Southern Cross DX Net/Family Hour Net

FAMILY HOUR NET & SOUTHERN CROSS DX NET.

It appears that the Southern Cross DX Net’s roots can be traced back to the W7PHO Family Hour Net which commenced in 1961.

The first known documented mention of the Southern Cross DX Net is in a March 1992 issue of the Australian amateur radio publication AR magazine, where it was reported that the net operating on 14.226.5 kHz at 1100 UTC had ‘divorced’ itself from the Family Hour name and was now called the Southern Cross DX Net.

Unfortunately, many amateur radio operators associated with the net over the years are now Silent Key and documentation in the way of logs, etc are also not available.

VIDEOS.

HISTORY OF THE NET.

Family Hour Net.

DATE	TIME	FREQUENCY	NET CONTROL	NOTES	SOURCE
1961	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1962	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1963	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1964	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1965	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1966	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1967	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1968	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1969	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1970	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1971	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1972	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1973	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1974	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1975	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1976	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1977	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1978	1300 UTC summer & 2300 UTC winter	14.225 mHz	Bill W7PHO	-	RaRa Rag newsletter Sept 1978
1979	1400 GMT 2300 GMT 0000 GMT	14.226 mHz 21.320 mHz	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com CQ Aug 1979
1980	1500 UTC 2300 UTC 2330 UTC	14.250 mHz 14.225 mHz 21.345 mHz	Bill W7PHO Terry WB0WNG	-	AR magazine Aug 1980 The DX Bulletin Oct 1980 Ham Radio Horizons magazine1980
1981	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1982	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com AR magazine April 1982
1983	1400 UTC 2300 UTC 0000 UTC	14.225 mHz 21.320 mHz	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com 73 magazine Dec 1983
1984	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1985	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1986	-	-	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com
1987	1600-1800 UTC 2300-0100 UTC	14.227 mHz 14.226.5 mHz	Bill W7PHO	-	hamgallery.com Crosstalk newsletter QTC magazine Oct 1987
1988	-	14.226 mHz	Joannie KA6V	-	SCC Club Bulletin Feb 1988 QTC magazine Oct 1988
1989	-	14.226 mHz	Des ND3L Joannie KA6V Mac W3HCW	-	Des ND3L information
1990	-	-	-	-	-
1991	1100 UTC 2330 UTC 1800 UTC	14.226.5 mHz 14.226.5 mHz 21.345 mHz	-	-	Monitoring Times January 1991 Monitoring Times February 1991
1992	-	-	-	-	-
1993	-	-	-	-	-
1994	-	-	-	-	-
1995	-	-	-	-	-
1996	-	-	-	-	-
1997	-	-	-	-	-
1998	-	-	-	-	-
1999	-	-	-	-	-
2000	-	14.245 mHz	-	-	QST magazine January 2000
2001	-	-	-	-	-
2002	1400 UTC	14.245 mHz	-	-	AR magazine July 2002

Southern Cross DX Net.

DATE	TIME	FREQUENCY	NET CONTROL	NOTES	SOURCE
1991	-	14.226.5 mHz	Bob KI4RU	-	-
1992	1100 UTC	14.226 mHz	-	This was the first known documented mention of the Southern Cross DX Net	AR magazine August 1992
1993	1100 UTC	14.236 mHz 14.226.5 mHz	Moved freq due to FAX transmission	March - 14.236 May - 24.226.5 Oct - 14.226.5	AR magazine March 1993 May 1993 October 1993 Feb 1994
1994	-	-	-	-	-
1995	1100 UTC	14.226.5 mHz	Alan VK4AAR Bob KI4RU	-	AR magazine February 1995 May 1995
1996	1100 UTC	14.255 mHz	-	moved freq due to QRM	AR magazine January 1996 February 1996
1997	1100 UTC	14.255 mHz	Alan VK4AAR	-	AR magazine February 1997
1998	1100 UTC Friday Saturday Sunday Monday	14.255 mHz	Alan VK4AAR	-	AR magazine March 1998
1999	-	-	-	-	-
2000	1030 UTC	14.226 mHz	Tex VK1TX	-	AR magazine May 2000 July 2000 QRZ.com Forum
2001	-	-	-	-	-
2002	1100 UTC	14.226.5 mHz	-	-	AR magazine July 2002
2003	-	-	-	-	-
2004	-	-	-	-	-
2005	-	-	-	-	-
2006	-	-	-	-	-
2007	-	-	-	-	-
2008	-	-	-	-	-
2009	-	-	-	-	-
2010	-	-	-	-	-
2011	-	-	Jack W1FDY	-	-
2012	-	-	Jack W1FDY	-	-
2013	-	-	Jack W1FDY	-	-
2014	-	-	Jack W1FDY	-	-
2015	-	-	Jack W1FDY	-	-
2016	-	-	Jack W1FDY	-	-
2017	-	-	Jack W1FDY	-	-
2018	-	-	Jack W1FDY	-	-
2019	-	-	Jack W1FDY	-	-
2020	-	-	Jack W1FDY	-	-
2021	-	-	Jack W1FDY	-	-
2022	-	-	Jack W1FDY	-	-
2023	-	14.238 mHz	Jack W1FDY Gary N3SJL	-	-
2024	-	14.238 mHz	Jack W1FDY Gary N3SJL	-	-

