Life member of Ipswich and District Radio Club Syd Lyon VK4SL passed away peacefully on Saturday morning 9th December. Syd was very well-liked by all and he was a true gentleman of the Amateur Radio fraternity. There will be a service for Syd Lyon at St Paul's Church Ipswich on Monday 18th December at 10 am. There will also be a video stream. Vale Syd Lyon VK4SL. (from Allan Roebuck vk4hit)

Hi all! - David Here! - VK4DN from the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club.

Just a reminder that if you are planning to attend the WIA Convention here in Bundaberg on May 4th/5th next year, you will need to think about booking your accommodation very soon. Vacancies are being booked out quickly because it's also the Labour Day long weekend.

If you are planning to travel to the weekend event with your caravan or mobile home, there are many options available in and around Bundy. Contact us if you need assistance with finding accommodation.

Cheers - from David VK4DN - Secretary - Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club.

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. What a week it has been with radio and weather filling a period of shopping in the run-up to Christmas. It seemed that the radio world was in for change with the release of the documents from OFCOM paving the way for the modernisation of amateur radio in the United Kingdom. All the while Cyclone Jasper was making its way towards our northern coast, proving the general accuracy of the models being by weather forecasters. Then to climax the week, ACMA released the procedural documents which will come into force in February 2024 bringing changes to amateur radio in Australia.

It seems that progress is upon us and is coming whether we feel we are ready or not and some of the comments that people have been posting online indicate a level of confusion as to the nitty gritty implications of a class licence system. Whilst the explanatory notes run to over 100pp it can be hoped that the suitably drafted regulations will be shorter and more fit for purpose than the current LCDs which seem somewhat bombastic to many users. Plain English that can’t be misinterpreted has been the hallmark of good government publications; let us hope that it can happen in this instance too.

Now that I have raised the issue of clarity of expression I will share some thoughts on the broadcast coverage of the cyclone that I have witnessed this week. Anyone who has been trained in reporting situations is usually trained to be accurate, objective and emotionally removed from the situation. When the approach to the cyclone’s crossing the coast was settled, it seemed on-air presenters were ferried into locations within the areas expected to be affected. That was good news coverage preparation but then the reports started to go to air. I remember the amateur storm watch net in Brisbane where people like you and I called in with information which could inform others as to the progress of events. There were no histrionics but just largely factual messages about fallen trees, flooded roads, damaged property and loss of electricity. Safety was at the heart of this net. In contrast to what I have witnessed from some media outlets is tendency to hype up the situation and catastrophise the situation but to what purpose? One would expect that clear reports would benefit the community the best. Having lived through cyclones, it can be that the nerves are stretched and you want the facts, the whole facts and nothing but the facts on which to make important decisions at that time. Metropolitan audiences also have friends and relatives in the affected communities and they can gather information to give in the next hurried phone call. I think we all understand that the simple truth shared with the least emotion is going to be the best help and when we radio amateurs are involved we act with integrity to do our best.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

"Merry Xmas from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC.

Robert Thomson VK4TFN here.

You see:

There is this fella Kris Krinkle

Whose eye has a bright merry twinkle.

For merry mirth and good cheer

He spreads far and near

To all with a generous sprinkle.

So have yourself a merry little xmas

and remember if you're going to drink, don't drive

or if you're going to drive, well then don't drink.

and we'll see you all at REDFEST 2024 in April.

Robert Thomson VK4TFN

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

It was perhaps a warning of the things to come when storms battered large parts of the southern hinterland. In blissful ignorance, we watched and listened to the wind, rain and thunder and thought how much good the soaking rain would bring.

It came as a shock to see the stories carried on the afternoon and evening news with graphic views of damage and enormous hail. It had passed us by that day.

However, the development of Cyclone Jasper has renewed caution and preparation along much of the Queensland coast and much speculation as to its track and severity. It is a lottery that no one wants to win and the presents these systems bring are far from the welcome treats we look for around Christmas.

Naturally, the government authorities have initiated the necessary contingency planning if Jasper creates a path of onshore destruction.

