The VK4s lead the way with Catherine VK4VCH being the top overall winner followed by Diane VK4YL the top VK non-member and Pam VK4PTO with a mighty score of 1526 points.

Jean VK3VIP was the only one close to them with her sterling effort of 1384. Congratulations ladies!

Pat VK3OZ is our top VK CW YL again. I really appreciated Pat’s letter which said how much she enjoyed the contest. I would like to think that this is what the Alara Contest is about: a lot of friendliness and opportunities for ladies to come up on the air.

Gerald VK2HBG is the Top VK OM for the 4th year in a row. Come on OMs he needs a bit of competition!

Next year we are hoping to issue a certificate for the top OM in each VK area. We really do appreciate the OMs coming up and giving the girls lots of contacts.

The Alara Contest is a great opportunity to try out Mike VK3AVV’s computer logging program. It certainly makes my life easier as contest manager.

I would also like to see Club Stations come up in each VK area so that our Foundation Licencees can have the opportunity to gain some confidence on the air. Leonie VK2FHRK has taken out our Top Foundation Licencee trophy for the 2nd year in a row and I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if there was some serious competition.

We had a few DX contestants: Sharron ZL3AE, Celia ZL1ALK, Mary WX4MM and Elizabeth VE7YL. Thanks ladies for making the effort to participate. Hopefully more DXers will come on board with the improvement in the solar cycle.

Next year we are hoping to use the VK100WIA special callsign during the contest. There probably will be some extra points to be gained if you contact the call. We will all be celebrating the fact that the WIA is 100 years old. Quite an achievement.

33, Lesley VK5LOL, Alara Contest Manager

Thank you to all the 41 YL’s who attended with their 43 OM’s and family members. 84 – what a wonderfully even number.

Where do I even begin with our whirlwind weekend? Friday evening saw 78 of us enjoy a lovely meal at the Beachway Motel Restaurant – although we did dine a little later than anticipated because the staff couldn’t figure out how to get the highly mobile socialites to sit in one seat long enough to take our orders.

On Saturday morning we had an eager team of assistants ready for Registration time – Kirralee collected pet photos, Natali handed out the showbags, Tina set up displays for the History, craft work and special effort, and I believe it may have been Meg VK5YG who worked out who was who to give name tags to. The morning passed much too quickly as we managed to squeeze in morning tea before posing for photographs galore! We YL’s were beginning to feel like royalty with all the paparazzi after us “just one more girls”.

After all the frivolity we managed to settle down long enough for our President, Marilyn VK3DMS, to officially open the Meet – which she managed with her usual calm and efficiency – thank you Marilyn. Presentations were made to Mavis VK3KS, Mavis (ex – 3BIR), Heather VK2HD and Norma VK2YL to celebrate ‘33′ (love sealed by friendship between one YL and another) – a gift from all of our members to these four YL’s who not only are founding members but have retained continuous membership of ALARA for all of it’s 33 years. Unfortunately none of these YLs were able to attend, however the messages sent to share on their behalf were lovely and we thank all of you for your contribution to ALARAMeet ‘08.

We were delivered from Ulverstone to the Axeman’s Hall of Fame & Timberworks at Latrobe in two comfy Redline Coaches, one of which was quite special – “Miss Barbie” who was pink, especially for the YL’s, pretty clever I thought, although we did let some of our OM’s share her.

At dinner that evening we were joined by Tony VK7AX, President of NWTARIG (North West Tasmania Amateur Radio Interest Group) with his wife Rosemarie. Tony was our special guest who shared some of his memories of becoming involved in amateur radio, the WIA, the formation of NWTARIG and the clubs contributions to amateur radio in Tasmania.

We asked Marilyn VK3DMS to cut our official cake. Due to the emerging younger membership division of ALARA, we also had a chocolate mudcake that was decorated with a lovely gold crocheted doily with ‘33′ worked in the centre (this provided for us by Margaret VK4AOE), so we asked Lynette ZL1LL as President of WARO (and birthday girl of the day) to cut this cake for us.
The Saturday evening Mars Bar Awards were a bit difficult – people didn’t seem to do quite so many strange things trying to get to Ulverstone as they did on their way to Mildura 3 years ago!

I know that what everyone is really waiting to hear about is “Who won the lucky door prizes?” Well, congratulations go to Susan VK3FXXX who won a fabulous wallhanging made by Marilyn VK3DMS. It really is a lovely item and I am certain that Susan was delighted with her win.

