WICEN News

There  is  little  to  report  for now, so we will lead with some
items of interest to WICEN members.

First off, it seems that the  Parliamentary  Committee  currently
investigating the January bushfires has found there was a serious
lack of communications between the various agencies.  Speaking of
communications,  we are fortunate that the Dural Engineer, who is
responsible for maintaining the Divisional repeaters, is also  an
active WICEN member; he will personally ensure that the repeaters
remain on air to provide  auxiliary  communications  during  what
promises to be a worse bush-fire season than last year.

Meanwhile,  further to the north, we are informed of the scale of
disasters suffered by Indonesia.  According to the Sydney Morning
Herald,  Indonesia,  home of many of the world's active volcanoes
and host to some of its worst earthquakes,  bushfires  and  tidal
waves, averaged at least four natural disasters a day.  Poor com-
munications and inadequate data hindered cataloguing the  numbers
of  those  affected  by such disasters -- 772 killed, 2.2 million
hurt and 15,000 buildings destroyed this year.  We  in  Australia
can  count  ourselves  fortunate,  although it is worth reminding
listeners that this month is the 20th anniversary of Cyclone Tra-
cy, which flattened Darwin on Christmas Day 1974, and the 5th an-
niversary of the Newcastle Earthquake, which did its best to lev-
el  Newcastle  on 28th December 1989.  WICEN members were heavily
involved in the aftermath of both disasters.

Turning closer to home, we advise of a meeting of the Blue  Moun-
tains  region  tomorrow,  starting  at  8pm.  The location is the
Glenbrook Bush Fire Brigade Station, and there will be a  talk-in
on 147.175 MHz simplex for people needing directions.  All inter-
ested persons are invited to attend,  and  for  more  information
please  contact Alan VK2YYJ on (02) 839-1388 during office hours.
The other events are the Management Committee meeting next Satur-
day  (which we understand may be followed by a "barbie"); the NSW
Water Ski Association "Lion  Island  Classic"  next  Sunday,  for
which  David VK2KLX is the contact; and the Hunter region meeting
at the Emergency Operations Centre, corner of Elizabeth and  Han-
nel  Sts,  Carrington, commencing at 7pm, at which Pauline VK2GTB
will make you welcome.

Those regions wishing to have their activities publicised on this
broadcast are requested to get the details to the Publicity Offi-
cer, Dave VK2KFU, by Thursday night at the latest.  Packet  radio
is the preferred medium, to either VK2AAB or VK2OP.

-- Dave VK2KFU, WICEN (NSW) Inc. Publicity Officer