Sparking Connections on the Coffs Coast: The Coffs Harbour & District Amateur Radio Club

For over four decades, the airwaves across the Coffs Harbour district have crackled with the dedicated signals of the Coffs Harbour & District Amateur Radio Club (CHADARC), a vibrant community of radio enthusiasts known by their callsign VK2EP. Founded in September 1978 by local amateurs Norm Cameron VK2ZNQ, Brian Slarke VK2ZCQ (now silent key), and Max Francis VK2BMK (also silent key), the club emerged from a desire to amplify amateur radio activity in the region spanning Macksville, Dorrigo, and Woolgoolga.

The seeds of this thriving club were sown at a meeting held at the Ocean View Hotel in Urunga, where a shared passion for radio communication blossomed into a formal organisation. While their original P.O. Box has been cancelled, CHADARC remains a vital hub for local "hams," fostering camaraderie and technical expertise. Their online presence at http://www.chadarc.org.au offers a glimpse into their ongoing activities.

The club's physical heart resides at the Rex Hardaker Oval, Hogbin Drive, Toormina, where meetings and activities take place. For those keen to pinpoint their clubhouse, the coordinates are S 30 20 44.1 x E 153 05 35.5.

One of the club's recent highlights was their participation in the International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend (ILLW) in August 2022. Undeterred by the isolation, three intrepid CHADARC members – Russell Wotherspoon VK4NGN, Fred McSkimming VK2FM, and Steve Feeney VK2SPF – set up their transmitters on the remote South Solitary Island. Operating under Fred's ILLW registered callsign VK2FM, they joined a global network of radio enthusiasts broadcasting from lighthouses, aiming to connect with fellow operators across the world.

Meanwhile, a separate two-person team comprising VK2AF Frank Humphreys and VK2VF Tony Jones activated the Smoky Cape lighthouse under the callsign VK2VF, further showcasing the region's amateur radio spirit.

Gaining access to the rugged South Solitary Island, located 18km northeast of Coffs Harbour, was an adventure in itself. Thanks to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the local Precision Helicopters, the team made the 20-minute aerial journey to the 23-acre island. South Solitary stands as one of only two island lighthouses along the New South Wales coastline, its counterpart being Montague Island to the south.

For the ILLW event, South Solitary Lighthouse held the reference number AU-0054, marking it as a highly sought-after contact for radio operators globally due to its isolated location. The CHADARC team's presence on the island spanned from lunchtime on Friday, August 19th, to lunchtime on Monday, August 22nd, allowing them to make contacts before, during, and after the official ILLW operating hours.

Their setup included HF operations primarily on the 80m, 40m, and 20m bands using a G5RV antenna, while VHF/FM contacts were made via the Coffs 146.850 MHz repeater (requiring a 123Hz access tone) before switching to simplex on 146.0 MHz. VHF/USB operations utilised 144.1 MHz with a 5/8 G/plane antenna on an extension tripod.

Fred McSkimming VK2FM, a veteran of the island, having visited ten times during his career as a Telstra technician maintaining the radio telephone system, reflected on the stark contrast in travel. His first trip in 1968 aboard the motor launch "Pamela Star" took a lengthy two hours, culminating in a precarious 15-meter ascent via a cane basket lifted by crane onto the steel jetty. He noted the now-rusted remains of the jetty, a testament to the changing times, with helicopter access now offering a swift 20-minute flight.

South Solitary Island's IOTA reference is OC-194. Fred can be contacted directly at [email address removed] or by phone at 02-66531511 for further information.

Back on the mainland, CHADARC fosters regular engagement through their weekly nets: HF nets convene on Monday nights at 8 pm on 3.609 MHz (+/- 3kHz), while VHF nets operate on the 146.850 MHz repeater (123Hz tone) every Wednesday and Friday at 8 pm. The club also opens its doors every Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm at their Toormina location, with a nominal $2 entry fee for tea, coffee, and biscuits.

For those interested in joining this active community or learning more about amateur radio, the Coffs Harbour & District Amateur Radio Club can be reached via email at secretary@chadarc.org.au. Alternatively, Russell Ashdown VK2VK, the club's President, can be contacted on 0409 155123. Secretary and Treasurer Steve Horsfall is also available on 0418 281045.

Whether you're a seasoned ham or simply curious about the world of radio communication, the Coffs Harbour & District Amateur Radio Club offers a welcoming environment to connect, learn, and participate in the enduring tradition of amateur radio.