FROM 1910 TO
1935 by "ELECTRON"
From"The Broadcaster Annual" December 1934.
(A brief history of West Australian radio, from the pre-war days of key
thumping, when broadcasting of speech and music was unheard of. to the
present stage.
The earliest known record of any interest evinced in what
is now universally known as wireless in this state refers to 1910 when
a young telegraphist in the Railways Department became acquainted with
a still younger mechanic who was employed at the Midland Junction
workshops. These two "young" men are now more widely known
to wireless enthusiasts as George Dean, telegraphy examining officer
for the Western Australian Government railways, and none other than
Wally Coxon of 6AG,6WF and now 6AM fame. Although he was an
expert telegraphist, it was not until 1910 that Mr.Dean seriouly delved
into the mysteries of wireless, and it was through one of his
"mysterious" experiments that he became acquainted with Mr.Coxon. Young
Coxon could not pound the key at that time, but he did possess a
wonderful insight into many of the then mysteries of wireless, so much
so that even then his residence was a metropolitan landmark with its
two beautiful 60ft wireless masts.These two experimenters became firm
friends, each teaching the other many of the points of the game.
Furthermore, their scope for experimenting was advanced by the fact
that young Coxon possessed a well-fitted workshop of his own, housing
an electric motor, lathes and a large number of wood &
metal working tools. Even when Dean first visited this workshop the
shelves were littered with "junk" in the form of
autotuners,coherers,carborundum detectors, a magnetic detector which
had come somehow from Marconi's, an oil mercury detector and many other
weird and wonderful gadgets. After some considerable time experimenting
with cats-whiskers, and the like, these pioneers applied for permission
to operate amateur stations, and when the applications were granted,
DEAN was allocated the Callsign XYL, and COXON XYK, Dean and
Coxon continued with their experiments for about a year before they
heard of other enthusiasts in the metropolitan area, and it did not
take them very long to make a "round-up", with the result that shortly
afterwards, the first wireless club in this state was formed, those
present being Messrs Fred Reid, Reg. Thompson, Will Collins, Arthur
Sibley, Leslie (from Applecross) Wally Coxon and George Dean. These
seven diehards can, I think, honestly claim to be the real
pioneers of wireless in Western Australia.
EARLIER (AFFILIATED) CLUBS. Affiliate - "to join one
society to another, without loss of identity" (Webster's Thesaurus
& Dictionary 1991) It was only natural that,
prior to the commencement of a Broadcasting Service in Western
Australia, there existed perhaps a hundred or more experimenters that
grew from a group of five that first held a meeting (in 1911?) to form
a Radio Club. The intervention of the Great War curtailed the efforts
of the few then interested, but provided, directly afterwards, much new
ground for the revival of interest and the real start of the
Experimenter. There were no Broadcast Listeners Licences, and an
enthusiast who wanted to listen to amateur transmissions had to obtain
an experimental receiving licence.Very soon, the numbers increased, and
the Amateur Radio Exhibitions that followed introduced many of the
personalities one sees in the radio trade at present. The radio
organisations that commenced (The Wireless Institute, Subiaco Radio
Society, Fremantle, Victoria Park, Mt.Lawley, Kalgoorlie, Albany, West
Perth/Leederville, and Claremont Clubs ( to name a few) were all
the means of introducing to radio those who eventually formed the
Technicians, Broadcast Operators, etc. today, and many of the
people who are now Broadcast Listeners. Having performed their
function, some Clubs disbanded and left those alive today to cater for
the genuine experimenter.From "How Wireless began in Western
Australia" (No.1 of a series of 11) in "The Broadcaster" February
18th-25th 1939.At the first Meeting of members of the W.A.Radio Club,
held - according to the minutes - on "Monday the 15th inst. (which must
have been, at the latest, September) the third of the 3 rules passed
stated: 3.Boys attending school will not be accepted, but Junior
Societies may be affiliated. The Club will encourage the work of
such societies. At the meeting of 24th November 1913, it was reported
by Mr.A.Dewar that "Persons interested in Radio Telegraphy at KALO
desired to form a Club in that town. It was agreed that a Branch of the
W.A.Radio Club be formed in that town. (Dewar was a licenced
experimenter, with the Calling sign XYE ) Was the Branch formed? At
risk of being facetious, DID IT BEAR FRUIT? Who (apart from Dewar )
were members? In its magazine of August 28th 1914, The Perth Boys
School Radio Club ( who used the same meeting rooms as the W.A.Radio
Club) noted: "As the W.A.Radio and Scientific Institute ,with which we
are affiliated,(it had changed its name in June that year) had
volunteered their assistance to the authorities(in dismantling wireless
apparatus at the outbreak of War) we did likewise, & are glad to
have been able to help the senoir club in locating quite a number of
unlicenced stations. We have received many "good turns" from them, and
are glad to be able to return one.This would no doubt have been just an
understanding and bond between the Clubs, no doubt fostered by Mr.
