WICEN’s contribution to the current bush fire emergency is continuing, however at a reduced level. Focus in now on the Mid North Coast and further north with WICEN ACT providing an ARO operator at Kempsey Fire Control. It is anticipated further WICEN support will be provided to this area next week. Other VRA Squads are also active in provision of support to the RFS.

Members are encouraged to take advantage of the free courses offered by the Office of Emergency Management, at: https://www.emtraining.nsw.gov.au/

WICEN groups across Australia will be supporting Memory Walk and Jog events. These short Sunday morning events run for several months from February, and are a great first event for new members.

WICEN will also be present at the Wyong Field Day on Sunday, February 23rd.

For Facebook users, there is an official WICEN NSW page; and an informal national WICEN group. These include photos from recent fire-related activations.

The WICEN Mid North Coast Region monthly meeting is held on the first Saturday of the month, at SES HQ, Central Road, Port Macquarie, beginning at 15:30. The region runs an HF net on Thursday evenings at 19:00, on the WICEN frequency, 3.600 MHz.

WICEN ACT is part of the Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club, and supports events in the "Capital Country" region, and on the South Coast. The BMSC Rallye de Femmes, next Saturday, December 7th, is an event for female drivers. For more info visit: http://www.crarc.ampr.org

WICEN Victoria is supporting the Alpine Rally, concluding today, around Lakes Entrance in East Gippsland. The Pajero Challenge commences on February 7th. The weekly net is on each Tuesday at 8:30 pm, on 3.6 MHz. WICEN Victoria's website, which includes a write-up of the Stockmans Rally, is at: http://vic.wicen.org.au

Submitted by Julian Sortland VK2YJS, on behalf of the WICEN State Management Committee.