GGREC SHACK PROJECT - May 2004
A progress report by Ian Jackson VK3BUF

Work has finally begun on our Shack Project. Last Saturday saw a number of Club members congregate at Drouin West for the first stage of the project. Steel beams and channels were welded together while the floor sub-frame was assembled. The sections were then brought together to complete the floor.

The weather was perfect and we all enjoyed a BBQ lunch. This first stage was a bit tricky as the 250mm wide steel channels were very heavy to jockey into position. Numerous ropes pulled them tightly together while the various vertical welds were laid in. Graeme Brown VK3BXG, Ian Benson, VK3KSZ and myself focused on this task.

Our President, Peter Pavey VK3VB, Mike Ide VK3KTO and Reg Goddard VK3UK made up the 'Timber Team'. As this first day on the job was fiddly, any additional helpers on this occasion would not have made the work proceed faster. Ross Jackson VK3HDW had the combined task of cooking lunch and taking photo's

The final size of the structure is 10.37 metres long, 3.4 metres wide with interior ceilings set at 2.4 metres. It is being fabricated in two equal sections that will be conveyed to the Cranbourne site via crane truck when completed. The interior is to be divided into four areas, A entry/kitchenette, a toilet and two 'operating' rooms of approximate equal size. While there will be no windows, there shall be five skylights and two external doors with insect screens fitted. While This approach to acquiring a shack is a labour intensive one, we will finish up with a first class, purpose built structure that will have cost less than half the market value of similar brand-new building.

In another week, Saturday the 29th of May we will be staging another Working Bee event, and this will be a big one. We will be gluing down the vinyl flooring, fabricating all the wall frames and then erecting them.

We will be dividing into about four teams, so the more people who can come along, the better. Try to get there at 9:00am for a cup of tea and a briefing before the work begins in earnest at 9:30. A simple BBQ lunch will be provided by the Club. The only tools needed will be a claw hammer, marking pencil and perhaps a tape measure. As much of the work can be achieved under-cover, the work should proceed even if it is a little inclement. Mind you, if the weather report says that it's going to be snowing sideways, we should stay home and find something else to do. If you do intend to come along, let me know, so that we can get the barbecue requirements right.

Come along and be a part of GGREC History!

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This Club shack project is like a pipeline. Perhaps you are thinking ‘What? Long, Round and full of Liquid?’ But no, that is the wrong analogy. I mean that we initially discussed the project for a while, planned it for a while more and at a finite time we committed ourselves and actually began the project. We had entered The Pipeline.

We have spent some money, constructed a floor, wallframe, put on a roof and are now in the process of attaching the wall cladding. Having followed the pipe for a while, there is no stopping or getting off, we must pursue it relentlessly until we come out the other end. One day, when we arrive at the Guide Hall site, unlock the door, turn on the lights and see a furnished and operational Club Shack , we will know that we have arrived. Until then we must keep on paddling.

Last Saturday was another busy day. It began at 9:00 on a dewy-wet morning free of wind. Perfect for our mission to clad the wallframe with foil an commence hanging sheets.

On board at our Drouin West construction site were Reg VK3UK & Jenny , Ivan 3ARV, Peter 3VB, Max 3TMK, Ian 3KSZ, David 3XMF, William, Dianne 3JDI, Ross 3HDW and myself.

We had about an hour of preparation first. This involved batten screws, stud ties, bottom plate bolts and anti-dampness flashing. Reg & Jenny were quickly introduced to the Metric System and went about preparing all the insulation foil lengths. Next we formed two groups. Ian Benson, Max and myself attacked the roof while the rest focused on the walls. As we worked on separate halves of the building, we managed to keep out of each others way and only occasionally stole each others power cords. The team behaved like a well oiled machine. (ok, so perhaps we needed an oil change) Picture a frenzied a pit crew at Bathurst, but with fewer wheels involved. At the end of the day, the sun sank glumly into the horizon. All were nursing weary muscles and the occasional flesh wound, and made their way home with the knowledge of a good effort made.









