The
Pres Says…..
Ok members, we start another Fiscal Year. What does it mean?
Well it means a change in Committee Members for a start.
Well at least you got a new president and a new secretary
(with your permission). Although we initially had some trouble
separating a secretary from the membership, Phil Pavey (VK3YB)
has stepped forward to take on the job. I could say that
it is a thankless job but I would be wrong. This position
is probably more important than mine as the secretary holds
it all together. AND as you heard at the AGM, there are lots
of thanks to the secretary for doing a great job. Anyway,
thanks to Phil for putting his hand up but we will have to
ratify his position at the next General Meeting. As most
of the Committee is unchanged, it will be easier for Phil
and me to slip into our jobs under direction of the experienced
guys.
I have
ideas on how to run things but it means that I create more
paperwork
than others because I like having paper trails
for everything. This comes from running my own business for
so long. I have thoughts of updating our Rules of Association
of which some items stick out as being “not politically
correct” any longer. If you want to have an input to
this, put it on paper and give it to me.
Also it is about time we promoted the Club again to let
the public know what we are about. (At least we can try to
educate them)
If you listen to 225 you will notice a few of the Philips
PRM80 radios being utilised already. Early reports say that
they are great, with maybe the deviation down a bit but the
programming of channels and the display feature being a great
bonus to the operation. At the Club price, these radios are
a gem. Great work to all involved in getting them to the
operating desks of members. The May Prac Night saw a few
of the radios retuned with the help of Ian VK3BUF who brought
along some test gear for the job.
Remember that May General Meeting will consist of a Mini
Auction for CLUB MEMBERS only to sell a few small items to
each other pre the Hamfest. Refer to the article elsewhere
in this edition. Also the leftover building materials and
the antennas discussed at last months meeting will be up
for grabs, so if you are interested in the items you need
to attend.
So there ya go folks, my first report for the year. See
you at the meetings.
73 VK3BQO Albert
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Foundation License Course
The Committee discussed setting up a Foundation License Course
to be run by GGREC. They are looking for volunteer presenters
of subjects.
Investigation of how other clubs present their packages
will ensure that the wheel does not need to be re-invented.
Interested? Talk to one of the committee. Help us to grow
by encouraging new participants in our hobby.
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Upcoming Events
|
| Friday 19th May |
Auction Night |
Guide Hall 8pm |
| Monday
May 29th |
Committee
Meeting |
Club
HQ 8pm |
| Friday
June 2nd |
Prac
Night |
Club
HQ 8pm |
| Friday
June 16th |
General Meeting Night |
Guide
Hall 8pm |
| Saturday
June 24th |
Mid
Year Dinner |
Tooradin
Sports Club |
| Monday
June 26th |
Committee
Meeting |
Club
HQ 8pm |
| Friday
July 7th |
Prac
Night |
Club
HQ 8pm |
| Friday
July 21st |
General
Meeting Night |
Guide
Hall 8pm |
| July 22nd |
HAMFEST |
Cranbourne Hall |
| Monday
July 24th |
Committee
Meeting |
Club
HQ 8pm |
| October ? |
JOTA |
Guide Hall/Club Shack |
| |
|
|
| Link
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|
|
LAST CHANCE HOTEL
Just a reminder that you need to pay your dues by the end
of this month in order to continue receiving your copy of
Gateway. Mike VK3KTO, our illustrious treasurer, will gladly
relieve you of your cash!!!
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30th Anniversary of GGREC.
Yes folks it is almost upon us. It seems like only yesterday
that we were celebrating 25 years as a club.
We are looking for ideas on how to celebrate this milestone
next year so let one of the committee know your thoughts.
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SO
far up the creek we can see the end…..
Red Cross Murray River Canoe Marathon 2005 (Graeme VK3BXG)
Day 5,
last day, we are awoken to the music from “Apocalypse
Now” and warnings of extreme temperatures expected
for the day and seek help immediately at the first signs
of headache or nausea. I am assigned to the “Start”,
at Murrabit, and as I have done this one before I know there
is not much room to move so I put my HF antenna in the same
place as on a previous occasion. Despite this only a doctor
in a 4wd could be capable of hooking it down and putting
me off air for a few minutes!
193 canoes
started day 5 and each hour for the rest of the day the
situation
was reviewed but despite the conditions
the Marathon finished at Swan Hill with the majority of paddlers
having covered 404Km. over the 5 days. The Marathon ends
with the New Year’s eve celebrations in Swan Hill.
The majority of Wicen camp at Pental Island Caravan Park
and are content to have a quiet New Year’s Eve. As
for me I turned and headed for home in the heat of the day
and consumed 6 litres of water and electrolyte over the six
hour trip back home. I ended up too tired to attend anyone’s
party anyway.
