SEPTEMBER 2003

I am writing this report from Borroloola in the Northern Territory on the Gulf. After picking up our motorhome in Mareeba, we followed the old Cairns to Forsayth rail line as far as Mt Surprise, then across the Gulf Developmental Road to Normanton and Karumba where we had a brief stay in a very very crowded caravan park for fridge repairs and a day out fishing, all of whom went on a 24 hour hunger strike that day.

From there to Leichhardt Falls, Gregory Downs and onto Lawn Hill National Park which has to be one of the most beautiful National Parks in Australia. A must for anyone within a 300 km of this area. Just down the road at Riversleigh is one of the world's richest fossil sites well worth a guided tour. Back up to the Gulf to Burketown where we stayed at Escott Lodge. From here we were not sure what to expect as we were heading to Borroloola via Hell's Gate Roadhouse and the Galvert River. This is regarded as 4WD country - 500 kms of dirt between towns and many river crossings.

We stayed the first night at Kingfisher Camp on private property and acres of lush green grass on the banks of Nicholson River, an oasis in harsh country. After spending a few nights on the banks of different rivers we arrived here without any major problems, whilst travelling through some of Australia's most diverse and beautiful country (although not sure that Kay took her eyes off the road and river crossings long enough to enjoy the scenery). We spoke to a number of 4WD owners, some with caravans who complained about the road and had broken springs, etc but I'm sure inadequate preparation, driving too fast for the road conditions and not walking the crossings were the real reasons for their problems. Our motorhome is only a single drive axle and we didn't experience any problems.

From here, we head for the Roper River via the Nathan River where after a couple of months and thousands of kms of dirt, we will join the throng of tarred road tourists as we head for Katherine, Litchfield National Park, Kakadu and finish at Darwin for this year.

To all of you travelling enjoy, for those of you still working reconsider.

See you all at the Christmas meeting - but most of all - keep it turned on.

Terry and Kay.

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS

Since the Annual General Meeting, the club has had a steady influx of new members. I'm glad to see fewer members resigning, those whom have, have done so because they have sold their equipment in one form or another. (Ed)

Please welcome the new members

To those above, WELCOME on behalf of the members and committee. The office is but a phone call away - most times.

QUESTION

Been checking the Club's website out, we have had a very good response to it. When talking to people about the club, tell them about the site, call the office, we can then follow them up for you.

REQUEST

If you intend to contact a radio manufacturer, to talk about some problem you are having with some equipment, please tell the office, we we may have called that particular business house re the same problem for someone else. For example, a member was writing to a manufacturer and a subject came up. The office had already spoken to them about it and it was all in hand - to the club's advantage. So please do not think we are putting our noses into your problems, it is because we have made great new contacts in several businesses and they are helping the HF Club. Thanks - Tinker.

DO YOU KNOW???

We all know of the Three Sisters but do you know the legend behind them?

The three sisters named Meenhi, Weemala and Gunnedoo, were daughters of the witch doctor of the Katoomba Tribe. The daughters fell in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe. The ancestral law forbade the sisters to marry out side their tribe. The boys were great warriors and decided to kidnap the girls, this resulted in a fierce battle. The witch doctor used his magic stock to turn his daughters into stone, intending to reverse what he had done after the danger had passed.

During the intense battle, the witch doctor was killed and to this day, no one has been able to find the magic stick to reverse this terrible thing.

As a request from the local tourism industry to the people who may be able to reverse this great spell, PLEASE DON'T. The Three Sisters attract about 1.5 million visitors to this area each year.

Next mag, the legend behind the BURNING MONTAIN just south of Tamworth NSW.

Treasurer's Report

Funny how time flies when you're having fun, I wish. Well after many weeks/months working on the books to get them up to date and putting all the records onto a computer, using the Money 2003 program, I can say that they are finally up-to-date.