The ‘other’ lucky door prize was of course the radio donated by Icom (Australia) Pty Ltd – the ICP7A. Well, I may be mistaken, but I actually thought this item was won by Hans VK5YX – however bright and early on Sunday morning Lesley VK5HLS was heard calling for a radio check on our local repeater and when boarding the coach Lesley showed us what a ‘neat little handbag item’ the ICP7A is. I think huge congratulations should go to Hans VK5YX – firstly for winning this little beauty, but also for having the commonsense to ’share’ his prize!

On Sunday morning I believe most of the group got to cuddle a wombat – in particular Christine VK5CTY who is well known for her wombat fetish! Also there was an opportunity to pat a Tasmanian Devil. Another big highlight for many was at the Platypus House where we enjoyed several echidna’s waddling about around our feet, one nearly climbed into Pat VK3OZ’s backpack!

The train section at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Inveresk was particularly interesting to all, but then the whole museum was interesting.

Once back at the Bass & Flinders in Ulverstone, we had our closing afternoon tea. During this time we had the drawing of the special effort, where the most coveted gift was a beautiful “Mabe” pearl donated by Bev VK6DE. Bev advised that different shapes form on the shell of the black-lipped oyster and it is a beautiful pendant, with bail and chain of sterling silver – this now has a new home with Pam VK4PTO and I am sure Pam will remember ALARA Meet ‘08 every time she wears this lovely pendant. We had many other wonderful gifts – including a door harp! I had never head of this item before, however it was made and donated by Pam VK3NK and is a rather unique and lovely item. Another item that I thought was particularly worth mentioning is the pair of miniature handcarved Huon Pine cowboy boots donated by Shirley VK7HSC made by her OM Max VK7KY.

The Special Effort items were really absolutely fantastic. Thank you to all those who donated items, particularly the handmade items – we have so many talented members! Thank you also to everyone who assisted during the Meet – from handing out nametags to collecting stragglers during our coach tours – every little bit of assistance was hugely appreciated.
The other official business conducted at our closing afternoon tea was the announcement of our destination for the 2014 ALARA Meet – Gold Coast here we come!

ELIGIBILITY

All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to participate. Also open to SWLs.

OBJECT

Participation: YL works everyone, OMs & Clubs work YLs only.

One contest (combined phone and CW) run over 30 hours.

STARTS: Saturday 29th August 2009 at 0600 hours UTC (4pm EST)

ENDS: Sunday 30th August 2009 at 1159 hours UTC (9.59pm EST)

SUGGESTED FREQUENCIES

Bands to be used are 3.5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 MHz only. The following are suggested frequencies for easier location of contacts:

• 3.560 to 3.590
• 7.070 to 7.100
• 14.250 to 14.280
• 21.380 to 21.410
• 21.170 to 21.200
• 28.380 to 28.410

OPERATION

• Every individual phone or CW contact may be counted.
• There must be an interval of greater than 1 hour between contacts with any one station on any one band and in the same mode.
• No net or list operations.
• No crossmode operations.
• No crossband operations.
• All contacts must be made in accordance with operator and station licence regulations.

PROCEDURE

• Phone:
  • call “CQ ALARA CONTEST”
• CW:
  • YLs call “CQ TEST ALARA”
  • OMs call “CQ YL”

EXCHANGES

ALARA member: RS or RST, serial no. starting at 001, ALARA member, name.

YL non-member, OM or Club: RS or RST, serial no.starting at 001, name, and whether Club station.

OMs, Clubs & SWLs work YLs only.

SCORING

• Phone:
  • 5 points for ALARA member contacted
  • 4 points for YL non-member contacted
  • 3 points for OM or Club station contacted
• CW:
  • All contacts made on CW count for double points
• OM, SWL, & CLUB:
  • 5 points for ALARA member logged
  • 4 points for YL non-member logged

LOGS

Single log entry. Logs must show date/time UTC, band, mode, callsign worked, report & serial no. sent,

report & serial no. received, name of operator of station worked, whether it is a Club station, and points claimed.

