New Year Message from Michael Owen VK3KI WIA President

A week ago I extended Christmas greetings to all amateurs.

A week later, on this the first day of a New Year, I wish every amateur everywhere and everyone who would become an amateur, the WIA's best wishes for the New Year, and for a safe, healthy, happy and prosperous year.

2006 will, again, be a year of challenge for the WIA.

As the year commences, we know that we have a backlog of people aspiring to a Foundation licence and our task is to ensure that the packs, the assessors and the clubs are ready to meet their needs.

In March we will be giving notice of our Annual General meeting, together with the WIA's accounts.

Above all else, our aim is to keep on track the real momentum that I believe has developed around the WIA.

The great issues of last year were the licence restructure, the introduction of the Foundation licence and the move to the accreditation of assessors and a whole new assessment system.

What will be the great issues of this year?

One will be the balance of the implementation of the Outcomes of the Review of amateur service regulation, issues such as a class licence for visiting amateurs, ensuring use of the internet is not inhibited, Australia becoming
part to the CEPT TR 61 procedures, so Australian's can visit many overseas countries and use their licences in those countries.

Another great issue will be the future of the amateur examination system, currently in the hands of the WIA.

One aspect of the Outcomes was the expressed intent of ACMA to revisit the current arrangements for the management of amateur qualification and the outsourcing of certain licence and callsign management functions.

Let me say this.

We firmly believe that the only acceptable outcome is for the WIA to continue to manage the amateur examinations in Australia, and we shall be doing all we can to ensure that is the outcome.

Finally may I say this:

The WIA does not have a large asset backing, and is very dependent on many volunteers to provide the services it does. The problem with that is that volunteers have their known jobs and commitments. Ultimately, if we are to
continue to grow, we need to employ proper professional staff.

I believe that as we look to a new year I can ask all amateurs and all clubs to place a special emphasis this year on encouraging as many as possible to become WIA members.

Once again, to you all, the very best wishes for the New year.

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia

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