I scratched around my archives and ran into the following photos. The event took place in the George area close to the George Airport on the 14 January 2004. Who still remembers "Hunting Lions on the Air!"
For those not familiar with this contest, I provide the following AI information:
"Hunting Lions on the Air" is an international amateur radio contest organized by Lions Clubs in memory of Melvin Jones, the founder of Lions Clubs International. Radio amateurs operating on behalf of Lions Clubs participate by making radio contacts, and the contest focuses on identifying and making contact with specific Lions Club stations.
Elaboration:
Lions Club Involvement: The contest is sponsored and organized by Lions Clubs, a global service organization, in commemoration of their founder.
Radio Amateur Participation: Radio amateurs, or "hams," participate by making radio contacts with stations operating on behalf of Lions Clubs.
Objective: The primary objective is to locate and make radio contacts with stations operating for specific Lions Clubs.
Contest Structure: The contest is divided into classes, with Class 2 contestants being radio amateurs operating on behalf of a Lions Club.
Historical Significance: The contest has a long history, with the BV2B station in Taipei being a prominent participant.
The Hunting Lions on the Air event that took place on the 14 January 2004 and was organized by the Late Alan Franzen ZS1FG ( ex ZS6BIK) Alan lived in George for a period of time and he invited all radio amateurs in the Garden Route Area to spend the day at his QTH. Before I continue I must mention that Alan was a dynamic radio amateur and person. Herewith a short overview:
"Alan had been a friend of Amateur Radio for so many years and involved in so many aspects, that when the Antique Wireless Association of Southern Africa - ZSØAWA was launched it was not unusual to see him join us with all his ideas for promoting the use of valve radio’s and antique collections. He was instrumental in the forming of the “Mission Statement” and every year promoted the voting for a new President, but never wanted to be President himself. It was due to his efforts that the call sign ZS0AWA was allocated to the association. There were many different aspects to Alan’s involvement in Amateur Radio, and he will surely be missed. Alan's key went silent in 2008." = AWA
Many others in the photos are today also silent key, amongst them the well known Ruth Boatwright ZS2QK who was a "white stick" operator as she would called herself. (Images: Ruth is wearing dark glasses.)
Finally: I hope these image bring back good memories, to fellow radio amateurs in the Garden Route Area and those who knew Alan Franzen ZS1FG.
Images: (Click on images for larger view.)
Image 1 + 2: Alan ZS1FG
Images 3 - 5: Casey Nootenboom ZS1AAS
Images 6 - 7: YL's
Image 8: Braai Time!!
