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Opening of the new "Shed" at Dural - Update
2010-03-21 The
Opening.
Amateur Radio New South Wales combined the Centenary of
its formation and the opening of the new premises at the Dural site last Sunday
the 14th of March 2010.
An invitation had been extended to members and over one
hundred turned out on a fine autumn day to be part of the celebrations. This was
the end of a week of activity around the Centenary. On Sunday the 7th - members
of the VK2WI News Team produced the VK1WIA Broadcast. On Monday the items from
the former Parramatta property were returned from storage. This included the
chairs and tables needed for the opening. On Wednesday evening Tim VK2ZTM and
Mathew VK2YAP when into ABC Radio for a live presentation in the hobby section
of the Statewide program. This was an opportunity to outline the Centenary which
was to occur the following day. On Thursday a gathering was held in the Sydney
CBD at the site of the former Australia Hotel. The site is now part of the MLC
Centre. Those attending met at the Commercial Traveller Association club which
is in the footprint and air space of the Australia - where the first meeting had
been held in the Smoking room on Friday afternoon – the 11th of March 1910. It
is from that meeting that Amateur Radio New South Wales and the WIA can trace
their origins.
Some operation of the special event call sign VK2FIRST has
been made. There will be more operation from the Dural site before months end.
On Friday the 'shed' was prepared for the opening. On Saturday morning the ARNSW
Council conducted their monthly meeting and finished off the set up.
Sunday morning was a fine autumn day and members started
arriving from 9 am with the majority from 11 am onwards. Those with early
registrations had a name tag and certificate already prepared which they
received on registration. Others were prepared at the registration table.
Attendees signed both the visitors book and a large sheet of metal which will
become a display feature.
Within the 'shed' various displays had been set up
including exhibits by Ian VK2ZIO from his Kurrajong Museum collection and by
Peter VK2AQJ with his 1912 exhibit of the Titanic radio room with replica spark
equipment from the era..
At noon the formal opening and centenary
observance got under way. Ian VK2ZIO was the MC and he introduced Tim VK2ZTM who
outlined some of the history. The guests of honour were Michael Owen VK3KI -
National President of the WIA and Director Phil Wait VK2ASD. Both addressing the
gathering.
For the Centenary Celebration a birthday cake had
been obtained and three 'elders' present were invited to cut it. They were
Pierce Healy VK2APQ, Bill Hall VK2XT and David Thompson VK2BDT. You can see a
photo of the cake cutting on the news event page on the WIA web site. Then ARNSW
President Elizabeth Langley VK2AO formally declared the premises open.
The final part of the ceremony was to open the
'time capsule' which had been created in 1985. On that occasion – the 75 the
celebrations had been held at VK2WI on the 10th of March 1985. The opening of
the 'time capsule' was done by Michael Owen VK3KI. There will be a future report
about the items collected 25 years ago. During this year a similar collection
will be made for the 125th anniversary.
With the formal part over everybody adjourned to
partake in the 'spit roast' lunch. Many stayed on to chat and renew
acquaintances.
The month's activities continued with a visit last Tuesday evening by Scouts and
Guides from the 1st Kings Langley troop.
The month will end with the regular Trash and Treasure and Home Brew gathering
on Sunday next, the 28th.
While we in VK2 were having our celebrations - over in
VK6 they were opening a similar building. The Northern Corridor Radio Group have
constructed their headquarters in a style similar to ours by the look of the
photo. Check out the story on the WIA News page.
Advised by Tim VK2ZTM
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Official
opening of our 