Peter Lord, VK3FPL/4 moved some 25 years ago to Queensland for his retirement, living at Gilston in the Gold Coast hinterland.

He was active on all bands to UHF, with many HF skeds to friends bank home in Melbourne.

Born in 1929, he was an official photographer and film-maker at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, and soon set up a leading film processing company employing hundreds of people. He invested in a diverse range of businesses, including one which made high-quality pipe organs for churches and recital halls. A genius master craftsman, Peter seemed able to make or fix almost anything, with a well-equipped workshop in the garage under his home.

Well into his 50s, Peter was actively involved in motorcycle racing, competing with some success at the Easter races at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.

Peter’s house bristled with antennas, almost all of which he had constructed himself, the centrepiece being a tall aluminium tower with VHF Yagis and a huge 40m beam.

Time catches us all in the end, and Peter was alert and active until his passing aged just shy of 95 years on December 17.

He will be sorely missed by his wife of 50 years, his family and a great many friends.

Vale Peter Lord, VK3FPL.

( From Chris Edmondson, VK4EO )

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

It seems to be that this year is off to the proverbial flying start as we are already 14 days into January. I suppose the feeling of time passing by is hastened by going into the supermarket and seeing the display of Easter hot cross buns. Be that as it may, I wonder how many of us have our calendars market with the amateur activities we want to enjoy for this year?

On that point, the current issue of Amateur Radio magazine has a great two page calendar of contests as the centre fold courtesy of Alan, VK4SN. If we just want this information for personal use or as an aid for our club activities, this is the very useful Christmas present. I still miss the release of the annual callbook which contained so much of this kind of material. Every so often I see someone trying to verify details from years back and inevitably it is the callbook sitting on someone’s shelf that has the answer. Perhaps my hope is in vain but I would like to see it resume publication notwithstanding the somewhat specious claims of loss of privacy that caused the ACMA to end its licensing.

I have been trying to keep abreast of the weather forecasts and it almost seems that we are in a recurrent pattern, this summer. The heat of the days and the frequent showers provide a constant reminder as the grass seems reach higher for the clouds each day. In some areas there have been random but strong storms bringing deluges and currently there is a focus on the Gulf of Carpentaria where a low pressure system could spawn another cyclone.

Over some time I have invested in what are called power banks as a support when we need to use medical equipment and the mains is off, in particular and hopefully also use some for playing radios away from home. There have been some good price reductions from various outlets and hopefully a lot of us have taken the opportunity to grab a New Year bargain. The most versatile unit I have includes USB and 12 volt outlets along with a modest sine-wave inverter. Perhaps with the capacity of a club bulk buy, people could get the benefit of further discounts on buying units like this.

Once again the various reports on Sunspot Cycle 25 indicate a volatility which provides a lottery of operating conditions. Now there are suggestions that the cycle should peak this year and not 2025 as was previous thought. For many operators who have never experienced the joys of radio in a sunspot maximum, it is the time to put a signal on air and like fishing, see what bites.

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