6AGs Testimonial 14.6.24.           
At the General Meeting of May 29th a request was received from the 6AG Testimonial Committee asking that it be donated towards expenses of the Radio Dinner & Smoke social  caused considerable discussion: as no-one was present to give full particulars, it was moved that the request not be acceded to (surely a "slap in the face" for Mr. Coxon, who was present at the meeting, having just announced that "he had made arrangements for the Committee of Affiliated Radio Societys to have the use of 6WF for °hr each Friday, for the purpose of giving instruction, Club reports, items of interest etc.) However, at the following Council Meeting the decision was overturned, and the event went ahead, on June 14th 1924
From "The Western Wireless" June 25th 1924. -
6AG's TESTIMONIAL.
       
A striking testimony to the popularity of Mr.W.E.Coxon (6AG) was  shown by the attendance at a banquet held at the Westralian Farmers, on  Saturday June 14th 1924.
An opportunity was taken of bidding farewell to Mr. Coxon, who has
progressed from out of the amateur ranks into
the professional sphere of the  science, & at the same time presenting him with a token to show the esteem
 he wa held in by all ranks of amateurs. The presentations
to Mr.Coxon were utility ones, and took the form of a handsome chimney cathedral clock, an electric kettle and radiator.
The clock had an inscribed silver tablet, setting forth then amateurs' appreciation of Mr.Coxon's pioneer work in W.A with radio- telephony.
The whole evening was a series of grateful appreciations to Mr. Coxon and he might well have felt proud when the huge gathering rose to its
feet to drink his health. All the prominent amateurs were in evidence, & seen amongst the concourse were Mr. Basil Murray (of Westralian Farmers) Mr.G.Scott (Radio Inspector) Mr.B.Holt
(President of the Wireless Institute-W.A.Division) Mr.C.Nossiter, Mr.C.Thompson, (Editor, "The Western Wireless) Mr.E.Page and Mr.G.Jackson
The evening sparkled with oratory, and Mr.Phipps, in a neat and eloquent speech, made the presentation to "6AG." To learn that Mr.Coxon had broadcasted some 3,800 items in 2 years, gave only a small idea of the work & time Mr.Coxon had devoted to the amateur. Not only had the amateur benefitted, but these transmissions had stimulated interest in wireless , and the traders had also accrued benefit.
Mr.Scott, in a neat speech, extolled the amateur, and in reminiscences reminded the audience that Mr.Coxon had started wireless way back as far as 1912. He was often asked what constituted a genuine experimenter, and on such occasions, he used only reply :
 MR.COXON.  (Applause)
Mr.Coxon, on rising to reply, was greeted with proilonged applause. That he was
very much impressed by the tribute was very evident, and he very feelingly responded :-
" Gentlemen, I cannot find words to express my appreciation for the honour you have done me. Mr. Scott reminded me of my early days of experimenting , when one used to use 250 watts, and was only successful in sending about 2 miles. Of course, this was different in the present day with the use of valves, and I well remember my early experimenting with telephony, when you sent for an hour, then ran round to see how it was being received. This was the beginning of the regular musical evenings , and by the letters & telegrams I used to receive, I thought the programmes were appreciated, and the amateur received a great deal  of enjoyment, and it brought me in closer touch , and this not only made me more concerned, not so much with my own experimenting, but that I was doing something of  interest for the amateurs in their experiments, and providing something that was enjoyable and from then on the concerts became a regular Friday night institution.  I again express my sincere thanks to you all on behalf of Mrs.Coxon and myself. I am at a loss for words on
this occasion, and I thank you all sincerely.     (Prolonged Applause)
Mr. Knapton spoke to the toast to the Westralian Farmers, and in a vigorous speech, told the amateurs that we were indeed grateful to the Westralian Farmers for taking the initiative in broadcasting, and the plant, when finished, would be the largest broadcasting plant in Australia, which was indeed a worthy Western Australian achievement.
Mr.Basil Murray, Managing Director, in responding, gave a frank admission of the Company's attitude towards the experimenter, and reminded them that they could want more re-assuring than that they had given the chief position on the station to one of their own fellow experimenters, Mr.Coxon. This was the Company's assurance of good fellowship to the amateur, and he could not imagine Mr.Coxon being unfaithful to the amateur interest.
(Applause)
The success of the evening was due in no small measure to the services of the artists, and the evening's events were liberally besprinkled with musical & vocal items, and the toast  to the artists was carried with musical honours.
The evening was voted a huge success on all sides, and everyone hopes that it is only the forerunner of a yearly convention, when the amateurs will be more closely linked by social friendship. There were some 200 present, and it was close on "the wee sma' hours" before the last amateur had wended homewards.
