Around March/April 1994 - received a telephone from Glenn Dunstan VK1XX then head of the Radio Inspector at AMSA [Australian Maritime Safety Authority] at Belconnen, Canberra if I would consider an appointment as the Radio Communications Inspector based in Brisbane.
The very thought of being around ships again was too good an opportunity to refuse so a trip to Canberra ensued. Brisbane was to be my "home port" working as far South as Yamba in Northern NSW with the odd sojourn to Darwin and North Western Australia to cover the FPSO's "Jabiru Venture"; "Challice Venture" and one other whose name for the moment escapes me. This incidently gave me the opportunity to catch up with Dan VK8AN in Darwin. Dan flew the helicopters to the FPSO's from Troughton Island - sadly owing to recent ill health he's been grounded. Know the feeling !! Also in Darwin caught up some of the old OTC operators now working at VID Darwinradio I'd knew from La Perouse [VIS] days eg Ross Dennis etc.
Had some great experiences over the next seven years with AMSA. Also had the sad duty to watch the demise of the ship's Radio Officer from Australian, then many on overseas shipping companies with the advent to the GMDSS [Global Maritime Distress Safety System]. A system whereby to a large extent communication is via satellites using the Sat."A" or Sat. "C" systems followed by the smaller units "Sat.B" and "Sat.M" that are now used universally. These new systems were supplemented by HF Maritime radio, basically as a "back-up" - sadly all the Australian Coast Radio Stations have gone - that is those operated by OTC - later Telstra. Refer to the "LINKS" page for information Brisbaneradio and Portisheadradio Stations.
Caught up too with some of my old sea-faring friends; In Brisbane my old Chief Engineer of the "Sid McGrath" - Col Barker; In Gladstone Steve Austin from ANL "Australian Venture" etc.
The PSC [Port State Control] Inspections are conducted under the auspics of the IMO [International Maritime Organisation] which is UN based. These basically are "on-the-spot" Inspections of any ship entering any port in the world, conducted by the relevant maritime Authority of the county concerned. These "un-covered" some wierd and wonderful issues which could in fact detain a vessel under certain circumstances. These days with limited crew, Officers etc. to put it bluntly a PSC was a "pain-in-the-butt" a Captain/Master could well do without. On large liners eg "Queen Elizabeth 2", "Sea Princess" etc - the Staff Captain would delegate his Safety Officer and assistants to assist the regulatory Authorities - in our case AMSA, to contact Radio, Deck, Stores, Medical, Engineer, Accommodation and even crew complaints. All could have a book attached to each subject - maybe one day. The issues as mentioned could be wide and varied. Some resolved 'easily'; others a 'tad more tact' was required with the local State Manager - for Brisbane Gerry Price if of a more serious nature "someone in Canberra" - in my case Glenn Dunstan.
Then there were the full Radio[GMDSS] Survey which was an annual event for all Australian registered vessels over 1600 GRT. This meant all the ANL, BHP, shipping including overseas Government requests for the same, the range being vast. Again a challenge with time constraints. Usually covered at the same time on Australian vessels with the Deck and Engineering Surveys. Under 1600 GRT vessels came under the local State Control or USL 2B codes. Again a wide and varied selection of craft come under these surveys. eg "Young Endeavour" for the RAN, "HMB Endeavour"; "South Passage" a Brisbane based gaff rigged schooner which came 2nd in the recent Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht race. Then the odd overseas small craft. Interesting times.
"Gallery 3" covers a variety of vessel, from sail to liners, to cargo boats, coal carriers, tankers - chemical and oil, container vessels, fishing vessels, tug boats, customs and the odd naval craft under mercantile marine control until handed over to the RAN [Royal Australian Navy]. Believe that in spite of being retired for eight years now, am still covered by the "Secrecy Act" - have had to have this section 'vetted' so, there are many gaps in the story. Good to have a yarn over a beer or three! Some of the good jobs I can re-call are eg "Island Trader" based in Yamba NSW which was an old Burns Philp trader now running between Yamba and Lord Howe Island. Great little company with helpful crews, ashore/afloat. Always a joy to look forward to. "Grey Scout" in Gladstone were nothing was to much trouble to rectify. Family run business with a great 'esprit d'corp' again issued from both the Owner to ships/office staff. Brisbane Tugs - located down at Fishermans Island, again always helpful. Would come across the odd crew member I'd sailed with "deep-sea" with. Same can be said for Gladstone Tug Company. Naturally, the Ocean Liners were a 'treat' especially on PSC's. Canberra called into Brisbane on her last voyage - graceful old lady too. QE2 which of course has since proven to be ahead of her time being the percurser of modern cruise ships - sadly has departed and now based in Dubai as a floating function facility.
All ended in 2001 when the IMO declared that all vessels were GMDSS approved - even though some nations namely, China, India and Indonesia plus others continued to have radio operators with locally manned Coast Radio Stations. The majority of these too now have succumbed the inevitable. So, I ended up being "sacrificed upon the altar of expediency Mark 3" Since then retirement. Oddly enough, I'm busier now then when I was working so, round goes the wheel. Would not have missed the experience and thanks to all those I met, to those mentioned and the countless folk who should be but a book will rectify that. If you remember catching up, sailing and visiting YOUR ship - contact me via the E-mail address provided at the foot of this page. Bon voyage with smooth seas and fair winds.

