Manly-Warringah Radio Society

The Manly-Warringah Radio Society (MWRS) is an Amateur Radio enthusiast group serving the Northern Beaches and North Shore areas of Sydney, Australia.[1] Operating under the call sign VK2MB[2] the society boasts members from a wide range of backgrounds, with members ranging from retirees to school children.

Manly-Warringah Radio Society
AbbreviationMWRS
MottoSurfing the airwaves since 1923
Formation1923
TypeNon-profit
Legal statusActive
PurposeAdvocacy, Education, Social Group
HeadquartersTerrey Hills, New South Wales
Location
  • Girl Guides Hall, Beltana Ave
Region served
Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia
Membership
~50
AffiliationsWireless Institute of Australia
Websitehttp://www.mwrs.org.au
RemarksThe society operates under the callsign VK2MB

History

The Manly-Warringah Radio Society can trace its roots back to 1923, when it was formed as the Manly Radio Club, [3] callsign 2YE and then VK2MR.[4]

Initially the society held meetings at the home of a club member in Fairlight until the club outgrew the premises and was forced to move to the garage of a club member in Condamine St Balgowlah. In 1935 a large house became available in Darley Rd Manly, which was used as the club house until it was partially destroyed in 1936. Following the destruction of the clubhouse in Manly the club had use of a Navy owned room near Manly Baths, and were able to string antennas between the roof of the building and nearby trees. This building was used until 1939 when the Navy required the space for training. Manly Radio Club was disbanded with the assets of the radio club being disbursed amongst the current members at the time.

The Society reformed in 1976, where it moved to various buildings around the Northern Beaches of Sydney as space became available; Hinkler Park North Manly, Harbord Diggers (meetings only), Warringah Mall, and the Society eventually settled in 1984 at the Volunteer Services Centre site in Terrey Hills where it remained until 2009 where once again it was forced to move, by SES expansion, to the Girl Guides Hall in Terrey Hills.[5]

Club meetings

Society meetings are held every Wednesday evening from 7.30 p.m. at the Terrey Hills Guides Hall, Beltana Avenue, Terrey Hills.[6]

Volunteer work

The society will often provide communications for sporting events[7] and during times of natural disasters. Notably, members of the Society helped operate the ground control station for Dick Smith's record-breaking hot-air balloon flight across Australia in 1993. The club hosts the annual Scouting JOTA jamboree radio activities and has regular Cub Scout evenings (by appointment); One of the many skills taught is using the NATO Phonetic Alphabet when making contacts on HF Radio.

Training and licensing

The Manly-Warringah Radio Society provides training and examination services to the amateur radio community on behalf of the Wireless Institute of Australia. One of the society's goals is to enable people to become licensed amateur radio operators by holding regular training and examination days at the clubhouse.

International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend

Each year the Manly-Warringah Radio Society celebrate International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend by activating an amateur radio station at the Barrenjoey lighthouse.[8][9] The goal of the weekend is "to promote public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and their need for preservation and restoration, to promote amateur radio and to foster International goodwill". Over the course of the weekend some of the over 400 radio-active lighthouses around the world will be contacted from headland, usually on HF frequencies.

Repeaters

The club owns and operates amateur radio repeaters on numerous frequencies and modes. On the 2 meter band the repeater can be operated on 146.875 MHz FM output / 146.275 MHz input while on 70 cm the repeater can be operated on 438.175 MHz FM output / 433.175 MHz input using a 91.5 Hz CTCSS tone, or in APCO P25 mode using the standard NAC of 0x293. For Digital mode D-STAR the society operates one of two Sydney repeaters, VK2RWN, is operational on 2m and 70 cm.[10]

References
  1. "Manly-Warringah Radio Society Inc". The Wireless Institute of Australia. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  2. ACMA License registry Accessed 16 August 2011
  3. "Radio Club at Manly". The Sun. 1 March 1923. p. 11. Retrieved 13 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "BROADCASTING". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 July 1923. p. 10. Retrieved 15 May 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. Nizeti, Carlo. "Manly Warringah Radio Society Club History". 12 July 2012. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  6. "Contact the Society". Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  7. "SURF LIFE-SAVING". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 January 1934. p. 16. Retrieved 16 May 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Radio hams make Barrenjoey beacon". The Manly Daily. 11 August 2009.
  9. "Lighthouse Weekend". Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  10. VK2RWN D-Star Status Accessed 16 August 2011
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