WICEN has been involved in the detailed planning of this year's search for VH-MDX in the Barrington Tops. WICEN have taken members of NSW Police Rescue and Australian Defence Force on a reconnaissance on the Northern part of the likely search area in the last few weeks. This year's search looks like being in a different valley than has been searched in recent years and using different radio points inside the National Park. The search is very likely to be much larger than in recent years with personnel from the Australian Defence Force, NSW Police Rescue, SES, National Parks and other government agencies likely to be involved. The date hasn't been set but is pencilled in for the 19th and 20th of October, the week before the HCC canoe event. If you are interested in participating then please contact operations at WICEN. Contact details are on the WICEN NSW website.

The recent NavShield bush navigation competition was conducted successfully in the Dunn's Swamp area near Rylstone in the NSW Central Tablelands. Conditions were sunny during the day and with sub zero temperatures overnight. WICEN NSW again provided a VHF commercial radio network to support the safe running of this annual event. The event sees hundreds of competitors from bush-walking clubs and government emergency agencies, including Police, Ambulance & SES turning out to test their map and compass navigation skills in day and overnight divisions. A number of APRS trackers were used to continuously locate key people and ambulance resources. Late on Sat afternoon the event turned into a live search for a teenage child who was reported missing in the area. The missing child was not part of the NavShield event. Some of the competition teams and event support personnel were assigned search tasks on foot, in vehicles and on water. WICEN, as well as using the commercial VHF and 70cm amateur networks to support the search also rapidly created a UHF CB net which covered the search area as the missing child was reported to have been carrying a UHF CB radio. WICEN was additionally asked to dispatch a WICEN 4WD vehicle to a remote location to conduct a search with BWRS person. The missing child was found safe and well sitting on a road just before sunset.

The world famous Shazada Horse Endurance Ride, or Enduro, will be held again this year at St Albans, from Monday 26 August to Sunday 1 September. It is run as loops out of the small village of St Albans to the north of Sydney - or west of the Central Coast. This is a rugged and remote area, and presents many communications challenges.

The 2013 Hunter Memory Walk and Jog will be held at Speers Point Park on Sunday 8 September. This is beside Lake Macquarie. It will raise funds for The Hunter Dementia Memory Resource Centre through Alzheimer's Australia NSW. The Illawarra event will be held at Stuart Park, North Wollongong on Sunday 13 October.

This year's Trek for Timor will be in and around the Kangaroo Valley on Saturday the 21st of September. Funds raised will allow solar powered lights to be installed in 1024 homes in the Remexio district. These will replace polluting kerosene lamps, allowing children to study at night. The project will also train over 30 local young people in installing and maintaining the systems. There are 11 and 50km options. If you have a group which is interested in participating, visit: http://www.kvrp.org.au/

Steven VK2BOS has advised he is ceasing the Digital Nets, but has hinted at other activities.

WICEN ACT, part of the Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club have many events planned for October, in and around the ACT. Details can be found at: www.crarc.ampr.org

There are a number of WICEN related pages on Facebook. Search for WICEN.

Coming events include:
Monday 26 August to Sunday 1 September Shazada Horse Ride at St Albans
Memory Walk & Jog in the Hunter on September 8th
The Trek for Timor in Kangaroo Valley on Saturday the 21st of September
WICEN ACT's Brookvale Horse Endurance Ride, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of October.
The Light Car Club of Canberra Rally on Saturday October 12
Memory Walk & Jog in the Illawarra on October 13
Battle of the Beasts Mountain Bike Race on Saturday 19th October in VK1
SAREX Barrington Tops in mid to late October
25th Fitz’s Challenge Bike Ride in the ACT on Sunday 27th October

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