Where there are active WICEN units, they will be on standby or already activating to assist various response bodies in their areas. Then what about the rest of us?

It is a topic that I have continued to address for some years, now. That is how does the radio hobbyist integrate into a support network to be an effective assistant in times of emergency? Does the individual need to be part of an organisation or can they safely contribute to ad hoc nets? To the last question, some years ago there was a regular storm net run on the 147 Brisbane repeater where anyone with relevant information would call in. This was a great innovation for motorists, commuters and others seeking local information to best negotiate the prevailing situation. I don’t know if it still operates but it was much appreciated in its time.

The point is, I think, that all of us with experience and amateurs who have passed an exam to get on air is capable of assisting in an emergency.

Yes our use of pro-words might not be to professional standards and we may lack any formal training but the time spent in contesting and exchanging numbers has given us the experience to pass information. There are CB-based groups such as CREST and ACREM that can offer experienced operators too.

Hopefully, all the campers will have the batteries charged, the generator fuelled and everyone will have adequate survival supplies to weather a couple of days of severe weather. If you have neighbours who are elderly or infirm, ensure they are as prepared as can be with food, water and medicines at hand. It is times like this when Jasper can shake the tiles from the roof that we can be of the most help to those around us. Radio is a wonderful hobby but it is also a powerful tool when needed and we can all do our bit in the next few days.

I’m Geoff Emery and that’s what I think….how about you?

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

Last week I had a struggle to get words together and this week I have been visiting the hospital. Whatever the issue was seems to have largely passed but the other amateur in the house wasn’t so lucky managing to have some chemical imbalances and a positive COVID-19 swab. Let’s hope that the run-up to Christmas is a lot less traumatic as the clock runs down.

What I am seeing from the weather watchers is that both space and terrestrial weather are going to be unsettled over the coming week. The Sun seems to be entering a very active phase and the weather patterns on Earth are going to help increase the band noise level. So we can hope to snatch the openings when they happen and the electrical noise is relatively subdued.

One of the important tools that we all have to use is that of discussion.

Some might call it debate and others may call it argument. The great thing is that when people converse on a topic and pull and tease at the subject, it gives those in the group the chance to input ideas and have others share their ideas too. In the world of science, this has been part of the practice of developing theories and building ideas or concepts into a firm basis for constructive use. This is not to say that the conclusion is 100% accurate because, in the light of further knowledge, the understanding may change.

If you go back to the early days of the study of the thing we call electricity, you will see that different explanations were given as to why phenomena happened.

As more knowledge was discovered, new explanations were created and we gave up the aether theory as the fundamental particles came to light. We talk of electrons and other atomic particles and as the study goes on we have the Higgs Boson and possibly a range of particles left or brought by Schrodinger's Cat.

Now I am not suggesting that we take on a rapid DIY course on sub-atomic physics but what I am trying to demonstrate is that by using the information that we have and by sharing our thoughts on a subject, the field becomes much more open and the solutions much broader than we first might have imagined.

When we apply courtesy to our fellows, the discussions can remain considered as well as spirited but the outcome is something that can be owned by all in the group.

Perhaps this is the way that families that feel stressed over hosting Christmas guests should also approach the Festive Season. Truly live up to the spirit of goodwill and friendship and let the awkward memories just go. It is a practice that can work in many situations.

I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP

The committee, members and friends of the Tablelands Radio and Electronics Club Inc. were saddened to hear of the passing of Aubrey McKibben VK5QD on Tuesday the 21st of November after a short but fierce battle to overcome a brain tumour.

Aub was a founding member of the Tablelands Radio and Electronics Club Inc. and was present at the very FIRST meeting back in July 1988 which was held to test the chances of forming a radio club. Aub was active in the club for some time as President and took part in many club activities before moving to VK3, and then onward to VK5 in more recent times.