Amateur Radio History: 1961 - present date and still going strong

Interest in Amateur Radio commenced long before I was actually licenced. As mentioned elsewhere having an old RAF R1155 receiver and power unit, in marvellous condition purchased from the UK, morse code was very much the order of the day in all spheres of communication. Ships went to sea and "Sparks" - the Radio Officer/Operator - was the lifeline to the outside world until the vessel arrived at its destination having regular 'skeds' (schedules) with the National communication station eg for the UK it was Portisheadradio GKA, for Germany Norddeichradio DAN, for Holland it was Scheveningenradio PCH, for Sweden it was Goteborgradio SAG etc.. Out of this and the fact I was meeting various local Radio Amateurs in both Ireland [EI] & England [G] and had always enjoyed Geography at school, everything went into the 'melting pot of life' and I realised a career in the Navy was for me. Arriving in Salisbury [UK] I joined the local Amateur Radio Club with its grandeous title of the "Salisbury & District Amateur Radio Society". There under the guidance of Evan G5YN & Bert G2FIX, use of the local club radioes under the callsign of G3FKF, honed my skills. At this time already obtained my First Class Radio Certificate and was proficient at 25 wpm plus on a hand key. At that time in the UK even though I was a fully qualified Radio Officer, the GPO who administered the licences insisted I also had to sit for a written examination and then sit a seperate morse examination - pictures of these documents are attached - there was no easy access to 'acquiring' a ticket in those days [1960] how times have changed!. The written examination [City & Guilds # 55]was sat onboard mv "Donga" at Port Harcourt Nigeria under the gaze of Captain Hill. Finally the 'pass slip' arrived - see attached documents under "Gallery 5" so when we next arrived in the UK, I travelled up to London [by train naturally] and sat the morse test - again documents attached. Finally on the 16th October 1961 notification - by mail - arrived and I was the life owner of the callsign G3PLQ - this is something that does not occur in many parts of the world, Australia included. One thing Bert G2FIX - an ex RAF operator/technician of the highest standard instilled in me was 'good operating procedures' - assisted by Evan G5YN who was with Younghusbands expedition to Tibet in 1932/33 as AC5YN being the first European to operate Amateur Radio from there, under the umbrella of the British Military of the day - both were exemplary morse operators & lovers of the 160m or "Top Band" frequencies - 1.8 to 2MHz[UK]. In time and with a modest low powered transmitter [10 watts was the maximum allowed] - see the attached Radio Inspectors signature in my then Radio Log Book - I was working all over the UK, Europe and even made trans-atlantic contacts with W1BB [Stewart Perry] better known as 'Mr 160' & Jack VE1ZZ. Remember too a contact with an Operator in Libya, who returned to Devon - he was associated with the Racal Decca Group with an unique location system which tied in with the Decca Navigational System. Others who have been friends over the years include Phil G3SWH, John G3PQA, John G3GRL [sadly SK], John G3LYW, John G2FSR, Mike G3SED, Ern G3PU [SK], Armin DL1FF [also SK] - he was with the Kreigsmarine also a brilliant operator, Pete PA0PN, HB9T and many many more. Hence one of my favourite bands these days is 160m which in Australia is a tad short [1.8 to 1.875KHz] - see from the various DX Clusters John G3PQA is still there so, one day or is it "wundai" we'll get the opportunity of saying "G'day" again.

Recently 'found' the Radio Log for my very last Maritime Mobile operation as VK4CY/MM from 24th April to 30th April 1994. The ships Korean RO had been taken ill at Gladstone and I filled in taking the ship from Gladstone to Tauranga NZ. Ship was the "Sunrise Fair"/3ENK4. small chemical carrier of 4441GRT with a Korean crew of 19. See from the 'stats' compiled that I managed 64 QSO's on HF [80,40,30,20,17,15 & 10m] with 11 Entities incl. DK, EA5, G, HL9, JI6, KA4, RW0/MM, UA6, VE6, VK, ZL. Had a 2m/70cms handheld and remember 'yacking' to Les VK4YI ex. marine engineer on Macleay Island - my neighbour as I was living on Lamb Island at that time. Good memories.

