GB6GEO - Geoparks Communication Weekend

GB6GEO - The Geoparks Communication Weekend - will be active again this year at Kents Cavern in Torquay.

Supported by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and the Torbay Amateur Radio Society, it takes place over the weekend of 22 May – 23 May 2010

Radio stations from around the world will be exchanging greetings over the airwaves with the English Riviera Global Geopark in May as amateur radio operators transmit live from Kents Cavern in Torquay, right in the heart of the English Riviera Global Geopark.

Using a special event call sign, GB6GEO, will establish contact with other radio stations around Britain, Europe and around the world from a base set up outside the entrance to Kents Cavern, Devon’s internationally famous Stone Age cave and gateway to the English Riviera Global Geopark.

There are now 53 Geoparks around the world but this special radio event is being coordinated from Kent’s Cavern.
Visitors will be able to link up with several other Geoparks by radio over the weekend, including Araripe Geopark in Brazil; Kanawinka Geopark in Australia; Langkawi Geopark in Malaysia; the Petrified Forest of Lesvos Geopark in Greece, the Brecon Beacons in Wales, Nature Park Terra Vita, Germany, Hateg Country Dinosaur Geopark Romania, Naturtejo Geopark Portugal, and to the Copper Coast Geopark in Southern Ireland.

Many Geoparks also have show caves and those participating so far include: Smoo Cave in the North West Highlands Geopark in Scotland, Marble Arch Caves Geopark in Northern Ireland and Unicorn Cave in the Harz Mountains in Germany. With the event now global, the event will run from 0900 on Saturday 22nd May, through the night to 16:00 on Sunday 23rd th May. “

Geopark Certificate

For amateur radio stations/SWL's around the world who contact/hear Geopark stations, the English Riviera Geopark is offering a special beautiful commemorative European Geoparks Network radio amateur certificate for contacts with GB6GEO (instant qualifier), or two Geopark stations excluding GB6GEO (this award will also apply to SWL's on a heard basis). This certificate is endorsed by our Queen's husband, H.R.H The Duke of Edinburgh, with his own words congratulating the holder.  Certificates will cost UK £2.50 each, Europe €4 and Rest of the world USD5.

Alternatively certificate holders to be the first in their country to claim the certificate will have an 'FC' suffix following the certificate number. This denotes the first person in their country to claim the 'Geoparks' award. These certificate holders will be worth one point towards the basic certificate, that requires two points, or work any five (5) certificate holders. Many of these certificate holders can be found in the Torbay Amateur Radio Society nets, details from the website www.tars.org.uk 

Certificate Manager/ direct qsl's to Martin Foster G3VOF QTHR or QRZ.COM Please also see qrz.com for the latest updates. Only log details necessary .

QSL's

There is a special glossy high quality souvenir QSL cards for this event, promoting the English Riviera Geopark.

All QSL cards will automatically be sent out via the bureau, or send an SASE in the UK. If you are outside the UK, then please send an addressed envelope, and sufficient funds for return postage, if you would like a card direct ( Please QSL via G3VOF).

Any information required about GB6GEO please contact Martin Foster (G3VOF) email: martin@riviera.fm or via qrz.com. If you live in Austria, Australia, China, Croatia, Norway, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Spain or Brazil and would like to participate this year 2010 in the Geoparks Communication Festival by putting on a "GEO" call sign please get in touch with G3VOF. E-mail martin@riviera.fm

Nick Powe, Chairman of the English Riviera Global Geopark and 5th Generation owner of Kents Cavern added:
“Interest in the Global Geoparks Network and its Geo-tourism potential is rapidly gaining momentum around the world.

“Globally, the Geopark designation is recognised as a powerful way to bring economic benefits through the development of Geo-tourism activities and promoting Geo-diversity of the Geopark area.

“I’m delighted that Kents Cavern will be at the heart of this global radio link up which will raise awareness of our fantastic cave system here and of Torbay around the world.”

For further information and interview or photography/filming requests at Kents Cavern, please contact Nick Powe on 01803 215136.

Derrick Webber, call sign G3LHJ, President of the Torbay Amateur Radio Society added: “While the internet and mobile phones are a major communication platform around the world today, there is still something exciting about establishing contact with someone the other side of the planet using a length of wire hung across the garden and a radio set!

“We are always looking to recruit new members and this Global communication event linked to the Geoparks Network is going to be a great way to inspire people to learn more about becoming radio operators.”

Tars HQ is located at:
The Teignbridge District Scout Head Quarters
The Burdett Building, Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot,
TQ12 1LJ

Anyone interested in Amateur Radio is welcome to come along. There is a full calendar of events throughout the year, every month there is a formal meeting followed by a guest speaker or some special attraction.

More is online at www.tars.org.uk or contact Derrick (President) G3LHJ on 01626 354437