The Lessons Learnt
During my first Murray Marathon I relied on a convenient
tree to hoist up a multi-band trapped dipole using the old
lead sinker over-the-bough trick. But after once missing
a bough and bouncing the sinker off a car bonnet I decided
this method was not in the best interest of the public. I
now use a portable mast, six meters high and I can position
it wherever I like and maybe use trees to hold the end up
a couple of meters off the ground. The antennas, we have
found from experience, do not need to be high in this situation.
With the multi-band trapped dipole the traps kept getting
tangled in the undergrowth and because Wicen only uses 80meters
or 40meters, I now use an 80meter dipole that clips / unclips
in the middle making it a 40meter. However there is no doubt
from the exercise that those using a half wave dipole seem
to have the edge signal wise on all other types of antennae.
They may be longer but well worth the effort.
For 2metre work I also take along a portable 5 element beam
which can be quickly assembled / disassembled to work up
and down the river and to give reliable communications all
the way to the next check point.
Personal care. It is most important to keep drinking good
quality water with or without mineral (electrolyte) replacer.
We are advised not to drink the local water although it seems
to be clean, nevertheless I take along 20 litres of our own
Drouin tank water and that just lasts me the 5 days with
other purchased mineral drinks. The local water seems to
be fine for washing and cleaning.
Meals can be purchased through Red Cross but orders have
to be in and paid the day before. Some choose to do this
but it is cumbersome so but the majority of the volunteers
tend to eat out of an evening. For breakfast and lunch we
tend to provide our own and in my case I take no perishable
food and look forward to a good evening meal in town.
Finally
at the end of the day – or any time you like,
two semi-trailer shower trucks for “them and us” are
provided. Each trailer would have about a dozen shower heads
in it and each behind a curtain. The water is just about
the right temperature (no adjustment, you just turn it on);
but then if you are shy or proud you can always go to the
local caravan park and pay for your own private shower.
Thanks Graeme for this great insight into the trials and
tribulations of a volunteer radio operator.
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Happy Birthday to you……..
The following members either had birthdays recently or are
about to have them. Some are older than others!! Hope you all
get/got nice pressies!!!
Ron Robertson
VK3EXJ –April 7th
Mike Ide VK3KTO - April 30th
Pat Pavey VK3OZ –May 3rd
Bruno Tonizzo VK3BFT –May 13th
Andrew Brown VK3HJK –May 21st
Malcolm Green VK3FAMG –May 25th
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Bugger!!!!
There were some more errors/omissions/stuff ups on the recent
club listing, please amend your copy now :
Russ White MWR’s phone is 5941 6998 (sorry Russ, hope
I finally got it right!!!)
Malcolm Green new callsign VK3FAMG, well done Malcolm. The
first four letter callsign of GGREC but definitely not the
last.
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Hamfest - Moorabbin
Saturday - May 19th
The Moorabbin & District Radio Club have much
pleasure in inviting you to participate in
VK3’s BIGGEST ANNUAL HAMFEST
Snacks and hot food will be available.
ENTRY ONLY $6.00
Location - BRENTWOOD SECONDARY COLLEGE Watsons Road, Glen
Waverley.
Melways Reference 71 D7 (Enter via Heath Street.)
(Doors Open 10am – entry tickets on sale prior)
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Recognising a stroke…...
NO this has nothing to do with rowing at all!! It is about
recognizing an all too common medical condition.
Thank
God for the sense to remember the "3" steps,
STR . Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.
Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The
stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people
nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking
three simple
questions:
S *Ask the individual to SMILE.
T *Ask the person to TALK . To SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(I.e. . It is sunny out today)
R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
{NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person
to 'stick' out their tongue... If the tongue is 'crooked',
if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication
of a stroke}
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call
000 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
Editors Note : All of these symptoms could be caused by a
number of conditions (e.g. drunkenness) but it is better
to be safe than sorry in all instances.
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GRAND SALE
GRAND SALE
GRAND SALE
The first (and possibly the last!)
GGREC Auction Night will be held
at our next meeting night May 19th.
The idea is that club members can bring along a couple of
items to sell under an auction type system. NO RESERVE (but
the seller is allowed one bid) 10% of purchase price to be
donated to the club.
Some items we know about :
Yaesu FT411 : 2 Metre Hand Held. Complete with case, speaker
mic, charger, operating manual & 2 good battery packs
including a 5 watt one (Transmits OK but has a fault on
receive)
Werner Wulf : 15 Metre 2 Element Yagi
Large quantity of magazines including QST, CQ & some
Radio & Hobbies from the 1940’s & 1950’s
for the serious collector
Some deceased estate stuff??
Surplus club stuff as approved at April General Meeting
And much, much more!!!!???
Bring your wallets, preferably with money in them!!!!!!!!!!!
