Contents:
- Silent Key
- Ja-Well-No-Fine
- Data-base
- South African Women's Radio Club ZS2AA Iris Hayes
- ZS6GH – Diana Green. The History of the SA Woman’s Radio Club
- ZS5KG Muriel Neill
- QRZ Calendar
Silent
Key:
Josée
Demaio ZS1CJ passed away unexpectedly but peacefully 28/04/2016
Greatly
missed by Geno Demaio ZS1GI.
Ja-Well-No-Fine
June
is YL Birthday month. Its 5 years since our first letter in June
2011.
In
October 2010, Anette, ZR6D, started a YL net and from those initial
contacts grew the current data-base.
In
our 2nd newsletter August 2011, quote: 'The important thing is to
locate all of us.'
That
remains as important now as then, as does your input.
Data
figures below show our numbers have increased but there are many not
included.
And,
on June 2, 1952 (64 years ago) the SAWRC (South African Women's Radio
Club) was founded.
This
newsletter is about some of the early YL's.
Its
a bit like a jig-saw puzzle with missing pieces and I appeal to you
to share any 'bits' that will help fill in our history.
Another
reason to celebrate is that during May 2016, amongst the initial
inductees into the S.A.R.L. Hall of Fame was ZS2AA Iris Hayes (SK).
Licensed
1937, first YL station in South Africa.
So
ladies - pick up your mics and glasses and celebrate!
88
& 33 Heather (ZS6YE/ZS5YH)
Data-base:
(The
data-base remains a work-in-progress.
Email updates &
corrections. )
Area
Jan. 2012 June 2016
Div
1. W Cape 18 69
Div
2. E Cape 20 22
Div
3. N Cape 2 10
Div
4. O.F.S. 16 25
Div
5. KZN 19 29
Div
6. old TVL 80 170
Listeners
-- _10
155
335
DX
4 150
Australia
___ 34
Email
sent 126 519
e-failed
11 74
?/Archive
22 122
Totals
YL’s 159 715
Facebook
33 120
SAWRC
(South African Women's Radio Club)
Founded
June 2, 1952 the only YL club in S hemisphere; it was affiliated to
the SA Radio League.
Started
with 33 members and by end of 1952 they had 71. The club was very
active in the 1950's and 60's with over 120 YL members and even had
its own magazine, "YL Beam", which regularly comprised of
over 18 pages, and even had a Christmas edition of 30 pages.
Founders:
ZS2AA Iris Hayes President
ZS5KG
Muriel Neill Vice-President
ZS6GH
Diana Green Secretary
ZS6KK
Marie Kramer Cormack Secretary
Only
other YL club was YLRL (in USA) which is still surviving. (See
http://www.ylrl.org)
ZS2AA
Iris Hayes Trophy for Good Fellowship. First presented to Max Fisher
ZS2DL in 1951 and is still in use. Last year (2015) it was presented
to Andrew Middleton ZS2EL – son of the late George Middleton
ZS2KG.
[Iris
Hayes was covered in Newsletter #20 May/June 2014, 'In Memory']
ZS6KK
Marie Kramer Cormack (SK) 1949 licensed HF
SARL
Call books show she lived in Bellevue East, Johannesburg 1950 - 1997
ZS6GH
Diana Green (nee Tuck) DOB 22/04/1916. - SK 27/07/1997
1938
licensed. 1st Jewish radio ham in South Africa. OM Reg Green, ZS6J
1948
YLRL President
1950-60
+- Joint sec. of SA Womens Radio Club ran it for 30 years or so until
1990
1982
President SAWRC Editor of "YL Beam".
1976
Jack Twine Award
Editor
of YL column Radio ZS; YL editor for SARL bulletin; bookkeeper and
stamp collector.
Travelled
through Europe, Canada and U.S. resulting in many personal QSOs.
The
SARL Call book shows Diane Green as resident in Johannesburg from
1950-1997= 47 years
February
1978 Radio ZS: Diana Green ZS6GH mentions that the SAWRC had been in
existence for 30 years, and is in recess, until a Council can be
raised in terms of the Constitution.
Source:
Irvine Green, ZS6BPE, 20.09.2001 “I am the son of Diana Green,
ZS6GH, licensed in 1938 aged 22. She was born April 22, 1916. - My
father was Reg Green, ZS6J, licensed 1933, age 22. - Mom went silent
key July 27, 1997, and ZS6J died June 26 1993. - I got my licence on
July 28, 1976, age 21. - My mom was the first Jewish radio ham in
South Africa. - My mom started the SA Women's Radio Club and ran it
for 30 years or so until 1990 (I think.) . - She kept in touch with
Louisa Sando W5RZJ, Evelyn Scott, and many others, including Maxine
Willis, W6UHA, and wrote for CQ magazine (Louisa's YL notes.) We, as
a family, also did DX Expeditions to the 'homelands' in South Africa
(H5ADX, H5ASC, V9ADX) between 1980 and 1989.
