Tony Hutchison receives Chris Jones Award

Tony Hutchison, VK5ZAI is the WIA ARISS Coordinator and ARISS Coordinator for the Asia Pacific Region.

Tony says that ARISS, Amateur Radio on International Space Station is a positive way of introducing our hobby of amateur radio to students, and others throughout the world by demonstrating how it’s used to communicate with the crews on the International Space Station.

During the year eight schools in the region took part in scheduled link ups with the ISS crews, including three from New Zealand and the rest from Australia.

The value of Tony’s contribution to amateur radio and the WIA was recognised by the presentation of the Chris Jones Award at the Open Forum following the WIA’s Annual General Meeting at the Gippsland Campus of Monash University, Churchill on 2nd May 2009.

The award is a handsome glass plaque and presenting the award to Tony, WIA President Michael Owen VK3KI read the inscription which is “The Chris Jones Award honours the memory of a man who was dedicated to the advancement of amateur radio and whose unfailing commitment and vision led to a new Wireless Institute of Australia and whose unfailing courtesy and genuine friendliness is fondly remembered by all who knew him.”

Speaking after the award, Tony said:

"I would like to thank everyone for their congratulations on winning the prestigious WIA Chris Jones Award. I would also like to thank the ARISS team, especially Shane VK4KHZ,who backs me up in VK, and all other Amateurs that have assisted by working with schools to make these ARISS educational linkups possible. Also a big thanks to my wife Jill who, although not licensed, assists me with my ARISS commitments. Without everyone's continual support this wouldn't have happened."

VK5ZAI's website

WIA website