Towards The New Millennium
Eventually the Booragul High School Radio Club had ceased operations when
its founder teacher was transferred. In the interim period before the start of
Westlakes, a few adults, no doubt influenced by these new attitudes, became
interested in electronics. The first inklings of the coming radio club were
classes held in the garage of the late "Belmont" Bob VK2BOB.
From this came Westlakes. Starting something radically new in an area with
established ideas met with some opposition. At that time in history, the WIA
was divided into branches. In Newcastle it was the Hunter Branch which
conducted meetings, held lectures and field days. At one of these meetings it
was announced the intention to start a radio club at Teralba. The new
establishment versus the old establishment. Westlakes Radio Club was founded
in early 1964.
The
idea for a radio club actually got underway a few years prior to 1964. A
discussion at Gosford Field Day in 1960, prompted the late Keith Howard VK2AKX
to start a school radio club. Classes were held with the encouragement of the
Youth Radio Club Scheme (YRCS). 
Transmissions
between schools and radio clubs often took place in the lunch hour. This was
to be the feature of our forerunner; the Booragul High School Radio Club. The
callsign VK2AKX was initially used until VK2ATZ was issued. Westlakes Radio
Club was later to take over this call. The YRCS at the time was a fledgling
group which catered for young peoples' electronic learning skills, whereas the
WIA tended to cater for the licensed operator. Time would slowly change this
attitude
The club started in the old church hall in Railway Street Teralba and the
premises were shared with a kindergarten. Aerials went up, Morse was taught,
VK2AWX news was broadcast and the first of the teenage and adult members got
their licences, YRCS classes on a Saturday afternoon and the adults on
Wednesday nights. It was at these humble premises that Electronics on the Air
was produced. Two operators, one microphone, one transmitter and dozens of
listeners. One asked the questions as a contact-the other answered them. How
did the locals find out about the club? Mainly through a column in the
Newcastle Herald called: News of Radio Amateurs. Some discovered the fox hunt
through these weekly columns.
The name "Westlakes" was derived from the general classification of
the area. Some thought the name should include "Northumberland"
before radio club. The first AGM was held in December 1964 when a steering
committee was formed to draft a constitution and by laws. There was some
divisiveness that two radio interests in the Newcastle area would detract from
each other. The Maitland Radio Club formed in 1967 was to complete the
triangle. Westlakes newsletter started as a single news sheet in 1967 an
hasn't missed an issue since.
To upgrade the Railway Street site with our meagre funds was too much, the club considered moving to something cheaper. The committee decided to accept an offer for the old disused Royal Theatre in Anzac Parade, Teralba. The building was certainly larger but also very dilapidated. The year was 1969.
1970 was a progressive year and the club forged ahead in leaps and bounds. The club's present telephone number has been held since 1971. This was the time to stand out in front and watch the students swarming down from the railway station after travelling out from Newcastle on Saturday afternoons. Club members would operate portable in the Wattagan Ranges in the contests and attend all the fox hunts. This was the time for the club motto: "Progress Through Activity", to come to the fore. All this would be shattered at the end of 1971.
The members were shocked by a dispute at the time - best left to rest.
Every stick of timber was dismantled and placed in storage at the back of the
fruit shop just across the road. The fruit shop is now the Teralba Hardware
Store and the Royal Theatre a second hand furniture shop. The stored timber
now forms most of the inside walls of the present club.
The next two years were the toughest in the club's existence. It was a dismal
time in a church hall in Ranclaud Street Booragul. It was the birthplace of Mr
Vigilance, the Westlakes cat. Although some may have welcomed our demise -
others clung on. This was all in the face of an attempt to purloin our members
by starting another radio group. Luckily for Westlakes, our supporters could
read the message and acknowledge the challengers.
