Born in Sydney in 1960 , I started school in Theodore in 1965 after the family moved from the Hunter Valley in 1964, always a tinkerer I looked toward a possible career in Radio and or Electronics with the RAAF. So it was with hopes and dreams and top marks for my Junior Exam I headed for Rockhampton Grammar School for grades 11 and 12. Unfortunately late in 1976 my father contracted Q Fever ( Also known as Ross River Virus) and his ill health forced me to leave school early to run the Property whilst my mother Nursed my Dad back to health which didn't occur until some 2 Years later and about 12 months after that, I myself was diagnosed as having Q Fever and was also incapacitated for over 18 Months. Symptoms of this disease are similar to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and then some.

While my chances of a career in the Air Force had diminished my enthusiasm for all things Technical and Electronic didn't, and was an avid DXer on 27 Megs for many years and chalked up over 75 Countries, around fifty confirmed with QSL cards. I must say that being on the farm gave me some great opportunities , I feel sure that these things like flexible work environment and hours (depending on the season).

After I moved to Wandoan in '79 A chance meeting with an Amateur in Toowoomba led to discover Amateur Radio and all I was after was some measurements for a 27 Meg Yagi, Thanks to Colin Cogzell VK4CI. I studied all the theory like mad and after many CW sessions at home I sat and Passed the NAOCP Exam in Chinchilla in December 1982 and obtained the Call VK4NBK in January of 1983. At that time I used a Yaesu FT-101ZD for my HF transceiver and after a mod to reduce the screen grid voltage and give the then allowed Power limit of 30 Watts PEP for NAOCP Operators. This radio functioned happily for many years and while coupled with an 80 Mtr Inverted Vee, Horozontal Delta Loop, Two Element Two Band Quad for 15 & 10 I worked Many Stations around the World .

I had developed an interest in Soaring about 1984-5 and while learning to fly regularly used a scanner and listened on 2 Meter's to various Stations from Rockhampton to Brisbane and passed the Full Call theory Exam in 1990 this gained me the LAOCP and the Call of VK4JJF and Jumpin' Jack Flash Hit the airwaves. Having a Glider Pilots licence by this time you don't have to be Einstein to figure out where I carried out quite a few qso's on VHF, Aeronautical mobile of course.

As for 2 Mtr exploits from the shack well these were undertaken with an FT411 Handy Talkie & Home Brew Amplifier fed out to Twin 9 Element Yagi's at 55 Ft.

Morse was the next big hurdle but with some diligent practice both the 10 WPM send and receive were passed in August of 1992 and the Call VK4WAG was obtained and there are some Amateur's that say the call suits me or so I'm told. Since my move to Brisbane in the Late summer of 1993, to take up a position in an Engine conversion workshop had curtailed my HF activities somewhat I became mostly heard on the local 2 Mtr repeater's and to a small degree mobile HF with a Kenwood TS 440-S and my trusty FT-411 Hand Held for 2 Mtrs.

Recently my wife and I moved the family to the little village of Berridale, located in the Snowy Mountains of Southern New South Wales where I now work for an IT and Advertising Company, as a Photographer. This is a blast in the Winter when I can go Snowboarding almost every day and Photograph other people doing the same. My Radio activities are gradually returning to normal. I have established an IRLP Node STN 6240 VK2SRS in the Mountains. ADSL has provided me with a stable connection for the Node although the IRLP Radio is still very low in power. ( I have procured a Philips 828 and now just need some rocks)

I now hold the callsign of VK2KV since the move to VK2 so if you haven't heard the WAG around on the bands that is why. I,m relatively active on SSTV around 14.240 With a Repeater Running when not on other Bands.

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