(Hal) McKail, the Science Master at the school, organiser of the PBS
Radio Club, & also at that time. Chairman of the "Institute"
In fact, from its beginning to at least 1916, the W.A.Radio Club met at
the Science Rooms of the Boys School, to the benefit apparently of both
Clubs. At the Council meeting of the (then) Wireless Institute of
Australia (W.A.Division) on October 28th 1920, a letter was received
from the Secretary of the Boys' Division of the Y.M.C.A. Wireless Club,
asking for Affiliation, which was duly considered. It was decided
that a reply be sent to the Secretary of the Boys Division of the
Y.M.C.A. Wireless Club, to the effect that the Club would be accepted
as an affiliated Club, provided they accept our rules as they apply,
and that all members over 18 years of age become members of the
Division. The affiliation would be subject to confirmation at the
Annual Meeting of the Division. It is perhaps hardly surprising that no
more was heard (or if it was, wasn't recorded) from this Club. Had they
lost interest in affiliation, or had the Club , ceased to exist by the
time the Annual General Meeting arrived (on June 26th the following
year) was not until March 29th 1923 that the next enquiry regarding
affiliation was recorded. At the Council Meeting, Mr. PHIPPS
stated that a number of Radio Enthusiasts at Subiaco were desirous of
forming a Club, and that he had been asked what could be done with
regard to affiliation etc. - They desired a separate branch.Mr.Nossiter
moved that the council view the proposal sympathetically re the
formation of the Club, and Mr. Phipps be instructed to inform them that
in the event of forming a Club, the Council is prepared to consider a
proposal for affiliation. It appears that Life wasn't meant to be easy,
even in 1923, especially in this hitherto unexplored
field!! On May 8th 1923 The Subiaco Radio Society was duly
founded, and on May 30th a letter was received from Mr. Congdon (The
Secretary of the new Society) asking re affiliation. It was moved "that
Mr.Congdon be advised that Council is considering the proposal, and
would let him know particulars of affiliation at an early date. A
Special meeting was held on June 6th to discuss a further letter asking
for the terms of affiliation: it was pointed out that "as we
understand that your rules have not been passed by the General Meeting,
your application cannot be proceeded with." On June 21st it
was agreed that affiliation be granted, subject to the rules governing
affiliation being agreed to AT A ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE.
At a special Meeting of July 11th, Mr. Collas 'put a temporary spanner
in the works' by suggesting that the Club Incorporate, a suggestion
which was not acceptable to the Clubs representatives.
It wasn't until August 27th that Rules of Affiliation were finally
agreed to, although today they may seem rather Draconian!
These rules for Affiliation did not prove very popular: only 3 clubs
affiliated under this scheme : Subiaco, Mt. Lawley & Fremantle. Any
others then in existance obviously either could not afford to
affiliate, or didn't think it was worth it!
Although promulgated by the Institute, "The Rules of Affiliation" were
also printed in "The Western Wireless" of November 7th 1923: INSTITUTE
AFFILIATION. For the benefit of those enthusiasts in the outlying
districts who wish to form themselves into clubs and affiliate with The
Wireless Institute of Australia (W.A.Division) we print here the rules
governing affiliation with that body". STATUS : That affiliation shal
only be granted by the Wireless Institute of Australia (W.A.Division)
to Clubs whose membership exceeds TEN Full
members.
2.RULES : (a) Any Club desiring affiliation with the Wireless
Institute of Australia (W.A.Division) must first forward copy of rules
& regulations
governing their Society or Club, to the Wireless Institute (b)
That
additions and alterations of the Affiliated Bodies Rules &
Regulations must be forwarded to the Wireless
Institute (W.A.Division) for approval before
being adopted.AFFILIATION FEES : This shall be
a 5% levy on subscriptions from financial members received up to June
30th of each year.
4. REPRESENTATION : (a) That for each 10/6d affiliation fee paid,
Full membership of the Institute will be granted to a nominated member
of an affiliated body. (b) That a representsative from each
affiliated body shall have the right to sit at any Council meeting of
the Institute when matters appertaining to affiliated bodies are being
discussed. CORRESPONDENCE :All correspondence dealing with the amateur
question as a whole to the Federal Authorities or any other body is to
be forwarded through the Institute. An item in
"The Western Wireless" ( December 5th 1923 ) asked the question "WHY
NOT A CLUBS EXECUTIVE?"
