I received this certificate last week. It is the Russian Districts Award, issued for having made contact with 250 different Russian districts.

Here is my latest VKFF Hunter Honour Roll certificate, issued for having hunted 2,275 VKFF references.

Thank you to all of the VKFF activators and thank you to Adam VK2YK, the VK5 VKFF State Rep for the certificate.

A few days ago, I received the QSL card below from China Radio International, for my reception of their broadcast on 9800 kHz on 10th June 2025.

On Wednesday, 9th July 2025, I headed down to the city to pick up a Yaesu FRG7 communications receiver. This is the second one in my collection, and this particular model came from the USA and does not have the fine-tuneknob. The Yaesu FRG7 was produced from 1976 to 1980 and retailed in Australia back in those days at around the $300.00 mark.

Below is some video of the FRG7 in action later that night.

I then headed back up the hill and had a bit of time to fill in before a radio club meeting, so I quickly activated the Totness Conservation Park VKFF-1754. It was just a quick activation due to rain.

I made the following contacts on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK3JT
3. VK2BD
4. VK3TKK/p (VFF-5132)
5. VK2VW
6. VK2HFI
7. VK2AKA
8. VK2BUG
9. VK3APJ
10. VK2EXA
11. VK5FANA
12. VK3PF/m
13. VK3KAI/m
14. VK3SMW
15. VK3MGM
16. VK3ACZ
17. VK3SPG

I made the following contacts on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO
2. VK2GEZ
3. VK1AO
4. VK2MET
5. VK7AAE
6. VK4EMP
7. VK4TI
8. VK4GKO
9. VK2USH
10. ZL1GA
11. VK2VW
12. VK2HFI
13. VK2AKA
14. VK2BUG
15. VK4CCW

I then drove the very short distance to Lofty Community Radio 5LCM, and met up with other members of the Strathalbyn Amateur Radio Group. One of our members, Peter VK5PET, had organised a tour of the community radio station.

Kimberley was our tour guide. She runs the Breakfast in the Hills program each weekday. It was an extremely interesting visit. Thanks to Kimberley and thanks to Peter for organising.

Following our radio station visit, we headed to a cafe in Mount Barker where we enjoyed coffee and cake.

What a great day.

Here is a selection of the latest QSL cards received for VK5MAZ and VK5PAS.

A few months ago, I made contact with Ivica 9A6CW, who was activating a summit for SOTA in Croatia. Ivica sent me a photo of his operating spot.

Ivica was running a G90, 15 watts, and an end-fed antenna at just 4 metres from the ground.

Recently, Marija and I were very pleased to receive an email from Iratxe EA2DNO in Spain. She sent us an email to let us know that our QSL cards had arrived safely. We work Iratxe regularly whilst she is activating summits for the Summits On The Air (SOTA) program.

As part of the 8th National Police Week in Australia, I will be on air as VI8POL from Saturday, 13th September, through until Monday, 29th September 2025.

National Police Week is a celebration of our nation’s police. It is a time to pause to honour the 826 Australian police officers whose lives have been lost while performing their duty. It is also a time to remember police officers who have lost their lives through illness or other circumstances.

Sadly, in the past few weeks, another Australian police officer paid the ultimate price protecting the community. Constable Keith Smith was shot and killed in Tasmania whilst executing a court-issued warrant.

I will add a QRZ.com page soon.

Here is a selection of QSL cards received in the past week for VK5MAZ and VK5PAS.

I received this Certificate of Appreciation for my involvement in VK80MAN and Operation Manna.

Many thanks to the organisers of the event.