In Our Group with Bundaberg
Amateur Radio Club

Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club secretary David Nebe, VK4DN, shares the workings of the electronics and radios through the local groups 60-plus-year history in the region.

Tell us about the group?

The Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club is a group of amateur radio operators passionate about electronics and radio. 

We get to communicate with other amateur radio stations from all over the world using short wave radio equipment.

Founded in 1961, our club has about 40 members.

We maintain repeaters and radio towers at a number of locations around the Bundaberg district allowing us to chat locally to other amateurs in the area or connect electronically with other amateurs around the world.

Unlike CB radio, we are able to operate on many different bands and frequencies and also have other privileges, such as being able to use more power.

What significant events will take place this year?

This year on Saturday 15 April 2023 at the Bundaberg Recreational Precinct our club is holding an open day and Hamfest.

A Hamfest is like a car boot sale where people have tables and sell radio and electronic equipment.

This is to celebrate World Amateur Radio Day, and we will be demonstrating different types of radio transmitters and have a display of a satellite tracking system and demonstrations of Morse code sending and receiving.

There is a lot of history with radio but today we are also able to operate the latest state-of-the-art radio equipment.

Why is the group important to the Bundaberg Region?

Our club supports a number of local organisations, such as the Scouts Jamboree On The Air, JOTA, in October every year.

This allows young scouts to chat to other scouts throughout Australia and around the world.

It’s a world-wide event and our club has been involved since the 1970s.

In March 2021, our club facilitated a contact with the International Space Station with the Avoca State School allowing the school kids to talk to an astronaut on the ISS.

It was an amazing event for kids of all ages.

We also supply comms with the local trail riders in the district where we set up checkpoints around the track to support the organisers and riders in case of incident or emergency. 

Our club also funds the Bundaberg WICEN (Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network) Group and work with the SES and other emergency services where we can provide communications between locations when needed.

Our WICEN group was activated during the recent floods in Bundaberg.

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When and where do you meet?

We hold quarterly club meetings on the last Saturday of each month in February, May, August and November at the SES building on Kendalls Road Avoca.

We also have regular workshops every week or so, where we build antennas, electronic equipment and collaborate on projects.

We have a workshop clubhouse over Bundaberg North with tools and equipment available to members.

We also have regular social events and other activities throughout the year.

How can the community be involved?

Our club is open to all ages and genders and invite members of the community to join this exciting hobby. 

To become an amateur radio operator, you will need to sit for an exam to be issued with a license and callsign.

Our club offers training courses and exam services to assist people to get their license and on the air waves. 

There are so many different possibilities with amateur radio!

Whether you are just wanting to chat to other operators, make friends locally or around the world, build interesting projects, learn Morse code, build antennas – it’s always interesting and there is something for everyone.

How can the community find out more information about the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club?

You can contact the club secretary David Nebe on 0410 121 345 or visit the website for more information.

If you are part of a group and want to tell your story, get in contact by email news@bundabergnow.com