I must at this point thank Herman Vasic who assisted me in all as we both sat for many hours and days going through all the receipts and cheque books working out all the payments and transferring them onto the computer. As the renewals forms were sent out so early this year, the Committee has decided to give you till the end of August to pay your fees. It is good to see so many renewals paid to date and a considerable amount of new members joining. This will be your last reminder, so if you have not paid your fees by the end of August, you will no longer be a member of the HF Radio Club Inc.

The financial report for the last four months is as follows:

As you can see the months of June and July the expenses were more than the income which amounted to -$45.07 for June and -$3215.70 for the month of July. July was a particularly bad month as we had ACA Licenses for Booral and Cooladdi bases, as well as repaying a loa to a very kind member who purchased some club equipment till the club was financial enough to repay them. Thank you so much to that member. It was decided by Herman and I to approach the committee to draw a line and make an entry for $830.70 so that the books could be balanced.

Kimbo (4928)

Peg-Ray's Report

As I write this note we are still at Midge Point and having a very nice rest. By the time this goes to press we will be on our way to the CMCA Rally at Paskeville in South Australia, travelling very slowly. So if you are doing the same thing pleas give us a call and we might meet up on the road. For our members who are going to the rally, please keep in touch as I'll be having a get together on the last day of the rally. I'll see you there. As the HF Club Inc is having a Christmas weekend on November 28-30 at Allworth NSW, I think it would be a great idea if we could have our members in other parts of Australia to get together on the same weekend. I'll be in Tasmania and will do my best to have a get together, so if you are going to be overseas, please let me know. Please note that we will not be there till November 16 Now come on and see if we can make this happen. Please get in touch with Phil (Tinker) our secretary with you ideas and he will be pleased to talk - more information later.

The 4.30 to 5 pm Channel 56 chat is going quite well and we are having a good roll call of members and if you haven't been there please drop in and have a chat and meet others. There is one thing I recommend that when you are on air please keep it short so we can have more members on in this time we have put aside for this. If you want to have a long chat, go to another channel.

Remember to tell prospective new members about our website on www.hfradioclub.com. It has been running for some weeks - have a look and tell others. Should you want to know more, I can be contacted on 0428 194 454 or email pegray1@bigpond.com.

Kind regards - Ray Lawson (9724)

Ed. I have been talking to one of our members in regards to the older type crystal controlled transceivers and their suitability for our service. This is the result.

It is quite possible to use the older type Codan 7727, Tracker Scout and Etc series of Radios with the HF Radio Club. Some parameters should be brought to mind

1. Many of these radios only have channel components fitted for four frequencies (additional channel components) are not available or in short supply.
2. Most do not have scan facilities
3. None have the facility to send or receive selcalls A Jenal microphone can be easily fitted. The cost, however, I consider, is too high compared with the value of the radio.

My reason for using these frequencies are as follows.

5135 gives communication during the day over a few hundred kms and is good at night. 7899 - no need to answer that. 8022 whilst we should not use this frequency from now on, there are many travellers etc who use this frequency and a person in trouble should get a reply. 11487 - again no need to answer.

Most of these radios have an emergency call button, pressing this button will send two tones and the difference between these two tones is decoded at the base or by other mobiles which then produces an alarm output. The decoder is a relatively simple device using three or four integrated circuits and other components. The decoder is easily fitted to all modern radios.

Whilst this will not give the operator all of the "bells and whistles" of a full blown Selcall unit, it will enable us to gain more members and give them some sort of emergency calling system. More information can be given to anybody that requires it on the workings and or the cost of manufacturing the decoders and the older radios set up with a whip antenna.

Noel Roberts (8155)

Ed. Thanks Noel. We have vast knowledge within the club, why aren't we using it to better the Club and to give our members the best - don't they deserve it. I require some information to put in the mag. We all like the gatherings we have - so why not tell where you are going to be so I can tell people. It has been suggested that we put out a booklet with members names, phone numbers and towns, so as if they are travelling through they could catch up and say good day. THOUGHTS PLEASE.