Sample Log

LOGS MUST BE SIGNED. Logs also to show full name, callsign and address of operator, and show final score (points claimed). Logs must be legible. No carbon copies. No logs will be returned. Decision of the Contest Manager will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Logs must be received by the Contest Manager by: 30th September, 2009

CONTEST MANAGER

Mrs. Lesley Smit VK5HLS
PO Box 271,
ASHTON 5137 S.A.
AUSTRALIA

Contest email: alaracontest@wia.org.au

CERTIFICATES

Will be awarded for the following:

• Top score overall
• Top score OM in each continent
• Top score phone only
• Top score SWL in each continent
• Top score Australian YL CW
• Top score VK YL Foundation Licence holder
• Top score DX YL
• Top score overseas YL CW
• Top score ALARA member in each country and VK call area
• Top score VK Club station
• Top score YL non-member in each continent

TROPHIES

Will be awarded to the following:

• Top scoring Australian YL
• Top scoring Foundation Licence ALARA Member

CLUB STATIONS

Operators of Club stations may use the Club call only for contacts, and MUST identify each contact as with a Club station. Use of personal callsigns while operating as a Club member is not permitted. A Club station will be recognized as such whether operators are YL or OM. If the Club call is used, the score will be as a Club station.

IMPORTANT

This Contest is always held on the last complete weekend of August.

Lesley    VK5HLS    1033    Top overall, Top phone, Top VK5 Alara member
Rosanne    VK7NAW    831    Top VK7 Alara member
Catherine    VK4VCH    460    Top VK4 Alara member
Muriel    VK3KNM/2nd op.    414    Top VK3 Alara member
Gerald    VK2HBG    333    Top VK OM
Sharron    ZL3AE    326    Top DX YL, Top DX CW, Top ZL Alara member
Leonie    VK2FHRK    291    Top VK2 Alara member, Top Foundation Licencee
Pat    VK3OZ    221    Top VK YL CW  (CW score 94)
Chris    VK2LCD    203
Alan    VK8AV    188
Gwen    VK3DYL    179
Marisa    VK3FMAR    171
Marilyn    VK3DMS    163    (Check log)
Christine    VK5CTY    154
Jenny    VK5ANW/3    129
Peter    VK4FABC    108
Celia    ZL1ALK    103
Kingsley    VK5FKDT    79
Ann    VK6FAVB    70    Top VK non-member
Mavis    VK3KS    70    (worked CW only)
Michael    VK1XYZ    49
Richard    VK2KRM    49
Dot    VK2DB    31
Graeme    VK2MGM    10

SUMMARY:
Alara members    15 (inc. 2 DX members)
non-member Yls    1
OMs     8
TOTAL LOGS    24

A very disappointing year even though the bands were reasonable. I suspect that the impending Alarameet (which was held just two weeks later) meant that many were already on the road, or in the middle of preparations for travel.
As usual there were those heard on air with good numbers who failed to send in a log.
Most of the logs arrived by email which made my job easy, as I also went to Tasmania for Alarameet.
Congratulations to Lesley VK5HLS who made such a wonderful score and to Rosanne VK7NAW who also was not far behind. I think there was some friendly rivalry between them. It probably came down to whoever had the least sleep, hi! I believe that Lesley’s OM Hans VK5YX was housemaid for the weekend.Congratulations also to Leonie VK2FHRK who is our top Foundation licencee for 2008. Another Foundation licencee, Ann VK6FAVB, though not an Alara member, ably represented VK6. Gerald VK2HGB has taken out the top OM for the 3rd year in a row.
Mention must also be made of Sharron ZL3AE who not only had a great score but also worked a creditable CW score of 52. Well done Sharron!  Our top score in VK3 goes to Muriel, who worked the contest under the supervision of her OM Niel VK3KNM. Muriel has not got her licence as she has health problems, but is willing to take part.
So now we must look forward to 2009 and another contest. Thanks to those Oms who supported the girls – we hope you will all be there again next year. So mark the last full weekend of August – 29/30 – for the 29th Alara Contest.
See you there!
33 Marilyn VK3DMS

The Friday night dinner was optional at the Gol Gol Pub but most of the ALARAmeet attendees seemed to be there. We’d had a storm in the late afternoon so the red earth parking area was nicely slippery.

Not that it bothered us, there were friendly faces everywhere – some we had met before and some we hadn’t. The food was good and so was the company.

Saturday was the first formal day. We met, registered and were given goody bags containing local produce and leaflets about what to see in the area. ALARA’s President, Susan VK7LUV opened the Meet.

The Contest Manager, Marilyn VK3DMS presented Pat VK3OZ with a special Morse Key Plaque to replace the large Florence McKenzie Trophy which is now on show in Glenelg. Pat had won the Florence McKenzie Trophy for four of the last five years that the trophy was awarded.