If you are yet to make your mark on the GGREC Club Shack project, come along to our next construction event on Sunday the 20th. That’s right, This Sunday! The rest of the wall sheets need to be hung and we may start on some electrical cabling. We will do the next one nearly 2 weeks later on Saturday the 3rd of July. (This will keep the weekend with the Mid Year Dinner on the 26th free of Club work.)No previous experience is necessary. C’mon, push the envelope a little, instead of simply licking the back of it.

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GGREC SHACK PROJECT - July/August 2004
A progress report by Ian Jackson VK3BUF & Photography by Ross Jackson VK3HDW

WE'RE NEARLY THERE!

(the above pic is a slightly edited version, with the temporary
'gap' in the centre of the building removed to give a true idea of size)

Last Saturday we had yet another Working Bee at the shack prep site at Drouin West. This was the 6th one in the series. Attending were Max 3TMK, Ian 3KSZ, Graeme 3BXG, Ron 3EXJ, Reg 3UK, Jenny, David 3XMF, Mike 3KTO, Paul 3TGX, Myself Ian 3BUF, Ross 3HDW, Dianne 3JDI (Ross & Di had time out for an AOCP exam at Tooradin)

The previous weekend's work session was every bit as busy where much of the ceiling ply and the last of the external cladding was fitted. Saturday focused on insulating the walls and gluing in interior wall lining material. This is a plywood sheet coated in a white 'polyester chequerboard' finish. About 50% of the interior wall lining is now in place and about 30% of the electrical wiring has been terminated. Max 3TMK has been instrumental in cabling and fitting off. Ron 3EXJ painted the two external doors in preparation for the colorbond steel door skins yet to be fitted

Ron had only returned 3 days before from a caravan trip to Mildura.
(Note the temporary GGREC sign that Reg
had erected.)

We will have to think about the kind of signage needed on the finished building. Should it be a discrete GGREC sign near the main door, or big letters a metre high?

After all the insulation was fitted we formed two teams and continued to glue/nail the sheets to the wall with the nail gun. This involved lots of fiddling, cursing and other miscellaneous tasks.

I am under instruction to insert lots of pictures this month. In the pic below you can see part of the frame for the lighting & ventilation bulkhead situated above the intended operating & project benches.

The above picture gives some idea of interior size, with one of the six 'barred' skylights in the foreground. That's me on the left with the gluepot, getting ready for another sheet. Below shows Graeme 3BXG (left) and David 3XMF (right) discussing the merit of tight tolerances in corners.

We will need one more big working sessions to complete the interior of the shack (less plumbing fixtures) This includes mounting the ceiling tiles and the light fittings. That should happen on Saturday the 24th of July, the weekend after the Hamfest Sale. Once that is done, the building will be ready for transport.

This brings us to the next task, which is the preparation of the Guide Hall site. We will have to install a double gate, then prepare foundations for about 8 fencing posts and pour concrete into the six reinforced concrete moulds which will form the final resting place for the building. Once this has set, a crane-truck making two trips, will install the two 5.2 metre halves at the long-awaited site. A local newspaper has shown interest in photographing this landmark event.

Outside, there will be a sealed fluorescent light above each door, plus a movement detector to operate them. A 150W floodlight on the end can illuminate the tower from underneath. We won't be mounting these fittings until the building has been shifted.

Above is Ian, Graeme, David and Max in the plywood 'cutting zone'

A lot of time has been spent on the electrical design of this building. We have dual fluorescent lamps in each of the two operating rooms, plus a pair of recessed down-lights above each workbench. Emergency Stop buttons on the wall of each room will kill the power when pressed, just in case you see a fellow operator, with their hand wrapped around an anode, performing a highland jig. ( I suggest checking their nationality before pressing the red button in case they are inexplicably performing a highland jig) A two speed ventilation fan mounted in the ceiling space above the toilet will draw air from all three rooms via a duct system, and vent it outside. The bulkhead that runs the length of the building also forms part of a distribution system for coaxial cables that lead from the tower to the radio equipment.

Other wiring includes security, telephone, PC network cables and earthing points for transceivers. Each operating bench has four double power points. Above the inside of each of the two external doors are battery-backed emergency 'Exit' signs and lights which will operate in times of mains power failure.

(Left) David VK3XMF putting coloured
silicone around the steel-framed doorway.

