IN June of 1923, the Ballarat Amateur Radio Club held its first ever meeting.<\/p>\n
A century later, and now known as the Ballarat Amateur Radio Group, members are celebrating the organisation\u2019s 100th anniversary.<\/p>\n
President, Ben Daniel, said the centenary is a chance to highlight ham radio and its place in the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cBARG is sponsoring a month-long on-air event to commemorate 100 years of known amateur radio activity in Ballarat by offering an electronic certificate to any amateur radio station who makes at least one on-air radio contact with any Ballarat based Amateur Radio station during the month of June,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe certificate is also available to short wave listeners who make a report.\u201d<\/p>\n
The hobby is not only historic, but a popular pastime in Ballarat, that\u2019s united people and their electronics.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmateur radio activity was the first social media, long before twitter, YouTube and Facebook,\u201d Mr Daniel said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur modern digital world is reliant on very reliable infrastructure which can be overloaded or fail, however Amateur radio can still get the message through as it does not rely on physical wires.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hobby is for all ages, be it a youngster just starting out on a career in technology or someone looking for new learning opportunities, broadening their horizons or just to making good friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is an excellent hobby for those recently retired or wanting to have the possibility of communication for safety whilst caravanning around Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Daniel said some members of BARG have kept their set-ups simple, while others \u201cpush the digital age to its limits\u201d with their amateur radio skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cBouncing a radio signal off the moon, or off an orbiting satellite, having a quick listen or even a chat with astronauts in the space station, establishing a contact with someone on a push bike in the UK whilst you are in a car in the middle of Australia; it\u2019s all exciting and very possible with amateur radio,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s fun, social, educational, and a great foundation for a career in all forms of communications as well as the catalyst for lifelong friendships.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmateur radio, and the magic of wireless, is alive and well and even more accessible than ever.\u201d Visit barg.org.au for more information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
IN June of 1923, the Ballarat Amateur Radio Club held its first ever meeting. A century later, and now known as the Ballarat Amateur Radio Group, members are celebrating the organisation\u2019s 100th anniversary. President, Ben Daniel, said the centenary is a chance to highlight ham radio and its place in the city. \u201cBARG is sponsoring […]<\/p>\n