QNews for August 10th 2025

Now on QNEWS it's time for a quick update from the Darling Downs Radio Club; it's Sunday 10h of August and I'm John VK4JPM, Club Secretary. A couple of important dates are coming up. Tomorrow, Monday 11 August, is our regular monthly meeting night, and as I mentioned last week and in email, we're trying something a bit different. The meeting will be in a natter-night format, with a minimal agenda and opportunity to have some round table discussions. We'll have Zoom active, meaning that if you're somewhere not near Toowoomba, you can still participate, and we're going to set up the system so that you're part of the round table. There will be show and tell - have you built or acquired something interesting recently? Do you have tips that might save work or turn on brain cells? What's happening on the bands that would get others excited? Do you need help with a project? All of this and more would be good topics, so think about it overnight and tomorrow, then turn up at 1900. If you're coming in person, the meeting is at the Scouts HQ located at 2 Victory Street in Newtown (Toowoomba). Zoom credentials and all the info on the meeting are on our website at ddrci.org.au. And, of course, the meeting is open to all. We might even throw in an honourable mention for the person connecting from the greatest distance.

Greetings from the R & DRC VK4RC. Robert Thomson VK4TFN here. Our Carboot Sale will be at 9:00 am, on the 30th August 2025, at our Club House at MacFarlane Park, in Kippa-ring in the city of Redcliffe. As always, we'll clear out our shed and fill up our tables with all manner of interesting techno items for your perusal. Also, the VK4 QSL Bureau will have a table in the club house. Come and collect your QSL cards. So come along and have a good day out. For more information go to: www dot redcliffe radio club dot org dot au.

TOWNSVILLE-To commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Pacific and the end of hostilities in World War Two, members of The Townsville Amateur Radio Club Inc. will be activating the Oonoonba Historic World War Two Bombing Site in Townsville Australia with a number of portable HF SSB Stations on Sunday 17th August, co-inciding with the Remembrance Day Contest and the International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend.

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. It seems that one of the important things for many people is the capacity to identify themselves with something they find important. Clothing and other items are the classic ones that we find are easily purchased at our usual street-level retailers. Of course, there are the special event souvenirs which mark a special level of exclusivity. Whether it is a brand of motor car, a favourite beverage or membership of a group, the markings can serve to introduce people to others with the same interests.

It seems that when we take part in events such as JOTA/JOTI where most people are in a uniform, a simple display of our allegiance is in keeping and shows a level of respect. So what is it that you would like to have? Should we have items to display on our vehicles, too? Who should be coordinating the design and supply of these items? We now seem to depend on email for delivering what were once hard copy cards and certificates, and with the demise of the WIA bookshop, there has been lost a central point of contact to purchase physical items.

I am proud of my involvement with this recreation, and I believe that many others are similarly engaged. I feel that if we get our heads together, we can find ways of re-introducing goods which enhance our experience of amateur radio. I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and that's what I think. How about you?