1961.

In 1961, William ‘Bill’ Bennett, amateur radio callsign W7PHO (now a Silent Key) commenced the Family Hour DX Net. (hamgallery.com 2024)

William Harry Bennett was born on the 30th day of May 1909 at Metropolis, Massac, Illinois, USA. His parents being Harry Bennett and Ora Bennett nee Cagle. He was the second of three children. When aged one, the family moved to Oregon. In September 1935 he married Winifred May Johnson. They had two children together. In 1949 Winifred died, and later that year Bill married Ruth Elizabeth Hoffman in Seattle, Washington. They had two children. (Ancestry.com.au) (hamgallery.com 2024) (SCCC newsletter)

Above:- Bill Bennett W7PHO. Image c/o www.hamgallery.com/

Bill was a businessman in the construction industry. He was a public-school teacher in Oregon. Following retirement, he travelled extensively with his wife in a large RV vehicle. He regularly attended the Northwest DX Convention. Bill was a Rotarian of West Seattle and made Rotarian friends in Nepal and India where he was able to arrange shipments of hearing aids to be provided to disabled children. He was a former member and President of the Western Washington DX Club which was formed in 1952. He served as President from 1952 until 1967. (hamgallery.com 2024) (Western Washington DX Club 2024)

1978.

In 1978 the Family Hour Net was run on 14.225 mHz at 1300 UTC during the summer and at 2300 UTC during the winter. The net was referred to as the Asia-Oceania Net. (The RaRa Rag, Sept 1978)

The article states that the net has ‘such notables as BV2B, CR9AJ, JT1AN and KC6MJ. Other rare ones that occasionally check in are VS6, HS, HL9, VS5, and many others.’ (The RaRa Rag, Sept 1978)

1979.

The net was run daily on 14.225 mHz at 1400 and 200 GMT and on 21.320 mHz at 0000 GMT. (73 magazine Aug 1979)

1980.

On the 4th day of January 1980, seven amateur radio operators: Dave K6LPL, Bob K2HFX, Jan WA6YQW, Jay WA2FIJ, W5VAH, KB5FU, and Tom WD5FJL boarded a Lockheed 18 Learsar 1 aircraft at Honolulu International Airport and flew towards Palmyra Island for a DXpedition. (Facebook 2022) (Ham Gallery 2024)

About 120 miles south of Hawaii, the flight to Palmyra was aborted due to radio failure. The plane returned to Hawaii. (Ham Gallery 2024)

The following day they board the plane once again and headed to Palmyra. As the plane approached the airstrip the pilot incorrectly estimated the cross wind. The plane served off the runway and collided with trees. Jan WA6YQW was seriously injured. The US Coast Guard was despatched and a Hercules C-130 arrived on the island and airlifted Jan to Hawaii. She was admitted to the Trippler US Army Hospital with multiple fractures. (Facebook 2022) (Ham Gallery 2024) (Harro Ranter 2018)

Following the accident a decision was made to remain on Palmyra and activate the island. They also activated nearby Kingman Reef. (Ham Gallery 2024)

On the 11th day of January 1980 Dave K6LPL was seriously injured after suffering a fall while hiking. The Coast Guard arrived with a C130 and the team left Palmyra for Hawaii. K6LPL received 4 hours of surgery on his hand. (Ham Gallery 2024) (Palmyra Atoll Digital Archive 2021)

A total of 15,000 QSOs were made from Palmyra Island. The team regularly checked in to the Family Hour Net. The Family Hour Net also assisted with emergency traffic. (Ham Gallery 2024) (SCCC 1988)

Above:- K6LPL QSL card. Image c/o ebay.

