From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 17 / 08 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

Amateur Radio is part of the 50 year commemoration of the Battle of Long Tan – which is also Vietnam Veterans Day – following the ACMA’s issuing of two callsigns to mark the important anniversary.

Mal Johnston VK6LC has been given VI6BLT50, while other veterans may apply through the WIA to use on a roster basis and other conditions, the callsign VI5BLT50.  Serving in the Royal Australian Signals in Vietnam, Mal VK6LC has the commemorative callsign VI6BLT50 issued from August 17 for about a month.  The WIA recognising that others who served in Vietnam and elsewhere, might also join the commemoration and obtained VI5BLT50.  The commemorative callsigns are sought as Australians pay honour to the Vietnam War service and sacrifice of our servicemen and women.

A number of the soldiers from that battle will also finally be awarded gallantry awards / medals, following sustained campaigning from D Company commander, retired Lieutenant Colonel Harry Smith.  Almost 60,000 were in Vietnam from 1962 until 1975, 521 lost their lives, and more than 3,000 were wounded.  Many more veterans suffered and are still suffering because of their service.

The Battle of Long Tan was on August 18, 1966.  It was the one of the fiercest battles fought by Australian soldiers in the Vietnam War.  For three and a half hours, in the pouring rain, the mud and shattered rubber plantation trees called Long Tan, Major Smith led a company of 108 young and mostly inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers, to hold off an enemy force of 2,500 hardened soldiers.  They were outnumbered 20 to 1.  Long Tan is the true story of ordinary boys who became extraordinary ANZAC men.

It was one of the most savage and decisive engagements in our history, earning both the United States and South Vietnamese Presidential Unit Citations for gallantry along with many individual awards.  But sadly, cost the lives of 18 Australians and more than 500 enemy were killed.  Heroism, tragedy and the sacrifice of battle, Long Tan is a gruelling and dramatic exploration of war with all its horror, that will rightly take its place alongside war classics such as Gallipoli, Breaker Morant, Saving Private Ryan, Zulu & Blackhawk Down.

The official program of events include a Parliamentary Reception on August 17, and a National Service at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra.  This will be followed a day later by a Commemorative Parade at Enoggera Barracks, Brisbane.

Any inquiries about the commemoration by radio amateurs are welcomed by Mal VK6LC who is listed on qrz.com.

The Battle of Long Tan – We Remember 50 years on – Lest We Forget.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 17 / 08 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The Wireless Institute of Australia will hold its annual general meeting in Hahndorf out of Adelaide South Australia in May 2017.

The iconic town is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement in the Adelaide Hills, a 20 minute drive from Adelaide, where visitors can walk the past and taste the future.

The venue is to be the Adelaide Hills Convention Centre with the weekend of events from Friday May 19 to Sunday 21.  A team of 10 mostly from radio clubs in and around Adelaide have been busy organising the event and its full program will be announced later.

Format is to be similar to other years, with registration starting on the Friday night during an informal gathering at a restaurant, the AGM is Saturday morning along with the open forum, with technical presentations in the afternoon.

Partners tours are offered on Saturday, and the traditional gala WIA dinner on Saturday night.  Sunday has a visit to a local landmark, or a SOTA/Parks operation, and a final BBQ gathering on Sunday night.

Detailed information about the program and a registration form will be on the WIA website later this year.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 14 / 08 / 2016 
Author : Robert Broomhead – VK3DN

Prospective radio amateurs and those looking at their callsign choices are now able to do that online at the “Public List Of Available Callsigns” on the WIA website.

This follows the resolution of further teething problems with the ACMA’s new SPECTRA system.

From the ARRL, original post here.  08/10/2016

Dayton Hamvention® is moving on after 52 years at Hara Arena, and 2017 preparations at the show’s new venue in Xenia, Ohio, now are in full swing, two Hamvention officials explained this week on the Amateur Radio Roundtable webcast hosted by Tom Medlin, W5KUB. Hamvention announced on August 1 that it would relocate to the Greene County Fairgounds, after Hara Arena made it known that it would close at month’s end.  Hamvention 2017 General Chair Ron Cramer, KD8ENJ, and official spokesperson Mike Kalter, W8CI, fielded questions from Medlin and callers during the hour-long August 9 show.  Cramer said some members of the Amateur Radio community entertain preconceived notions about the new venue that are “far off base,” and he and Kalter wanted to set the record straight.

“Change is hard for everyone, but I think this is a very good move for us,” Cramer said. “You will be very impressed.” Kalter echoed the sentiment. “We want to start out great and get awesome,” he said.  Kalter said there’s been a lot of second-guessing, but that “a lot of overriding factors” and year-long search led to the selection of Greene County Fairgrounds.

Kalter assured those planning to attend Hamvention that Fairgrounds buildings — particularly those used for showing livestock during the county fair — are “absolutely clean” and well maintained (see attached layout map).  He and Cramer expressed confidence that everyone will find plenty of available parking and room for all traditional Hamvention activities — more than may be evident at first glance.  Vendors who have already visited the new site to get the lay of the land went away “excited,” they said.

At this point, no hard-and-fast decisions have been made as to how Hamvention will put the available buildings and space to use next spring, but Cramer and Kalter said the Fairgrounds staff has been especially helpful.  “We’re all working together now to make this happen,” Kalter said, and that Hamvention officials remain open to questions and suggestions.

Cramer took time to quash one misconception about Hara Arena.  “Even though they had air conditioning,” he said, “air conditioning was never used there. The doors were open, and they did not want to turn on the air conditioning unless the doors were closed.  So, I don’t think air conditioning was used at all — at least in the last 10 years.”

Some air conditioned space already available at the new venue may be suitable for such activities as forums, and the Fairgrounds is looking to upgrade existing ventilation systems in non-air conditioned buildings.  “We’re looking at the possibility of air conditioned ‘chalets’” for forums, Kalter said.

The prime area under consideration for the popular outdoor flea market is inside the racetrack oval, they said, and additional adjacent space is available, if it’s needed.

The venue will have wireless Internet coverage.  “We’ve already moved some of the equipment out of Hara, and we think it will do a good job there,” Cramer said.  Kalter added that the Fairgrounds staff is working on upgrading the Internet “pipe” to the venue.

As for the admission price, “We’re still working on that,” Kalter said. “We have not made a decision. We may leave it at the same price or slightly more than that, but no great increase.”  Tickets this year were $20 in advance and $25 at the gate for all 3 days.

Cramer and Kalter said Hamvention anticipates being ready to start selling tickets and vendor spaces by November — and perhaps earlier.

Kalter stressed that the sponsoring Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) puts “an awful lot back into ham radio in donations,” all raised entirely through Hamvention.

“We need your help. We need your support,” Kalter said. “Hamvention needs to move on, and we intend to make it happen, with everybody’s help.