Eden Radio Club ‘hams it up’ on Stanley Island
PLETTENBERG BAY - Ask any informed person where Robben Island, Ascension Island, Reunion Island, Tristan da Chunha Island or the Falkland Islands are, and chances are they will be able to tell you. But ask where Stanley Island is, and most people don't have a clue!
Stanley Island is located in the middle of the Keurbooms River just east of Plettenberg Bay and can be seen from the N2. What's more, it is the only privately owned island in South Africa. Recently, both Stanley Island and the equally unknown world of amateur radio (ham radio) received some well-deserved attention.
Ham radio to the youth
Andre Tramhs and his son Aiden came up with the brilliant idea to organise an educational ham radio day for youth in the area.
The father and son team immediately set the ball rolling and also acted as the main facilitators of the event that followed on Saturday 11 November on Stanley Island. Andries wrote his radio exam in May 2023 and Aiden followed suit in October.
Eden Radio Club was approached to assist, and with all permissions granted, the attendees boarded the ferry for a fiveminute trip to the island.
Ham radio communication is a hobby that very few people really know anything about and on the day experienced local amateurs shared their knowledge, skills and technical background with the youth, highlighting its uses as a hobby as well as in times of natural or other disasters.
Ham radio to the rescue
It was stressed that most things in this digital era are internet-based, but when the internet fails, everyone is "up the creek without a paddle".
Therefore, in times of disaster or natural catastrophe, the authorities turn to amateur radio operators to assist with vital communications - the recent floods in the Southern Cape are an excellent example.
If blackouts or disasters occur, amateur radio is called in as there will most likely be no internet connectivity.
It's then that amateur radio comes into its own, with battery back-up power at the ready and needed to keep the radios going - along with some good old-fashioned equipment and experts.
Ham radio lingo
About 20 youngsters attended, many speaking into a radio for the first time. These first-timers were taught the phonetic alphabet and also had to learn the radio procedures, which requires dedication and commitment.
After some guidance, some of them were well on their way to getting on the air under the watchful eyes of the amateurs. With some really excelling, they enjoyed their first QSOs (their first contact with another station), speaking to Christie ZS4CGR in Luckhoff in the south-western Free State - a distance of about 600km.
Everyone who completed the education hobby event received certificates and two of the youth plan to do their ZU exams next year, which will grant them an entry level licence.
Involve the youth
Eden Radio Club chairperson Corné Conradie says for ham radio to survive, the youth must be involved. "As the youth are the future of amateur radio, it is our calling and duty to get as many as possible to be
part of this exciting hobby, and it is hoped that this event will become a yearly event, and not only confined to Plettenberg Bay.
"We want it to spread throughout the Southern Cape, and indeed countrywide, and we call on all other amateur radio clubs to do likewise. After all, local is lekker!"
Not only was the training fun, but afterwards everyone enjoyed boerewors rolls before taking a dip in the river. "We were blessed with beautiful weather for the duration of the day and the ride on the ferryboat to and from the island was thankfully in calm waters," Conradie says.
Team effort
The radio amateurs who were involved in the training were Conradie (ZS1COR), Willie Hewitt (ZS2CC), Eben Hewitt (ZS1HEB), Andries Tramhs (ZS1SMP), Aiden Tramhs (ZS1AMP) and Gerrit Klopper (ZS1KLO).
Conradie thanked the amateurs and everyone else involved. "To all who helped with the boerie rolls, general administrative duties and other arrangements, a big thank you. Finally to Andries and Aiden Tramhs - thanks for the arrangements, and for coming up with this brilliant idea. Please accept my apologies if I inadvertently omitted anyone."
Contact Eden Radio Club
To find out more about ham radio, contact Eden Radio Club (ZS1ERZ) chairperson Corné Conradie on 078 681 6514 or at Edenradioclub@gmail.com.
Prospective ham radio enthusiasts are also invited to visit www.edenradioclub.com or their Facebook page. - Ilse Schoonraad