It is my sad duty to advise all in the wonderful world of Amateur Radio that we have lost one of our most keen and knowledgeable practitioners in the service.

Jeff Stinson VK4CCF went Silent Key in Townsville on Sunday October 1st 2023 following a long battle with cancer.

Despite doing the one step forward, two steps back during his fight with the big C, Jeff managed to be more active than most in Amateur Radio, on good days trying out new modes of emissions, getting back onto APRS and SSTV, trying to add to the many DX contacts he made over the years on HF, 6 metres and VHF plus getting his equipment back on air, repairing antennas and getting out of town to do portable operations.

Vale Jeff Stinson VK4CCF - Silent Key.

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

Here it is not even summer and we are seeing distressing stories on the nightly news and our news feeds on-line. October is here and the southern part of the country has been suffering fires and floods and the experts are putting the severity down to climate change. It seems to be a good example to ensure our preparedness for the coming cyclone season is as good as can be.

If you are short on information on disaster type preparedness, take a look at Phil Waite’s article in the current issue of Amateur Radio magazine and perhaps also check your local government web site for advice in your area.

On another type of preparedness, we are often reminded that we need to recruit and retain to ensure that amateur radio continues to exist.

The big issue surely is, what is there to attract people to join this recreational activity? When you look at the situation, there has been over 20 years of falling involvement in community activities and our Wireless Institute is likewise looking for people to take on volunteer roles.

We, from time to time, witness spats of dissension brought about on the basis of ages and attitudes that go along with the various generations. We cling to the memories of the halcyon days, or so it seems, and the more anxious newbie show frustration at the seeming lack of ambition to grab on to and run with the world as it is today.

Within the microcosm of local clubs there will tend to be a group ethos that is defined by the people that attend and the things that interest them within amateur radio. Small memberships of ageing people may find it hard to canvass the opportunities and then progress seeking candidates to join but then that is why we have a peak body, the Wireless Institute of Australia.

Here is the double bind, the Institute has vacancies for people to fill and it doesn’t seem to speak out to its audience showing a leadership role in promoting the joining and participation in ham radio. The perception seems to be that the club sector will take care of this but the clubs need leadership. As much as the clubs would benefit by guidance and encouragement in this direction, we, as individuals, can also benefit by being prepared to talk with people who enjoy the challenges of technology and science and the art of communication.

With so much available, why is it that we seem to be left to slumber into obscurity, or is that my mistake? With a section of the community campaigning to be heard via the referendum process, are we just acquiescing to the process of ageing gracefully and disregarding the good we can bring to our families and the community generally? We need to be heard by our peak body and we owe it to ourselves and those who might miss out on the pleasures of this great recreation if all that happens is people sit on their hands and listen to the white noise of dissatisfaction.

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