Now that several Clubs are in full swing and working for the
advancement of the science generally, it would be a move to still
further their interests if an executive body were formed to work in
conjunction with the Institute in dealing with obstacles which must
neccessarily arise from time to time.
At present, Clubs & Societies affiliating with the Institute are
allowed representatives at the meetings of the latter body, but in this
respect, they work and act independantly of each other club - they act
in accordance with instructions from their own members. If an executive
council, consisting of , say, three or four members from each club.
were formed and met at least once every month for the purpose of
discussing business which concerned the clubs - and the clubs only -
then some good would result.
The result of the deliberation at these meetings could then be placed
before the Instiutute, and it would be then that the club
representatives could advance their claims in favour of such
proposition - for they would be
thoroughly conversant with it . .At present,should one club's
representative place a proposition before the Institute, it requires an
adjournment in order that the other clubs may have time to deal with
the matter. This would be obviated if the clubs formed themselves inot
an executive and dealt with the matter before bringing it under the
notice of the Institute. The members of this executive would act in the
same capacity as delegates to a cricket or football association, and
would be the means of more cohesive working amongst the various clubs .
What do YOU think about it? This co-incided with another news item in
the same edition of "THE WESTERN WIRELESS" entitled
"WIRELESS COUNCIL
The Chief Manager of Telegraphs and Wireless, Melbourne (Mr.J.Malone)
has written to various scientific institutions and wireless clubs
suggesting the formation of a Council representative of wireless
experimental interests throughout Australia. Professor Ross of the
University, who is also President of the Royal Society of Western
Australia, and a member of the Australian National Research Council,
has accordingly issued invitations to the various Radio Clubs &
Societies in this state. to a meeting at the University on Monday 17th
inst. (December) , when the whole matter of wireless work in
Western Australia can be considered. Such a meeting should be
productive of much assistance to wireless experimenters &
amateurs.The meeting was duly held at The University, Prof.Ross in the
Chair.
In opening the discussion, Professor Ross pointed out that certain
difficulties were looming up owing to the fact that "experimenters"
under the 1923 Regulations embraced "listeners-in" , experimenters who
were interested in the educational side of wireless, and research
workers.
He thought that while the amateurs would always outnumber the true
experimenter, the higher educational & scientific aspects should
not be forgotten, as otherwise, interest in wireless telgraphy would
,in many cases, be merely transitory. IT WAS NECCESSARY THAT THE RADIO
CLUBS SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE EDUCATION AND ASSISTANCE OF BEGINNERS
AND AMATEURS . . . .
On March 10th 1924, Council drafted a new set of Rules of Affiliation,
which were circulated to all Clubs and a
Conference was arranged for two weeks hence (March 24th) , at which
invited delegates from The Council and Radio Clubs met to discuss
Affiliation with the Wireless Institute.Subiaco, Fremantle &
Mt.Lawley sent delegates. Letters agreeing to the Institutes proposals
were received from The Goldfields Radio Society (Kalgoorlie) and
Northam. Claremont phoned to express agreement with the
proposals, but regretted they were unable to send a representative. Mr.
Congdon (Subiaco) temporarily "threw a spanner in the works" by
suggesting that the body so formed be called "The Wireless Institute" ,
and the present Institute form itself into, say, PERTH No.1 Branch,
each club forming a Branch.
- T h e r e b e i n
g n o s e c o n d e r , t h
e m o t i o n l a p s e d
.
€
( W h a t i f t h e m o t i o
n h a d s u c c e e d e d ? ?
I t w a s u n a n i m o u s l y a g
r e e d t h a t t h e r e v i s e
d r u l e s b e a c c e p t e
d D e l e g a t e s w e r
e t o r e p o r t t o t
h e i r C l u b s , a n d
a f u r t h e r C o n f e ercnwesa
e r e n cewas called for May 8th 1924.
At this meeting, held at the Institute's HQ at The Central Fire
Station, Those present were : Council of the Institute (with
apologies from Messrs Sibley & Knapton) . Messrs B.Randell
& O.Bowyer . representing Mt.Lawley Radio Society.
Messrs. Phipps &
Botterill . . . . representing Subiaco Radio Society. Mr.
