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<h1 style="box-sizing:border-box;font-size:16pt;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Ham radio helps maintain cognitive skills</h1><p style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">ABC News reports Amateur Radio is helping lifelong hobbyists stay mentally fit in old age<span> </span><br style="box-sizing:border-box"><br style="box-sizing:border-box">It comes with all the benefits of social media but without "any of the downsides" — and one of Australia's oldest ham radio enthusiasts says it is also the perfect hobby for retirees looking to stay mentally sharp.<br style="box-sizing:border-box"><br style="box-sizing:border-box">West Australian-based<span> </span><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">Norman Gomm VK6GOM</strong><span> </span>took to ham radio over forty years ago and now aged 82 has no intention of signing off just yet.<br style="box-sizing:border-box"><br style="box-sizing:border-box">As one of Australia's estimated 10,500 licensed ham radio operators, Mr Gomm, is also the president of the Bunbury Radio Club.<br style="box-sizing:border-box"><br style="box-sizing:border-box">He says it is rare that a day goes by without him spending at least a couple of hours in his purpose-built 'ham shack'.<br style="box-sizing:border-box"><br style="box-sizing:border-box">"I find it's very good for me," Mr Gomm told the ABC amid a dazzling display of flashing lights and crackling radio static.<br style="box-sizing:border-box"><br style="box-sizing:border-box">"I'm 82 years of age and you need to keep your mind working actively all the time," he said.<br style="box-sizing:border-box"><br style="box-sizing:border-box">"Ham radio requires a lot of cognitive skills and a lot of understanding technology, so I find that's very good for keeping me active."<br style="box-sizing:border-box"><br style="box-sizing:border-box">Watch the video and read the full story at<span> </span><br style="box-sizing:border-box"><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-27/ham-radio-helping-older-hobbyists-stay-mentally-fit/9908468" target="_blank" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,51,102);text-decoration:none;word-wrap:break-word">http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-27/ham-radio-helping-older-hobbyists-stay-mentally-fit/9908468</a></p>
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