WOMEN IN AMATEUR RADIO
WHAT IS A YL?
'YL' is a morse code abbreviation for the term 'Young Lady'. It is used to refer to female amateur radio operators, regardless of their age.
Male operators are often referred to as 'OM' meaning 'Old Man', no matter their age.
The non licenced spouse of an OM is often referred to as an 'XYL'.
Male operators are often referred to as 'OM' meaning 'Old Man', no matter their age.
The non licenced spouse of an OM is often referred to as an 'XYL'.
YOU TUBE VIDEOS.
MARY AUSTINE HENRY NEE MARSHALL VK3YL
1913 – Born 11th June 1913, Brighton VIC.
As a child she was given a crystal set.
As a child she was given a crystal set.
1930 – obtained her amateur radio licence on the 14th May 1930. She was only the 3rd woman to obtain her amateur radio licence in Australia at that time
Not long after getting her licence she made the following comment:
“When the first station I ever called came back to me I was almost too excited to key.”
Not long after getting her licence she made the following comment:
“When the first station I ever called came back to me I was almost too excited to key.”
1930 – became a member of the ARRL
1931 – became a member of the WIA
1931 – became a member of the WIA
1933 – became engaged to William Bertram Henry
1933 – won first prize at the Victorian WIA public display in Melbourne Lower Town Hall
1933 – enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Reserve at Point Cook. She became the first woman to be admitted to the RAAF Reserve.
1933 – won first prize at the Victorian WIA public display in Melbourne Lower Town Hall
1933 – enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Reserve at Point Cook. She became the first woman to be admitted to the RAAF Reserve.
1934 – became a member of the RSGB
1935 – married William Bertram Henry at Camberwell, Victoria
1958 – by 1958 she had been issued with the ARRL DX Century Club award (DXCC)
1958 – by 1958 she had been issued with the ARRL DX Century Club award (DXCC)
1975 – by 1975 she had worked more than 300 countries for DXCC. She became the first VK YL to be included in the ARRL DXCC Honour Roll.
1976 – became a member of ALARA
1976 – became a member of ALARA
1980 – by 1980 she had worked 331 countries for DXCC
1980 – issued with the YASME Award. She was a foundation member of YASME
1980 – issued with the YASME Award. She was a foundation member of YASME
1994 – Died 9th September 1994, aged 81
In her honour, the Austine Henry Award is issued in the Oceania DX Contest to the YL Single Operator entrant from outside Oceania with the highest combined score in the Phone & CW sections.
First VK YL to gain the ALARA award
She was also a member of the NZART and the Old Timer’s Club.
In her honour, the Austine Henry Award is issued in the Oceania DX Contest to the YL Single Operator entrant from outside Oceania with the highest combined score in the Phone & CW sections.
First VK YL to gain the ALARA award
She was also a member of the NZART and the Old Timer’s Club.
ELIZABETH 'BETTY' AILEEN MARSHALL NEE GEISEL VK5YL
1921 - Born 1921, Murray Bridge, S.A.
Parents Alfred & Ellen Geisel
1936 – first licenced, at age 16. First YL in South Australia to obtain her amateur radio licence
Parents Alfred & Ellen Geisel
1936 – first licenced, at age 16. First YL in South Australia to obtain her amateur radio licence
Above: VK5YL QSL card. Image c/o Lower Murray ARC
Betty also gained her commercial operator’s certificate.
Betty made her own batteries by extracting the carbon rods and de-polariser from dry cells and mounting them in a solution of sal-ammoniac or common salt in Marmite jars.
1939 – continued to operate up until 1939, when she left Murray Bridge to work at National Radio in Adelaide.
Betty made her own batteries by extracting the carbon rods and de-polariser from dry cells and mounting them in a solution of sal-ammoniac or common salt in Marmite jars.
1939 – continued to operate up until 1939, when she left Murray Bridge to work at National Radio in Adelaide.
Above: article from The Advertiser, Sat 17 Sep 1939. Image c/o Trove
1945 – married Neil Butler Wallace at Adelaide, S.A.
Betty worked as a technical sales assistant at Gerard and Goodmans, an electronics and electrical store in Adelaide.
Betty worked as a technical sales assistant at Gerard and Goodmans, an electronics and electrical store in Adelaide.
Above:- The Gerard and Goodman Ltd premises at Synagogue Place, c. 1928. Image c/o State Library SA.
Betty became a High School teacher, teaching mathematics and science.
She did not return to amateur radio following WWII.
2000 – Died 7th November 2000, Tranmere, S.A. aged 79
The VK5YL call has since been used by other amateurs, including Denise Robertson and Shirley Tregellis.
She did not return to amateur radio following WWII.
2000 – Died 7th November 2000, Tranmere, S.A. aged 79
The VK5YL call has since been used by other amateurs, including Denise Robertson and Shirley Tregellis.