Second birthday of Australian Amateur Radio Foundation Licence

The 19th October 2007 saw the second anniversary of the introduction of the Amateur Radio Foundation licence in Australia.

Just short of a year ago, the WIA announced that 1,000 people had qualified for the Foundation licence.

A year later, on the 19th October 2007, 1,834 people had been qualified by the WIA for the Foundation Licence.

"Not quite 1,000 a year, but very close" said WIA President, Michael Owen VK3KI. "A week ago I attended a lunch for the Presidents of the Queensland amateur radio clubs, and while Queensland has lagged behind Victoria and New South Wales in the number of people who have become Foundation licensees, the enthusiasm among those present for promoting amateur radio and the entry level licence in Queensland, persuades me that there is every prospect that
in a further years time we may well be close to 3,000 people qualified for the Foundation licence.

Of course, the rate at which the Foundation licensees are up-grading to Standard and Advanced will mean that we will
have quite few less than 3,000 Foundation call signs, but more Standard and Advanced Amateur Radio call signs."

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia