Author Archives: Paul VK5PAS

Trip to Victoria

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Marija and I have returned from our trip to Victoria to attend the Avalon Air Show.

Whilst we were away we activated a number of parks, silos, and a summit.

STATS.

  • 1,399 QSOs
  • 22 parks (WWFF)
  • 1 summit (SOTA)
  • 15 silos (SiOTA)

PARKS, SUMMITS, & SILOS ACTIVATED.

Tintinara silo VK-TNA5

  • 19 QSOs

Lillimur silo VK-LLR3

  • 21 QSOs

Miram silo VK-MRM3

  • 21 QSOs

Jumping Jack Wattle Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2120

  • 24 QSOs
  • 2 Park to Park

Tarranginnie silo VK-TRE3

  • 11 QSOs

Nhill Swamp Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2412

  • 46 QSOs

Deep Lead Nature Conservation Reserve No. 2 VKFF-2078

  • 67 QSOs

Rossbridge Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2429

  • 33 QSOs

Tatyoon silo VK-TTN3

  • 8 QSOs

Salt Lake Wongon Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2433

  • 36 QSOs

Skipton silo VK-SKN3

  • 14 QSOs

Linton Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2370

  • 38 QSOs

Mount Erip Flora Reserve VKFF-2397

  • 41 QSOs

Port Arlington (Point Richards) Flora Reserve VKFF-2423

  • 55 QSOs

Salt Lagoon St Leonards Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2432

  • 62 QSOs

Swan Bay-Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2444

  • 56 QSOs
  • 2 Park to Park

Port Phillip Heads Marine Park VKFF-0954

  • 69 QSOs

The Spit Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2452

  • 68 QSOs
  • 2 Park to Park

Little River silo VK-LRA3

  • 21 QSOs

Lara silo VK-LRR3

  • 22 QSOs

Breamlea Flora & Fauna Reserve VKFF-2276

  • 76 QSOs

Teesdale Flora Reserve VKFF-2206

  • 27 QSOs

Mount Mercer Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2154

  • 32 QSOs
  • 2 Park to Park

Warrambine Flora Reserve VKFF-2479

  • 33 QSOs

Cordinhap Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2070

  • 23 QSOs

Commeralghip Flora Reserve VKFF-2296

  • 63 QSOs
  • 1 Park to Park

Illabrook Rail Line Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2110

  • 56 QSOs
  • 2 Park to Park

Illabrook Grassland Flora Reserve VKFF-2335

  • 58 QSOs

One Tree Hill VK3/ VS-9036 & Ararat Hills Regional Park VKFF-0958

  • 61 QSOs

Remlaw silo VK-RMW3

  • 21 QSOs

Walmer South silo VK-WLR3

  • 21 QSOs

Natimuk silo VK-NTK3

  • 20 QSOs

Arapiles silo VK-ARS3

  • 18 QSOs

Mount Araplies-Tooan State Park VKFF-0765

  • 41 QSOs

Nurcoung Flora Reserve VKFF-2417

  • 61 QSOs

Mitre silo VK-MTE3

  • 19 QSOs

Gymbowen silo VK-GYN3

  • 16 QSOs

Goroke silo VK-GRE3

  • 21 QSOs

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who called us.

An update on FT8

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I was a ‘late starter’ to the FT8 mode. I only made my first FT8 contact on the 13th day of January this year (2023).

Since then I have made a total of (as I type this blog) 2,064 QSOs into 108 different DXCC entities.

The map below shows my FT8 contacts around the world.

