Black Opal Country Signals: The Lightning Ridge Amateur Radio Club Lights Up the Airwaves

Emerging in late 2014 from a chance encounter between Bob VK4MR and local enthusiasts at the Bowles club, the Lightning Ridge Amateur Radio Club, proudly holding the callsign VK2SMS, has quickly become a vibrant hub for amateur radio in the unique outback town. The club's initial momentum saw three individuals successfully complete their foundation licenses, laying the groundwork for a dedicated community.

The members poured considerable effort into establishing their clubhouse, a testament to their commitment. By 2015, the Lightning Ridge skyline gained two prominent 45-foot towers, supporting a 30-meter long wire dipole for HF operations, along with dedicated antennas for 2-meter and UHF CB, and a 2m/70cm antenna. A significant milestone was reached on Friday, July 22nd, when their 2-meter repeater was successfully brought online, operating on 146.725 MHz with a -600 kHz split. The club extends its sincere gratitude to the Gympie Radio Club for their invaluable assistance in building the repeater and providing ongoing support in setting up the club.

Members can often be found participating in the 7.130 DX net on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:30 pm, or by directly contacting Peter VK2STO and Kevin VK2HMV. The club celebrated the recent addition of four new licensees, with two individuals passing their Foundation exams and two members upgrading to their Standard licenses – a well-deserved congratulations to Kevin, Ken, Mark, and Arthur.

While their repeater experienced some downtime for repairs and potential relocation, a new repeater is now installed and functioning effectively. The club has ambitious plans for future linking with other repeaters, aiming to significantly expand their current operational range of approximately 49 kilometers. Negotiations are underway with another club offering assistance to achieve this goal.

This period marks a significant step forward for the Lightning Ridge club, with a growing membership and a surge of local interest, fulfilling the vision set nearly four years since its inception. Demonstrating their community spirit, Kevin VK2HMV and Peter VK2STO have actively engaged in fundraising for the Menshed in recent years, with the club committee generously providing funds for the purchase of an Icom IC-7300 transceiver.

In a touching act of generosity, the son of silent key VK2DRC Keith Conolly from Heble donated his father's radio equipment to the club, for which they are deeply grateful. Furthermore, the Dubbo Radio Club donated an ex-police station power supply, along with two more for spare parts, which is now reliably powering their repeater with battery backup – a testament to the collaborative spirit within the amateur radio community.

Meetings are currently held once a month on the 1st. The club has future plans to establish a radio net, likely starting on their 2-meter repeater (once it is back in service), to help new Foundation licensees become familiar with radio procedures. Recent times have presented challenges in securing a consistent meeting place, compounded by broader restrictions.

The Lightning Ridge Amateur Radio Club continues to be a beacon for radio enthusiasts in this unique corner of New South Wales, fostering connection, learning, and a shared passion for the hobby amidst the black opal fields.

For those wishing to connect with the Lightning Ridge Amateur Radio Club, they can be reached at PO Box 792, Lightning Ridge NSW 2834, or by phone at 0438 015 647. President Kevin Kelly VK2HMV can be contacted at 0431 260 810, and Secretary Peter Stonell can be reached at 0438 015 647.