My Amateur radio history

I've been a licenced Amateur since April 1982, having passed the exams in November 1981 and having to wait nearly 6 months for the actual licence to arrive from the Post and telecoms. The longest 6 months of my life !
The callsign issued was G6HHV and I was on the air thanks to my Elmer Alan G8WQE.
The bug bit hard and I had limited money and space for antennas so I reckoned microwaves were the way to go.
I became active on 70 cms, 23 cms and 10 ghz WBFM.
I helped organise the Mersey microwave group and obtained the club call G1GHZ which we used on 10 ghz for quite a while.
The members at that time included G3UFO, G8CVF,G6IHD, G6MEN, G3WIC and others.
G6MEN became better known as RF Byrne in Radcoms cartoons.
Once I decided to emigrate I realised I would need a full call to keep in touch with friends " back home" so I knuckled down and learned my morse. I took the exam and came away with G0HEI
When I emigrated to Western Australia in September 1987 Phil G6MEN took over the G1GHZ callsign which I believe he still holds now that he lives in Scotland.
On arriving in Perth I was issued the callsign VK6BRK, my initials, sort of!
What a pig of a call on cw.
At that time most contacts were back to friends ( G3UFO & G3WIC) in the UK on CW. Having a call that ended in "K" was not a good thing.
After about a year I asked for a 2 letter call and was told if I took the first one the computer spat out it would be OK, so I did and VK6XH then spent the next 21 years on the air.
Recently unused 2 letter vanity calls became available in Australia and I noticed VK6RK was free. As VK6KB isn't available I thought I'd take my first 2 initials and revert back ( almost) to my original call.
So now I'm VK6RK.
VK6XH is still my call and will be for at least the next 4 years till it requires renewing and then I will decide if I want it anymore.
I spent three years as a WIA Divisional Councillor representing VK6 before the WIA became a national body, something I quite enjoyed.
Starting a new business meant I had less time to devote to the hobby and I resigned.
I became the WIA VK6 Advisory committee chairman a couple of years ago to try and promote the hobby but it wasn't to be and I resigned a couple of months ago. Things just were not going fast enough for me.
I started writing the VK6 Notes for the national magazine about 15 months ago and I really enjoy the monthly challenge of getting local clubs to provide the input, its bloody hard work sometimes!!!
When I first arrived in Australia I joined the Hills Group in Kalamunda but after about 4 meetings I realised the age group was about 35 years older than me and it wasn't what I was looking for.
John, then VK6HQ, suggested I join a relatively new group in Perth called the Northern Corridor Radio Group.
Well this was it, talk about like minded souls
You will not meet a more dedicated bunch of irreverent reprobates anywhere else in the world !
I fitted in and felt at home straight away and have done so ever since.
I suggest you have a look the club website to see what we have achieved ( www.ncrg.org.au )
So if you like to enjoy your radio, have few ?? beers, take part in contests and generally have a good time come and join us when you are in Perth. Visiting amateurs are always welcome and we are happy for you to use the club station.
That's it , you are up to date with me and my hobby.
As we say in amateur radio vy 73
Keith