Submitted by VK2YJS on

WICEN was activated last Saturday, April 1, in support of the response to the floods in northern New South Wales. Two members attended the State Emergency Services Headquarters in provide liaison between the SES and the Volunteer Rescue Association squads being tasked to assist in the response.

The BWRS Navshield, a major bush navigation event, is on June 24th and 25th, with WICEN setup the afternoon before. These are typically held within a few hours' drive of Sydney, with the location only disclosed publicly close to the event. Ahead of this there will be a recce and radio survey, planned for Sunday 23 April.

On the weekend of April 29 and 30 WICEN Northern Rivers will be providing communications assistance for the Tenterfield Endurance Riders Club 2017 event. The location is Girard State Forest, west of Drake.

The next Alzheimer's Australia NSW's Memory Walk and Jog event will be the Sydney walk on May 7, commencing at Leichhardt Oval #3, on the waterfront at Lilyfield, while the 21st is the Hunter event, at Tulkaba Park in Teralba. Finally, the Port Macquarie one will be at Westport Park on 4th June. These are short events, and are suitable for new members.

True Grit, promoted as a "military inspired obstacle challenge", is on June 10 and 11 in Lower Portland, north-west of Sydney.

The weekend of 21 to 23rd July will be a recce for the VH-MDX search, which will be held in mid September.

Several training days are being planned. One is expected to be a day at Dural dedicated to a First Aid qualification to satisfy the requirements of PUA21312. Please express your interest to WICEN Operations.

Additionally, the Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad has resumed first aid training, now in association with St John's. Provide First Aid, which is also day one of Remote First Aid is Sunday 21 May, with days two and three of Remote First Aid on 27-28 May 2017. Registrations close on May 11, and participants will need a Universal Student Identifier.
For details click the First Aid link at: http://www.bwrs.org.au

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 1530 hours.

WICEN has a twitter account: @wicennsw
It can be viewed at: http://twitter.com/wicennsw

Facebook users will find the official WICEN New South Wales page, and an informal national WICEN group.

WICEN (NSW) Inc. Northern Rivers Region is holding / held] their Annual General Meeting today, Sunday, April 9 from 1000hrs. The venue is the Summerland ARC at 412 Richmond Hill Road, Richmond Hill. The region also has a weekly net on Tuesdays at 8:00pm summer time, on the Lismore repeater VK2RSC on 146.8 MHz, requiring a 123 Hz tone. Listen for VK2WIR.

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 1530 hours.

WICEN ACT is part of the Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club, and supports events in the ACT and the surrounding "Capital Country". Sunday, May 7 is a Carriage Driving event at Witwood, a property at Braidwood, while the 26th to 28th are the BMSC National Capital Rally. The weekend of June 10 and 11 this the SCSCC Bega Rally. June 17 is the BMSC Rallye des Femmes. Saturday, July 22 is the BMSC Narooma Rally. Weekend Foundation Licence courses, and exams for all levels, are provided by the Club, the next being May 20 and 21. Their website is at: http://www.crarc.ampr.org

WICEN Victoria holds a net every Tuesday at 2030 on or near 3.6 MHz. Their next event is the Sunraysia 600 on April 22 is at Keera Station near Lake Cullulleraine, a short distance south-west of Wentworth. The Kenda Rally, a motorcycle event in Rubicon is Sunday, May 7. Their website is: http://vic.wicen.org.au

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