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?