Social activities did not appear to feature in the activities of members of the Institute, at least until January 1922, when a visit to the Observatory (then opposite King's Park) "kindly conducted by Mr. Nossiter."
It wasn't until February 28th 1924 that Mr. Nossiter moved that "Council arrange, at  a future date, to hold a social evening (Mr. Coxon to be asked to supply the Radio Music portion)
To The Premier of W.A. Mr. R. O'Connor
From Vera Rodoreda (nee Coxon)
June 30th 1982.
Dear Sir,
With the publicity which the ABC is giving to the 50th Anniversary of its opening broadcast in Western Australia, I feel that it is a suitable occasion on which to remember and to provide some means of perpetuating in a benefitting manner the name of the Father of Radio Pioneers in this state, and indeed in Australia: Mr. Walter Ernest COXON.
In early 1920, having established his experimental broadcasting and receiving station
6AG at his home in Bulwer St. Highgate (not as reported in a newspaper, in the back of  his shop in King St. Perth) he made the first overseas communication with South Africa, Java,  Batavia, Holland, England & America.
He kept abreast of the newest radio information from England & America, and gave of his knowledge and experience to all those who were interested or in need of advice, instruction, or with technical problems: and there were many young "hams" in those days who, like disciples, would gather in his wireless room of an evening, remaining until the small hours.
Live concerts were broadcast from his home, the loungeroom being draped with blankets to provide suitable studio accoustics.
He was then commissioned by the Westralian Farmers Co-operative to design a suitable means of communication for the farmers of the outback. This receiver he called the MULGAPHONE and supervised the production of more than 4,000 of hese sets.
With equipment provided by Amalgamated Wireless of Australia, he installed 6WF in 1924, & became Manager & Programme director.
In the next 8 years he had the loyal assistance of two Scottish radio operators, Frank Elliott & Jock Sutherland, who had been Royal Navy operators during the 1914-18 war.
Wally Coxon installed and maintained radio in some of thje earliest planes at the Maylands aerodrome. He attached a device to the joystick of Capt. James Woods' aircraft, and that of Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith's Southern Cross to prevent them falling asleep during long flights.
May I suggest that the Wireless Museum at Applecross be named "The Walter Coxon Wireless Museum" in recognition of the many years of service which he gave to the early development of radio in Australia, and particularly in Western Australia.? Although the honour would be posthumous, there are people still living who would endorse this method of commemoration as being appropriate and deserving for the man who, at the age of 16, built the first radio receiver and made the first overseas communications from this state.
Yours faithfully  . . . . .
From The premiers Dept.
9 July 1982.
Dear Mrs. Rodoreda,
The Hon. Premier has requested me to reply to your letter opf 30th June concerning the early work undertaken in the field of radio by the late Mr. W.E.Coxon.
Your suggestion that as a form of recognition the Wireless Museum at Applecross be named after Mr. Coxon is acknowledged. However, I would point out that the museum is administered by the Melville City Council, and as such does not fall within the jurisdiction of  either the State or Commonwealth Govt.
I would suggest you write to the Town Clerk, City of Melville direct and put your suggestion to him.
In the meantime, I have taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of your letter on to the Chief Manager of the ABC who may be able to assist.
Yours sincerely. . .   R.D.Davies    Under Secretary.
From City of Melville
July 26th 1982.
Dear Mrs. Rodoreda,
Thank you for your letter of July 22nd 1982 enquiring after the naming of the Wireless Hill Telecommunications Museum and bringing to notice the tremendous work carried out by your late Father, Mr.Coxon.
The Council, in fixing the name for the museum, did take into account the many people that have been involved in the past history of telecommunications in this state, and also those particular persons who assisted in collecting the impediments for the museum, and  bringing about its creation. For these reasons the council avoided the possibility of recognising one party against another, and declined to name the museum in a personal sense.
The museum has been officially named The Wireless Hill Telecommunications Museum:  is now well known by that title and I do trust that you will understand the basis of council's determination.
Thank you again for your interest.
The ABC also replied (26th July 1982)
Dear Mrs. Rodoreda,
The Undersec. Mr. R.Davies has provided us with copies of recent correspondence he has had with you.
I know of Wally Coxon's contribution to radio, or wireless as it was called in the early days, and we have paid tribute toi him from time to time in anniversary programmes.
Our celebrations this year cover the period 1932-1982. Wally Coxon, as you would know, left 6WF well befor the Australian Broadcasting Commission took over responsibility for the station on 1 July 1932.
