QNEWS for July 13th 2025

Hi: I'm John VK4JPM, Secretary of the Darling Downs Radio Club with the club's weekly QNEWS update for Sunday 13 July. We're going to have a busy member meeting tomorrow, Monday 14th. Don't forget that this meeting will be held at district Scouts HQ, which is at 2 Victory Street in Newtown, the suburb of Toowoomba. There's a small carpark at the front, but plenty of room in the street - walk up the driveway, and you'll find us at the building at the back, where we'll have great facilities and a huge screen to go with our online presence. Tea and coffee as usual.

This is Allan VK4HIT with news from Ipswich and District Radio Club. June’s monthly business meeting formally approved a WICEN sub committee to organise currently committed activities and investigate new events to support. Other areas of WICEN focus would include service for community events and to actively support training and mentoring for new members, especially younger members. Reporting from Ipswich this is Allan, VK4HIT.

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. There is the old saying that variety is the spice of life and if you have been to meetings where time crawled slowly past as the agenda was meticulously followed, then you would appreciate a little spice in your day. I have been thinking about some of the things that can provide variety in club activities. Routine has its place but variation and surprise can add sparkle to otherwise dull activities. Now I am not suggesting having people jumping from cakes as entertainment but there are other ways of giving a different look to presentations. I remember being selected to give a small speech of thanks at my school assembly and virtually quivering my way through the vote of thanks to the guest speaker. That was in primary school and it left its mark on the memory and this is something that so many of us will relate to. Public speaking is almost as bad as going to the old fashioned dentist for bringing on the adrenaline, or as many people called it, the heebie-jeebies. We know many people and some of them within our club, who have interesting stories to tell; some directly relating to radio and many on things that most of us would like to know. Why that person declines a nice friendly invitation to speak at the club could be that same deep seated fear of “public speaking” and the fear of embarrassing themself. Can we consider arranging things around a couple of comfortable chairs and a table with some water to wet dry throats and have a conversation between two people? I am sure we have watched discussions on TV that use this format and it is more relaxing for the participants as well as the audience. Then there is the show and tell type evening where a few people bring along projects and display them and answer questions and get suggestions from others as to how to improve the items or source materials so that others can replicate the items. Years ago, colour slides taken on 35mm cameras could fill an evening with projected images and a commentary by the photographer. These days the laptop computer and a large screen or projector can show a range of stills and movie images with either recorded commentary or a basic voice over which allows for question and answers. There is no need for stiff formality and the relaxed presentation style can further encourage audience participation. Then of course, who said the presenter has to be physically present? These days with video apps being so highly developed, all that is needed is a suitable display connected to the internet and a presentation can come from virtually any place on the planet. I have watched several presentations of this kind on YouTube. These are suggestions for people to build upon but being able to maintain a sense of variety in our club activities, aside from the obvious “ham” ones makes meetings more social and inviting. I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and that's what I think, how about you?