Radio enthusiasts celebrate 70th anniversary in Mangawhai

 

The New Zealand Radio DX League was formed in 1948. Now in its 70th year, the club recently held a national convention in Mangawhai to mark the club’s birthday. The venue was the Moir Point Christian Centre and some 30 DXers came from all over the country, with a couple of members from Australia joining the group. 

DX was an abbreviation used by morse telegraphers and meant distance unknown – the DX hobby is about listening to distant radio stations on AM (Medium Wave or Shortwave) or on FM. Unlike radio amateurs or ‘hams’, DXers do not transmit – they simply listen, send listener reports to the distant stations they hear, and hopefully receive a confirming verification or QSL card.

A range of activities were held over the weekend including workshops on the various facets of the hobby. A highlight of the convention was a presentation by Denis (Doc) O’Callahan, one of the original founders of Radio Hauraki. His talk offered a fascinating insight into what it took to break the state broadcasting monopoly in 1966 by broadcasting from the pirate radio ship Tiri in the Hauraki Gulf.

The convention anniversary lunch was held at the Mangawhai Club and this was followed by a visit to the Mangawhai Museum – much enjoyed by all.

The event was organised by Bryan and Sandra Clark of Mangawhai. Bryan has been a DXer for over 50 years. He is currently national treasurer, having stepped down in 2016 after eight years as the club’s national president. He is also a life member of the organisation. 

For most DXers, listening to distant radio stations is increasingly difficult, if not impossible, from their home location, due to local electrical and electronic interference. Recognising this, the DX League operates two remote radio receivers at a low noise location in the Bay of Islands. Members can once again enjoy their DX hobby by accessing these radios over the Internet. 

If you are interested in knowing more about the club or the hobby of DXing, contact Bryan Clark on 021 672 806.

Attendees of the anniversary convention were, standing, Peter Mott, Sutton Burtenshaw (patron), Kaye Burtenshaw, Yuri Muzyka, Stuart Forsyth (chief editor), Dorothy de Maine, Joyce Marsh, Adrian Sainsbury (RNZ Pacific), Jeannette Greenyer, Steven Greenyer, Sandra Clark, Brian Withers, Ray Babbage, Angela Mott, Phil van de Paverd, Ray Crawford, Arthur de Maine (president). Kneeling, Paul Ormandy, Bill Marsh, Bryan Clark. Missing, David Norrie, Barry Hartley. - PHOTO/Supplied