Do you want more gatherings? Do you want gatherings in your states like the Christmas ones we have organised. Let me know I can't read minds. I have trouble with mine sometimes.

Vice President's Report

The new committee is settling in well, working together very effectively and achieving more than most people could have expected. The members of this committee are more geographically widespread but are still working together with the aid of email and telephone. Phil has obtained special software which keeps Club records up-to-date and available for all the committee and also safely backed up and easy to transfer to the next committee.

Our Secretary is now well on top of the job after having to re-set up virtually all of the Club information and records and also establish links with the organisations we have to work with. All present at the meeting were most appreciative of the work he and Helen have put in and, I think, surprised at how much they have achieved.

The financial records are taking a lot of work to sort out but Kim and Herman are getting there. The phone interconnect seems to be working smoothly, with no known down time recently and charges being made according to usage (I spoke too soon - there was an outage at Cooladdi as this was being written).

A big advance on anything previously is the website thanks to Ray Lawson and secretary Phil. See it at www.hfradioclub.com. It will be used for newsletters and other communications as well as general news and discussion forum in due course.

There was a meeting on the first weekend in August at Booral - it is good to see mine host Ross is much improved. A special welcome to Barrie and Margaret Cooper from Hobart, also new members Warren and Maryis Deanne and Stuart and Wendy Watson (who also won the major raffle prize) as well as about 30 of the older hands. Three couples came in on Friday, several more on the Saturday and quite a number for the day on Sunday. Lots of fun around the fire in the shed, thanks particularly to Ross. The meeting itself on Sunday morning was productive, with amongst the usual matters, some discussion of the general principles of the constitution which we are going to update to avoid the misunderstandings, lack of information and hence the arguments that arose recently.

Bob Locking (2284)

Cards at Christmas

As a bit extra for our Christmas meeting at Allworth, a couple of our ladies have put their heads together and are offering a lesson on hand made individual Christmas cards. You can use the same techniques for making other cards throughout the year but will have time to make cards this year for the special people on your card list after this session.

Wendy Cripps Clark and Barbara Locking (who ran similar sessions at the recent CMCA rally at Casino) will be leading the lesson. It starts at 2 pm on Saturday afternoon and will last for about two hours.That will give you time to do two different types of Christmas Cards (which you keep of course) and then you should be able to go away and make more on your own, adding personal touches.

The cost will be $10 per person which will cover the cost of all materials - cards, paper, stick on decorations, thread (now what is that for?) and so on. All you need to bring is a pair of small scissors to cut thread and paper because they won't have enough to go around. By the way any money left over from buying the materials will go to the Club.

Wendy and Barbara need to know how many people will be attending the classes so they can get the right amounts of the various materials. Therefore, you have to RSVP to Secretary Phil BEFORE November 14. Once you say you will be coming, you will be committed to pay, as you wouldn't want OUR club to be out of pocket, would you?

Another one of them there gatherings on the road:

ed. can't trust you members why aren't more of you doing this.

Ray and Anne Corbin

While Anne and I were in Townsville in July, we called Gary and Ronda Rebgetz selcall 6644 with the view for a happy hour get together, and to invite other HF users and CMCA members in the area. Consequently we had a gathering of 15 people. For Anne and me, it was a chance to meet up with friends we had not seen for along time, also to meet new people and put faces to others we have talked to on the radio.

Small gatherings are a good way to exchange ideas and make suggestions. Not that our group came up with any ground breaking thoughts, but you never know it could happen. Those present were - Gary and Ronda Rebgetz (6644), John and June Fillingham (a past CMCA President), Michael and Verity Grove (9710), Larry and Donnette Beasley (4814), Stan and Helen Ashlin (1077) (some will know Helen as the HF club camp cook), Cess from motorhome Four Windows, two friends of Gary and Ronda Rebgetz who spent some time teaching out west, my apologize for not remembering their names, and Anne and Ray Corbin (1035). Everyone brought some nibbles and what they wanted to drink. Our hosts had set up tables on their verandah.