W7PHO and W7RQ were net controllers. (73 magazine June 1980)

Peter S2BTF from Bangladesh appeared on the net. (73 magazine June 1980)

Terry WB0WNG was a Net Control on the W7PHO Family Hour. (Ham Radio Horizons magazine August 1980)

Above:- Terry WB0WNG. Image c/o Ham Radio Horizons magazine

In August 1980, the Family Hour Net operated on 14.250 mHz at 1500 UTC, 21.345 mHz at 2330 UTC & 14.225 mHz at 2300 UTC. The net was run by Bill W7PHO (The DX Bulletin Oct 6 1980, Issue 58)

In August 1980, the Family Hour Net was held daily on 14.225 mHz at 1430 UTC. The net was also run on 14.225 mHz daily at 0130 UTC and 21.345 mHz at 0001 UTC. (AR magazine August 1980)

Note the difference in times and frequencies mentioned between The DX Bulletin and AR magazine.

c. 1981.

In 2016 a post was placed on the WTDXA Groups.io site. The author stated that one evening a list was being put together for Father Moran 9N1MM. He was reported to be the only Nepalese station in 20 years and was rare. As the list was being formed, the Russian ‘Woodpecker’ over the horizon radar commenced. One of Bill W7PHO’s ‘helpers’ was a UA9 station. It is reported that Bill asked the UA9 if he could help’. The UA9 allegedly told Bill to QRX for a minute and all would be OK. About a minute later the Woodpecker stopped and about 50 stations were able to get Nepal in their log for a new country. At the end of the list the UA9 said that he was going QRT. Within a minute the Woodpecker was back on frequency. Whether this was just coincidence, the UA9 made a phone call, or walked down the hall to turn a switch, no-one will ever know. (WTDXA Groups.io 2024)

Above:- 9N1MM. Image c/o WIkipedia.

1982.

Bill W7PHO was the Net Control. (AR magazine April 1982)

1983.

During the early 1980s the Southern Cross DX Club held a net each Thursday at 1030 UTC on 3570 kHz. Although having the same name, this was in no way connected with the net. (AR magazine December 1983)

In late 1983 the Family Hour Net was operating on 14.225 mHz at 1400 UTC and again at 2300 UTC. Also on 21.320 mHz at 0000 UTC. (73 Magazine Dec 1983)

A number of Chinese operators checked into the net. China was a newly re-activated country at that time.

1986.

Net control was Len K2HK. (73 magazine Jan 1986).

Regular checkins including ZC4MR, 5B25JE and 5B25MF. (73 magazine Jan 1986)

1987.

In July 1987 the Family Hour Net operated on 14.227 mHz 1600-1800 UTC and then again at 2300-0100 UTC. (Crosstalk newsletter, July 1987)

On the 23rd day of December 1987 Bill W7PHO suffered a heart attack at his home in Seattle, Washington, USA, whilst having a QSO with TI8CBT. He was 78 years old. QTC magazine, 1988, reported that the Family Hour would continue to use Bill’s call in his memory. (ancestry.com.au) (hamgallery.com 2024) (QTC magazine 1988) (SCCC newsletter) (Western Washington DX Club 2024)

It was reported that Bill was a ‘big gun in DXing’ and most DX stations instantly recognized his call and in turn Bill was very quick to recognize other DXers. Bill’s net attracted many famous DXpeditions including the KH5 Palmyra Island DXpediton. He ran the first BY operations since their reactivation. (hamgallery.com 2024) (SCCC newsletter)

Bill founded the Western Washington DX Club in 1952. He was the club president from 1952 until 1967. (Western Washington DX Club 2024)

1988.

