WOW – Women on Wireless celebrate the centenary

The Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association, ALARA, threw itself into the task for putting the WIA special callsign VK100WIA on air and did an outstanding job.

Jean Fisher VK3VIP, the Victorian ALARA representative led the way, duly facilitated by OM John VK3DQ who was the designated ‘tea-boy’, with operating being shared by Margaret Blight VK3FMAB and Michele Grant VK3FEAT.

Among the highlights reported by Jean VK3VIP was making contact with Dick GI3OUR in Northern Ireland, and VK100WIA being net control of the 160 metre band coffee break net.

ALARA was active on the 160m, 80m, 40m and 20m bands, mostly SSB but also some CW contacts were had, plus 2m including IRLP and transmissions through the Melbourne digital amateur television repeater VK3RTV. The log for the three days shows DX contacts with Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Honduras, Japan, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, New Caledonia, Russia and the United States.

Well done to ALARA members Jean, Michele and Margaret, and others who made it such a success celebrating the Centenary of Organised Amateur Radio in Australia.

Jim Linton VK3PC

ALARA website
http://www.alara.org.au/