R.Stirling representing The Goldfields Radio Club (Kalgoorlie)
Messrs G.Lorden & H.Rogers representing West
Perth/Leederville R.S. Messrs. P.Cullingsworth &
E.Oliver representing
Kelmscott R.S.
Messrs C.W.Jeans & H.Hammond
representing Claremont Radio Society. Messrs.G.Pearson &
J.Milner,representing Guildford Private Radio Club - A Telegram was
received from Albany Radio Society.
Each of the proposed rules having been discussed,it was resolved that:
"The Affilation Rules of the Wireless Institute of Australia
(W.A.Division) are now as follows:
1. All Clubs to affiliate with the Wireless Institute of Australia
(W.A.Division) and ad
†† and ad d t o t h e i
r t i t l e " A f f i l i a t e d w
i t h t h e W i r e l e s s I n s t
i t u t e o f A u s t r a l i
a
( W . A . D i v i s o n ) "
2.
.2A
2 . A n a n n u a l a f f i l
i a t i o n f e e o f F i v
e S h i l l i n g s ( 5 / - ) s h a
l l b e p a i d b y e a
c h s o c i e t y o n a f f i l i a
t i n g , a n d t h e r e a f t e r on the
r o n t h e 1 s t
o f J u l y e a c h y e a r .
3 R e p r e s e n t a t i o n
- E a c h c l u b , t o g e t h e
r w i t h t h e W i r e l e s
s I n s t i t u t e o f
A u s t r a l i a , W . A . D i v i s i o n
, w i l l a p p o i n t t w
o ( 2 ) d e l e g a t e s w i t
h f u l l p o w e r t o
a c t , t o f o r
m a b o a r d w h o s e
f u n c t i o n w i l l b e t
o d e a l w i t h t h e
a m a t e
ur position
as a whole. The board to be presided over by the President of
the Wireless Institute, & the Secretary of the
Institute shall be its Secretary. The Assistant Secretary is to be
appointed from the Committee. The Board to be known as:-
"THE COMMITTEE OF AFFILIATED RADIO SOCIETIES OF W.A."
4. Correspondence - All correspondence dealing with the amateur
position as a whole to the Federal Authorities or any
other bodies shall be forwarded through the
Secretary of the Committee of Affiliated Radio Societies.
It was at this meeting that
in view of a Conference being held in Melbourne on May 16h, Mr.Nossiter
moved (seconded by Mr.Coxon) that "if the position of the
Experimenter could be improved by a system of
grading, we would welcome some scheme to that
end"
It was at the General Meeting of April 24th that Mr.Phipps moved
"that the whole of the (previous) Affiliation Rules be rescinded ", and
at the following Council meeting of the Institute (29th May 1924) the
revised Affiliation Rules were accepted. The Conference mentioned above
was the 1st W.I.A. Convention, which was held in Melbourne. Of
much more local interest and participation was the 2nd Convention,
which was held in PERTH in August 1925, in which the Committee of
Affiliated Societies was to play a large part in its organisation.
The new Rules of Affiliation were obviously more popular and much more
acceptable than previously. Many of the Clubs (perhaps all, as some did
not survive long) affiliated, and in the President's Annual Report ,
presented at the Annual General Meeting of June 26th 1924, Mr.Holt was
able to say :In my last Annual Report I prophesied that after Subiaco
Club had been formed, there were bound to be many others. This prophesy
has come true for at the present time there are at least eleven new
clubs & I understand these are all flourishing. As you know,
only recently all the clubs have at last affiliated but not until after
a long struggle, but I am very pleased to say final rules of
affiliation have been drawn up which are quite satisfactory to
everybody. The committee of delegates from each club is now called The
Committee of Affiliated Radio Clubs of W.A. and W.A. is the first state
in the Commonwealth where all clubs in existance have combined forces ,
and the only other state that is working on similar lines is the
Victorian Branch, which, following our lead, has recently carried out a
most successful wireless & electrical exhibition, and has also
initiated the idea of affiliated Clubs . . .
. . The following clubs and societies are affiliated
with the W.A.Division :- SUBIACO, FREMANTLE, Mt. LAWLEY,
WEST PERTH/LEEDERVILLE, CLAREMONT, GUILDFORD, KELMSCOTT, ALBANY,
GERALDTON, NORTHAM & KALGOORLIE.
Quite recently a conference of all divisions of the Wireless Institute
of Australia was held in Melbourne, we were represented by Messrs. COX
(3BD) and Howden (3BQ) of the Victorian division, but as yet no report
has been received from these two gentlemen.
