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WICEN (ACT)The "Community Service" arm of the |
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This Site is Very Much Under Construction...
Originally formed as the the Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network, WICEN (ACT) is affiliated with WICEN (NSW) Inc, a member Squad of the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association, and affiliated with the NSW State Emergency Service.
"Trained volunteers linking the community in times of need"
News - plus a record of past WICEN events
Ideas/comments about this site to the Wireless Institute of Australia, ACT Division: committee@vk1.wia.ampr.org
What is WICEN?
WICEN is a group of trained Amateur-Radio (nicknamed "Ham Radio") operators, accredited to assist in emergency situations, and able to provide emergency and safety communications when normal communications do not exist or are inadequate. Examples in the past include Cyclone Tracy, Orange bushfires, Newcastle earthquake, the 1993 North-Eastern Victoria Floods, 1994 Sydney & Central Coast Bushfires, storms, and the Thredbo landslip.
| A WICEN communications trailer set up in a remote
location in NSW's Watagan Mountains. |
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WICEN members provide their own radio equipment, and freely give up their time to benefit the community. To keep up its training requirements, WICEN takes part in many exercises on behalf of the community, again providing safety communications, such as the The Bayer Solar Boat Race, The Canberra 2 Day Walk, The FAI Rally of Canberra, The National Capital Rally, The Bungonia Cave Rescue exercise, and many others (additions welcome!).
Although voice radio is still used for passing messages, WICEN frequently uses packet radio (computers linked by radio circuits) for the reliable and speedy handling of long and complex messages.
| WICEN radio operators Craig Smith and Owen Holmwood using packet radio to keep tabs on the safety of competitors during a bushwalker's event. |  |
WICEN (in New South Wales) is an accredited squad within the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association, and is also affiliated with the New South Wales State Emergency Service. In case you are confused about the references to "New South Wales", it is because each State is autonomous, although they share common goals and objectives. Similar organisations in other countries include RAYNET (UK) and RACES/ARES (USA).
How to Contact Us
Here is our contact info (email or post) if you would like to learn more about us. Perhaps you would like to join WICEN and help us maintain the communications side of public safety in the ACT and surrounding area ?