Good afternoon everyone,
We have a few activities on the horizon and so we thought we'd better let people know so they can make notes in their Diaries.
October is quite busy with 3 events only now, there were 4 but we were told during the week that Fitz's Challenge that was scheduled for 29 October will not be proceeding this year.
7th / 8th October is the ANU Inward Bound adventure footrace. This event utilises the WICEN Commercial licences in VHF Mid-Band and is used by the WICEN Committee to configure, transport and operate our portable repeaters and mobile equipment and is not a 'traditional' WICEN Exercise utilising Amateur bands and operators.
14th / 15th October is the ACTERA Brookvale Endurance ride in the Uriarra area. At this point we don't have any definite details on requirements and timings but it is assumed it will be an early start on the Sunday and be following similar courses as previous years. According to the ACTERA Website, the 80 KM ride starts at 5:00 AM, the 53 KM & 40 KM Intermediate rides start at 7:00 AM with the 22 KM introductory at 8:00 AM and the 13 KM Introductory at 9:00 AM.
28th / 29th October is the Bega Valley Rally and this is one where we use our fleet of Mid-Band VHF mobile radio's on the NSW Forestry network and so again not a traditional WICEN Exercise. Now here we do need some help as whilst I (Phil VK1PL) normally take the gear down and set-up HQ, this year I can't attend so am looking for a small number of people to do the jobs this year which includes issuing radios and assisting installation at Bega on the Saturday morning, someone else doing the same at Boydtown (a few KM's south of Eden), setting up 2 radio's at HQ at Boydtown and doing the general Net Control Station radio operators job in conjunction with the Rally Clerk of Course. The Sapphire Coast Sporting Car Club (SCSSC) would also love anyone who wants to do a Manned Road closure / SOS Point (using the Forestry radio network) to volunteer as they are always short of people.
Moving to November now, we have one exercise , and it's our big Car Rally. The Subaru Canberra RALLY OF CANBERRA (yes, ROC is back !) will be conducted on 18th / 19th November. Saturday 18th will have 3 stages (each run twice) out in the Tidbinbilla, Pierces and Uriarra forest areas to the east of Canberra where we will need 14 Field Stations and Sunday 19th will have 3 stages (each run twice) in the Kowen Forest area where we will need 11 Field Stations. I'll be sending out a separate email for this in the coming days that will include a link to the WICEN registration form for the event.
Cheers all,
Phil Longworth VK1PL
Deputy State Coordinator, WICEN ACT
Life Member, Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club