The
History of the SA Woman’s Radio Club – by Dianna Green ZS6GH
Article August 1975 Radio ZS
The
editor of Radio ZS has asked me to record the historical events of
the first YL Club in Southern Hemisphere. At the time the South
African Club was founded, the only other organization existing for
women hams was the Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) in the U.S.A.
Since the ZS Club was formed, the Canadian, New Zealand, and Italian
ladies have started their own organizations.
On
the 2nd June, 1952, the S.A. Women’s Radio Club came into being,
with Iris Hayes, ZS2AA, as Organizing President, Muriel Neill, ZS5KG,
Vice-President, Marie Cormack,ZS6KK, and myself (ZS6GH), as
organizing Secretaries, the subscription being the magnificent sum of
50 cents. On formation, 33 ladies joined and by the end of 1952, we
had 71 members, consisting of YL hams and interested listeners. Now
we have approximately 160 in 17 countries. By the time the Club was
formed, there were a good numbers of LYL’s (Licensed YL’s) in
South Africa, Iris Hayes ZS2AA, having been the first woman to break
into the man’s field in this country, closely followed by Vi
Cruikshanks, ZS2BR. Among the other YL newcomers to ham radio were
the late Laura Percival, ZS5DD, Meg Campling (Weightman), ZS5DF and
myself. Not one of us had a ham in the background in those days, so
we had to manage on our own.
As
mentioned in a speech at a Cocktail Party held during the Pretoria
Annual General Meeting this year, our subscriptions were raised to 75
cents in 1957, and not since! This will give the readers some food
for thought! We will use up some of our reserves before increasing
the membership.
To
keep our members in touch, we produce a magazine called YL Beam,
which is printed on a Duplicator we have nursed for 18 years, and
before it came into our possession, it was a demonstration model! It
has its idiosyncrasies and can be temperamental, but it produces
excellent copy! The magazine consists of 19 pages as a rule, but we
have had up to 33 pages! Our covers always have an African theme,
many having been drawn by members and artists. Toni Bauman, ZS6YL, is
responsible for having done much of the artwork, before her illness,
for which we are very grateful. Quite a few Oms, who are of course
not members, pay subscriptions to receive YL Beam. It is especially
popular in the U.S.A. to encourage members to write articles and
enroll new members, etc., Pat WOODLAND, ZS1MU presented the Club with
a big Trophy, to be awarded to the YL who gains the most points in
the Members Competition.
Our
constitution provides that each Division holds office in rotation,
but Division 6 has administered the affairs of the Club on sixteen
occasions, with Division 5 relieving, but all Divisions have held
office at one time or another.
Affiliation
was granted to us by the S.A. Radio League at the A.G.M. in 1954 and
we have had a pleasant association with the League all these years.
I
wish to record that I have spent 16 years on Council, having been
President for 12 years and Secretary on four occasions, in addition
to being Editor of YL Beam innumerable times. Toni Bauman, ZS6YL, was
Vice-President, for 9 years and Editor for 6 years. I want to thank
her for her devoted service in the past.
To
put the S.A. Woman’s Radio Club on the map, we have issued two
Certificates, the W.A.Y.L. (Worked All YL), the rules being drafted
in Division 1 with the help of Iris Hayes, ZS2AA, in 1955, and the
K.K.K. (Key Keen Klub) being suggested by Gwen Smith, ZS6NQ (now
ZS1NQ). To obtain the W.A.Y.L. Certificate, hams must work 12 LYLs in
Southern Africa south of the former Belgian Congo from the 2nd June,
1952, submitting QSLs and enclosing a remittance of 25 cents. For the
K.K.K. Certificate, copies of Logs must be sent duly certified for
100 C.W. contacts, 500 or 1000, together with 50 cents. Contacts must
be made from the 31st December, 1956 (midnight S.A.S.T.) Certificates
are free to our members.
Thanks
to the wonderful work done by Margery Snyman, ZS1RM, for 18 years and
two other Custodians, our Certificates hang in the shacks of hams all
round the world. We pay tribute to Margery for being so conscientious
and publicizing our Club throughout the world. As from the 1st
January, 1975, our new Custodian is Miss Susan Smith, ZS1SM, 3
Bournemouth Road, Muizenberg, Cape, 7945.
Our
Club members participate in S.A. Radio League Contests and are
awarded special Trophies by the S.A. Women’s Radio Club. These have
been donated by Iris, ZS2AA, the late Eddie Yazbek, ZS4NQ, the late
Edith Bennett, ZS6BD, and myself.
LYLs
are asked to join our Nets every Wednesday at 2 p.m. on a frequency
of approximately 7070 kHz.
Our
members participate in WRR and quite a number have joined Hamnet.
Those who have not registered are urged to do so now.
