May Oxtales has been released – and it’s another huge edition!
Our regular thanks to John VK2AYQ and Trevor VK2TT for another excellent read – and thank you to all contributors.
Members should now have received their copy by email, but website copies of the current and past editions can always be found here.
From the WIA, original post here.
Date : 13 / 05 / 2017
Author : Fred Swainston – VK3DAC
The Wireless Institute of Australia has been working toward some on line assessments for some time and has introduced a trial exam system as a ‘proof of concept’ exercise.
There are currently two trial theory assessments at the Standard level and in future these will include a couple of Advanced theory assessments. The trials are on the Assessor Information System website www.silvertrain.com.au or via this link.
As part of the security process, those wanting to see them must first register on that website by clicking on the Amateur Radio tab, then on Amateur Radio Standard Theory Trial Exams, click on request access, complete the form, and then submit it. The next step will be receipt of a confirmation email advising that the request is being processed, and this is followed by a user name and password so you can log on to the trial assessments.
To access the trial the latest version of the flash player is needed. Eventually the final version of the theory assessments exams will be put on the WIA website and programmed in HTML5. This trial is only to prove the process. However, the assessments are similar in content faced by candidates for the Standard assessment making them ideal practice.
From the WIA, original post here.
Date : 12 / 05 / 2017
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has approved the admission of the new representative of the radio amateurs of Belize in the Caribbean Sea to IARU membership.
The proposal was put to the vote with 77 member-societies being in favour of admitting the Belize Amateur Radio Club (BARC) with none opposed.
The affirmative votes of 55 member-societies out of the 167 were required for approval.
Belize was previously was represented in the IARU by another organization of the same name.
Once the IARU Administrative Council determined that this earlier organization no longer existed, IARU Region 2 accepted an application for membership from the new BARC and confirmed that it satisfied the requirements of the IARU Constitution and Bylaws.
From the WIA, original post here.
Date : 07 / 05 / 2017
Author : Phil Wait – VK2ASD
Once again we have decided to publish the 2016-2017 WIA Open Forum Reports prior to the upcoming AGM and Conference weekend at Hahndorf.
Very often we hear the question, “what does the WIA do for me?”, and I’m sure after reading the Open Forum Reports for this year, that question will be well and truly answered.
Publishing the Open Forum reports on the website also gives non-members the opportunity to see what the WIA has also done for them over the past year, so hopefully they may reconsider and become a member.
I hope you enjoy reading the Open Forum Reports. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to the WIA over the past year.
Regards,
Phil Wait
VK2ASD, President
View the report here.
From the WIA, original post here.
Date : 05 / 05 / 2017
Author : Phil Wait – VK2ASD
National Volunteer Week, May 8-14 is an annual celebration to acknowledge the generous voluntary contributions being made throughout Australia. Its theme, ‘Give Happy, Live Happy’, reflects research that shows volunteers live happier and healthier lives. Volunteering Australia estimates that more than six million people are volunteers.
The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) has about 100 key volunteers and there are many more helping out, including those in radio clubs. Recently the WIA consulted with its 10 committees, and then with the membership, on a Charter for Volunteers. The aim of that document is to set out the expectations of the volunteer, and that of the WIA.
Volunteers contribute so much to the running of Amateur Radio, spending countless hours on delivering member services, which are mostly taken for granted. A little of the work being done by our volunteers can be read in the annual reports of committees for 2016 – these will shortly be provided to members.
The WIA Board of Directors are all volunteers who work hard for the membership throughout the year and prepare for the WIA annual general meeting in Hahndorf this month. Volunteers are the mainstay of the not-for-profit WIA through its operations and services in advocacy, education and support for the Amateur Radio community.
To all our volunteers who through dedication and support continue to make it happen – a very big thank you.