Gary entertained us with a story of when he got a parking ticket whilst travelling with two other HF members, Gary claimed he was the most diplomatic of the group and that he should deal with the constabulary as to how to avoid paying the fine, after the story was told we were not too sure if he was!

This type of gathering can happen anywhere if you are parked up for a few days and can contact the members who live in the area and those travelling through. Keep in contact and know where others are, if you don't know who is in you area, there is a good chance that the Peg-Ray will, so give Ray a call 9724.

I am sure all of us would be interested in hearing about similar gatherings, so please drop a line to our Secretary Phil, so that he can get it into the newsletter.

Regards - Ray and Anne Corbin (1035)

Ed. A message from a resigning member

Dear Phil - As we have sold our 4WD motorhome, with the HF Radio, we request our membership to be cancelled. We wish to express our appreciation to the operators at both bases and all the members who we have had contact with, during our various trips especially when we had a major mechanical breakdown in a remote part of Flinders Ranges near Wilkawillina Gorge was one of the many times that we both realised how lucky we were to have the staff of CMCA recommended Ray Lawson to assist with the purchase of the HF Radio and then for Ray to suggest to join the HF Radio Club.

The oil that had splattered all over the underneath of the vehicle looked to be worse than it was, we did panic at first but after contacting Des Terry and Kim Greenwood near Newcastle also Ross Allen at Booral bases who gave us their advice and encouragement.

After carrying out the required mechanical repairs, we were able to continue to Arkatoola on our three month outback to Broome and back thanks once again to all.

Yours faithfully (Signed) J. Cridland.

ed. To Mr and Mrs Cridland

John and Ann - thanks for your friendship whilst you were within our Club. We are humbled to have been friends of you both and please look after yourselves in the future. Please keep in contact.

Best wishes - the HF Radio Club members.

We know that we have someone at the Base Colin and Eva McDonald and Mick and Karen Frost. Are there to help us and keep track on us whilst we are travelling around. Did you know the history of the place called Black Duck. Cooladdi district stretches back long before the coming of the rail and is evident by the original name for the Cooladdi township. The township was originally named "Yarronvale", and was changed to its present name in 1913. Cooladdi being aboriginal for Black Duck. It remained the major centre until the rail moved onto Cheepie in 1914, but remained a vibrant centre until a few years ago.

At the height Cooladdi boasted several shops and 270 residents, closely settled and staged race meetings, sports days and carnivals and many social events. A renown friendly place with many strong and lasting friendships formed.

Today the township claims to a population much smaller, modern motel, general store, etc. Located on the Quilpie to Charleville Road a kilometre from the original township. The store was changed to its present location by Bob and Beryl Fox in November 1974, relocating due to the susceptible flooding, named "The Fox Trap" to this day. Whether you are an old friend returning or a new friend just made, they will welcome you to the district and offer hospitality and friendship.

So call in and say Hi - don't forget to thank these great people for the timeless work that they do our club and most times don't get thanked. To all the people at Cooladdi Base - a BIG THANKS.

Get in early - where are YOU going to be November 28/29/30. Tell the office and we'll let you know where there is a party organised by whom just for you attend, we are setting up a few around the country so you won't have to travel too far, or if travelling you maybe passing one we have set up, come on PLEASE call us, we want it to be the biggest yet.

We have so far - Ipswich - Townsville - Yeppoon in Queensland, Penguin in Tassie - Allworth NSW.

Time well spent at a Codan Seminar that I was invited to. We live in a great time with all this technology changing day by day and keeping you up to date with it is a full time job researching all avenues. I cam up with this that may interest some of you. Not something in the future but it is available now.

Do you need to communicate with users in remote locations, tell people or show them the picture that you have just taken of that view, camp site the fish that was hungry.

