Barossa's Aerial Vintages: Radio Amateurs Cultivate Connectivity

NURIOOTPA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA – Amidst the rolling vineyards and celebrated terroir of the Barossa Valley, a different kind of cultivation is taking place. The Barossa Amateur Radio Club (BARC), operating under the callsign VK5BRC, serves as a dedicated hub for radio communication enthusiasts, ensuring that clear signals resonate throughout this iconic South Australian region, traditionally known more for its earthly harvests.

Central to the club's contribution is its strategically positioned repeater network. From the commanding height of Mount Kitchener, some 580 metres above sea level, BARC operates a 2-meter FM repeater on 146.825MHz. This installation provides extensive coverage for traditional analogue voice communications. Further enhancing its technological footprint, a separate 70cm System Fusion repeater, capable of both analogue and digital voice modes, is located near Tarlee on 439.800MHz. Both these key repeaters require a 91.5Hz access tone, a common technical measure to ensure interference-free operation. Adding to its infrastructure, the club also maintains two beacons on Mount Kitchener (VK5RBV transmitting on 50.456MHz and 144.456MHz), which serve as vital propagation indicators for the amateur radio community monitoring signal conditions.

The club maintains a regular tempo of engagement for its members, with meetings convened on the first Tuesday of each month. These gatherings take place at Kodo Technologies, a local enterprise situated on the Old Sturt Highway in Nuriootpa, with members arriving from 7:30 pm for an 8:00 pm start. Such forums are essential for discussing club matters, sharing technical insights, and fostering the collegial spirit that underpins the hobby.

Under the stewardship of President Matt Turner (VK5ZX) and Secretary/Treasurer Jeff Love (VK5JKL), the Barossa Amateur Radio Club focuses on providing robust communication infrastructure and a consistent meeting schedule for its members. While details of broader public events or training courses are not prominent in their public information, their dedication to maintaining these key repeater assets forms a crucial backbone for amateur radio activity in and around one of Australia's premier wine regions. The club can be contacted via its post office box in Angaston (PO Box 356, SA 5353) or its website, https://www.google.com/search?q=vk5brc.com.au.

The Barossa Amateur Radio Club, through its investment in high-sited repeaters and regular member interaction, exemplifies the quiet dedication that sustains specialized technical communities. It ensures that in a region famed for its viticulture, the ethereal domain of radio waves also remains actively cultivated and accessible.