Medal № 089/2022

Craig Hayhow, VK6JJJ was born on Phillip Island in Victoria in 1964 and gained his limited amateur radio licence VK3YHC in 1983, later changing his call sign to VK6TVM in 1990 after moving to Western Australia. In the year 2000, after passing the 20 wpm CW exam, he upgraded to an unrestricted amateur radio licence VK6JJJ.

Craig enjoys working DX, digital modes, satellite, EME, meteor scatter, 6m and any challenging weak signal mode and enjoys operating Flex Radio Systems SDR transceivers.

Working in the offshore oil & gas industry as a communications technician (VK6JJJ/MM), Craig has worked in many different countries including South Korea where he operated as HL5/VK6JJJ and he also spent 15 months at the Australian Antarctic research station "Mawson" where he operated with the callsign VK0JJJ.

https://www.qrz.com/db/VK6JJJ

Medal № 254

I was licenced in 1984. I inherited my granddads call VK4SN (lic.1938) after his passing in 1991. Contesting is my passion, especially using CW and hold several records including a world record in the JIDX CW 28Mhz, and several VK records for various international contests. My website vk4sn dot com has many helpful articles and my station setup. I like to build my own projects and antennas and assist others where I can.

As Chairperson of the Wireless Institue's Radio committee one of my tasks is manager of the Remembrance Day and Trans-Tasman contests. To catch Australia up with the rest of the world, I created a website in 2017 for log submissions and log checking for the majority of VK contests with more being added at present. Results and statistics are included.

Many years ago, myself and 2 others started a small local radio club as we are a long way from the cities. Members enjoyed being invoived in setting up new repeaters, packet radio, running a BBS, contests, field day contests, and promotion of the hobby.

These days I'm busy running my own computer business but still find time to contest.

73 de Alan VK4SN

https://www.qrz.com/db/VK4SN

Medal № 188

First call WD0HSP 1978-2004

Other Calls WD0HSP/DU3 1984-1989

WD0HSP/KL 1991-1992 ADAK, AK

KA2NY Naval Base Yokosuka, JA Club Call 1992-1996

7J6CEG 1996-1998 Okinawa, Japan

WD0HSP (Extra) 1998-2002

VQ9LA 2002-2011

N0QM 2003-present (EXTRA)

DU3/N0QM 2011-2014

DU3LA 2014-present

4D3X 2019- present Contest Call

Awards: WAZ, DXCC (9 BAND plus 160), WAS, DXCC QRP

Born in Kansas City Missouri

Schools Grandview, Missouri

Jobs Mosler Safe Company 1978-1982 Packer, Welder, Machinist

US Navy 1983-2003 Communications

DG21 Diego Garcia 2002-2011 CWO

Retirement 2011

My start in radio was 1974 as a SWL using a National NC-57 receiver and Bendix MN-28CI my first amateur licensed was 1978 as WD0HSP. The first transceiver with the new call was a gift from my parents, Heath kit HW-8, the kit was put together at my parent’s house and the alignment was completed at my dad’s Avionics shop, Richards Geber AFB using their high end USAF test equipment. The antenna for the HW-8 was a simple dipole with using a J-38 Key. After a few QRP contacts was hooked with CW, The HW-8 was a blast!

Joined the US Navy in 2003 and the USN took me around the world meeting many Hams from all over the world. My current call is DU3LA and living in the Philippines as an Expat, I also hold 4D3X vanity call for contest.

Main interest these days is Radio Contesting CW/RTTY/SSB

Amateur Radio has been a lifelong hobby, have met many friends from all around the world. You can set at a table at Dayton the 160 contest dinner and everyone is equal having nice conversations. Maybe the rest of the world could learn from the brother/sisterhood of this great hobby.

https://www.qrz.com/db/du3la

Medal № 185

https://www.qrz.com/db/YD4RWH

Medal № 139

I am originally from Naracoorte in the South East of South Australia but have lived in Vanuatu since 1979 and I am now a dual citizen of Australia and Vanuatu.