(I should like to mention at this stage that it was published that the
Victorian Branch was the first to have such an exhibition, though as
you all know
it is not correct , as this division was the first. We had an
exhibition and wireless concert in the James Street School Hall ."
( This had been held at the Perth Boys School - then in James St.)
on December 1st 1922, and. Mrs. Coxon was later thanked for 'her kind
assistance in transmitting Concert items' (From the Coxon household in
Bulwer St., North Perth.)
According to "The Western Wireless" (July 23rd 1924) "A large gathering
of representatives from the various clubs affiliated, met at The
Central Fire Station on Thursday evening last (17th) when a large
volume of business was transacted. In order to cope with the work,
Mr.Holt (President) proposed the appointment of an Assistant Secretary,
Mr.Bert Randell being nominated to fill the position.
The minutes of the Institute record those present as :-
Messrs Holt, Thatcher, Sewell & Page representing the Institute.
Messrs. Phipps & Botterill (Subiaco Radio Society)
Messrs. Gordon & Roger (West Perth/Leederville Radio Club)
Mr. B.Randell (Mt. Lawley Radio Club )
Mr. Moss representing Fremantle Radio Club.
A detailed report of the recently
held convention in the Eastern States was read, from Messrs Howden
& Cox., who had acted as Proxies for W.A.
It was agreed that a copy be sent to all affiliated clubs, so that
mature consideration would be given to the proposals contained therein.
Messrs. Cox & Howden were thanked for their kindness in looking
after Western Australia's interests, and a letter of appreciation was
to be sent to both gentlemen.
The 'experimental °hr of 6WF was discussed, it being decided
that the °hr. should be conducted by the committee . Several
members offered their services.
(Soon after his appointment as Station Manager of 6WF,( and before that
station got to air on June 4th 1924 ) Wally Coxon (6AG) intimated at
the General Meeting of the Institute (29th May 1924) that he had made
arrangements for the Committee of Affiliated Radio Societies to have
the use of 6WF for °hr every Friday, for the purpose of giving
instruction, Club reports, items of interest . Several members
immediately "to appear before the microphone" and this regular
dissemination of information in relation to the Wireless enthusiasts
and their activities was a regular weekly feature for some time.
The Certificate of Affiliation was another matter brought forward,
which would be dealt with at the next meeting.
New Rules & Regulations were also promised for next meeting. Bonds
of Affiliation were prepared, which were to be sent to each
Club for completion and return to the Institute before being accepted
as Affiliated to the Institute.
By the end of 1924, Clubs at
Kalgoorlie, Northam, and Albany were represented by Proxy members at
the meetings of The Committee of Affiliated Radio Societies, for
example on April 2nd 1925,
Messrs Sewell & Page represented the Wireless Institute.Messrs.
Phipps & Botterill represented Subiaco Radio Society.
Messrs. Smethurst & Narroway* represented the Goldfields
R.S.
Messrs Venables & Rogers represented West Perth/Leederville R.S.
Mr.G.Moss represented the Fremantle Radio Club.
Mr.A.E.Stevens* represented the Geraldton Radio Club.
Mr.G.V.Powell* represented the Albany Radio Club.
Mr.J.M.Harvey represented the Donnybrook Radio SocietyMr.G.Lorden
represented the Mt.Lawley Radio Club
Mr.J.C.Park* represented the Northam Radio Club.
* Members of the Wireless Institute, Proxy members for the various
Clubs.At that meeting, it was moved that
3 Bonds of affiliation, from Guildford, Subiaco and Frementle be
completed, and the respective Clubs be notified that they are now
affiliated.
Although it had been agreed that the 2nd Convention of the Wireless
Institute of Australia would be held in Perth, no-one seemed to know
exactly WHEN! At the Institute meeting of November 27th 1924, Mr.Phipps
moved that general meeting of the Institute and Affiliated
Bodies be called for Thursday December 11th 1924, to discuss raising
the status of Amateur Wireless generally. . . .
. . receiving delegates from the Eastern States
And at that meeting, Mr.Botterill moved "
that a letter be sent to Messrs. Howden & Cox, asking for the
total number of delegates coming over for the FEDERAL Convention
in May.
Mr.Coxon moved that delegates be billeted, and , as preparations were
already in progress, all the neccessary information such as time of
arrival etc. should be forwarded as soon as possible.
Mr.Phipps moved that an Entertainment Committee be formed from the
Affiliated Bodies, it being agreed that the Committee be empowered to
raise and handle funds.
And the Committee were handed the task of organising an Exhibition at
Government House prior to the
Convention.