HAMNET Report

HAMNET is a voluntary group of South African amateur radio operators who make their unique communication skills available to assist and help others in distress during and after disasters.
HAMNET is represented on the sub-committee of the South African Search & Rescue Organisation.

The 6^th GAREC, Global amateur Radio Emergency Communications conference, held in Curacao, was a great success. Sixteen countries were represented at the conference and the presentations were of a high standard with the Chilean earthquake and the Haiti disaster getting a lot of attention. 

Interesting table top exercises were arranged by Greg Mossop, G0DUB, the IARU Region 1 emergency communications representative and also chairperson of the 2 day conference. This was also the first opportunity for us to meet Mike Corey, W5MPC who is the new appointment to the ARRL in place of Dennis Dura who has retired. 

Professor Arnaldo ‘Arnie’ Coro Antich, CO2KK from Cuba gave us a very interesting talk on the occurrence and issues leading up to and the aftermath of earthquakes in their region and how they cope with such occurrences. Various presentations were done by the Netherlands, Finland and South Africa on the preparation of running an exercise and what was interesting on the Dutch presentations is their preparedness for flooding – not from so much the sea but from the rivers from Europe that flow through their country to the sea! 

The following countries gave us insight into the structure and running of their various organisations and one had the opportunity to look at their set-up and compare with your own arrangement; DARES – the Dutch Group, NIAR, one of the Indian groups, HAMNET – for South Africa, VERONA – the arrangements in the Netherlands Antilles group of Islands. We also had an open discussion on the future role of Amateur Radio being used as a tool in emergency communication around the world. All the presentations, text presentations and the GAREC Statement will be downloadable from the www.garec.net website in due course. 

A very interesting 2 days on the Island of Curacao with heat and humidity beating KZN hands down, almost to being unbearable, but Brett Ruiz PJ2BR indicated it was a little unseasonal and also due to the formation of 2 hurricanes to the north of the Island group.

The Sun City presentation by Francois ZS6BUU was well received with many indicating they will be attending!

Reporting for Hamnet this is Francois Botha – ZS6BUU.

Hamnet website
The South African Radio League

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