Aub was a gentleman always willing to offer advice or help wherever he could. As a Ham, Aub was known to many people all over the world. He had a distinct voice which was easily recognised on air and he was a fine operator. He mostly used a Kenwood TS530S which he purchased new and had kept in great condition. He was a great believer in the use of “Open-Wire Feed-lines” and had written several articles explaining the advantages that they offered over other methods and was always willing to discuss and teach others regarding this subject. A short time after being diagnosed Aub posted several pieces on his QRZ page and I encourage you all to take the time to read the biography as it really brings out the nature of a wonderful man. I believe the world in general and also that of Amateur Radio will be much poorer as a result of the passing of Aub. To Aub’s wife of over forty years and to his family, we extend our deepest condolences. Vale, Aubrey McKibben VK5QD

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. We seem to live in a secret place that the rain god struggles to find and penetrate. We haven’t missed out entirely and the lawn is sprouting where the soil moisture has risen. Of course, this is a benefit to the HF operators as the more water the soil can absorb, the better the ground wave signals will be. Once the last of the storms have exited, the lower bands should be a joy to work on. Of course, if you have been paying attention to the forecasts from the weather bureau you will be prepared for the storm crashes emanating from the speaker or headphones with the expectation that the storms along the east coast and inland could continue for a few days yet. Hopefully, the rainfall is beneficial to areas in need as we live in the la Nina weather pattern. It seems the regulator is still stirring the edges of the amateur community with the redistribution of spectrum for the mobile phone service. This is the reason that the WIA is so important. It negotiates with the ACMA and has delegates included in the Australian contingent to the World Radio Conference where internationally the allocation of spectrum is decided. A lot of this work goes on behind the scenes, so to speak, and it would benefit us if more publicity was given to these important activities. As the time comes for the introduction of the Class Licence, I am hoping that a simpler set of guidelines will replace the current LCDs. The British regulator had a convenient solution with about 14 pages of “regs” that could be downloaded and printed with your PDF licence form. We can but hope that the new processes and structures are for the assistance of the clients and not simply shifting the workload from the regulator. There are lots more topics that we could discuss but a form of the dreaded lurgy has infiltrated my system and getting my thoughts together has been a challenge. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that's what I think, how about you?

David, VK4DN here from the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club.

WIA Convention is happening in Bundaberg on May 4th and 5th next year and we would love it if you could attend!

This is by far the #1 event in the calendar year for Amateur Radio in Australia! It’s being held at the new State-of-the-Art Multiplex convention center and it promises to be an amazing weekend - full of interesting activities!

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

People are counting the days to the great Christmas festival and the sharing of presents to celebrate.

It is getting close to the time when special goodies can be bought from overseas and have assured delivery to be put under the Christmas tree. I mention this because our postal service is issuing reminders and cut-off dates which have prompted some quite acerbic responses from sections of its client base. I think maybe we are listening to the voices of experience.

Around the southern parts of the State, we have been experiencing storms of varying strengths but still causing damage more than benefiting people looking for good rain to replenish water storage and preserve some soil moisture. Even in the quiet town where I live, it is becoming obvious that grass is an expendable luxury as the grounds get drier.

I gather that many clubs are organising the end-of-year get-together functions and collecting numbers for catering. This is good but as in many years before I still wonder where are the venues with summer programs in this age of 7 day shopping. I like to remind clubs that here is an opportunity to fill the gaps for people who don’t get away for the weeks of school and college holidays. Parents and grandparents who care for young family members are often looking for some stress relief after the Christmas activities and what better time to introduce people to electronics and communications as recreation?

If there are people available to facilitate building and learning in a fun way, why aren’t we seeing more engagement with the community?

Along these lines, there is an issue that comes to many of us as time flies by.

The trove of things we use to use slowly becomes a collection of things just to be stored. By that I mean tools, materials and components required for pursuits that we can no longer properly use. Now what if they were turned into sets that could be loaned out to people or used at workshop sessions? That way new people can gain experience with items and be supervised in learning the correct use. As many clubs have librarians they could also have a toolbox supervisor and donors would know that others were getting the benefit of their gifts.

Over the years I have heard many newcomers to electronics ask to be taught how to solder properly. With a collection of donated materials, these pleas could be answered within the club.