May
I also express my appreciation to other members who have served in
office in all the Divisions and to Divisional Secretaries for the
news supplied for the magazine. If there was more space, I could list
all the names! Without the support of our faithful members, there
would be no S.A.W.R.C., so THREE HEARTY CHEERS to the gals for they
are JOLLY GOOD LYLs and MYLs (married Yls).
Below
are some extracts, together with observations by Pam Momberg
ZS6APT,Chairman/Treasurer of the Centurion ARC.
February
1978 Radio ZS:
Council
for 1978, Congratulations to the following who have been elected :-
President
– Mrs Elizabeth Wessesl. ZS6AMO
Vice
President – Mrs Rhona Schoeman. ZS6BRF
Hon
Secretary – Mrs. Pam Momberg ZS6APT
We
were in office for a number of years, with Kuki de Beer ZS6AMO
joining us. She was responsible for the graphics in the YL Beam. At
that stage Liz and I were co-editors.
(Interesting
fact – Liz, Rhona and Pam passed the RAE together in 1975. Each
getting allocated a ZR Licence. Liz and I (Pam) went on to get our ZS
licenses six weeks later in 1976. Unfortunately Liz has let her
license lapse and I lost touch with Rhona some time ago when she
moved down to Cape Town. I notice that also no longer has a
license.)
In
the October 1985 Radio ZS I noticed the following:
Glynis
Johnson ZR1GW had been writing a YL column for the Radio ZS on a
regular basis.
ZS5KG
(ZSL5L) Muriel Neill (SK)
1950
YLRL President
1952
Vice-President SAWRC (SA Women's Radio Club) founder member
1965
Jack Twine Merit Award 1972 Willy Wilson Gold Badge
SARL
Call books show Mrs. Muriel Neill, lived in Durban, Natal. /50- 80
=30 yrs
From:
ZS5LP Louis de Bruin , 1 JAN 2016:
I
joined the SARL in October 1958, fees 75 cents, the secretary of the
Durban Branch of the SARL at the time was Muriel ZS5KG. Her OM Albert
ZS5GK was the treasurer of the Branch.
Muriel
was a wonderful YL, and at the time guided me to obtain my licence a
few years later. In fact I delayed doing the CW, but dear Muriel made
an appointment with Peter Smoog, the RI and forced me to go. I was
grateful as I passed.
Muriel
biggest happiness was the Kiddies Christmas tree event every year.
During the year she would find all sorts of items - for presents -
and organize the event. A large Christmas tree and one or other of
the old timers would be dressed up as Father Christmas, his
responsibility would be handing out the numerous presents. these
events would be at a Shell-hole if possible, otherwise she arranged
one or other Church hall. At the time we had almost 50 plus juniors
and she knew them all by name etc.
In
1969 I became a committee member of the Durban Branch, Muriel loved
that and encouraged my every activity. 1971, I became Chairman and a
few years later Muriel retired as Secretary. Muriel was the CQ NEWS
LETTER Editor up to the time she retired from admin activities. In
AGM photos up to the middle seventies, you will see Muriel and
Albert.
BIG
thank-you to the sites below where you will find yl.beam newsletters
:
WEST
RAND ARC wrarc-anode.blogspot.com
https://wrarc-anode.blogspot.co.za/
and
USA YL - ARNETHA HAYNES
http://ka1uln.blogspot.co.za/
QRZ
CONTACTS:
zs6ye.yl@gmail.com
zr6d@ymail.com
Facebook
‘HAM Yl’ Hope you are one of our Facebook friends? (YLs only)
AWA
– invites you to join them for the mid-year get-together of the
Antique Wireless Association of Southern Africa, on Saturday the 4th
of June as part of the Westrand Amateur radio club’s flea market
Weltevredenpark, Roodepoort (coordinates: 26°08'28.4"S -
27°55'07.3"E)
Saturday
4 June 2016 - NZART Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Celebrating
the 90th Anniversary of NZART (New Zealand Association of Radio
Transmitters)
24-26
June brings the largest gathering of Radio Amateurs in Europe and the
largest gathering of Emergency Communicators at HAMRADIO 2016 in
Friedrichshafen.(Lake Constance, S Germany)
Calendar
02
June 64 Aniversary SAWRC (South African Womens Radio Club) Founded
1952
5
years since YL Group newsletter #1 June 2011
4-5
June IARU Reg 1 CW Field Day/RSGB CW Field Day
4-5
June SEANET (South East Asia Net) Contest (24 hours). Starts Sat.
1200UTC
12
June Hammies ZS6 Sprint (Youth)
16
June Youth Day South Africa
17
June World QRP Day
18-19
June International Museums Weekends. 3rd & 4th weekends in June
19
June Father’s Day
20
June Winter Solstice
23-27
June SARL Top Band QSO Party
25-26
June International Museums Weekends. 3rd & 4th weekends in June
2-3
July Marconi Memorial HF Contest 1400Z, Jul 2 to 1400Z, Jul 3
3
July SARL ZS5 Sprint