We must give some thought to how the building is to be used once completed. We want to give maximum flexibility and access to members who want to 'drop in' and do some operating, while maintaining a reasonable level of security. One such system being examined is an electronic keyfob that could be made available for a small supply cost of around $10. The key would un-latch the solenoid at the front door permitting entry by simply waving it near a sensor. It would then be placed near a second 'park station' inside to activate building power lighting and (when present) air conditioning. A simple PC system would data-log all of these events.

Either way, we shall finish up with a first class operating facility that should serve the club for many years to come. Not withstanding the hard work of a large portion of our Club members, we must also thank the Casey Shire Council who has contributed a significant amount of monetary assistance to bring the project to completion.

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GGREC SHACK PROJECT - September 2004
A progress report by Ian Jackson VK3BUF & Photography by Ross Jackson VK3HDW

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

After seven intensive working bees by Club Members, were finally successful in completing the Club Shack building and moving it from the Drouin West construction site to the resting place in Cranbourne.

The wall cladding is a polyester coated plywood which required careful cutting before being glued and nailed into position. Geoff VK3 HGG and Graeme VK3BXG (right) prepare to make an incision.

The ceiling and workbench bulkhead have been lined with polystyrene ceiling tiles to provide a bright surface with some auccustic softening properties.

Club President, Peter VK3VB is shown here squeezing in some extra panels. To the right can be seen the bulkhead which runs the full length of the building to provide ventilation, coax cable access and workbench downlighting. The front panels may be lifted out for service work.

When the last of the interior lining was fitted and kitchenette cupboards built, each half of the building was carefully braced and prepared for transport.

One additional working bee at Cranbourne saw the preparation and pouring of the concrete foundation pillars to support the building. This was done with plywood formwork that was later removed after the concrete had cured. Because of the strong 250mm high I-beams built into the underside of the shack, it only needed to be supported at six points for adequate support.

A crane-truck was used to collect the building in two halves and deliver it to Cranbourne. It was a powerful vehicle that had no difficulty in handling the structure. At the Guide hall it passed through the driveway gates with only 20mm to spare on each side, which revealed great skill by the operator.

Albert VK3BQO, Mike VK3KTO and Peter VK3VB assist in placing the first half of the building in its resting place.

The two halves of the building joined up quite well and have since proven to be sound and waterproof.

Two of the six skylights the building has can be seen in the above picture. There are no windows in the building. As soon as both halves were in position, a cyclone style security fence was erected around the perimeter . A double gate with push-button combination lock has been fitted to the outside fence which will allow members to gain entry without having to carry keys around. A soon as power is connected, an RF-ID key-fob system will be introduced to allow members to have regular building access.

This week Allan Saunders, a local plumbing contractor, will commence the installation of all the water and drainage requirements, including a small hot water service and the toilet.

The final photographs are yet to be made available, but these will be included in future articles. It is a great testament to the tenacity of Club members where more than half of the membership were directly involved in its construction. With a tight budget of around $16,000 total, we will have achieved the services of a brand new, fully functional communications shack and project room. 10.4 metres long and 3.4 metres wide.

Many thanks are also due to councillors and staff of the Casey shire for their financial assistance, which has made he difference between an ordinary project outcome and an outstanding one, where all of the desired features could be implemented.
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GGREC SHACK PROJECT - November 2004
Getting Connected
A progress report by Peter Pavey VK3VB

This has been a great year for our club if for no other reason than to see so many members working together to make our dream of our own workshop/shack become a reality.

Looking back through the magazines to May the articles and photos tell their own tale.

There is still work to do, the electrical supply situation has been sorted and the electrician is confident that "switch on" will be before Christmas.

The plumber should have started work by the time you read this.

Reg/ Jenny and Albert are pressing on with the painting, when all this is complete we can begin to look at installing our radio equipment.

At this stage I am not going to single any one person out for thanks, but offer a THANK YOU to all who have made this project possible.
Peter Pavey VK3VB

Club Shack Report
The project is coming along well with the interior being painted out - almost as you read this article. The work benches will be mounted and covered before the end of the month.

We have had some difficulty in organising the electrical connections because of the poor condition of the wiring available at the adjacent Guide Hall, but this appears to have been resolved and we should have power around the first week in December.