During the mean years till 1973, secret negotiations were being conducted with Lake Macquarie Council to get a suitable club land site in Teralba. This involved a small group of three members to do the ground work. Later in the same year a cartoon of a very wet black cat appeared in the club newsletter. The caption read: "The Cat's Out of the Bag", a dripping wet, battered moggy it was too. The cat came back. None of this would have been possible if not for five members who went guarantors for a bank loan. Nor for the donation from W. S. Otty VK2ZL of $500 - a fortune at the time - in the "Drop in the Bucket" building fund. All this paid for the transportation of a RAAF hut from Dora Creek to Teralba. It had taken ten years to get our "home" and if you closed your eyes it was beautiful. It was really a blot on the landscape and there was a lot of work to be done. It would take many months, supporters gave their time in droves. Many of those supporters are still with us - 20 years down the track.
During
the period before the club was ready for occupation, classes went on as usual
at Ranclaud Street, Booragul. Another team - even during cold winter nights -
was toiling away, using portable lighting, to get some semblance of order. The
present day location was an ungodly mess both inside and out. The perimeters
of the grounds were heaps of demolition spoil and an unofficial local rubbish
dump. There were no toilets. From time to time, these mounds of rubbish and
spoil were bulldozed level. Someone always knew someone who could get the job
done - at the right price. Before the members could even consider moving into
the club premises, toilets had to be considered. Many of the club stalwarts
can remember the most temporary one amongst the heaps of rubbish. A dash to
the station was the In Thing. An extension for the office was built with a
space for the future toilets. Luckily, a nudge in the right direction to local
politicians obtained a government grant for the toilets. The original entrance
to the club was opposite the office area.
In mid 1974, the club obtained a loan of the Toronto Cordials truck to shift from Booragul to Teralba. Saturday afternoon always saw the classes full of high school age students. This moving day, many of them were perched on the back of the truck, amongst the club possessions. All were very willing workers. The Building Fund, which had been known under many slogans: a drop in the bucket, no more snags, etc. was very much in the scheme of things. All through 1975, things were on the improve - AOCP and YRCS classes went on amid the building work. The club's first radio tower-closest to the building - came from Lake Munmorah Power Station. The Power Station's apprentices erected it as an exercise. One of our members overdid the triangular base supports with concrete. He wasn't expert but he was keen. The other tower, down in the "swamp", came from up Maitland way where it served as a beacon. For a while this tower was used as a mast for 160 metre transmissions - until a very high tide took out the tuner box. Maybe this mast could be called the "Jones" tower because he did most of the aerobatics during construction.
Late
in 1975, the club had its official opening. This occasion is marked by
a wall plaque outside the office. A field day was arranged to mark the event
and a massive raffle launched. Tickets in the raffle were a pricey $2 each - a
tidy amount at that time. 
As
1975 was the start of colour TV, so the main prize was something to view it
on. The raffle made a $1400 profit. The date for the field day was another
oversight as it unintentionally clashed with the WIA (Hunter Branch) field
day. As it became obvious that a split in loyalties was involved, the field
day was to become the Combined Newcastle Area Field Day. The official opening
was attended by representatives from local, state and federal levels. The day
was also the dedication of the W. S. Otty Training Wing towards youth
electronic education. When the time came for the unveiling, the man to be
honoured had gone home. He had to be brought back to the presentation. The
attendance that day was Westlakes biggest ever.
Within the next three years, the bank loan of $5000 for which five members had gone surety, was paid back. The next field day in 1977, displayed the pride and joy of the club's new radio shack. It was so irresistable that a break-in took place by removing the screws in the hallway observation window. Luckily for Westlakes, the stolen gear was taken to a Maitland amateur who had heard about the break-in. Back in 1975, it was a difficult year for amateur exams when the Department went on strike for almost a year. At this time, the first Novice exam date of June 1975 never happened. Westlakes was pushing for the Novice Licence while others were pressing for legalised CB. Early in 1976, the cancelled Novice exam paper turned up in the mail - no names, no packdrill. This paper was to become the starting point for the "Novice Manual". The Manual of "Questions and Answers" for the Novice Licence by the late K. H. Howard VK2AKX, would be in production for over 14 years and achieve sales in excess of 30,000 copies. Much of the returns from this publication would go on to make the club what it is today. The North Wing is one example. During the years of hard times, the club had a "Ladies Auxiliary", which raised funds and assisted in many ways. With the club's new source of wealth, the ladies were unceremoniously brushed aside and forgotten.
