This is a story of Luciano IK2QPO (aka OE3ZLL and II2ANT); it tells how the Antarctic passion can even involve the Mayor of a city!
I am Luciano IK2QPO (also OE3ZLL) and I live part in Milan, in the northern of Italy, and part in Pfaffstätten, a small town near Vienna, the capital city of Austria. Since I am interested in the Antarctic, every year in February I participate to the Antarctic Week as II2ANT WAP-Ø3Ø.
After many years, I succeeded in receiving the WADA and WACA awards, which I have hanged in my shack in Austria. One year ago, as it is custom in small towns in Austria, the Mayor of Pfaffstätten visited us to congratulate my wife for her 70th birthday (see pic aside). In my dining room there was a bottle of champagne and in the corner of my shack, the Antarctic awards hung on the wall. The mayor admired both, the champagne and my awards as well.
He asked me: “Are you an active radio amateur? Because if you have done many contacts with the Antarctic, you must be a very good radio amateur.”
“Yes, I am an experienced radio amateur” , I replied
He told to me: “I am Disaster Manager for Lower Austria and we would need radio amateurs for emergency communication. Would you like to become responsible for emergency communication in my town?”
“Yes, of course”, I answered “But not with this dipole (a dipole for 20 and 40m). For the WADA and WACA award I have used a better one. In Italy, I have a Yagi antenna and a longer dipole.”
He replied to me: “Well, then send me a request for the authorisation to install a good antenna which is also suitable for emergency communication and I will promptly authorize it. Since your amateur radio station is a station for emergency communication nobody can forbid it and your neighboors have to accept it because emergecy is a prority for everyone”
So now I have a 40 ft. high tower with a 6 element Yagi and 3 long wires for low band and emergency use.
TNX WADA and WACA … they really did help.
I hope to copy someone from Austria soon! 73 and good DX by OE3ZLL a.k.a IK2QPO & II2ANT
… and we congratulate Herr Christoph Kainz, the Mayor of the city of Pfaffstätten for his foresight; yes, Radio join the people and surely helps in emergency communications!