Westland Amateur Radio Club: Greymouth’s Lifeline Through Storm and Shine

In the shadow of the Southern Alps, where the Tasman Sea meets the Grey River, the Westland Amateur Radio Club (Branch 49) operates as the West Coast’s communications sentinel. From their Blaketown base, this rugged group of operators keeps the Coast connected when weather and terrain conspire against modern technology.

Monthly Meetups in Wild Weather Country

The club’s rhythm follows the region’s dramatic climate:
🗓 1st Wednesday monthly (7:30pm at Blaketown School)
🌧 All welcome – from miners to marine operators
📻 695kHz net – the Coast’s bush telegraph for members

“When slips took out SH6 last winter, we relayed messages between stranded communities,” says AREC Group Leader Brent Doncliff ZL2TBD, a KiwiRail communications specialist.

Emergency Ready

The club’s AREC team, led by Keith Teasdale ZL3KDT, provides:
✅ Civil Defence coordination during West Coast deluges
✅ Repeater maintenance across alpine terrain
✅ Training with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter

Learning the Coast Way

With exam supervisors including Bob McQuarrie ZL3TY and Evan Hunt ZL3YA, the club offers:
🎓 Licensing courses tailored to mining and maritime needs
🛠️ Solar/battery workshops for off-grid operations
🌊 Marine radio certification for local fishers

Join the Coast’s Radio Network

Visit: 1st Wednesdays at Blaketown School, 90-98 Blake St
Contact: Secretary Graham Hay ZL3WMM (027 560 6055)

In a region where nature writes the rules, these radio operators keep Westland talking – proving that sometimes crackling static carries more truth than any smartphone signal.

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[Did You Know?]
The club’s 695kHz net regularly reaches isolated DOC huts in the Paparoa Range. President Warren Smith ZL4WPS once coordinated a medical evacuation via radio when floods cut off cell service south of Hokitika.