DXCC worked on FT8

Below is a list of the DXCC entities I have worked on FT8

  1. Algeria
  2. Andorra
  3. Antarctica
  4. Argentina
  5. Asiatic Russia
  6. Australia
  7. Austria
  8. Azores
  9. Bahrain
  10. Belarus
  11. Belgium
  12. Belize
  13. Bolivia
  14. Bosnia-Herzegovina
  15. Brazil
  16. Bulgaria
  17. Canada
  18. Canary Islands
  19. Chile
  20. China
  21. Cocos Keeling Islands
  22. Colombia
  23. Corsica
  24. Crete
  25. Croatia
  26. Crozet Island
  27. Cuba
  28. Czech Republic
  29. Denmark
  30. Dominica
  31. Dominican Republic
  32. East Malaysia
  33. Ecuador
  34. England
  35. Estonia
  36. European Russia
  37. Federal Republic of Germany
  38. Fiji
  39. Finland
  40. France
  41. Gibraltar
  42. Greece
  43. Guadeloupe
  44. Guam
  45. Guernsey
  46. Haiti
  47. Hawaii
  48. Honduras
  49. Hong Kong
  50. Hungary
  51. India
  52. Indonesia
  53. Ireland
  54. Israel
  55. Italy
  56. Japan
  57. Jersey
  58. Kaliningrad
  59. Kazakhstan
  60. Kenya
  61. Kuwait
  62. Latvia
  63. Lebanon
  64. Lithuania
  65. Luxumbourg
  66. Madeira Islands
  67. Mexico
  68. Moldova
  69. Motenegro
  70. Netherlands
  71. New Caledonia
  72. New Zealand
  73. Northern Ireland
  74. Norway
  75. Oman
  76. Pakistan
  77. Panama
  78. Peru
  79. Philippines
  80. Poland
  81. Portugal
  82. Puerto Rico
  83. Republic of Korea
  84. Reunion Island
  85. Romania
  86. Sardinia
  87. Scotland
  88. Serbia
  89. Singapore
  90. Slovak Republic
  91. Slovenia
  92. South Africa
  93. Spain
  94. Sri Lanka
  95. Sweden
  96. Switzerland
  97. Taiwan
  98. Thailand
  99. Trinidad & Tobago
  100. Turkey
  101. Ukraine
  102. United Arab Emirates
  103. United States of America
  104. Uruguay
  105. Venezuela
  106. Vietnam
  107. Wales
  108. West Malaysia

Bands worked on FT8.

The majority of my contacts have been on the 20m band (619), followed by 40m (495) and closely following in third position is 15m (485). The graph below shows the number of FT8 contacts I have made per band.

Top 10 DXCC worked.

As far as countries (DXCC) worked, the majority has been with Japan (562), followed by USA (460), and then Indonesia _130). The graph below shows the Top 10 countries worked and the number of QSOs made into that country

Thank you.

I am having a lot of fun on FT8.

I would like to thank the following people who have either help me set up FT8, or have provided assistance re Ultimate AAC (software) re FT8 awards:

  1. John VK5BJE
  2. Peter VK3ZPF
  3. Ian VK1DI
  4. Keith VK2PKT

CW key won in an auction.

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Last week I was the successful bidder for the Clipsal CW key below in a local online auction.

The key was made in c. 1944 by Gerard & Goodman Ltd of Adelaide. Clipsal Morse Keys, as they were known. were manufactured during World War II for the Defence Forces. The manufacture of the keys continued after the war and they became popular with amateur radio operators.

Below is a great video about the key.

Alfred Edward Gerard was born in 1877 in Aberdeen, Burra, South Australia. After completing his education in Burra, he commenced employment with a local coach builder. Gerard then worked for Edwin Davey and Sons, who were flour millers. He was employed there as an engineer and manager of the company’s electric lighting plant.

In 1902 Gerard married Elsie Goodman.

Above:- Alfred Edward Gerard. Image c/o SA Museum.

In 1907 Gerard obtained a £100 from his father-in-law William Goodman and he established a contracting business from his rented home at Prospect. His business soon employed five people and he moved the business from his home to the basement of Super Elliott’s bicycle shop at 200 Rundle Street East, Adelaide. On the 3rd day of August 1908 the company name ‘Gerard & Goodman’ was registered.

In 1909 Gerard founded the South Australian Electrical Importers & Suppliers Association, which was later known as the Electrical Wholesalers Association.