After all the formalities, a noisy photo session took place – all YLs, all OMs, YLs who belong to ALARA, WARO, etc, etc.

After lunch we tumbled onto a bus and started touring.

The first trip was to the Inland Botanical Gardens where we rode on a ‘train’ pulled by a tractor. The wind was bitterly cold, the PA system kept scratching in and out, but the gardens were lovely, different to most botanical gardens, and the laughter and jokes never stopped.

Saturday night was our Formal Dinner where we were all dressed up.
Joan VK3BJB read her poem about her experiences in "Joining The Ranks" (of radio amateurs).

Shirley VK5JSH gave all the YLs a red hat to wear as she read the poem "Warning – When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple".
Rob VK3KRB, representing the WIA gave a short talk about the WIA’s achievements. Jenny VK5ANW cut ALARA’s 30th birthday cake.

Then Meg VK5YG gave out the MARS awards for the funny things some people do.

• Food fetish award to an OM who absolutely dotes on ice-cream ….. Jim ZL1AUR
• Travel award to Shirley VK5JSH for going to great lengths to try to match the ZL’s for distance travelled by flying to Perth, then to Adelaide and driving to Mildura.
• Genuine travel award as representative of the distance ZL’s travel to be part of Alarameet….. Alma ZL1WA
• Long distance swimming award – as mentioned by our guide on our Inland Botanical Garden tour (it’s a long way to swim home) …. Raija SM0HNV
• Transport award to …. Marilyn VK3DMS who drove to the airport, met the plane, but failed to collect the two arrivals who made their own way to their motel
• Navigation award for taking ’short cut’ which took them on a gravel road for a very long way when they could have travelled on bitumen all the way….. Kevin VK5AKZ
• Senior Moment award………..Poppy VK6YF who was keeping VK6DOL but ……
• Senior moment two …VK5AMD Mary … forgot to bring her painting to show
• Over and above the call of duty ….. Mary Rodgers for teaching tatting to 2 ladies between courses at the dinner.
• Craft award for showing her bias – well bias binding actually in the beautiful Mountain Buttercup place mats…… Alison ZL1TXQ
• Telling a good story…….Christine VK5CTY for writing the history of Alara
• Inattentive spouse award……….. John VK2ZOI for not paying attention during the group photographs
• Good chuckle award …….GuyVK4ZXZ for smart comment upon viewing an egg on the footpath as we disembarked from the bus "..had heard a lot of cackling on the bus!"
• Last minute award…….for leaving it until the last minute to give us a wonderful surprise by being able to attend ALARAmeet after all …..Susan VK7LUV

Sunday was an early start for some retirees, however we were back on the bus and visited Minters Asparagus Farm where we taste tested fresh, raw, crisp asparagus, very nice. We saw almond trees, olive trees, orange trees, avocado trees and grape vines by the acre.

Grapes? Wine grapes, table grapes, green grapes, red grapes, seedless grapes and seeded grapes, we learnt all about them.

At Lindeman’s there was a wine tasting then on to Trentham Winery for a barbeque lunch. A storm just after lunch chased us all indoors for more wine tasting, hot coffee and more chatter.

Last trip for the day was to Gareffa’s Vineyard, no not wine, but sultanas. They dry them naturally and let us taste test as much as we liked. We liked! The owner had his wife baking soft biscuits in a wood burning pizza oven for us and we enjoyed them too.

At 4pm we gathered for the formal close of the Meet: the drawing of the Special Effort, the folding of the flag and the announcement of ALARAmeet 2008 (Tasmania).

Monday, for those who were still there, was an even earlier start for a full day trip to Mungo National Park. We had an aboriginal tour guide who played the didgeridoo and told stories as he explained the history of the area.

Much of the area we drove through used to be a vast inland lake and the many coloured sands on one side, called the Walls of China, have pyramids of sandstone dotted around. There are many fossils in the sands and they are being preserved.

Many final farewells were said as we left the bus and even more that night at the motel. Tuesday morning the final, final goodbyes were said as we drove out.

A special mention must be made of the effort put in by Emma VK2FEAH. She is only 11 and conducted herself very professionally and managed a very creditable score. Well done Emma, you have a special award for the youngest ever to take part!

Westlakes Amateur Radio Club operated with all YL members, who also did very well. It was such a pity that quite a few OMs had not read the rules quite thoroughly, and were confused by a Club (which of course can only score 3 points for YLs only) operated by ladies. Hopefully this confusion will sort itself out by next year.

