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<H1>Australian hams prepare for disasters</H1>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>With the weather bringing disasters to many parts of the
Asia/Oceania Regions, we should reflect on the importance of our hobby in a
greater scheme.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Going by news reports, there is severe flooding in
southern India and the Phillipines, earth quake damage in Sumatra and tsunami
devestation in Samoa and Tonga with such immense human costs. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>According to Jim Linton, VK3PC, on the </FONT><A
href="http://www.wia.org.au/" target=_blank><FONT face=Verdana>WIA web
site</FONT></A><FONT face=Verdana>, local radio amateurs are definitely involved
in support roles in Indonesia and the Phillipines.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>It is to meet the demands of such crises that the Global
Amateur Radio Emergency Conferences have been convened. These annual meetings
have drawn on the previous S.E. Asian tsunami and the Chinese earthquakes and
the outcomes are being reviewed through at least two United Nations
Agencies.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>The </FONT><A href="http://www.wia.org.au/"
target=_blank><FONT face=Verdana>Wireless Institute of Australia</FONT></A><FONT
face=Verdana> (WIA) has a committee developing a basic training course for
emergency communications which will provide a consistent level of skills to
those completing the course satisfactorily.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>What this means is that as all grades of licence in
Australia have access to HF frequencies and even with poor sun spot numbers,
some of the countries affected by natural disaster are closer to northern
VK-land than our major cities are to each other, we radio amateurs can assist in
message handling and support. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>The reality is that our hobby is international in reach.
<BR>Can we touch another, in time of need?<BR></FONT></P>
<P><STRONG><EM><FONT face=Verdana>Geoff Emery,
VK4ZPP</FONT></EM></STRONG></P></BODY></HTML>