During 1978, a Westlakes Tuesday Night Net went to air on 80 metres. It was most popular with members who didn't reside in the Newcastle area. Locally, it was poorly supported and finally went the way of all good ideas. By this time, CB had been legalised and many were doing the Novice licence. Some of the members had bipartisan ideas and attitudes - so came fear with many. Westlakes Radio Club decided to become a company by incorporating the words, "Amateur" and "Ltd." This was done for two reasons - public liability and the fear that CB boom members would stack the meetings and take over the club. A sore point at the time after the amateurs lost the 27MHz amateur band.
Westlakes launched its one and only DXpedition to Lord Howe Island in 1979.
This provided the QSL Bureau with years of work. Whilst on the bureau, the
club has been directly involved with the "WIA NSW QSL Bureau"
since 1979. The Bureau was due to be transported when Westlakes
"hijacked" it. It must have looked like a good idea at the time.
This was also the time for club participation in the 
"Conference
of Clubs" ideal. In recent times these have gone back to square one. To
show that Westlakes was all "Progress through Activity", the club
created its own solar-powered repeater. Located at the Bar Fire Tower in the
Wattagan Ranges, the repeater was great for Western Sydney and the high ground
in Newcastle, but had lack-lustre performance in most of Lake Macquarie, the
supposed service area. Several sites were attempted but ongoing problems led
to its demise. It has since been replaced with the excellent service enjoyed
today and maintained by a benefactor.
It was the time of adventurous ideas for the club and the next in line after the Novice licence and the Novice Manual, was the Novice Contest. The Westlakes Novice Contest was created by Westlakes to promote contest operating techniques and skills for the new generation of operators. The original certificate is displayed on the wall of the club library. The contest became so popular that the WIA took it over as a national contest activity. This was in the early 1980's. The Westlakes designed certificate remains unchanged except for a different contest title from the original.
In the time to 1985, much improvement has taken place. The old hardwood weatherboards have been replaced with fibro cladding. The external walls have been packed with pink batts. The wooden hopper windows replaced with ones of aluminium and false ceilings placed in the classroom and canteen. The AGM of 1984 saw the retirement of J B Mclachlan after 20 years as treasurer. For his dedication as the "diode treasurer", he became the club's first life member. Eric Brockbank VK2EZB was to follow with life membership a while later, after 15 years as secretary and newsletter editor for the same period.
Cutting
of the Cake, Photo's and Audio (620K) (This Audio File will take a few
minutes to download.)
The club's 21st anniversary was supposed to be held at the 
Warners Bay Bowling Club, but ended up at the Lakeside Motel Restaurant.
Representatives, local, state and federal were present with a packed house of
members. Westlakes was in a period of affluence never known before in its
history. No club is without its share of political shame when empire building
is at stake. It is unfortunate during this period that some were to outlive
their usefulness and become socially unacceptable in the general scheme of
things. The club was free of debt, entirely owned by its members and at the
top of the cycle. New blood saved it all from the apathy and self-destruction.
More Working Bees
By 1985, most of the refurbishing chores were out of the way. In the years since, much repainting, carpeting, curtain making and floor tile laying has taken place. The finest examples are the radio shack and the Keith Howard VK2AKX classroom.
With the 1980's came the next generation. Up to this period most had a knowhow of radio construction. With the advent of the computer, an amateur licence came first and the do-it-yourself skills came later - if ever. The benches in the main hall were once set up with scope soldering irons. Projects were made or pulled apart on these benches. All became obsolete in favour of soldering stations in the North Wing workshop room. the solid benches in this new workshop area came from division walls at Cardiff High School. Being portable, these same benches are pressed into service at club outdoor functions.
Besides celebrating 21 years as a club in 1985 - there were the T-shirts. The
club T-shirts on which personal callsigns were emblazoned, swamped the Gosford
Field Day. 
