QNews for August 17th 2025

This is Allan VK4HIT with news from Ipswich and District Radio Club. Today (Sunday) Ipswich WICEN volunteers are supporting safety check points during the Lake Manchester Trail held this morning. A calendar of upcoming WICEN-supported events will be available in the coming weeks. Jamboree of the air and internet is coming up on October 18 between 0900 hours and midnight.

This week from Darling Downs Radio Club an even quicker QNEWS- so much has been happening in the last week and in the weeks coming. Like we're all bubbling over to tell you, but there's no time. So. Hi. I'm John VK4JPM, secretary of the club. Last Tuesday all Club members of record, past and present, should have received an email with the packet for the Annual General Meeting. That gives you the agenda, minutes from last year, financials, motions on notice, and a copy of the proposed replacement for the Club's Rules. This is really important stuff.

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. Best wishes to all those taking part in the RD Contest and may the gods of radio propagation be favourable. Last week, I went looking to re-familiarise myself with the “Friendly Contest” and instead of just going to the WIA web site, I did a search to see how far the news had travelled. Wow, was I in for a shock! On the device that I was using all bar 1 link related to 2024 or generic entries. The one positive link that did show was from a well known amateur and retailer of radio gear. Now I admit that it may have been simply the particular search engine and I was not choosing to use AI either, but really for an event on the amateur radio calendar to be so well hidden seems shameful. I shifted my attention to the Wireless Institute and there was indeed a page of information on the levels and awards that could be earned. So to all those who have been associated with the armed forces and the many participants in this memorial activity, I feel we need to apologise that the RD has become overcome with a bout of shyness. Last broadcast, I raised a few thoughts about how we amateurs could show the flag with items that identify us, at least to other radio freaks, hi hi, and I was rewarded with an email from a QNEWS listener who had already commenced this journey by designing a tee shirt with suitable messaging. I suggested to him that he might contact some of the bigger clubs as they had already produced wearable items for their members and some might be able to assist with suggestions as to sources and suppliers as well as printing. So if you are contacted, please be aware you are receiving a genuine enquiry. One thing that I have noted is that the world seems to be getting more and more isolated. I watch a bit of TV news and have been known to enjoy broadcast radio news services too. It was via social media that I learned about the fires that are afflicting Spain and Portugal and the heatwave that is seeing temperatures career into the mid 40 degrees Celsius. It seems that, even with journalists scattered around the world, we consumers of their work are getting less of it that ever before. We have had the removal of many sub-editors from media sources, some years ago. We have seen overseas bureaux shut or reduced to minimal staffing and even although there are very good international news agencies, our speakers and screens don’t seem to share their work output to any degree. I mention this because in some ways it seems the club circuit has closed in on individual units and there is less visits and interactions than say a few years ago. So maybe this is an item to pursue amongst our clubs. Let’s see if we can get more social activities to strengthen those slowing bonds of friendship. I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and that's what I think, how about you?