Geelong's Long-Standing Voice: The Geelong Amateur Radio Club

The Geelong Amateur Radio Club (GARC), proudly holding the callsign VK3ATL, has a rich history dating back to the post-World War II era. While amateur radio operations were suspended during the war (1939-1945), the period saw many civilians in the Geelong area, located about an hour's drive south-west of Melbourne, receive technical training in radio and radar. By 1948, the number of licensed amateur radio operators ("hams") in Geelong had grown from just nine in 1938 to around fifteen.

This burgeoning interest led to a pivotal meeting, out of which the Geelong Amateur Radio Club was formed. Weekly meetings quickly attracted fifteen to twenty individuals, fostering a strong local amateur radio community. By the end of 1948, the club was officially granted its callsign, VK3ATL.

The Geelong Amateur Radio Club holds regular meetings every Friday evening at 7:30 PM and every Wednesday afternoon from 1:30 PM at their clubrooms located on Storrer Street, East Geelong.

GARC offers a variety of on-air activities for its members and the wider amateur radio community:

• Club Net: Held on VK3RGL/2 on Monday nights at 8:00 PM.
• Parks and Gardens Net (Open to All): Takes place on VK3RGL/2 on Wednesdays at 10:30 AM.
• Wednesday Chat Group: A casual gathering at the Clubrooms on Wednesdays at 1:30 PM.

The club also maintains an extensive repeater network:

• VK3RGL: 147.000 MHz output with 91.5Hz CTCSS
• VK3RGC: 147.125 MHz output with 91.5Hz CTCSS
• VK3ROW: 147.275 MHz output with 91.5Hz CTCSS
• VK3RGL (70cm): 439.500 MHz output with 91.5Hz CTCSS
• VK3RGC (DMR): 439.575 MHz output with 91.5Hz CTCSS

Additionally, GARC operates two beacons:

• VK3RGL (2m): 144.530 MHz CW in QF22DC, beaming West and North-East.
• VK3RGL (70cm): 432.530 MHz CW in QF22DC, beaming alternately West and North-East.

The Geelong Amateur Radio Club's meeting location is on Storrer Street, East Geelong.

GARC provides support for individuals seeking amateur radio licenses. While they do not run on-site courses, they offer free support to members and membership applicants undertaking Ron Bertrand's Radio and Electronic School's off-site computer-based Foundation and Standard Courses, as well as their email-based Advanced Course. The club conducts assessments for Foundation, Standard, and Advanced Licenses as the need arises. For further information regarding training and assessments, please contact the Club Training Organiser, Dennis Haustorfer VK3SM (0488 004 098).

The Geelong Amateur Radio Club can be contacted at PO Box 520, Geelong, Vic, 3220, at their clubrooms on Storrer Street, East Geelong, or via their website http://vk3atl.org/. A general phone number is "tba" (to be announced).

The dedicated committee members leading GARC include President Russell Knox VK3KRG (0491 169 737), Secretary Bob Badham VK3LRX (0409 955 485), and Treasurer Dennis Haustorfer VK3SM (0488 004 098).

With a long and active history, the Geelong Amateur Radio Club continues to be a vital hub for amateur radio enthusiasts in the Geelong region, offering regular meetings, diverse on-air activities, and support for licensing.