My first Amateur Radio license was in 1982 as YJ8RN through Vanuatu Amateur Radio Society, VARS, YJ8DX.

During 2 periods of work outside of Vanuatu I have also held the calls VK5PAT and 3D3SN.

Until 2012 all my operating in Vanuatu was from my home island of Efate. However since 2012 my work has taken me to other parts of Vanuatu, where I have operated when possible. I have activated IOTA OC110, Torres Islands on 6 occasions, also IOTA OC104 Banks Islands and OC 111 Shepherds Islands twice. The first time was while I was organizing the 2019 Dxpedition by RZ3FW and R4WAA. I was looking for QTH which would be suitable for them and checking the logistics for their DXpedition.

Later, when RZ3FW and R4WAA were in Vanuatu, I travelled with them and operated as a part of YJ0RRC in OC104 and YJ0FWA in OC111 and also on Efate, OC035.

Over the years my activity has varied but I do hold DXCC, WAS and am a 10:10 member.

As for the rest of the world, Covid 19 has reduced my ability to travel but I am planning to do some more internal travel during 2021 to activate the other IOTA locations in Vanuatu.

https://www.qrz.com/db/yj8rn

Medal № 149

https://www.qrz.com/db/v85t

Medal № 135

https://www.qrz.com/db/yb0az

Medal № 137

https://www.qrz.com/db/yb7lsb

Medal № 144

Licensed since 1988, 3D2AG operates both from Fiji and Rotuma (as 3D2AG/p). Station is QRV 1.8-144 MHz, on CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, FT4 and JT65. Main radio interests are DXpeditions, low bands, VHF (6m) long-distance propagation monitoring, and antenna testing and construction. Preferred modes are CW and FT8.The OM also held the callsign FO0DER (later upgraded to FO5RK) and was QRV from Mangareva Island (IOTA OC-063) from November 14-22, 2000. Other calls include ZK1AGG Rarotonga South Cook Islands, T30AR from Tarawa, Western Kiribati, T2AR from Funafuti, Tuvalu and FK/FO5RK from Nouméa, New Caledonia.

Medal № 61/2021

https://www.qrz.com/db/zl1lc

Medal № 84

Chris Chapman, VK3QB was born in 1968 and gained his novice ham radio licence whilst still in high school in 1984. He upgraded to the unrestricted licence in 1986 whilst completing his higher school certificate. Morse-code has been his favourite mode, but he still enjoys a good ragchew on SSB. He dabbles in digital modes.

Chris has always enjoyed DX; both chasing it and being at the pointy end of pileups. From an early age, Chris was fascinated by weak DX signals and working stations from all corners of the earth. Finally, in 2009 he was able to achieve his dream of being a part of a DXpedition (VK9LA Lord Howe Island) which lead to many further DXpeditions and friendships with radio amateurs from around the world.

From 2009, Chris has activated Lord Howe Island (VK9LA & VK9LI), Vanuatu (YJ0QB & YJ0VK), Fiji (3D2/VK3QB) and Norfolk Island (VK9NT) with a total of 11 DXpeditions. Chris has lead 8 teams to these South Pacific Islands and always enjoys hearing an operator report that they’ve worked ATNO. He and his teams’ have always encouraged newcomers to join them and they’ve help others learn about DXpeditioning and how to “work the pile-ups”. He also enjoys visiting new places and experiencing the beauties of the natural world.

Chris holds DXCC and has also worked DXCC with 5w. He remains fascinated with HF, working new ones, weak signals and the surprises that often appear when spinning the dial and listening to the HF bands.

Medal № 83

Luke Steele, VK3HJ was first licenced in 1981, but didn’t get seriously interested in the DX chase until he moved to a country property in 2007. Since then, he has achieved 9 Bands DXCC.