In 1910 the business moved to rented premises in Twin Street, Adelaide. Soon after the business moved to 100 Pirie Street, Adelaide, and then expanded to the shop next door at 102 Pirie Street.

Above:- Article from the Daily Herald, Adelaide, Tues 15 Sep 1914. Image c/o Trove.

In 1920 Gerard & Goodman commenced making a clip-on metal conduit fitting which was abbreviated to ‘Clipsal’ due to the product’s ability to ‘clip to all sizes’. The name Clipsal has now become a household South Australian name.

In 1921 Gerard purchased land in Synagogue Place, Adelaide which was the company’s first freehold property. Showrooms, offices and a factory were built on the site. It commenced as a two-storey building and was extended many times. The main entrance was in Synagogue Place, while access to the bulk store was at the rear entrance in Tavistock Street.

Above:- The Gerard and Goodman Ltd premises at Synagogue Place, c. 1928. Image c/o State Library SA.

I found the video below which is a walk-through of the old Synagogue Place premise.

The business continued to grow, and Gerard purchased a shop at 132 Rundle Street, Adelaide as an electrical and radio and retail business.

In 1932 the company Gerard Ltd was registered.

Above:- Article from The News, Adelaide, Sat 8 Oct 1932. Image c/o Trove.

In 1936, Gerard & Goodman moved its operations to Bowden.

Above:- Gerard Electric premises at Bowden. Image c/o Clipsal.com

In March 1938, CH Martin Ltd, Adelaide, was contracted to build a sop and offices for Gerard and Goodman at 192-196 Rundle Street, Adelaide. The building had an internal connection to the warehouse in Synagogue Place, which it abuts.

Television was first displayed in South Australia in the Gerard & Goodman shopfront window in Rundle Street between the 30th day of May 1949 to the 2nd day of June 1949. It is reported that this drew large crowds. It would not be until a further ten years that permanent TV broadcasting was brought to Adelaide.

Above:- the Gerard & Goodman store in Rundle Street, 1969. Image c/o State Library SA.

Other than his running of the electrical business, Gerard was also devoted to the welfare of aboriginal children. In 1929, he established the United Aborigines Mission (UAM). He was also a lay preacher and a member of the Prospect Masonic Lodge. He authored a book entitled Ears of Corn.

In 1945 Gerard financed the purchase of a 5,800-acre property at Winkie in the Riverland region of South Australia. It is now known as the Gerard Aboriginal Community in his honour.

Gerard died on the 13th day of October 1950, aged 73 years, at his home at Prospect. He is buried at the Payneham cemetery.

Gerard & Goodman continued to trade in Rundle Street until the 1970s.

In 2003 the Gerard family sold its interest in the Clipsal business to Schneider Electric.

In March 2017, the Gerard & Goodman building in Synagogue Place was demolished and replaced with new student accommodation.

Above:- An aerial view showing the old Gerard & Goodman building in Rundle St & the warehouse in Synagogue Place. Image c/o Google maps.

References.

  1. Adelaide City Explorer, 2023, <https://adelaidecityexplorer.com.au/items/show/193>, viewed 24th February 2023.
  2. Autopsy of Adelaide, 2023, <https://autopsyofadelaide.com/2017/03/30/urban-exploration-gerard-goodman-building-adelaide/>, viewed 24th February 2023.
  3. City of Adelaide Heritage Survey, 2008
  4. Radiomuseum, 2023, <https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/gerard_clipsal_morse_key_cat_no_610_2_terminal_key.html>, viewed 24th February 2023.
  5. SA History Hub, 2023, <https://sahistoryhub.history.sa.gov.au/people/alfred-edward-gerard>, viewed 24th February 2023.
  6. SA Museum, 2023, <https://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/collection/archives/provenances/aa841>, viewed 24th February 2023.
  7. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._E._Gerard>, viewed 24th February 2023.