Have we got a system for?? Using a HF Data Modem and special programming with the aid of a PC you can now send emails across the country from your HF radio. Time to down load you ask? The software technology reduces connection time by compressing and batching messages. Email attachments like documents are images, are removed from the message and separately compressed and sent. Emailing from you HF Radio saves time because it automatically resumes interrupted file transfers. Therefore if the connection is low during transfer, the message will continue from where it was interrupted upon reconnection. The email system is compatible with any email client application that uses internet protocols POP3 and STMP, such as Outlook Express plus some others.

Automatic channel selection is used after presetting up to 5 frequencies for the best and clearest. The software can be set up to automatically answer calls at preset times from the server to the mail exchange or the user can check the mail manually. Sizing of the email can be set up as well, any large email would be sent back to the sender along with a reason.

ed. I am now waiting for my contact to come back from Malaysia for some more info, but have limited info available if required. Just enough to get your thoughts going.

Secretary's Secretary and the SEcretary REport

After another three months, both Helen and I are on top of it all and may I say we have made some good contacts with manufacturers and authorities although some people don't want to talk to us. But today is another day and all the trust will come out whether it be in or outside the Club, truth always reigns supreme.

We have on file all the necessary application forms, booklets and pagers on the benefits of being in our club, all these an be emailed to you or sent and you can copy them. Also all the Club paper work has been updated and has a code on it so pleases talk to us and we will show you, so you can had out the latest paperwork.

Even with the diverse location of the committee at this time, we have been able through the email system keep in touch with each other. Sometimes it is hard when the president is checking out a river crossing in front of his motorhome, while Kay watches with bated breath. We need to know about the Christmas Party you will be attending so we are able to cater for lunch or whatever, so please call the office (leave a message if we aren't there please!)

Don't forget about the card making at Allworth (Saturday afternoon after lunch) and the Trivia night we need to know numbers for them as well. Cost for the card making is $10 per head. The trivia night $2 per head per team (maximum 4 per team) sausage sandwich, team/coffee at half time (small cost). Locals are invited to the card making and also the trivia night, so it looks like a great weekend for those coming to Allworth. Friday morning. is the earliest arrival time and out on Sunday night. Camping is $5 per unit per night and entry fee of $t per day for day visitors, we have to cover all costs for the weekend.

All radio phone interconnect users REMEMBER log all calls and check them against your bills when they come out. We have someone trying to call on other users numbers). Send your top up cheque/money order in quickly so the Club can cove your bill whilst you are travelling. As one member has his daughter attending to the cheque writing for his account while he is away. DID YOU THINK OF THAT? We need a contact address for this situation as the Club can't be expected to finance members phone calls while they are away.

The payment for the Cooladdi interconnect will run out at the end of September for those who haven't paid. So if you have not paid to be connected, the service for you will be disconnected.

Thanks Helen and Tinker (2164)

Ed. All to serious, we haven't had any jokes. I have received some from members some would burn the pages - we had a good laugh. All these are available in a file to see when you catch up with me. Otherwise - well you asked for it.

There once lived a man who had a bad passion for bakes beans. He loved the, but they had an embarrassing some what odours reaction on him. He met a young lady, fell in love and made a supreme sacrifice and gave up the baked beans and they married.

Some months later on the way home from work his car broke down, since they lived out in the country, he phoned home and told his wife that he would walk home. On the way he passed a small eating place and the smell of freshly cooked baked beans drifted out into the road way, too hard to resist, he went in. After thinking that it was several miles to home that the baked beans problem would be walked off he went in and devoured a few bowls.

On arriving home his wife surprised him at the front door saying, she had a wonderful surprise for dinner. She blindfolded him and lead him into the house, making him promise he would not remove the blindfold. She lead him into the dining room and to his chair at the head of the table. The phone rang, telling him not to remove the blindfold, she went off to answer the phone.