Congratulations to Gerald VK2HBG who became top OM for the second year, while Marisa VK4FMAR put in a sterling effort to take out the top F call.

The top scores are extremely impressive, and show great dedication (and possibly a sleepless night!)

I must thank all those who sent in their logs so early – my email was swamped. This was very good, as I left for a month overseas during September. I only had 16 logs to check when I arrived home – very welcome! The email facility seems to be very popular, and I certainly appreciate receiving them that way.

I did notice that the full signal report was not always noted – this is one of the rules, so please try to make your logs correct.

Now I guess we will all be preparing for another enjoyable Contest in 2008 on the last full weekend of August, which will be 30th & 31st. I’ll hopefully catch you all again then.

Thank you everyone for making it such a wonderful Contest.

33, Marilyn VK3DMS

As usual, unfortunately, there were quite a number of calls heard for which no log was received. It doesn’t matter how small the number of contacts, the log is welcome.

Some of the comments made this year: "Most enjoyable"…"I had a ball"…"A really great Alara Contest"…"A great time on air"…"So pleasing to hear so many Alara members and great to work the new callsigns too"…"Good to hear so many people contesting"…"It was great to hear the foundation licencees in the thick of it"…"Just a mini log but still enjoyed the opportunity"

I am sure that those Foundation licencees who took part can be very proud of their efforts. As can be seen, an Alara Foundation licence member had the second top score – well done Catherine VK4FRED! You will be receiving a special trophy to celebrate your achievement. The top score of 1169 points was truly terrific – congratulations to Diane VK4KYL. We welcome a new OM winner this year – Gerald VK2HBG – hope you try again next year. Unfortunately there was very little participation from DX members, but much of this is probably due to the bands, which are not brilliant for DX.

However Elizabeth VE7YL, Elva ZL1BIZ, Celia ZL1ALK & Bev ZL1OS were heard and we all welcomed our contacts with them.

The earlier closing date of September 30 does not seem to have inconvenienced anybody, and it certainly means that I can get the results out much sooner than before.

Now we all hope that 2007 will be as good if not better than 2006, with even more taking part. The 2007 Contest will be held on August 25/26, so mark it is your diary, and we’ll all catch each other again then. Until then, best wishes to all, and thankyou for taking part this year.

33, Marilyn VK3DMS

Of course all the OMs who attended, enjoyed themselves as much as the ladies. It was decided to arrange a tenth birthday meeting for the following year and from then on have a national get-together every three to five years.

In September 1987 the second National Get-together was held in Adelaide organised by Meg VK5YG (then VK5AOV).

Approximately forty people attended with some travelling great distances. One couple came from New Zealand. At this get-together the name, ALARAmeet, was born.

Subsequent ALARAmeets have been held in:

• 1990 Dubbo NSW – organised by Maria VK5BMT
• 1993 Castlemaine VIC  – organised by Margaret VK3DML
• 1996 Perth WA – organised by Bev VK6DE
• 1999 Brisbane QLD – organised by Bev VK4NBC
• 2002 Murray Bridge SA – organised by Jean VK5TSX
• 2005 Mildura VIC – organised by Marilyn VK3DMS
• 2008 Ulverstone TAS – organised by Susan VK7LUV

Some of the comments received: "It must be the most leisurely contest on the calendar"…"Thanks for a great friendly contest"…"It was indeed a pleasure participating in the contest"… and all these comments came from OMs!

Its great to know that our efforts are appreciated by so many, and yes we do set out to make it as friendly as we can.

However there was at least one log which plainly showed that very little notice was taken of the ‘oldies’ telling of their bonus points as the scoring was all over the place. However the score was adjusted so that it read correctly! Some Contest Managers are kindly!

Rosanne VK7NAW must be congratulated for a great score on her very first contest.

Chris VK2LCD, our winning OM, certainly had a much better contest this year, and it is a pleasure to note his top score.

I would like to especially congratulate Rosa VK2HOP, who was very newly on air, and I think had a wonderful time. By the time she reads this she will be a member of Alara, and we welcome her.

I think the lack of DX members on air this year may have something to do with the closeness of the contest to the Alarameet, which was only two weeks later. Many of the girls were busy with travel plans, for which we can forgive them.

There will of necessity, due to the changes in licensing, be some alterations in the rules for the 2006 contest, so make sure that you check these beforehand. The 2006 contest will be held on August 26/27, so hopefully we will all meet there again along with some of the newcomers to the bands.

33, Marilyn VK3DMS