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Wireless Institute of Australia

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Wireless Institute of Australia
AbbreviationWIA
Formation1910
TypeNon-profit
PurposeAdvocacy, Education
HeadquartersBayswater, Victoria
​QF22od
Region served
Australia
President
Phil Wait - VK2ASD
Main organ
Board of Directors
AffiliationsInternational Amateur Radio Union
Websitehttp://www.wia.org.au/
Live broadcast on 30 May 2010 of weekly broadcast of Amateur Radio news in Australia, using the special event callsign VK100WIA commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Wireless Institute of Australia, conducted at the annual general meeting in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. L-R: Graham Kemp VK4BB (broadcast host), Michael Owen VK3KI (President of the WIA), Peter Young VK3MV (a WIA Director).

The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) was formed in 1910, and is the first and oldest national amateur radio society in the world. 2010 is the 100th anniversary of its formation. It represents[1] the amateur radio operators of Australia in dealings with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the authority under the government of Australia that administers communications within and external to Australia.[2][3][4][5] The WIA publishes a monthly journal for its membership called Amateur Radio.[6] The organisation is the national society representing Australia in the International Amateur Radio Union.[7]

Governance

On 16 May 2004, the Annual General Meeting adopted a new constitution that established a national organisational structure (seven Directors with individual membership of persons in the national body) versus the former federal arrangement (membership held in state Divisions, and the Divisions having membership of the Federal body).[8]

100th anniversary

The 100th anniversary of the WIA was commemorated in 2010.[9] A special event callsign and station was established and used throughout 2010: callsign VK100WIA.

The Annual General Meeting was held in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, over 28–30 May 2010, and included:

Controversy

There has been growing concern among the membership of the WIA of alleged "mismanagement and incompetence by the directors" primarily on social media. These issues have been linked to the lack of social media presence, mismanagement of finances, as well as a lack of connection between the actions of the organisation and the actions of local Amateur radio clubs. [13] There has also been a "WIA Reform Group" established to try and enact change within the organisation by ex-directors other senior role holders in the organisation. [14] Current directors have also held talks around the country identifying issues they see in the organisation and possible solutions. [15]

Training and licensing

The WIA conducts training sessions and has training materials[16] for people wishing to become licensed Amateur Radio operators, conducts the testing using a system of accredited testers, and issues the authorisations for the ACMA to issue licences.[17]

Emergency communication

The Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network (WICEN) (pronounced 'Wy-sen') trains and rehearses amateur radio operators in amateur radio emergency communications for call-out in civil emergencies. It is organised by state and region, with autonomous bodies in each state linked to that jurisdiction's disaster plan. In most states, WICEN is organised by a committee of the WIA state organisation, but in New South Wales and Victoria, WICEN is separately incorporated. WICEN has been activated for various emergencies, notably in recent years the Black Saturday bushfires on 7 February 2009 in Victoria.[18]

Contests

The WIA sponsors or conducts various Australian and Australasian radio contests.

Remembrance Day (RD) Contest

Amateur radio operators in Australia participate in the Remembrance Day Contest on the weekend nearest Victory in the Pacific Day, 15 August. The competition commemorates amateur radio operators who died during World War II and encourages friendly participation to help improve the operating skills of participants. The contest runs for 24 hours, from 0300 UTC on the Saturday (formerly 0800), preceded by a broadcast including a speech by a dignitary or notable Australian (such as the Prime Minister of Australia, Governor-General of Australia, or a military leader) and the reading of the names of amateur radio operators who are known to have died. It is organised by the WIA, with operators in each Australian state contacting operators in other states, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. A trophy is awarded to the state that can boast the greatest rate of participation, based on a formula including: number of operators, number of contacts made, and radio frequency bands used.[19]

Notable members of the WIA

References

  1. ^ Wireless Institute of Australia Submission to the Productivity Commission Review of the RadioCommunications Acts and the Role of the Australian Communications Authority, 12 October 2001, accessed 30 May 2010
  2. ^ Wireless Institute of Australia (2009). Wireless Institute of Australia official web site. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  3. ^ Wireless Institute of Australia, National Library of Australia catalogue, accessed 30 May 2010
  4. ^ Wireless Institute of Australia, National Museum of Australia catalogue, accessed 30 May 2010
  5. ^ ACMA Glossary (WIA), Australian Communications and Media Authority, accessed 30 May 2010
  6. ^ Wireless Institute of Australia (2009). "About AR Magazine. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  7. ^ International Amateur Radio Union (2008). "Member Societies". Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  8. ^ Wireless Institute of Australia (2009). "Constitution of the Wireless Institute of Australia". Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  9. ^ Wireless Institute of Australia, delimiter.com.au, accessed 30 May 2010
  10. ^ ARISS school contact planned at Centennary [sic] Dinner of Wireless Institute of Australia, ON4WF, International Amateur Radio Union Region 1, 27 May 2010, accessed 30 May 2010
  11. ^ "Australia Students Celebrate WIA Centenary with ARISS QSO". ARRL. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  12. ^ WIA News 30 May 2010 (MP3), **warning: large file (MP3)**, WIA, accessed 30 May 2010
  13. ^ "Our vision for the WIA – Wireless Institute of Australia Reform Group". wiarg.org. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  14. ^ "About us – Wireless Institute of Australia Reform Group". wiarg.org. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  15. ^ "WIA Director VK6AS calls for members to sign the Reform Group's letter. Board in disarray. – Wireless Institute of Australia Reform Group". wiarg.org. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  16. ^ Wireless Institute of Australia (training materials), Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria, Australia, accessed 30 May 2010
  17. ^ History of Amateur Radio Callsigns in Australia, IEEE Region 10, accessed 30 May 2010
  18. ^ 2009 Bushfire Activation Updates, WICEN Vic, accessed 15 August 2009
  19. ^ "Remembrance Day Contest". Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  20. ^ Bruce Carty, Australian Radio History, Sydney, 2011.
  21. ^ http://bpadula.tripod.com.au/australshortwave/id34.html
  22. ^ a b John Flynn Timeline, Royal Flying Doctor Service, accessed 30 May 2010
  23. ^ Australia’s women pioneers of telecommunications, National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame www.pioneerwomen.com.au, accessed 30 May 2010
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