LAMB ISLAND [NGUDOOROO]: 1987 - 2001

Lamb Island is located in Moreton Bay at 27 degrees 37.7 minutes South 153 degrees 22.7 minutes East - Maidenhead Locator Reference: QG62qi, that is approx. 55Km SouthSouthEast from Brisbane, South-Eastern Queensland.

It is one of the 365 Islands of Moreton, the main Islands being the famous Moreton Island and sand Islands of North and South Stradbroke Island along with Bribie, Coochiemudloo, St.Helena, Peel, Russell - infamous for the DP or drainage problem blocks of land sold to Southern State personnel in the 1960's which accounts for that islands present low population levels in comparison with it's neighbours of Karragarra, Lamb and Macleay Islands !

Lamb obtained it's name, we assume from Admiral Lamb who was a prominent member of the Royal Naval Board assigned to take care of the penal colony of New South Wales which Queensland was originally part of, and also famous in Royal Navy circles for "Lambs Navy Rum" - this incidently is conjecture!

The Island's native name is Ngudooroo or 'peaceful place' which is exactly what it is!

The Island is 2Km long by 1Km at its widest point and least less than 400m at the narrow neck.

Total population is now in excess of 250 families though this is swollen during the holiday periods as many people have holiday homes on the Island and a constant changing population of itinerant personnel attracted to [or what was] the low rental facilities.

The Island possesses a single store currently run by the McCarragher's who are magnificent - you name it and they will - within reason - attempt to supply same, nothing is too much trouble.

It also has the original farm house - called "Progress Hall" built in 1924 and recently extensively renovated by the local Council. This also houses the local Library and the hall is used by various groups as a meeting area.

Close to the hall are the tennis courts - first laid in the 1920's - a recently built Medical centre through the hard efforts of the Islands Ambulance Officer - Svend Raleigh & resident Nurse Dawn Thompson.

The Island and its surrounding waters where part of the Moreton Bay Oyster Company whose leases have long expired. Oysters, crabbing and fishing are still popular pastimes though the fish and crab stocks have been depleted by the Bays general growing popularity and the local Councils stupidity of environmental vandalism at the Raby Bay complex off Cleveland - hopefully the recently passed declaration by the State Government will arrest this behaviour.

Islands became a series of farms, eight in all, one of the sons of the original groups still resides here along with Peg Saunders who has lived here for over 50 years - her knowledge of the both the fauna and flora is staggering.

The Islands became the garden basket of Brisbane, slowly declining as the farms where sub-divided further until 1973 when the Redland Shire Council took over the management of the four Islands. That brought the power and to the remaining 'originals', a lot of the present day problems - can see their point - European "progress" is very costly.

Lamb is now classified as residential "A" island and becoming more developed as the years pass - the constant influx of cats and dogs has put paid to the quail, bandicoots, stone curlews to name a few - unknown to most Europeans and non-Islanders, the MAJORITY OF AUSTRALIAN NATIVE BIRDS ARE GROUND NESTING - this means the cats especially are destroying local wildlife at a very alarming rate - the Moreton Bay Strategic Plan, HOPEFULLY - will reverse this situation. Native bird life is still wide and varied - people are encouraged to grow native trees and the majority of Islanders are conservation minded - they have to if we want to retain some semblance of what was.

Access to the Island is by water taxi and/or vehicle ferry from Redland Bay and in case of a major emergency, you could get lifted out by the helicopter from the emergency helipad close to the Progress Hall.

In the six years I've been active as Lamb Island's only Radio Amateur, Lamb Island has been put on the Amateur World Map by my activation of the IOTA [Islands Of The Air] award - OC.137 - standing for Oceania Island Group 137 encompassing ALL the Moreton Bay Islands. I've now contacted in excess of 300 Countries have the unique postal address which goes back to the period when mail was delivered to the Community Mail Bag area but curtailed by Australia Post owing to complaints from some Islanders on non-delivery. Alan, our resident mail man is a regular visitor with my mail and countless QSL's from some exotic places, so I'm doing my part in promoting the Islands of Moreton Bay and hopefully, playing a small part in encouraging Tourism for the local area.

This information is usually mailed with DIRECT QSL's to those people who request a little background to Lamb Island - the comment usually being: where is Lamb Island? - not on my map??? I therefore trust this resume of Lamb Island will be useful to you.

Come and visit VK4 [Queensland] and see for yourself.