There is a new amateur on the bands.  In fact a new amateur in our household.

This weekend, my wife Marija undertook the Foundation licence course held by the Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society (AHARS).  She PASSED.

So hopefully in 6 weeks time, there will be a new amateur on the bands….VK5FMAZ.

Marija has been a great supporter of my interest in the hobby over the years, and has accompanied me on many SOTA & Parks expeditions.  It will be terrific to share the hobby with her and hear Marija up on air from a SOTA peak or a National or Conservation Park soon.

Well done Marija, and many thanks to AHARS and the exam/course convenors.

I read some ‘tongue in cheek’ comments on Facebook recently by Wendy, who is the wife of Stef VK5HSX, about a wife/partner certificate for their devotion to their partner’s crazy hobby of ham radio (particularly the SOTA & Parks activators).

I had a think about this and thought there was a lot of merit in this, and have produced the certificate below.

I know on a personal level, my wife Marija, has devoted countless hours in accompanying me to parks and summits.  This has included early morning starts, late nights, long drives, making of lunches, boiling of coffee, mosquito bites, avoiding snakes, and the inevitable bumps, scratches and bruises (not to mention her missing out on the Bold and the Beautiful).

So if you’d like this certificate to present to your better half, drop me an email at……

vk5pas@wia.org.au