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VK7AX > WIA 25.06.14 06:09l 112 Lines 5175 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: [WIA-News] Worldwide doyen of Amateur Radio honoured
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Sent: 140625/0408Z 35294@VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC [Ulverstone] FBB7.00g $:35294-VK
From: VK7AX@VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC
To : WIA@WW
Worldwide doyen of Amateur Radio honoured
Date : 17 / 06 / 2014
Author : Jim Linton - VK3PC
On a trip to Melbourne Timothy Ellam VE6SH/G4HUA, IARU President
of the International Amateur Radio Union, formally presented
Dr David Wardlaw with the IARU’s inaugural Michael J Owen Award.
The presentation was at the Wireless Institute of Australia’s (WIA)
headquarters in Havelock Road, east suburban Bayswater before a
small gathering of those involved with the IARU, WIA,
family and friends.
Tim Ellam thanked those who organised the morning tea,
(followed by a city luncheon later joined by Nan Owen and daughter Jen),
and said, "The WIA remains one of our most important member societies
in the IARU and we value your participation in our affairs.
" He acknowledged the presence of IARU Region 3's President
Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN, and Director Geoff Atkinson VK3TL as well
as Monitoring System Coordinator Peter Young VK3MV, and the
Chairman of the Disaster Communications Committee Jim Linton VK3PC.
Speaking of the Michael J Owen Award, Tim said, "We were of
course immensely saddened with Michael’s sudden passing.
(The IARU Region 3 Chairman and WIA President died on
September 22, 2012.) Michael was a rock for all us and for his
achievements both with Amateur Radio in Australia and those who
became involved in the IARU were remarkable.
His commitment to Amateur Radio was exemplary.
Many of us here today can speak to his keen intellect and wit.
Many also speak to his kindness and mentoring of new radio
amateurs involved in the IARU.ö
Tim said one of his goals on becoming the IARU President was to
recognise our volunteers. This was from a recognition that people
spent long hours for the good of Amateur Radio, often with little
recognition. "With Michael’s passing it seemed fitting that this
recognition should incorporate his name," he said.
The IARU Administrative Council (AC) felt that no other radio
amateur better exemplified the IARU volunteer, and named it the
Michael J Owen Award.
In 2013 the IARU AC acted to make the inaugural appointment of
two radio amateurs who were the unanimous choices for dedication
and work for the IARU. Wojciech Nietyksza SP5FM (who was presented
with the award by IARU Vice President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR in
Warsaw on 17 May 2014, for decades of exceptional service)
and now Dr David Wardlaw VK3ADW receiving the same award.
The Australian became involved with the IARU in 1968 as part of
the Secretariat provided by the WIA for the inaugural conference
of the IARU Region 3 in Sydney. While serving as WIA President
he attended the 1976 IARU world meeting in Miami, in conjunction
with the Region 2 conference, at which the global objectives and
strategy for World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79)
were developed.
Along with Michael Owen, David was appointed to the Australian
delegation at WARC-79 to represent Amateur Radio. It was one of
the most significant conferences for the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU) in many ways.
For Amateur Radio it meant the allocation of the so-called WARC-bands
for the Amateur Service, a major development that occurred
during a very busy agenda. The pair returned home having played
their roles in that IARU victory, but went on to serve further.
David was a Director of IARU R3 1988-1994 and 1997-99,
resigning in that time to succeed Michael as IARU Vice President,
serving in that role from 1994-2004.
Tim Ellam fondly recalls that he succeeded David as IARU
Vice President, and in the hand-over imparted his wisdom and
guidance for this role. He said, "David was an effective
representative of both Amateur Radio and the Australian
administration at the ITU. His expertise was such that those
he encountered assumed that 'Dr Wardlaw' held a Ph. D.
in some field related to physics or engineering, but in fact,
he was a dentist. "To this day, many ITU attendees speak often
and highly of Dr Wardlaw, and I am continually asked when we
will see him again."
In presenting the Michael J. Owen Award, the IARU President said,
"I can think of no one more fitting to be presented with this
award than you." A humble David Wardlaw received the accolade,
saying it was a deep privilege to be awarded. He recalled that
a young Michael Owen, then a law student, had shown an interest
in the way radio was regulated, and after a Sunday morning at his
house interested him in Amateur Radio. While he made many friends
at the IARU. He quipped that ITU committee chairman would refer
to him by his name, rather than a country like other delegates,
giving him some added importance.
David is known for his quiet and diplomatic approach to important
matters, but his truly thoughtful effectiveness on them can never
be challenged.
The Wireless Institute of Australia
The Wireless Institute of Australia
Worldwide doyen of Amateur Radio honoured Date : 17 / 06 / 2014
View on www.wia.org.au
(Sourced from the WIA Website)
(Posted to the Packet Radio Network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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