Following Bill’s death, Joannie Branson KA6V, in Oregon USA, took up net control duties on the Family Hour Net. She also picked up Bill’s QSL Manager duties. (QTC 1988) (SCCC newsletter Feb 1988)

Joannie was assisted by Desmond ‘Des’ Warzel ND3L and Carl W3HCW. (Warzel 2024)

Other net controllers included Don KG5NW (now N5NW) and Alan WA4JTK. (Comedy 2024)

In 1988 Bill was awarded the Radio Amateur of the Year Award by the Dayton Ham-Vention. The award was accepted by his wife Ruth. Apart from establishing the Family Hour Net, he is credited with starting the Western Washington DX Club and influencing the ARRL to establish an outgoing QSL Bureau. There were many recommendations that he be recognized for his many contributions to amateur radio. (hamgallery.com 2024) (newsyi, Vol 10, Issue 8, April 15 1988)

In 1988 the Western Washington DX Club established a scholarship fund to honour the memory of Bill W7PHO. (hamgallery.com 2024) (QST 1988)

The ARRL run the William Bennett W7PHO Memorial Scholarship, an annual award for undergraduate students enrolled in a 4 year institution. It was established by the Western Washington DX Club and friends of Bill with the ARRL Foundation. (Ham Gallery)

1990.

In October 1990 the Family Hour Net was being run on 14.226.5 mHz during the Australian evenings. Gray Taylor VK4OH was the Australian net controller at that time and Bob KI4RU was the USA net control. (Sparkes 2024)

In October 1990 Bud KC4DWI from Virginia USA, was running the Family Hour Net during the Australian mornings. He was known as ‘Kilo Charlie Four Dog Whiskey Ida’. John VK6JX first checked in to the net on the 12th day of October 1990 and worked 17 stations including D44BS, VP8CEG and CN8GM. (Sparkes 2024).

Above- D44BS QSL card. Image c/o ebay.

1991.

In January 1991 the W7PHO Family Hour Net was run daily at 2330 UTC on 14.226.5 and again at 1100 UTC on 14.226.5 and also on 21.345 mHz at 1800 UTC daily. (Monitoring Times January 1991) (Monitoring Times Feb 1991)

Bob McCourt KI4RU, from central Florida, was Net Control.
The net operated on 14.226.5 mHz. Bob was affectionately known as KI4 'Red Underwear.' (Fackler 2024)

In February 1991, VK9TR Willis Island appeared on the net.

HC8/HC4L Galapagos Islands appeared on the net in November 1991. (Sparkes 2024)

1992.

This was the year in which I found the first known documented record of the Southern Cross DX Net.

In the March 1992 issue of the Australian amateur radio publication AR magazine, it was reported in the ‘How’s DX’ section written by Stephen Pall VK2PS, that:

“The net operating on 14.226.5 kHz at 1100 UTC had ‘divorced’ itself from the Family Hour name and is now called the Southern Cross DX Net.”

It was reported that the net was still concentrating on VK, ZL, Pacific, North and South America, and on the South East Asia area. (AR magazine March 1992)

The source of that information is not known.

It is unclear what the term 'divorce' means. The article implies that the net's name changed from the Family Hour and became known as the Southern Cross DX Net. However, I have found documented references to the Family Hour Net as late as 2009. It appears that the Family Hour Net continued after March 1992 when the article was written in AR magazine.

It is unknown who commenced the Southern Cross DX Net and who came up with the name of the net.

Terry VK8TM (now VK4TM) was Net Control. (Murphy 2024)

Gray Taylor VK4OH commenced as a Net Control. The net operated on 14.226.5 mHz. Gray was affectionately known as 'Old Horse'. (Fackler 2024) (Murphy 2024)

Net control was Belford ‘Bud’ ‘Budweiser’ Kellam KC4DWI in Cheriton Virginia, Gray Taylor VK4OH in Hervey Bay, and Bob KI4RU in Eustice Florida. The net met each night on 14.226.5 mHz Bud would use the phonetics of Kilo Charlie 4 Dog Whisky Ida or Kilo Charlie 4 Drunk With Intent. John VK6JX would sometimes assist from Western Australia. (Petkovich 2024)

Some of the regulars were Budweiser KC4DWT (SK), Doc K9JJR, Bill VK6WJH (SK), Paul VK6PY (SK), Alek VK6APK & John VK6JX. (Ireland 2024)

Above:- K9JJR QSL card. Image c/o ebay

Above:- VK6WJH QSL card. Image c/o QSL,net

Peter VE8PW in Zone 2 was a regular checkin to the net. AR magazine, August 1992 stated that this was a ‘much sought after zone.’ (AR magazine August 1992)

Above:- VE8PW QSL card. Image c/o QRZ.com

YA5MM in Afghanistan paid a ‘surprise visit’ to the net on 13th March 1992. (AR magazine May 1992)

Above:- YA5MM QSL card. Image c/o gdxf.de

1993.

