradle Mountain and down to Queenstown for a ride of the rack railway to Strahan, then across to Hobart. They are joining in the Kidney Safari from Port Arthur to George Town before going to the motorhome rally near Launceston. They are due back just in time to come to Casino in April.

Campbell reports that the main differences from our current “standard” constitution have been agreed to with our president and others and he is currently writing it up (in between dodging Tasmanian Devils and avoiding the Cascade). The main differences are:

1. President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer are elected for two (2) years. (President and Treasurer for one (1) year, Secretary and Vice President the next and so on). The reason for this is that it gives continuity to management, otherwise you could have a new committee who didn’t really know what was going on (plans and strategies for advancement) and might not have the contacts that were being developed, so the Club could lose out accordingly.
2. Voting – generally by postal ballot so all members would have an equal say. Particularly in electing the committee and future changes in the constitution, also to fully safeguard any member being disciplined, the sort of thing that is unlikely to happen, but if it does, then there must be a clear and fair way of dealing with it. For the AGM, proxies are definitely to be encouraged.
3. Provision for corporate members, companies whose financial and other support would be beneficial to the Club.

Campbell says he will have a draft ready for the committee to have a good look at while we are at Casino. If any members have any points they want to raise and can get to Casino that would be a good opportunity for input. Others are welcome to contact Campbell or the Committee, possibly with the aid of email to minimize printing (we might be able to do something on our website to help many of our members). Campbell is suggesting that a postal ballot to adopt the new Constitution be held in about September, in conjunction with the distribution of the newsletter.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given of an Annual General Meeting of the HF Radio Club Inc to be held at Casino Village on Saturday 24th April 2004 at 10 am

Agenda

1. Record attendance
2. Read the minutes of the last Annual Meeting and adopt
3. Receive following reports – President – Vice President – Secretary – Treasurer
4. Auditor’s Report – Statement of Accounts
a. For the period ending 31st March 2004, be adopted
b. The appointment of Auditors for the next financial year be confirmed
5. That as per the insurance schedule from Ken Tame & Associates Pty Ltd – to be adopted
a. General and public liability
b. Stock and equipment
6. To elect office bearers – Treasurer and committee members, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Editor.
7. Notice of motion to restructure fees
8. Motion proposed by Bob Locking 2284, seconded by Kim Greenwood (4928)
“That the joining fee be $20, annual club fees be $65.00 Those using the phone interconnect pay $50 in advance, payment to be debited against their Selcall number and that the Base fee be dropped.

Close meeting.

Immediately after

A general meeting will be held for any other general business to be discussed if required.

THE SOCIAL SIDE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WEEKEND
22/23/24/25/26 April 2004

If you are arriving some days before the meeting, when booking in, tell the reception that you are here for the HF Radio Club meeting and they will show you into our reserved area. All forms of camping tent, vans etc will be allowed. No one will be sent away. Site fees for our members will be $7 per night plus a few of $3 per night for electricity (limited power sites are available).

Pets are allowed but are required to be under control all the time.

Check out these events:

Golf can be arranged at $15 for 18 holes or $11 for 10 holes at the Casino Golf Range.

Disc bowls is also available (4 sets available)

Craft classes can be arranged if members require them.

If any further enquiries are required, please contact the Casino Village or Terry Childs.

Catherine Hill Bay Gathering

We had a good attendance with eight campers and three-day visitors. What a beautiful spot camped behind the bowling club with million dollar views of the ocean.

The weather was kind too, for the weekend (to those who had the pleasure of staying longer).

After talking about the Annual General Meeting was over, it was time to draw the well-organised raffle – six prizes in all – consisting of

4 x 6 packs of Hahn Ice
1 x 12 pack of soft drink
1 x 6 pack of Coke

Thanks Bob for taking the time to organise the raffle.

We all adjourned to the Club for dinner and purchased tickets in the seafood raffle. First number out was ours (crabs, oysters and king prawns).
Second number drawn – bugger – just happened to be ours as well, among all the calls for a redraw was called (to make us feel bad, didn’t work) second choice was prawns and fish fingers. Helen and Stan Ashlin also won a prize. Three prizes out of six on offer going to our table.

We thought of you all with every mouthful we ate, as we sat down to our feast on Sunday night. The entertainment for the night was exceptional with some doing the hot shoe shuffle showing off to the young ones.

