Aussies launch the 'Waffle Award'

Welcome Aussie Foundation Licensees
Do you remember the highly successful 'Welcome to HF QSO Party' held on New Year's Day in 2004?

It celebrated the end of mandatory Morse code proficiency tests for amateur licensing in Australia, which was part of the first stage of the Amateur Service regulation review.

The next and important change for amateur radio was the three tier licence structure that began last October, heralding a new era, in particular the entry level Foundation Licence.

Some thought has been given as how to celebrate this new era. With an announcement of a year-long event, here is Jim Linton VK3PC.

"A special activity operating certificate, known as the Welcome Aussie Foundation Licensees or 'Waffle' award, will coincide with the steady induction of new members of the amateur radio community.

Around 1,000 Foundation callsigns are expected to be issued by the end of 2006.

Initial enthusiasm of the current 100 or so Foundation Licensees indicates that they too will be chasing the "Waffle" as their very first amateur radio operating award.

The rules are simple: For VK stations make 50 contacts with Foundation Stations while DX stations need at least 10. Contact with the same Foundation callsign is permitted, provided this does not occur on the same day, unless on more than one frequency band.

Repeater and IRLP contacts fall within the spirit of this award as they require use of radio at each end of a contact.

Full rules and requirements appear on the Amateur Radio Victoria website (amateurradio.com.au) which is hosting the award.

Jim Linton VK3PC

The Waffle Award had a most appropriate on-air launch
during last Wednesday night's Young Ham Net on the 80 metre band.

WAFL Award Rules:
1) Make on-air contacts with Australian Foundation Licence Stations that include exchange of signal reports.
2) Stations may be contacted more than once, provided it is not on the same day unless on more than one frequency band.
3) Repeater and IRLP contacts fall within the spirit of this award as they require use of radio at each end of a contact.
4) Proof of contacts must be by log extract with minimum details of callsign, date, time and band.
5) Contacts must include Foundation Licence Stations in more than one VK call area.

Australian award claimants are required to submit evidence of contact with at least 50 while DX stations require at least 10 contacts.

The Waffle Award period ends on Australia Day, 26 January, 2007.
Claims accompanied by $A5 (non-Australian claimants $US10) or equivalent should be sent:

Awards Manager
Amateur Radio Victoria
40g Victory Boulevard
ASHBURTON 3147
VICTORIA AUSTRALIA

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia

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