Taking the opportunity he shifted his eight onto one leg and let fly. It was not only loud, but smelt as well. Taking his napkin and vigorously fanned the air about him. Just getting things back to normal when he felt another explosion happening deep within his stomach, shifting his weight into his other leg, he let go with another one much worse than the first, grabbing the napkin again, waving it vigorously to clear the air around him. Listening to the phone conversation he knew, when his wife was finishing the conversation when that moment arrived he replaced the napkin. After apologising for taking so long she asked if he had removed his blindfold telling her that he had not. With a flourish and smiling happily, she removed the blindfold - to his surprise - there were 12 guests seated at the table for tea.

Barrie Holden (8847)

Ed. keep sending them in - they all go into a file to be a fill in if, needed.

Do you know how close you can park on the approach and departure sides of a bus stop?

The news letter is also available on the website - that copy has pictures within it - also a different front cover, due to the excessive cost to print the newsletter we have printed the plain one out. We asked a printing firm to quote for the privilege of doing our magazine but we thought it was too expensive, so until we (the Club) is better set up with a printer system that can handle the volume we require.

With the newsletter and the selcall list for each member, we need a printer to be able to print approximately 5000 pages within a couple of days plus other paper work, it all adds up to be more than the printer I have, will do. The reason I have is because remember the Club's printer is not working. So this is why we have put the colour version on the net, not deleting it completely. I wanted to put colour in it so to brighten it up but the cost is just too much.

CHAT TIMES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED

The talk frequency 7899 is now going so well that they have set up a chat time in the mornings 0730 hours so you can tell them that you are leaving that location and will be heading for --------------. Please talk to them it will only be a couple of minutes in time but it may be an incredible safety factor for you.

Do you want a cooking section? Suggested cooking recipes, camp oven ideas, as Helen has organised that the Club can publish the recipes from the Green Bros, the Dream Pot people. So please send in your favourite ideas.

Do you want a tips and guide section? This section can be about a topic that you are experienced about, like Noel earlier with his section about radios. Can we have someone like Ray Lawson, knowing a lot about the Codan radios, give tips about using the radio. Who knows the Barrett radios? Who knows about electrical bits used in the outback whilst travelling. We are getting a lot of new members in this great Club. Robin Wood about solar systems - come on input is required from all.

Christmas Gatherings

Come and meet old friends, make new friends. Please call a member near you that is organising an event. They may require help but most of all they will require to know who will be attending their location. Call the office and we will tell you where to go. New members - this is your time to be known. Please come and join in anywhere. Below are the areas and the names of those who will need your help.

Allworth - November 28/29/30, 2003 - Earliest time for arrival is Friday morning. Latest departure Sunday night. Come and join in it will be a great weekend organised for all sheep muster Friday night, card making, trivia night and radio talks with the Christmas lunch Saturday with club meetings Sunday.

Call the office ASAP - remember if you wish to put your name in for the card making - you are responsible for the $10 per head.

Tasmania - same weekend - Ray and Anne Corbin (1035) 0428 899 126. Email thecorbins@bigpond.com.
Pioneer Park, Penguin, Tassie.

Townsville - same weekend - Larry and Donette Beasley (4814). 07 4780 4716 (home) or 0428 744 348 (mobile). Email donettebeasley@bigpond.com. 21 Whiting Court, Cungulla (just south of Townsville).

Rockhampton - same weekend - Noel Roberts (8155) 07 4939 1801 (home) or 0414 812 334 (mobile). Email yeppoonwandra@homedc.com.au
The Woolwash Rockhampton.

Ipswich - same weekend - Glen Sellers (2021) 07 3281 8590 (home) or 0417 769 083 (mobile). Lowood Showgrounds.

Check these areas out and if you are attending, please call those people or the office. We need as many people to attend these locations so as to make these weekends great, make an effort to attend at least one function.

Murray and Dianne Linder (5070). 0404 893 045 (mobile). Will be in SA. Call them if in the area. Radio hookup pending. Check out the "what's on" calendar, see how the committee is looking forward.