Water connections have also been organised for the same period, so we should be flushed with success before Christmas.
Reg VK3UK and Jenny have spent some time preparing and re-painting a collection of chairs to be permanently left in the Shack. These were kindly donated from the Warneet Boat Club via Mike VK3 KTO.

The RFID electronic tag access system is still being developed, but it is slowly taking shape. This will eventually allow members to call in and operate from the shack at their own convenience.

KEEP WATCHING AND LISTENING FOR DEVELOPMENTS
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GGREC SHACK PROJECT - January 2005
2004 saw the successful siting of the clubs shack/workshop, and we have only a few minor bits and pieces to complete the building phase.

We are intending to operate the clubs rig from the new shack on Australia day with the yet to be confirmed AX prefix. Start time yet to be decided (poss abt 0930) the clubs BBQ will be on site and it is hoped many members will drop in and take a turn at the mic and use the club call.

The committee are looking for two or three members willing to oversee the fitting out of the building including the orderly transfer of gear from the guide hall. This will include transceivers computer antenna leads test equipment etc.
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All ramped up…... (Jan 2006)
If you have been up to the club rooms lately you would have seen the great new access ramp built by a number of members over a few weekends.

All we need now is for Maria to give it the seal of approval with a test drive!

Thanks to everyone involved (I would name them but I will probably forget somebody). A special thanks, though, to Ian BUF for his usual detailed project management. Thanks to Paul for the photos, I stole them from his web site paulstubbs.pozzie.net.

Just some of the hard workers over a few weekends. See the website for more pictures.

  

Just some of the hard workers over a few weekends. See the website for more pictures.

  

I think Ian is wondering if it will hurt if he jumps!!!
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RFID Access to Clubrooms (Jan 2006)
Ian VK3BUF has, in amongst all his other projects, almost completed the task of building the RFID access system for the clubrooms. Basically this means those members that are interested in using the clubrooms at times other than regular club nights will be able to do so. However , there will be some rules and regulations that we will need to enforce to make it fair for all.

Over the next few pages you can read the proposed rules/bylaws/regulations. There will be opportunity for refinement/changes at the January General Meeting.
Ian has some ideas on how it should work including getting the committee to test the system over 6 weeks to make sure it is functioning properly. We will also need somebody to take responsibility for the allocation of tags and the maintenance of the database.

Anyway have a read and let us know what you think. If you cant make it to the meeting and want to contribute send me an email (clinks@dcsi.net.au), ring me up (5942 5396), fax me (5942 5896) or carrier pigeon!
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Proposed Regulations for use of rooms. (Jan 2006)
DRAFT DOCUMENT ONLY
GGREC SHACK OPERATING PROCEDURES
Purpose : This document outlines the use of the GGREC Shack including specific rules and regulations as determined by the Club from time to time

Outline : GGREC members have constructed a specially designed shack for the use of its members. The building was completed in early 2005. The use of the shack needs to be clearly defined so that future members can gain the benefit of the building and to ensure that the task of cleaning and maintenance is not left to one or two members.

All financial members of the Club will be given access to the building subject to the restrictions and rules outlined below. Two members will be appointed as caretakers responsible for ensuring the rules and regulations are adhered to.

Access : Access, in the main, will be on an unrestricted basis subject to the following :

Membership must be a current and financial. A minimum of 12 months continuous membership is required. All unfinancial members will have their access rights removed without warning.

To gain unrestricted access members will be required to put a deposit on an RFID tag. This deposit will be fully refundable on return of the device. The amount of the deposit will be determined by the membership but will not be less than the actual cost of the device to the club. Loss or damage of a tag will incur forfeiture of the deposit and another deposit fee will be required for a new tag. Any tag loss must be reported to the shack caretakers as a matter of urgency. Under no circumstances should any RFID key be marked with identification as to its use.

The member must agree to the logging of their access via computer.

The Club Shack is not available for unrestricted use on the fourth Monday (Committee Meeting), the first Friday (Club Prac Night), and the third Friday (General Meeting Night) of each month. There will be other times that the shack will not be available and these will be gazetted in the Club magazine.