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Safety First
Now we have our own club rooms (and what a great asset that
is!) it is prudent to remind everybody of safety around the
place. It is incumbent on all of us that we ensure that everything
we do is done in the safest possible manner. We do not want
anyone hurt whilst enjoying their hobby. So think twice before
doing anything, and if you see anything being done in a manner
that is likely to cause problems SPEAK UP and help keep our
clubrooms a safe place to be.
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See something missing / almost finished?
We have a system in place in the club shack that allows us
to replace missing or used up items. So if you see something
that needs attention/replacing/purchasing make a note on
the white board above the master switch. The caretakers will
ensure that replacements are purchased etc. It is no good
leaving it till the last spoonful of coffee is extracted
from the tin!!!! This is everybody's responsibility not the
caretakers!
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KNOW YOUR CLUB
Did you know that GGREC has 5 Life Members currently on its
books? I’m not going to name them until next month.
Let’s see who has a good memory!
How many years young is GGREC??
RFID access means you can use the club shack at any time
you wish, as long as you work within the rules. Haven’t
got a tag yet? Now there’s a challenge. Where do
you get one from and how much does it cost?
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Mid Year Dinner
Tooradin Sports Club
Saturday June 24th 2006
More details at the next meeting. Don’t miss out.
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West Gippsland Hobbies, Crafts & Model Train
Expo
Cardinia Cultural Centre, Lakeside Bld, Pakenham (Melway
215H5)
Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st May 9am - 5pm
Model trains, Model Displays, Live Steamers etc
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General Meeting Minutes
Date: 21st April 2006
Start time: 08:15 PM.
Location: Guide Hall Cranbourne.
Chairperson: Andrew Clinkaberry VK3HFA
Minute Taker: Bruno Tonizzo VK3BFT
One minute of silence was observed for the passing of Colin
Bishop VK3HR.
Present: As per attendance sheet.
Visitors and Guests: VK3ZGW Geoff Williams
Apologies: Steve VK3EGD & Maria Harding, Paul VK3TGX & Mariana
Stubbs, Peter Vat VK3KCW, Russ White VK3MWR, Helmut VK3DHI & Dorothy
Inhoven, Bobbie Bishop, Grahame VK3YCG & Susan Brown.
Correspondence Received:
EMDRC Newsletter, MDRC newsletter.
Correspondence Sent:
Letter of thanks was sent to Adam Scott for notifying the
Club about the availability of the Phillips radios.
Treasurer’s
Report: As Tabled.
Income: Expenditure : Balance :
Read by: Mike Ide, VK3KTO Moved by: Reg Goddard, VK3UK Seconded
by: Ron Robertson VK3EXJ Carried: Yes
New Call signs – Malcolm Green VK3FAMG
Previous Minutes: As printed in the April 2006 GATEWAY magazine.
Read by: As read. Moved by: Reg Goddard, VK3UK. Seconded
by: Ron Robertson VK3EXJ Carried: Yes
Business Arising from Previous Minutes:
Mid Year Dinner – Trios restaurant was suggested.
2M Radios – The radios are to be distributed tonight
to members that have ordered them.
Fox Hunt has been postponed til later in the year.
4WD Trip – The event was well attended by club members.
Ian Jackson was thanked for submitting the magazine article
covering the event.
Nominations have been received for positions in the new Committee.
Hamfest – Bruno asked for helpers. Max, Albert, Dave & Reg
put their hand up.
Andrew mentioned that his apology for not attending the last
meeting was omitted from the March General meeting minutes.
New Business:
JOTA – A volunteer is needed to co-ordinate JOTA for
this year.
Articles are needed for the Magazine.
Auction Night in May at the GM for Club members to auction
off their unwanted items.
Albert Hubbard spoke about the 70cm Repeater. Testing has
started from Albert’s home QTH.
Andrew volunteered to chair the AGM. This was moved by Albert
Hubbard VK3BQO and seconded by Ian Jackson VK3BUF. Bruno
volunteered to take minutes – unopposed.
Andrew said that there was no motion to raise Club Fees for
the next financial year.
Andrew thanked the following people for their assistance
to the club over the last 12 months.
Bruno Tonizzo the Club Secretary; Reg & Jenny Goddard
for their fund raising; Dave Campbell for hosting the GGREC
Web site; Ian Jackson for his technical ability and shack
construction effort; Geoff Clifton & David Wright for
producing the Gateway magazine.
The members were asked to approve a motion moved by Andrew
Clinkaberry, to sell off any surplus antennas & poles
as recommended by the GGREC Committee. This motion was seconded
by Ivan Blezard and passed.
Meeting Closed at around 09:15 PM.
Next Committee Meeting: Monday 24th April 2006, at the Club Rooms starting
at 8:00pm.
Next Prac Night: Friday 5th may 2006.
Next General Meeting: 19th May 2006
Next Committee Meeting: Monday 29th May 2006, at the Club
Rooms starting at 8:00pm
