Lord Howe Island outer island

 

 The boring bit:

 

To get my ham license I was very fortunate to have a great CW teacher in Alf Hanson VK4OL who was a genius at teaching the great art of CW to many students. My theory teacher was Trevor Sherrard VK4ATS who was instrumental in getting many students a license. Both of these esteemed gentlemen were staunch members of the Brisbane North Radio Club Inc.

Since getting first licensed in 1987 as VK4MWZ, I finally upgraded my license to VK4CRR and then to VK4FW. Along the way I have managed to meet my dx elmer in Harry Mead VK4DHM/VK2BJL. Harry was an incredible person who for the most part was before his time in many respects. His personal exploits all over the Pacific Islands as well as Spratley Islands will forever be remembered by many. He was the sole reason I got into dxing to the point that I wanted to be on the other side of the pile up.

 My first attempt was to Lord Howe Island as VK9LD in 1992 with Len Holbrok VK8DK. From there with the help of Kerry Viney VK4MZ, Vince Thompson K5VT, Murray Adams WA4DAN, Harry Mead  and others I managed to put an international team together and head in Mellish Reef in 1993 as VK9MM. After that I continued to be involved in a dxpedition with Bob Wyn W5KNE to Christmas Island in 1993 as VK9XO.

Over the next few years things changed and a core group of friends formed Oceania Amateur Radio Dx Group Inc.

The first dxcc dxpedition was to Cocos Keeling Island as VK9CT in 1996 . Then came Willis Island in 1998 as VK9WM and VK9WY with another international group. I then went to New Caledonia in 2000 as FK/VK4FW with the help of FK8HC and FK8GM.  Yet another trip to Lord Howe Island in 2004 as VK9LA, before going to Norfolk Island with an international crew as VI9NI in 2006. I had realised my dream of becoming the first person to be active from all the VK9 call areas and I could never have achieved this without the express help of so many including NCDXF, INDEXA, DDXG, LADXG  and others. Again in 2009 I went back to Lord Howe Island with an international group as VK9LA.   

All the while I have been involved  with INDEXA and NCDXF.
Unfortunately I am no longer involved with ODXG after having major differences with a couple of  other committee members who seemed hell bent on making my life a misery. If there is one thing I have learnt over the years is that life is too short to worry BS from other people especially when they are ill informed. So with great reluctance I handed in my total resignation and walked away from my original creation. 

I am pleased to say that I am still a member of INDEXA and NCDXF.

Eddie De Young, VK4AN started Pacific Dxers in 2010 for those who are interested in general dx and dxpeditions in the Pacific areas. There is also the Pacific Dx Net held every Mon, Wed and Fri on 14.183mhz at 07.00utc. I am just one of the many who have joined this wonderful organisation. The web site is www.pacific-dxers.com

As a QSL Manager I am also very proud to be accepted into The QSL Managers Society.

 

 

 I have also managed to operate from the following IOTA areas...... OC : 001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 007, 015, 016, 032, 033, 072, 137, 141, 142, 160, 171, 172 and 194. 

  

 I have had the great pleasure in my time to meet some of the most brilliant operators and people in general from around the world.

 Some of the more note able ones include: 3D2DD, 7K3EOP, DJ9ZB, FK8GM, FK8HC, FK8HW, G3WGV, H44MS, IK6CAC, IV3FSG, IZ2ESV, JE1LET, JF1IST,  JH1AJT, JR5XPG, K0IR, K4ZLE,K5VT, K5YY, K6KM, N2OO, NL8F, OH1TX, P29DX, SM5AQD, V73C, VE7NS, VK1TX, VK4DHM/VK2BJL, VK2CA, VK3EW, VK3HJ, VK4AN, VK4ATS, VK4BX, VK4MR, VK4MZ, VK4NEF, VK4OL, VK4SS, VK6NKG, VK8AV, VK8DK, W4AOU, W5KNE, W5SL, WA1S, WA4DAN, XE2GV and ZL1AMO just to name a few.

 

 Well 3D2T and T2T are now history. I am very pleased with the results of these 2 operations despite all the problems the team encountered. Full details are at www.3d2t.pacific-dxers.com and www.t2t.pacific-dxers.com

The next dxpedition is now scheduled for 2013. More details soon.