QNews for August 18th 2024

Q-News AR News from Queensland

This is Allan VK4HIT with news from Ipswich and District Radio Club. Club members are reminded the annual general meeting will be held Saturday August 24 from 10am. To be eligible to vote at the AGM members must by financial prior to the start of the meeting. Please check your emails for payment details in the July minutes. Current secretary and WICEN coordinator Greg VK4GJW indicated he will be stepping down from both rolls after eight years. Nominations are open for all positions with Greg also encouraging new eyes and new blood on the executive. Reporting from Ipswich this is Allan, VK4HIT.

Redcliffe and Districts radio club. Redcliffe Club Carboot Sale Quick Reminder Greetings from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC Robert Thomson VK4TFN here. The Redcliffe Club Carboot Sale is on Saturday 24th August at 9:00 AM at our clubhouse in MacFarlane Park in Klingner Road, Kippa Ring in the City of Redcliffe. Go to redclifferadioclub.org.au for more information. 73 from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club.

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. As the last hurrahs have died down and the athletes have made their way home, the next major calendar event is, of course, the Paralympics. Significantly, we celebrate this band of sportspeople because they exemplify what can happen if you deal with what is real and follow your dreams as to what is possible. Just as the Invictus Games provide meaning to military veterans in redefining their sense of self and gain confidence in achievements in a new facet of life, so other bodies with positive outlooks can give support, perhaps, I can take the ethos of these movements and apply it to our pursuit of Amateur Radio. As life’s events overtake us, we can find ourselves in circumstances we never dreamed of in our younger years. Many of us will have explored the “self-help” industry in its various marketing forms but I am not equating a positive outlook with unrealistic expectations for people. Various studies, of real-world situations, have shown that a positive outlook is very beneficial to health and longevity. This is not some “airy-fairy” form of academic research but the outcomes amongst people such as you and me. So if the outcomes for cancer patients can be better amongst people with a good outlook and military retirees suffering high levels of condition such as PTSD it seems we already have the evidence of how beneficial these informal supports can be. I remember how, in the CB boom years there were clubs formed that provided a community for people not only interested in citizens band but also came from similar backgrounds and life experience. There was much benefit amongst club members because people became engaged in activities outside their normal life. We do have a few organisations where amateur radio is a prime focus for members of certain professions, faith bodies and service organisations. If we look at the groups that have been succeeding over time, they all seem, to my eye, to have an outlook which is driven by positive outcomes. In recent times we have seen videos, web and social media posts hanging on gaining the maximum viewing by suggesting the death of amateur radio. This form of clickbait is also what causes the mental health professions to warn of the bad effects the negative news and propaganda have on young peoples’ outlook. Continuing a diet of bad news has been shown to contribute to suicidal thoughts for people suffering stress and depression. So here we have an activity that links us around the world and encourages everyone to be part of the action in ways that suit our own circumstance. Here we have a structure that supports clubs where people can physically meet and share social activities. Here we have an opportunity to look in the mirror and if we have a poor image we have the chance to change and look at what we can do and disregard what we can’t. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?