When we stop and think there are many things that end up in boxes and tucked away in sheds that can benefit students and teachers in promoting amateur radio.

If we turn our minds to some of these issues we can provide a positive message to the detractors, many of the curmudgeons are within the hobby sadly, and hopefully pass on the benefits of experience and training to create enjoyment for a new selection of hams.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that's what I think, how about you?

QNEWS -NOVEMBER 12 2023 - VK4 ON AIR ------------ DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK? IPSWICH AND DISTRICT AR CLUB DID.

As this bulletin goes to air in most locations on Sunday morning, Ipswich

WICEN group is again providing safety communications to runners taking part in the rescheduled Mount Glorious Trail event.

Following this event Ipswich WICEN will take a break until the next event next year being the Mount Glorious Trail on April 28, 2024.

We might have set a record for approving new memberships at the club's October business meeting. A total of five were endorsed as new members.

Welcome to the club, Paul VK4PMC, Brett VK4DSN, Alan VK4AJG, Mike VK4MAQ and Christopher VK4CAP.

John VK4MUD will open the clubhouse on Saturday November 18 at 1400 hours for anyone who would be interested in using and working the club’s HF transceiver and beam, and possibly working some local stations and DX stations as well. If you're new to amateur radio, call in and see what you can work.

In other news from Ipswich – the Christmas BBQ will again be held at Kholo Gardens picnic area from 10 am on November 25. Members, friends and visiting amateurs are very welcome to attend. BBQs are available and it’s BYO food, drinks and chairs.

Reporting from Ipswich this is Allan, VK4HIT.

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

To re-use the old TV program title, well “That Was The Week That Was”. If you want to upset many amateurs you turn off the bands and when the CME-induced flare hit the HF Bands were placed in recess.

I wonder how many of us have considered the benefits of incentives. I mean not only the awards, and contest places for those who are fondly known as paper hangers but to the average amateur whose interests lie in other areas of this wide cluster of pursuits. I know that we have a series of awards given out by the WIA but what about local recognition and providing an information stream to encourage people?

At times I think we can be too parochial and restrictive in what is made available to people and we need to recognise that there are many more amateur radio operators than there are club members or members of the WIA. It is well and good to provide ways for club members to get recognition within the club and even to read the honours lists and be able to say, “Hey, she’s one of us, she’s a ham” when we see they have been gonged. However is there a way that we can do this and include all the local amateur cohort in the recognition?

I think that being able to nominate others for recognition is important and being able to share with the community is of great benefit to our hobby as well.

When it is within the boundary of a small organisation it may be less effective if the majority aren’t embraced in the scheme.

Should we be able to set up a way of recognising people and potentially put their achievements out to the local media, even get pictures of them receiving a token such as a plaque or a certificate which can feature in the local media and perhaps Amateur Radio magazine?

Now I am not suggesting that this replace any methods of recognition that clubs give their members but can we do this as well? Many things can provide a sense of camaraderie and maybe a presentation of the Golden Sausage to the member who felt best supported the sausage sizzle fundraising is as worthy of praise as a President’s award and maybe it would get more involvement in social activities amongst members.

What I am trying to do is encourage the brainstorming that suits people locally and encourages participation in more facets of amateur radio. I think that is a good thing…. How about you?

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

It seems almost as if the weather was destined to happen. As I mentioned a few weeks ago the weather bureau had forecast dry and hot conditions and sadly those predictions have proven to be all too true as we mark off the calendar with just seven weeks to Christmas. To all those who have been impacted by the hot dry weather and the fires, we can offer our condolences, support and gratitude to those engaged in fire control. It is a time when community is so important in supporting each other.

I suspect that many of us have noticed that social media is a frenzied environment which aims to trap people into a form of addiction if the comments we read are a guide. There is the bevy of faces that pop up daily and weekly telling us what they have done or enjoyed or ranting about what has offended them and we the, perhaps, unsuspecting audience provide many with a wonderful income stream for their efforts. Now this is not to deny that there are several whose efforts present fact and debate which is stimulating as well as enjoyable. Then there is the inevitable question that we must ask ourselves and that is “what is the basis for what is being presented?”