It
was also the 75th anniversary year of the WIA. For this, the club held a
two-day display at Newcastle Post Office. Later on in the year, the club
assisted in message handling after the Mexican earthquake. A certificate to
this effect is on display in the club library. This practice was to give the
club some advantage in message handling -with WICEN - for the unforseen
some years later.
In 1986 came the adventurous idea that the club should have a communications van. This caravan was another idea that looked good at the time. Trial amateur exams were held and an induction loop installed in the classroom. This induction loop made it all so realistic for the CW exam trials. Westlakes were to put on a show at the Toronto Trade Fair. It was not one of the club's best exhibitions due to other distractions. The best show by far was the "Thursday Night Net" - which was often called the "John and Rudy show". Many a scanner listener found his way to the club through this net. Although under a different direction, this net still lumbers on to this day.
From 1987, club members helped over a number of years with crowd control at the popular Marathon Stadium Fireworks Display. Then there were the barbecue days and a club float in the Mattara procession. We had a stand at the first of the Toys and Hobbies expo's and club members were fairly well split on the issue of wether Novices should get the 2 metres "common band". Tree planting moved up a notch and has continued ever since. The Westlakes repeater changed frequency from 147.100 to 146.775 MHz to get away from the pagers. Ongoing computer lectures became a feature and a new direction.
Westlakes Celebrates Bicentennial Year
1988 was the Bicentennial Year. The club compiled a members callbook to mark the occasion. Several yearly editions followed but have since fallen into abeyance. The club had another special project to mark the Bicentennial. It was a most popular "QRP CW kit". A special contest went with it to create interest. The club held a four-day display at the Bicentennial Travelling Exhibition at Broadmeadow. Mid way through the year some thought the end of amateur radio as we know it was near - Novices on 2 metres became a reality. The popular "Stone the Crows Net" came to air on 80 metres.
By 1989, the club's popular local news segment spread to CW. This extra edition on 7 MHz still fires along each week for the CW buffs. Another year of ITU Day support from the club's shack and Packet Seminars drew plenty of interest. The Thursday Night Net was able to contact Perth and New Zealand via Aussat. This was all in test for JOTA. The year ended with a big bang -the Newcastle Earthquake. Club repeater VK2RTZ was used by club members for WICEN emergency activities.
Westlakes losses Club Founder & Mentor
Keith Howard VK2AKX 1990 was to witness another unforseen tragedy. This was the untimely demise of club founder and mentor, Keith Howard VK2AKX. The main classroom, which has been totally refurbished, has been dedicated to his memory. During ITU Day 1990, a club-member roster spent a total of 3 days, 3 hours and 27 minutes sending in shifts non-stop CW. A world record was claimed. The text used was the VK2AKX club history which formed part of the ITU Year Book. The club also conducted the first of the deregulated amateur exams. Many passed the Morse test with the aid of the club's "CW Coherer Pills".
Over the next three years, activities were many. More radio fests and the popular "no reserve" auctions were on the go. Easter Monday, 1991 became the start of the Westlakes Saturday Morning Net on 2 metres. This net still thrives and gives details of what activities are on each Saturday afternoon. It all started as a joke, as Easter Monday on that rare occasion was also April Fools Day.
Down but not out - the Westlakes cat came back to the newsletter whenever controversial topics need to be aired. Readers have even written letters to the cat. The non-event in a short list of such things - was the 6 metre cubicle quad antenna. It decorated the skyline but never fired a shot. A 6 metre beam on a wind-up tower does the job these days. The VHF long distance QSL contest is well supported. It has much keener since the rediscovery of simplex and fox hunts. The principle is still the same - only the equipment has changed.
One
lasting quality of the club over the decades has been the "canteen".
It has gone through - and in some cases burnt out - a gamut of dedicated
people. There have been pies, ice cream and drinks, which no doubt most have
never missed, until they are not there. From simple spreads after an AGM to
every day tea and coffee, and some tasty specials once a month. Even the
donation box has disappeared. This is how Westlakes has progressed over the
decades.
Towards The New Millenium
Conclusion
