WICEN NSW, is a communications support squad of the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association.

Due to COVID-19 WICEN limiting operations, and has moved meetings to its amateur and non-amateur radio resources.

The HCC Committee is continuing preparations for the 2020 Hawkesbury Canoe Classic on October 24th and 25th, following "Return to Sport" rules. Importantly, the event supports Arrow, The Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation.

The Volunteer Memorial Day 2020 is being held at Mrs Macquarie's Chair in the Domain, at 11:00 on Sunday, October 11th.

WICEN has commenced a weekly net, each Sunday evening. The main net is at 1800, and a secondary check-in net at 1830. On the 1st, 4th and 5th Sundays the main net will be on the Chatswood 2m repeater at 1800, followed by the Kurrajong VHF High-band repeater -R52 TAC 7 using Time Slot 1, at 1830. On 2nd and 3rd Sundays the Kurrajong - Berowra 70 cm FM system will be used, followed by a net on the DMARC Talkgroup 3810 also Timeslot 1, at 1830.

Members have been undertaking training in the safe use of chainsaws to clear fallen timber this weekend.

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

For Facebook users, there is an official WICEN NSW page; and an informal national WICEN group.

WICEN ACT is part of the Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club. The club is moving all events, including lectures, online or on-air. The group has recommenced support of car rallies, via the provision of equipment and advice. The next event is the BMSC "Narooma Rally" on August 1st, followed by the LCCC "Blue Range Rallysprint" on September 5th. For more info visit the group's website via the new address: http://www.crarc.org.au or the CRARC Facebook page.

WICEN Victoria - The weekly net is on each Tuesday at 8:30 pm, on 3.6 MHz. Their first event back is expected to be the Sunraysia Rally, south of Wentworth on October 17th; followed by the Baw-Baw Extreme from October 31st. WICEN Victoria's website is: http://vic.wicen.org.au

Submitted by Julian Sortland VK2YJS/1, on behalf of the WICEN State Management Committee.