In order for the club shack to operate there will be a requirement for one member to hang their tag on a hook to allow the power to operate. The last member to have their key on the hook will be ultimately responsible for the cleanliness of the shack on departure. This does not imply that the last person out must do all the cleaning up, just that they must ensure that it happens. Each member in attendance is responsible for cleaning up his/her mess. The logging system will be such that the last person to remove their key from the hook will be readily identifiable.

The member must agree to abide with the code of conduct contained in this document.

Code of Conduct

As a financial member of the Club you must agree to the following code of conduct in order to be granted unrestricted access to the Club shack :

I agree to abide by all Club rules as determined from time to time.

I recognise that the space around the Club shack may be used by the Girl Guides (or others) and I undertake not to interfere with their operations in any way. I accept that I must be circumspect in all my dealings with the Guides and use appropriate discretion when they are in attendance.

I agree to use the Club radios in accordance with my current license level.
I will log all radio communications in the club log book.

I will arrange for QSL cards to be sent on request when using the club call sign.

I will leave the building in a clean and operational condition.

I will co-operate with all other members in attendance.

If I am the last to leave I will ensure that the shack is secure.

I will report any shortcomings to the caretakers as soon as practical.

I agree to allow my details to be logged by the RFID system.

I understand that the role of the caretakers is to ensure the club rooms are used in an appropriate manner and agree to co-operate with them at all times.

Any breach of this code of conduct will be viewed very seriously and may result in the member losing their unrestricted access rights. All breaches will be investigated and discussed with the member/s concerned.

General Guidelines :
To discourage ants and/or other vermin the bins should be emptied after each session. Large bins can be found at the front of the Guide Hall.

Tea and coffee will be provided for members use, you will need to provide your own milk if using the rooms on a night other than a regular night. Unused milk should be removed from the premises on leaving. If supplies are getting low please advise the caretakers (don’t let them run out!)

All other foodstuffs should be kept in airtight containers.

Club equipment is available for use; please treat it as if it were your own. Particular care should be taken with equipment that is on loan (identified by a small green sticker).

Please respect our club rooms and we will get many years of enjoyment from them. Each member will be given a copy of this code of conduct and will be expected to sign a copy for club records.
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AX3BJA on Australia Day 2006
Australia Day 2006 saw GGREC club members activating the AX3BJA call-sign at the Clubroom. Mike Ide, VK3KTO was in the shack making contacts around Australia with anyone that would answer a call.

Andrew VK3HFA was observing the proceeding both inside the shack and outside under the umbrella where a portable station was setup. Lots of discussion took place about Helmut’s & Ivans’s portable radio stations and some mixing & matching took place to see how different radios performed. Albert VK3BQO & I sat back and took in the ambience. Reg, VK3UK was there in spirit and on 2m as he and Helmut continued their Kenwood Vs ICOM feud.

Using Ivan’s (the real VK3ARV) mini G5RV antenna, Helmut made CW contacts to VK6 land. As the temperatures rose into the high 30s, the true Aussie spirit shone through. The radios were put aside and the BBQ was fired up for a feed.

Grahame VK3YCG & Susan Coleman joined Naree at the table swapping yarns and talking of life on the water and the fishing in Western Port bay.

With the cooking done, we all sat there relaxing under the trees, with cold beer and glasses of wine raised to celebrate Australia Day and AX3BJA.

Bruno Tonizzo
VK3BFT
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RFID Access to Clubrooms (Feb 2006)
Ian VK3BUF will be demonstrating the RFID System at the next general meeting night.

As usual we can expect to be entertained by his sharp wit and exceptional knowledge.

This is an exciting phase in club development and we hope as many members as possible will avail themselves of the opportunity to see how this project was put together and to learn how it works.
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RFID Access to Clubrooms

No you don't have to have your ears pierced. Well not yet aynway!!!

The system is now up and running smoothly. Thanks to Ian BUF and all the time and effort he has put into this project. You can now purchase a key tag to allow you access they are $10 each and last as long as you are a financial member of the club. You are required to sign an agreement binding you to the regulations governing use of the shack (as circulated in an earlier magazine with some slight modification). The whole idea is that members can access the shack whenever they feel like it and make use of the facilities therein. In the main it is based on trust but by signing an agreement everybody knows where they stand.

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