We radio amateurs align ourselves with a range of techniques which follow the traditions of scientific enquiry born out of the Enlightenment. We build our understanding of the physics, chemistry and natural sciences by observation, experimentation and debate of the results. That sounds very formal because we are participating in activities which satisfy our curiosity and over time confirm or query what we see as book learning. There is a logic in what we do and surely we must apply that to our research also.

What I mean is that we should realise that many of the self-promoting gurus who seek to entertain us on Internet video are really self-promoting rather than presenting all the facts on a matter. We see dozens of videos showing a certain design of antenna being trialled in the field and depending on the band conditions and other factors, it may appear more effective than another from a different manufacturer.

Time was that people would reach for the trusty “bible” or radio handbook and they would learn what differentiated a particular design from another. These days it is all too common for comparisons in performance to be made based on brand and not good design or engineering.

What we are experiencing is an evolution within the fields of recreational electronics from the beginnings when home brew equipment was the standard to the era when the manufactured gear is dominant and home brew tends towards the peripheral and ancillary items that embellish our stations.

So what I am feeling is that the first call on information is becoming the Internet where it is too easy to be given opinion at the expense of sound knowledge. Don’t let the entertaining video guru spoil the education we all get from amateur radio.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

Time is flying thought the calendar this year and I wonder what we can log as our accomplishments.

There have been contests and field days and more to come as the summer months draw nearer. Often it is the New Year when people do a reckoning if only to flippantly make resolutions based on the successes or failures they chalk up. Some people make resolutions and actually keep them.

We have heard in WIA National News that nominations for Board members to succeed the 3 retiring people are needed. I would think that those willing to fill the roles of representing all Australian amateurs as much as the members of the WIA would give thought to what they wish to achieve both personally and on behalf of us all.

Periodically, I raise the need for more action to recruit people into the orbit of amateur radio. Regularly, I receive no obvious reaction or response of even a dull yawn for doing this. However, I know that there are efforts online and within clubs to promote this hobby by conducting training for fresh candidates. I am not sure how many clubs within Queensland are actively promoting training or conducting sessions.

I and many others would like to see the opportunity given to as many people as possible.

Of course, when we have the opportunity to talk with another person about Amateur Radio, it is all too easy just to reflect on those areas of interest to oneself and not give a broader picture if it is asked about. To this end I have noticed that at least one club has a brochure which covers many of the things people might wish to have an answer about. Does your club?

Would a poster and brochure to cover all of this wide brown land help with local recruitment? Would a press kit help when the media seek to understand us and learn it is not just old men playing in their sheds? Would a set of speaker’s notes help when a local group asks for someone to say a few words at their meeting?

It is not as if these things haven’t been available before but they appear to have lapsed from lack of use or general disinterest amongst those they were meant to help. As we know, when the world changes we have to keep up so it is that these materials need to be pulled out, the dust blown off and the details brought up to date. Is this something that clubs could undertake as they have with many other tasks such as managing QSL cards?

I know the issue is that many of us aren’t as spry as we were a few years ago and personal circumstances change also. However, a group of friends can get a lot done when they set their minds to a job. It seems to be a task that is needing to be done and doing it from the bottom up may have to be the solution.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023

SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY

VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab

VK4SOA SYD ABRAHAMS 18 AUGUST vk4eka

VK4KCC GRAHAM ANDERSON 9 SEPT vk7ev

VK4CCF JEFF STINSON 1 OCTOBER vk4zz

VK4FZAK MAREE CHURCHILL 8 OCTOBER vk4djc

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

To all the members of the Scouting movement who have shared with us this weekend, I trust that you have enjoyed the experience and leave the JOTA/JOTI weekend having learned some new things.

I trust your time has been well spent and that we can join up again in 2024. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about what we do please call your operator, or your local radio club or contact wia.org.au. via the website. We would love to keep our friendship going.