Yours sincerely
A.Povah
Acting Chief Manager for WA.
             Sunday Times  22.8.82  1897-1982  85 years.
From "WESTERN FARMER & GRAZIER   May 30th 1974.
Radio Pioneer recalls the good old days.
by Donna Carrig.
As a young boy  in 1912, Charles Forster was so impressed by the "TITANIC" radio operator's frantic attempts to bring aid to the  sinking ship that he took up a life-long interest in wireless operating. He had even wanted to go to sea, he said, but his parents disapproved. And so, after doing a Radio operators course at School, he set up his own radio experimenting station  (in 1923 he had the "Callsign" 6CI? ) (
Vera adds: there was no such thing - my dad W.E.Coxon taught all those who were  interested - they all came to our home in Bulwer St. (306) in North Perth
 - Laurie Smith, Bill Phipps, Charlie Gardner, Fred Tregar (?? Tredrea?) Soon after, he met Walter Coxon, who then had a private business in Perth, and the two used to conduct experimental broadcasts between both amateur stations.
Coxon was a very nice person, Mr.Forster recalled. He was totally committed to radio in Western Australia AND CONTINUED TO WORK WITH 6WF EVEN AFTER IT WAS TAKEN  OVER BY THE GOVERNMENT- CONTROLLED AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION. (from 1929 to 1932)
Mr. Forster was still a private experimenter when Westralian Farmers decided it would be a distinct advantage to send out market reports by wireless telephony and applied for a Broadcasting Licence.
At the time, few people knew anything about radio.
Word was spread throughout country areas by travellers & representatives, with whom Mr. Forster began to travel, calling on Co-ops & on interested farmers. He installed radio sets, and remembered that it was often hard to erect lines where there were no trees conveniently situated to throw a line over.  In June 1924 the Radio Station 6WF at the Westralian Farmers' building in Wellington St. was officially opened.
Quite a few people had sets already & Mr. Forster was kept busy adjusting them, checking batteries and  installing new sets where possible. He also gave  wireless demonstrations at public functions, like shows and trotting meetings, and travelled extensively throughout country areas.      
Several agents & Co-ops had sets installed so they could get market reports & demonstrate the sets to prospective buyers. The introduction of the wireless radio  into WA  was a wonderful thing, he said.
But a surprising number of people thought the idea ridiculous and viewed the whole procedure with suspicion.  "But few country people at the time had telephones and were completely cut off from information & news of the city & the outside world. "Some owners held their radio sets in such awe they were too frightened to even dust them in case they blew up valves " he said.  Consequently Mr. Forster was often called out to minor complaints. One such set, he recalled, had become home to a family of mice,and with disastrous results., since they had eaten away the insulation from the wiring.
At that time, anyone wanting a radio set had to buy a license from Westralian Farmers which covered service costs. And although sets were expensive to begin with, as demand became greater costs & license fees decreased.  He thought young people today - who have always had a radio - didnt realise radio in WA began in a very elementary form.
"There were  problems in tuning and adjusting sets, dealing with low power, weak reception and the loudspeakers were of the "horn" type and often sounded tinny."
When Mr. Forster first became involved in his own experimenting, he had difficulty in finding anyone to help him put up aerials. They thought he was mad & wanterd nothing to do with it.
There was even a half-joking comment in the local paper warning that if he could pick up places like Kalgoorlie & Geraldton. his neighbours had better beware that he could possibly overhear what they were saying.
Wireless radio has proved to be a godsend to country people in isolated areas & Radio 6WF was recognised as a great service  to the community when no-one else had been interested. In fact, Westralian Farmers had lost money on the project . When conditions during the late 1920s made it too difficult for it to carry on, it was a natural step to hand over control of the station to the ABC which was planning to expand into WA anyway
The beginnings of radio in WA had been a thrilling experience especially for young Charles Forster who found working with 5 kilowatts was fascinating progress after being used to only 5 watts. Transmission over a long distance was good, although this, he admitted, was often due to freak conditions, and on some nights the reception had varied widely. "Because static was always a problem in the early stages of transmission from Perth,  programmes were limited to certain hours, and it was often easier to pick up an Eastern States programme than a local one.
There was plenty of good local talent to choose from, thouh the enthusiasm of some  often led to transmission difficulties.  There was one particular soprano, he said, who almost  turned the radio operators hair grey. He always had to anticipate her high notes, and furiously work the dials to cut down amplification, since the high note would upset oscillation & send the st completely off the air.
After 6WF was taken over by the ABC Mr. Forster went into private business selling & servicing sets throughout the wheatbelt.