In early 1993 it was reported that the net, held on 14226.5 kHz each day at 1100 UTC had been ‘subject to very severe interference from a FAX transmission originating from Europe’. As a result, the net moved up to 14236 kHz on 1st February 1993. (AR magazine March 1993)

In May 1993 the net moved back to its ‘old frequency’ of 14226.5 kHz at 1100 UTC. (AR magazine May 1993)

Steve VK6VZ checked into the net from Christmas Island. (Ireland 2024) (AR magazine October 1993)

In December 1983, YL operator Kiyoko in Nepal called into the net. AR magazine, February 1994 reported that she made ‘many contacts with VK, ZL, and others.’ (AR magazine February 1994)

1995.

In May 1995 the co-ordinators of the net commenced issuing ‘a very handsome certificate’ to any checkins to the net. Applications for those in Australia were via Alan Roocroft VK4AAR and in North America, South America, or Europe, via Bob McCourt KI4RU in Florida, USA. (AR magazine May 1995)

This award is not to be confused with the Southern Cross Award established in the 1970s by the Eastern Mountain District Amateur Radio Club. (AR magazine June 2003)

Jack W1FDY commenced as the Net Control. The net operated on 14.226.5 mHz and commenced at 1130 Z. (Fackler 2024)

Above:- Jack W1FDY.

Paul W8GIO in West Virginia assisted as Net Control. (Fackler 2024)

Above:- W8GIO QSL card, and photograph of Paul and his son. Images c/o Ham Gallery

In February 1995 Henri FR5ZQ/G at Glorioso appeared on the Southern Cross DX Net several times on 14226.5 kHz. (AR magazine February 1995)

Above:- FR5ZU QSL card. Image c/o ebay.

1996.

In January 1996 the net moved from 14226.5 kHz to a new frequency of 14.255 mHz. AR magazine reported that a ‘persistent, very heavy commercial QRM made the move necessary.’ (AR magazine January 1996)

The net moved to 14.238.5 mHz. This was due to a slow scan TV repeater that was established in Western Australia which operated on 14.227 mHz. (Fackler 2024)

In February 1996 AR magazine reported that the net on 14255 kHz had been ‘very active’ with ‘up to twenty DX stations on frequency operating from 1100 UTC and featuring some of Australia’s top net controllers.’ (AR magazine February 1996)

1997.

In February 1997 the net was operating on 14255 kHz at 1100 UTC each day. The net controller was Alan VK4AAR. (AR magazine February 1997)

The net had moved to 14.240 mHz due to RTTY. (Fackler 2024)

The net then moved down to 14.238 mHz. (Fackler 2024)

1998.

In March 1998 Alan VK4AAR announced that the Southern Cross DX Net had returned to the 20 metre band after a long absence. He advised that the net would only be operating on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays on 14255 kHz at 1100 UTC with a ‘variety of net controllers’. (AR magazine March 1998)

The reason for the absence is not known.

The details of the 'variety of net controllers' is unclear. Alan VK4AAR and Jack W1FDY were net controllers, but the details of other amateurs who performed those duties is unknown.

2000.

The Southern Cross DX Net was being run on 14.226.5 mHz at 1030 Z daily. Tex VK1TX was the Net Control. (AR magazine May 2000) (AR magazine July 2000)

Above:- Tex VK1TX. Image c/o flickr

In 2000, Frank VK3BFC posted on the QRZ.com Forum the following about the net:

"It generally has many VK & Oceania stations on it and the net controllers are a friendly bunch." (QRZ Forums 2018)

The William Bennett Family Hour Net was being run on 14.245 mHz. (QST January 2000)

A regular checkin to the net was Alan VK0MM from Macquarie Island. (Scott 2024)

Above:- VK0MM QSL card. Image c/o QRZ.com

2002.

During mid 2002, Jim Todd KC7OKZ/V73KZ and his wife Carol KC7TSX/V73SX from the Marshall Islands were frequent visitors to the net. (AR magazine July 2002)

2004.

The Southern Cross DX Net was held daily on 14.226.5 mHz at 1100 UTC. (Monitoring Times Sep 2004)

2006.