We have been reminded by the media and politicians of how much the cost of living has increased in recent times. Basic items like a packet of potato chips have jumped almost a dollar in shelf price at one discount grocery chain. That is just one example of a close to 30% jump in prices which I have observed. The weekly shopping basket is getting more and more filled with store brands and weekly special buys and lots of people will be looking as much to the news from the Reserve Bank, on Tuesday, as they will be barracking for a winner of the Melbourne Cup.

There are the favoured sites that people go to seeking a good buy and radio amateurs maintain a reputation for being very prudent with their money. Now, I wonder how many radio amateurs have been paying attention to the selling prices of second-hand gear. The online sites that I look over tell a sorry tale to me. The prices that people are asking for consumer electronics, and brown goods, let alone recreational gear such as CB and ham radios seem to go up as they age. Of course, we all know that items over 25 years old are vintage and must of course be valuable and collectable just on the basis of their age.

I have little doubt that some of the advertisers of these items also worry about the number of people joining the hobby. I have little doubt that many are amongst those who raised their hackles at the high cost of entry by way of exam fees and the price of new equipment. I also wonder how these sellers can reconcile the two attitudes and offer a more economic entry path to aspiring operators.

There are clubs that support new amateurs with loans of equipment while a new person gets the feel of amateur radio. The Wireless Institute gives free membership for newly qualified hams if they apply but sadly the person using initiative and researching their own purchases, in the second-hand market, too often are shocked by the Gordon Gecko maxim of “greed is good.”

Over many years I have heard stories of various money-making ruses used by so-called “reputable” amateurs. Buying books at a discount and charging full retail on delivery; picking up bargains at a Hamfest and adding a couple of hundred percent markup when they list the items online.

I feel these practices are counterproductive to growing this great activity. It would be wonderful to see sellers adopt a reasonable price regime for older gear and demonstrate a welcome to new members.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?

2023 Social Scene Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section

VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART ([email protected])

VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

What a succession of important events is happening over this week. The

majority of

voting age Australians have been to a polling place and possibly by now we

all know

the outcome of the Referendum. For we amateur radio enthusiasts there will

be a

range of local activities for JOTA/JOTI when we get to share our

activities with the

youth members of the Scouting movement as well as the many seniors with

whom we have

shared time, meals and campfires with in years gone by.

It is a special time when people get to share their interests in a regular

get-together and show what each can offer the community and each other. In

showing

what we can offer we also have the opportunity to understand the benefits

that

another body provides to its members and how it contributes to personal

development.

For the radio ham, the system is less structured and most of us will spend

time

fulfilling personal goals under our own direction. However when we look at

what we

do, it is the growth of knowledge and the experience that we gain in the

vast field

science, electronics, computing and manual arts that gives a sense of

achievement

and also knowing we have skills which can help others as well.

So realistically we can check out how the two approaches blend together to

nurture

the same outcomes for the people involved. Whether we take the words of

the Amateurs

Code or the simple call of the Scout, both our aims are to Do Our Best.

This naturally gets me to wondering how we can extend our contact with

other parts

of the community. The services that aid in times of trouble are so often

in need of

trained communicators.

Whether these be local council Emergency Management Groups, rural fire

brigades, the

Salvation Army which supports those on the front lines and maybe the Red

Cross. I am

sure people can add to this list that applies to their neck of the woods.

Then there are the activity clubs, horse riders, trail bikes riders, cross

country 4

wheel drive contests or canoeing clubs. At times functions held by these

bodies

really benefit from having people who can pass information, handle

messages and

liaise with bodies also involved in the activities. The benefits of the

social

activities is that it allows radio and communications enthusiasts to

practice and

experiment with technology in a safe way that supports others... And the

debrief and

cuppa that follows is a great opportunity for getting to know people and

befriend

them as well.

If people have caught up with the long range weather projections from the

Bureau of

Meteorology,

they can feel some relief in that the summer cyclone season is expected to

be less

dangerous this season. On the other hand, the warmer weather and less

rainfall will

contribute to an extremely perplexing fire season. So it is not only the

solar

flares we need to look out for but also the safety on the ground for this

summer

coming.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?