In 2009, he was invited on his first DXpedition to Lord Howe Island (VK9LA) and has since been an active DXpeditioner, to Vanuatu (YJ0VK 2010, 11, 12), Moreton Island Lighthouse (VK4ILH OC-137, 2012), Norfolk Island (2013, 14, 15, 16), Mellish Reef (VK9MT 2014), Christmas Island (VK9XI 2017), Cocos (Keeling) Islands (VK9CI 2017), and back to Lord Howe Island (VK9LI 2018).

Luke trained as a Radio Technician as an Army Apprentice starting in 1980, and subsequently served in various units of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals until 1990. He then worked in various civilian technical roles until 1999, and has been working with horses since as a hoof care professional.

Luke enjoys horse riding, cycling and travel along with his Amateur Radio hobby.

Medal № 82

Craig Edwards was born in South Australia in 1972 and gain his Foundation Licence in 2008 and upgraded to the Standard in 2009 and then Advanced in 2012. He is married and is about to build a house where he and his wife will settle down and build a small antenna farm on 2.5 acres in the countryside of VK5. Craig is the Oceania Checkpoint for IOTA (https://iota-world.org/) and the webmaster for the Island Radio Expedition Foundation IREF (https://irefradio.com/).

Craig’s passion is activating islands around Australia for the Islands on the Air IOTA program. This involves mega pile-ups, incredible propagation, exhilarating adventures, breathtaking scenery, fatigue, sunburn, stings, bites and bloodshed. Unfortunately, Australia has a reputation for many creatures that can kill you. The more remote you go, the likelihood of encountering deadly creatures seems to increase. The spiders, sand flies, fire ants, Irukandji stingers, jellyfish and sharks are an ever-present threat. The two things that concern him the most are poisonous snakes and crocodiles, these reptiles seem to constantly be a risk factor in the remote one-man DXpeditions that he conducts.

Craig conducted his first IOTA DXpedition in 2010 and by the end of 2018 will have done 22 IOTA activations. Activations have been VK4LDX/P OC-172, OC-171 and OC-138 in 2010 and 2011. He then upgraded to the Advanced licence meaning 400W instead of 100W and in 2012 he did VK8BI OC-185 followed by 2013 with VK5CE/P OC-261 and VK5CE/4 OC-255. A highlight in 2014 was doing VK5CE/8 OC-173 and the last NEW IOTA left in VK, VK6ISL OC-294NEW. 2015 brought VK5CE/P OC-220 and he was a member of the S79C AF-119 NEW team. 2016 was a busy year with another NEW IOTA to ZL9A OC-286NEW and then VK5CE/6 OC-243 and VK5CE/P OC-228.

Last year was Craig’s biggest commitment to IOTA by activating VK5CE/3 OC-196, VK5CE/7 OC-233, VK5CE/P OC-228, VK5CE/8 OC-198 and VK9AR OC-216. In 2018 Craig will be conducting a VK6 IOTA tour as VK5CE/6 in June 2018 to OC-140, OC-170, OC-193 and OC-199. Craig loves the adventure of island DXpeditioning and receives great joy when giving people new islands. All stories about Craig’s IOTA DXpeditions are available at https://vkiota.wordpress.com/.

Medal № 81

Presently work as a telecommunicaations engineer in the oil and gas industry. Commericial Merchant Marine Radio & Electronics Officer Licence. BSc Radio Physics & Telecommunications Engineering, Grad Dip IT MIEEE, MIET, MInstPhysics. Antarctic activity: (VP8PJ, British Antarctic Survey, 1976 -1980), (VKØLD, VKØMM, 1999 – 2001, Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions), (Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions: VP8PJ, 9VØA & CE9/VKØLD at Patriot Hills summer camp 2003 – 2012), (VK0EK, Heard Is DX Expedition, 2016). Other callsigns over the years: A4XYF, G4EEL, P29AC, VK8AC, VS5AC, V85AC, 9V1DX.

Донор: Национальная Академия исследований и открытий «Русский путешественник»

Medal № 102

https://www.qrz.com/db/ye1ar

Medal № 94

https://www.qrz.com/db/du7et