IARU Região III comemora 50 anos com indicativo especial!

IARU Region III celebrates 50 years with a special call sign!
50 years ago, on the 12^th April 1968 a Regional arm of the International Amateur Radio Union, IARU Region 3, was established in Sydney.
The IARU itself came into existence on the 14^th April, 1925, at the Faculty of Science, Paris University, where a congress made up of representatives from a number of world-wide amateur radio organisations met to form a united voice for wireless experimenters.  This was, a truly far sighted move by those involved!
The need for such an organisation was just as great then as it is now.  Then, wireless communications was on the cusp of rapid change, largely brought about by the opening up of the short wave bands and the introduction of broadcasting.  Today we have to contend with even more intense demands, particularly on our spectrum allocations – the very necessary ‘parklands amongst the industrial world’ in which we need to survive!
Region 3 comes into existence.
In April 1968, representatives from Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand and Australia met in Sydney to establish a Region 3 organisation.  Other countries, Ceylon, India, South Korea, Thailand, and Hong Kong indicated their support for the meeting but were unable to attend.
At this meeting, it was decided to proceed with a Region 3 Association and establish an interim Directorate of five, representing the countries present.  They were appointed to legally act for the Association until the Plenary (all inclusive) meeting which was scheduled for Tokyo in 1971.
Region 3 Today.
Like most amateur radio involvements, the voluminous hard work is carried out by volunteers.  Indeed our hobby would not exist if it was not for dedicated volunteers throughout the amateur ranks who give so freely of their time and expertise for the benefit of all.  Regional activities are no exception and can be even more stressful due to the distances involved, language differences, let alone the often diametrically opposed points of view of some country’s authorities.
From the humble beginnings at the Inaugural meeting in 1968, IARU Region 3 now has 39-member countries and to help celebrate the formation 50 years ago, the WIA has been able to secure a special call sign VI50IARU3 which will be valid for four days only from 0001UTC 12th April until 2359UTC 31st August 2018.  Should you wish to make use of the callsign please email trainsafe@silvertrain.com.au to express interest.
Every radio amateur needs the IARU!