In c. 2006 Chic Wadley VK6ZAI commenced as an assistant Net Control on the net with Jack W1FDY. Chic ceased his duties with the net in c. 2011. (Chic Wadley VK6ZAI)

Above:- VK6ZAI. Image c/o QRZ.com

On the 31st day of May 2006, Paul Ray Vest, W8GIO of Stephens City, Virginia, fell Silent Key. He was 80 years of age.

Paul was born on the 27th day of December 1925 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the son of Earl Richard Vest and Stella Mae Adkins Vest.

In 1943 he married Phyllis Irene Cross at Gallapolis, Ohio. They had two children,.
He was a Divisional Engineer with Wright Chemcial in Chicago, Illinois. He retired in 1981 after 15 years of service.

Paul was a member of the Strasburg United Methodist Church and the American Radio Relay League. He was a veteran, having served with the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of Corporal. (Orlando Sentinel 2024)

2008.

Robert McCourt KI4RU fell silent key on the 3rd day of November 2008. He was 64 years of age. He was born in 1944 Richmond Hill New York and moved to Florida in 1984. He was a diesel mechanic and a US Navy veteran of Vietnam. He was a former President of the Lake Amateur Radio Association. (Orlando Sentinel 2024)

Above:- Article from The Orlando Sentinel, Tue 4 Nov 2008. Image c/o newspapers.com

2011.

Jack W2AF was Net Control. (Stu Mc - M0SSM, 2011)

Jack W1FDY was Net Control.

Jack was assisted by Larry W4VES

2012.

Jack W1FDY was Net Control.

Jack was assisted by Larry W4VES

2013.

Jack W1FDY was Net Control.

Jack was assisted by Larry W4VES

2014.

Jack W1FDY was Net Control.

Jack was assisted by Larry W4VES

Larry W4VES fell Silent Key.

Lawrence Randall Graham was born on the 15th day of March 1942. Larry died on the 24th day of April 2014. (ancestry.com.au)

In March 2014 Belford Downing ‘Bud’ Kellam KC4DWI became Silent Key. He passed away at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Nassawadox, Virginia and was aged 89 years. (Doughty Funeral Homes 2024)

Above:- photos of Bud KC4DWI and his QTH. Images c/o John VK6JX.

Bud was the son of Russell Kellam and Louise Miles Kellam. He was a World War II United States Navy Veteran, a graduate of University of Virginia, retired electrical engineer at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, a deacon at Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church in Columbia, MD and was well known for making crab and minnow pots for the local community. (Doughty Funeral Homes 2024)

Above:- Bud KC4DWI. Image c/o Doughty Funeral Homes.

2016.

Jack W1FDY was Net Control.

2017.

Jack W1FDY was Net Control.

2018.

Jack W1FDY was Net Control.

2019.

Jack W1FDY was Net Control.

2020.

Jack W1FDY was Net Control.

2021.

On the 8th day of October 2021, Alan Roocroft VK4AAR fell Silent Key. He was 88 years of age. (ancestry.com.au)

He was born on the 14th day of July 1933 in Liverpool, England. He migrated to Australia in 1954. (ancestry.com.au)

Alan Roocroft VK4AAR was attracted to amateur radio before leaving school in 1948. He was first licenced in Adelaide in 1978. Army service and a move to Australia interrupted his involvement in the hobby. In 1977 he purchased a CB radio and that led him back to amateur radio. He joined the Elizabeth Amateur Radio Club and obtained his licence. Alan worked at GMH Elizabeth for 20 years. In April 1993 Alan retired and moved to Queensland. Alan worked a total of 327 confirmed DXCC. He managed DX and IOTA operations including ZK2JJ, ZK2PJ, YJ8AA, V63PD, VU3RSB, VI0ANARE, VK8MI, VK8AV/3, VK8AN/8 and VK8AN/6. (qsl.net)

Above:- Alan Roocroft VK4AAR. Image c/o http://history.marac.org/

2023.

Alexander 'Tex' Ihasz VK1TX fell Silent Key on the 25th day of March 2003.

Tex obtained DXCC in 1997 in addition to Worked All States (WAS), Worked All Continents (WAC) and Worked All Zones (WAZ). At the time he was also a Net Control on the Australia New Zealand Africa (ANZA) DX Net. (AR magazine May 2000) (AR magazine July 2000)

2024.

The net control is Jack W1FDY. He is assisted by Gary N3SJL.

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