VK100ARV: Centenary goes on air

For the month of November 2011 the special callsign VK100ARV is well sought after and qualifies toward the Amateur Radio Centenary Award.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the Amateur Wireless Society of Victoria, formed in 1911, quickly changing its name to the Wireless Institute of Victoria, and today is known as Amateur Radio Victoria.

A special QSL card is on offer for contact with VK100ARV. On the front it features defining words capturing the spirit of the founding of the organisation and a gallery of Presidents and the information panel on the back.

The Amateur Radio Centenary Award certificate has a montage of the organisation over the decades. Both the QSL card and certificate are worth obtaining for display and will show the Centenary logo.

Valid contacts with VK100ARV earn ten bonus points towards the Award. Contact with VK3WI during the Remembrance Day Contest, International Lighthouse and Lightship Week, and the Oceania DX Phone Contest October 1 & 2, and the Oceania DX CW Contest October 8-9 also gained bonus points.

For Australian stations a total of 100 points are required and DX stations 25 points. Valid contacts with members during the celebratory period August 1 to November 30, 2011, earns two points towards the award.

Also in the celebration are stations set up in Victorian National Parks operating under the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award (KRMNPA) rules, on November Friday 18 through to Sunday 20.

The Award Manager Tony Hambling VK3VTH vk3vth@amateurradio.com.au thanks all who have so registered for VK100ARV or the extended weekend focused on the KRMNPA.

A roster for VK100ARV will appear on the website www.amateurradio.com.au and a list of National Parks and times also.

For the rules of the Amateur Radio Centenary Award and the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award can be read on the website under Awards.

The Centenary has already featured the successful world's first DATV QSO Party from the digital amateur television repeater VK3RTV. Peter Cossins VK3BFG gave a presentation of the highlights, which by all accounts went extremely well.