Subj : Newsline Part 1
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Nov 18 2016 05:02 pm
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2038, Friday, November 18, 2016
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2038, with a release date of Friday,
November 18, 2016 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
**
The following is a QST. The DXing World loses a noted centenarian.
A ham club in Michigan comes up with unique and generous way to welcome
newly ticketed amateurs -- and in our top story from New Zealand, hams'
attempts to assist after a massive earthquake are being challenged by
the damage left behind. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report #2038, comes your way right now.
***
BILLBOARD CART HERE
**
NEW ZEALAND AMATEURS CHALLENGED BY MASSIVE QUAKE
JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week with the aftermath of the earthquake in
New Zealand that took lives, stranded thousands, destroyed roads and
buildings, and left hams frustrated as to how they could help. We have
more details from Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen ZL2BHF:
JIM MEACHEN'S REPORT: Thousands of people have been left stranded on a
devastated landscape in New Zealand which was shattered by a 7.8-magnitude
earthquake on Monday, the 14th of November. With a state of emergency
declared in the Canterbury region, hardest hit by the quake, emergency
response has included an international array of naval vessels. Defense
Minister Gerry Brownlee, told the New Zealand Herald that offers of help
were accepted from the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan and
Singapore. The fleet of rescue ships includes the first United States
warship to visit New Zealand in 33 years.
While there was no formal activation of Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications (AREC), hams in the public service arm of the New Zealand
Association of Radio Transmitters remained vigilant in monitoring traffic
on the bands, as officials continued to assess the massive damage to roads
and buildings.
The quake, which caused extensive damage in Kaikoura and Culverden, killed
at least two persons.
One local ham, Ken Duffy, ZL4KD, told Amateur Radio Newsline in an email
that he activated the local Christchurch repeater to listen for emergency
and damage reports shortly after the first quake struck. He remained on
the air through the series of aftershocks that occurred. Ken wrote that
the affected area included a large rural region with few active hams, but
the damage was significant.
Ken said AREC could not gain access to many of the affected areas, because
of the severity of the road damage. As Amateur Radio Newsline went to
production, hams continued to monitor frequencies, while they awaited word
from government agencies on their offer to step in during the rescue
effort.
Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(CNN, NEW ZEALAND HERALD, BBC, KEN DUFFY ZL4KD)
**
PROMOTING HAM RADIO FOR THE DISABLED
JIM/ANCHOR: For disabled radio operators, this plenty of software to help
them get on the air successfully. Still, there is no better encouragement
than that of a fellow ham. Here's Amateur Radio Newsline's Graham Kemp,
VK4BB, with news of just such an effort.
GRAHAM: December 3rd marks the International Day of Persons with
Disabilities, and the International Programme for Handicapped radio
Amateurs (IPHA), wants its member organizations to make their QSOs count.
The event's coordinator, Riri OD5RI, said he would like to see some
partnership with disabled operators. He reports that already the Derby
and District Amateur Radio Society in the UK will be operating as G2DJ,
with disabled persons participating at the station. In Egypt, the Egyptian
Radio Amateurs Society, ERASD, will likewise be operating the station
SU0ERA.
If there are other organizations planning similar operations, please let
the IPHA know about it by contacting Riri via email at
[email protected]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(SOUTHGATE, RIRI AZRAK OD5RI)
Posted by VPost v1.7.081019
