Down Memory Lane: Garden Route Amateur Radio Event - Hunting Lions on the Air! (14 January 2004)

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!!

What a find! - Wireless Set No. 19 MK II 1942 - Zenith Radio Corporation

Above:  Wireless Set No. 19 MK II  1942 - Zenith Radio Corporation rescued from a scrap metal dealer in Mossel Bay, South Africa.

About 15 years ago I found a Wireless Set No. 19 MK II US Serial No: 4600??? at a scrap metal dealer in Mossel Bay, South Africa.  Living at the coast has its advantages and disadvantages.  One disadvantage is metal rust at the see.   As can be seen this radio set had some rust on it but only on the outside covers and here and there on other parts.  I quickly grabbed the set and became the new owner of  a 1942 No 19 Wireless Set manufactured by the Zenith Radio Corporation.  Unfortunately there were no cables but a plus was the original wooden mounting rack as used in mounting the unit on a vehicle.  Upon my arrival at home I took images of the radio.  The inside of the radio still looked in a fairly good condition.  My thought at that time was to restore the unit to it's former glory with the help om OM  Willem ZS1ON.  Well this did not happen as Willem became a silent key and without his help and knowledge this project was dead before it began.

Did this radio go back to the scrap metal dealer in Mossel Bay?  NO.  I found another good friend that was interested in restoring the radio.  Casey Nootenboom ZS1AAS took over the restoration process.  Not straight away as he had quite a few other restoration projects on the go, amongst them a R-1155 Lancaster Bomber Radio Receiver.  Well I did not mind how long it would take as I knew that the No. 19 Mk II was in good hands and would definitely not end up at a scrap metal dealer but would one day found it's rightful place in a amateur radio shack or even better in a museum.

I found a great site with all the information you need about the Wireless Set No. 19 MK II.  Herewith the links.

The Wireless Set No 19

History of the Wireless Set No 19

The Wireless Set No. 19 Goes to the Movies

The Wireless Set #19 Mk II Manual

Wireless Set No 19 MkII  Figures and Tables

Enjoy the photos.  (Click on the images for larger view.)

Down memory lane - We shall remember them! (Part 1)

Throughout the years I had the privilege to meet and learn from many fellow radio amateurs.  Some I have never met in person but spend many hours in having great on he air QSO's either on HF, UHF/VHF, Packet Radio, Satellites and other Modes of communication.   In this memory lane article I would like to pay tribute to their contribution in amateur radio and to remember those who passed on and those who are still with us today.  

Herewith my memory images of those radio amateurs that played an important roll in my amateur radio "career" and also to many others in the Southern Cape Area.    (I will give recognition to 3 radio amateurs in each part of this article.)

Willem van Zyl ZS1ON (SK)

MOSSEL BAY

Images: Willem in his Shack  (Click on images for larger view.)

Bottom Images:ZS1ON Homebrew (1) AM Transmitter and (2) Audio Amplifier (Click on images for larger view.)

                                                                                   1

                                                                                 2

Casey van Nootenboom ZS1AAS

WILDERNESS

Images:  Casey in the Shack  (Click on images for larger view.)

Bottom Images:ZS1AAS specialty include Homebrewing and Restoring old radios to their former glory.  (Click on images for larger view.)

 

The Wireless Set No. 19 was a Second World War mobile radio transceiver designed for use by armoured troops of the British Army. First introduced in 1940, the No. 19 began to replace the pre-war Wireless Set No. 11. Two modified versions were introduced, Mk. II in 1941 and Mk. III in 1942. An improved version from Canada was introduced in 1942 for use primarily with other forces. In British service, the No. 19 was replaced in the post-war era by the Larkspur radio system. Canadian-built No. 19s saw continued service for many years with a variety of users. 

Jan van Eck ZS1ACW (SK)

STILL BAY

Images:  Jan in the Shack  (Click on images for larger view.)

 

Bottom Images:ZS1AWC specialty was Packet Radio on HF, VHF and via the Internet  (Click on image for larger view.) In an issue of Teenspanning (July-August 2003) the Gateway and BBS of Jan was listed under the @ZAF Packet Radio Network.  Jan provided a great packet radio network service to the Southern Cape which also included the packet radio system/network of Conrad ZS1KG.

In part two I will be looking at three more radio amateurs that played an important roll in my amateur radio "career" and also to many others in the Southern Cape Area. 

Lest we Forget !!

November is a time that all veterans reflect on the past.  A month that we stand in silence and pay our respects to the fallen soldiers.  Does not matter if that soldier once was your enemy.  He or she only fought in a war that was started by men that never saw the battlefield, the blood, the carnage, the fear, the tears and the heart ache.

When we stand with bowed heads on the 11th hour of the 11th month on Remembrance Day, we don't just pay respect to the fallen but we also celebrate life.  We are still alive and that gives us the opportunity to give out fallen brothers and sisters a salute.

In South Africa, Remembrance Day Commemoration ceremonies are usually held on the nearest Sunday, at which the "Last Post" is played by a bugler followed by the observation of a two-minute silence. Ceremonies to mark the event in South Africa are held at the Cenotaph in Cape Town, and in Pretoria at the Voortrekker Monument cenotaph, the War Memorial at the Union Buildings and other cities and towns.  Remembrance Day services is held to honor those who died in the two World Wars and the Border War. 

Remembrance Day is a national opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.

We remember the Armed Forces, their families and the vital role played by those who have lost their lives as a result of war.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.”
― Laurence Binyon 

The Last Post ( Courtesy: Music Files Limited)

 

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