As we were only day visitors, we had to head home. Thanks Bob for organising this gathering.

Catching up with old friends (no pun intended) and make new ones. One thing we will be stopping longer next time in our new van. Someone has to win the prizes.

Kim and Nerida Greenwood.

SPECIAL NOTE

Ed. Remember when having a meeting and/or gathering you MUST contact the office. To have an insurance cover note written for your gathering and have an attendance sheet/book with all people sign in. Return this to the office, so our insurance will cover our members.

HELP WANTED AND POSITION VACANT

Due to the illness and recovery time of the secretary (Phil), we are looking for an assistant secretary to help put over the busy period, also to help with the editorial section of the magazine. The Club will be looking for a Treasurer and Committee persons.

Classified Section

For sale

13-speed Road Ranger gearbox. 1 second hand clutch assembly. 1 new clutch assembly with Bel housing. $200 or near offer. All in good working condition. Bob Locking 0428 789 173.

New Fire Extinguishers 1.00 kg and 2.5 kg. New Fire Blankets. Terry Childs or the office 02 4773 9811.

Wanted

Member requires Instruction Manual or Similar for Codan 8525. In addition a second 8525 radio complete. Jack & Dianne Storer 0438 763 591.

What Goes Around Comes Around


His name was Fleming and he was a poor farmer. One day while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in the muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman’s sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself to the farmer as the boy’s father he had saved yesterday. “I want to repay you”, said the nobleman. “You saved my son’s life.” “No I can’t accept payment for what I did,” the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer’s son came to the door of the family hovel. “Is that your son?” he nobleman asked. “Yes,” the farmer replied proudly. “I’ll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level education my son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he’ll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.” The farmer did. Farmer Fleming’s son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St Mary’s Hospital School in London and went onto become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin. Years afterward, the same nobleman’s son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. The nobleman was Lord Randolph Churchill. His son was Sir Winston Churchill.

FAMILY NAMES OF YESTER YEAR

Where did your family name come from? In this day and age we are not concerned about the convict history in fact we are proud of the fact that we may come from the colonial history.

O’Brien, Henry. 1793 – 1866 – a squatter from Yass area and pioneer of the term “boiling down”. Boiling down is obtaining tallow from a sheep’s carcass. The tallow obtained was worth six shillings a head as per sixpence a head for the sheep at the time. Ed. A one off moneymaking adventure in hard times – no second cut.

Evans, George William. 1780 – 1852. Surveyor arrived in Sydney 1802, worked with NSW Government and completed for Gregory Blaxland the first crossing of the Blue Mountains and connected with the Blaxland River Crossing on the Silverdale Road, Wallacia. Ed. The reserve at the back of the Ed’s home.

Gardiner, Francis (real name Francis Christie). 1830 – 1900’s. Famous bush ranger, Born in the Goulburn district. Became a butcher around the Lambing Flat diggings. Stole money and was said to have wounded a sergeant at Eugowra. Retreated to Rockhampton with his mistress, ran a store, captured, sentenced of 32 years of hard labour. After several petitions he was released and exiled. He conducted a tavern in San Francisco until early 1900’s when he was thought to have died.

Gardiner, John. 1798 – 1878. A pioneer who drove the first stock from NSW to Melbourne in October/December 1886. Ed. Major feat if you really think of what they would have to put up with, on roads, street signs, we do take a lot for granted each and every day.

Harpur, Charles. 1813 –1868. Australia’s first prominent native born writer. Works include “An Aboriginal Mother’s Lament”, written after the Myall Creek massacres in 1938.

Kemp, Charles. 1813 – 1864. journalist arriving in Sydney in 1825. After working at the Herald along with a friend (Fairfax) purchased the company in 1841. The name changed to Sydney Morning Herald. In 1853 he sold his shares to the now owners, Fairfax.

Randell, William Richard. 1824 – 1911. A riverboat captain, pioneering the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Darling Rivers with his paddleboat. The first riverboat captain to reach the Darling/Murray Rivers junction. He traded on the rivers for twenty years until settling in South Australia to control other business ventures, passing away in Adelaide.

Ed. Perhaps some of these explorers, pioneers and forefathers are relatives. Maybe not. We all need to thank them for the contributing factors they partook in the founding and the starting of this great country we call home. Do you know more about your relatives from that time. We would like to know more.