HistoryKuri Bay

The Australian Traveller's Net operates on 14.116 MHz USB daily.
The net has been running now for approximately 37 years.
It was started by Keith VK6KC when he was at Kuri Bay and later
taken over by Art VK6ART,  Roy VK6BO was backup for many years.

On 1st January 1989 Roy VK6BO and Peter VK6HH 
took over from Art and were running it on a shared basis for about 16 years.
Peter VK6HH became a silent key in September 2005.



Roy Chamberlain VK6BO was awarded the Order of Australia Medal
in this (26/01/2005) years Australia Day Honors List,
in the General Section for Services and Welfare to members of the public.

A lot of people will know Roy, particularly from the 20 Metre
Australian Travellers net on 14.116MHz.
Roy has given his time tirelessly for a long, long, time,
via the travellers net over many years, and is still doing so.
Roy has been net controller for the last 16 years.

Peter Harrison VK6HH a long time friend of Roy said he could not think of
anybody else who so richly deserves to be so recognised.
It is a great pleasure to know he has been awarded the OAM.'
The WIA board extends it congratulations to Roy.



The net runs every day of the year including all public holidays.
Phone numbers are available for anybody who wishes to 
send a message to travellers or to enquire re their whereabouts.

Urgent traffic we would take at any time 
but for routine messages/enquiries please remember we are 
2 hours behind Eastern States and 3 hours during daylight time.

The net does read-backs of early call-ins at 0300z but 
we are always listening at least from 0200z onwards for 
anybody wishing to check in early.
After the read-back at 0300z the Perth station swings the beam 
from West to East calling for check-ins.
The Eastern States stations also start calling 
from West to East nominating their beam position as they go.
Those relay stations without beams make general calls of course.

Current relay stations are:
VK2ALH Les, VK2IV Roy, VK2XI Jim, VK3BGM Len, 
VK3NJE Len,  VK5KMH Ross,  VK6ARW Rex, & VK7PP Charles.
(apologies if I've missed anybody !!).
We have many 'listeners' who sometimes help with a relay 
if we have any problems, our thanks to those stations.
There is always someone around to give us a hand during 
difficult propagation conditions which is greatly appreciated.

We do handle quite a few Maritime Mobiles (Yachts)
from time to time on the net.
Its not confined to land mobiles.

VK5RI Bob assisted for many years, along with many other amateurs,
including VK3ZT Maurie, VK4CTJ John, VK5NU Dave.

 For more information about the 20 metre Travellers' Net, 
refer to articles in Amateur Radio Magazine 
by VK2DZL in July 1992 and 
by VK5BMT & VK5MT in the October 1995 issue.

The VK5 Station was concerned that his 4WD's batteries 
were too discharged to start his engine the next morning 
and Ross volunteered to listen out for him 
to report in, on the frequency of 21.185 MHz.
The portable station called as scheduled to say that all was well 
and the vehicle engine was running ok. 
The idea was sown in the mind of Ross that there was need 
for a travellers net to cover Novice grade licence holders 
who were on the road but not allowed to access the 20 metre net.

So the 21.185 Travellers Net began with Ross VK6DA 
and close friend Arthur VK6NBG as net control 
with Syd VK6SMH joining them a little later.
The week was divided between them 3 days 2 days, 2 days respectfully 
with twice daily sessions at 0100 utc and 0400 utc but this was found 
to be too demanding and the once a day slot of 
0100 till 0200 utc was settled on.

About nine years later Ross became seriously ill and Arthur and Syd 
covered the days that Ross had done, 4 days and 3 days.
On 22nd June 1998 Ross became a silent key, 
and after more than 10 years as net control Arthur retired.
He handed his four days to Bernie VK6BSS, who later passed one day 
(Sat) to Kingsley VK5AKN who became a Silent Key in April 2002.

The Net goes onward, long live the 21.185 Travellers Net.