Mr. Forster - "IN THE BEGINNING THEY THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY, ALWAYS FIDDLING WITH THE WIRELESS. BUT LOOKING BACK ON THE PROGRESS RADIO HAS MADE, YOU WONDER WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING 20 YEARS FROM NOW'
   Western Farmer & Grazier  May 30th 1974.
Wireless pioneering.   29.11.73.
? "West" or Sunday Times -( Check.)
R.Edwards (Opinion Nov.14th) gave a very interesting account of the early history of wireless here, and revived many memories for me.
My first valve was a V24 which I purchased from Amalgamated Wireless of Sydney at a cost of $4 - a lot of money in those days.
It was posted over, but a high-tension battery ordered with it was given to a ship operator to be sent by rail from Fremantle to Korbel, where I lived then, because it was too heavy for parcel post.
My only source of low tension power was a very heavy battery in my Dodge car when I wanted to listen-in tot the wild wireless waves of those days.
Fortunately the car was equipped with a magneto and provided I did not use the car at night, or object to cranking, I could keep the battery in the house for days at a time.
Later, I became associated with Westralian Farmers Ltd. when the late John Thomson then manager of the wheat department, had the idea of providing farmers and country people with an essential service for market & weather reports.
The late Wally Coxon who did so much in the pioneering of wireless in the west , became manager & chief engineer of 6WF when it was erected in 1924 by Amalgamated Wireless Ltd.
The Mulgaphone receivers were manufactured by Westralian Farmers under the supervision of the late Bill Phipps.
Originally they were 2 valve sets equipped with headphones but later a 2 valve amplifier could be added with horn-type speaker.
My own work with Westfarmers was to instruct travellers in the operation of the sets, to make sales & install sets ready for 6WF's opening in June 1924.
Later I gave demonstrations at shows, and other functions throughout the country, and serviced the sets when neccessary.
I had many humerous experiences in doing so, because people regarded wireless with more awe than they do space flights today.
J.C.Forster,
Scarborough.
"West Australian"
Friday June 6th 1924.
"West Australian"
Saturday June 1 1974.
On the front page of "The Western Wireless" Vol.1, No.4 (November 21st 1923)
is a Photograph entitled
AN AMATEUR SET.
A corner of the Operating Room at Korbel Radio Central.
- Was this the station of Mr. Forster?
And in the same edition (Page 7) is a contribution by "Knobtwister" entitled:
BROADCASTING AND THE AMATEUR.
Broadcasting is here, or rather, nearly here. In a few months the  Westralian Farmers will lead the way by commencing a service which we hope will be of great use to the people out back, and to the whole State generally.
Strictly speaking, broadcasting should not interfere with the amateur, nor the amateur with broadcasting: but alas, I am afraid this position will not be so smooth as it may seem. How can the amateur (in spite of his 100% negative answers to the controller) be expected to let a 5KW concert pass his back door, and when he comes upon the broadcast wavelength conscientiously give his condenser a sharp twist to avoid hearing anything? The Broadcastingcompany knows this and feels as though people will be looking over the fence at their show.
I am sure the genuine experimenter will not mind paying a small fee for their service, and will in return form one of their best advertisements by allowing his friends to hear broadcasted programmes and thus materially assist the sale of their sets.
Still, there is another fly in the ointment, and that is the royalties the Amalgamated  Wireless "intend" (as your journal so neatly puts it!) to collect.
They have already tried unsuccessfully to impose a 5s. royalty on amateur sets, and they are very much mistaken (in my case at least) if they think they are going to collect 12/6d per socket for the use of valves.
It seems as though this company practically framed the broadcasting regulations and then dropped back to let other companies do the broadcasting from which they hope to collect fat royalties.
The Sunday Times Magazine
April 11th 1982.
    MULGAPHONES READY?      
LISTEN TO ABC.
On July 1st 1932, people sat expectantly in their living rooms, in front
of 2-valve loudspeakers, and with Mulgaphones - earphones - around their heads.  They were waiting for the words & music which would launch Australia's first National Radio Station.  
first sounds crackling over the airways in every capital city are a reason for  celebration this year - The Australian Broadcasting Commission's Golden Anniversary.
In Perth, from a studio at the corner of Milligan & Hay Sts the first programme began on 6WF at 6pm.
The opening programme was relayed nationally. The Chairman of the ABC Mr. Charles Lloyd Jones spoke glowingly of the new service & its independance from all political groups, and the Prime Minister, Mr. J.A.Lyons, saw the nation being united by the spoken word.
Twelve minutes later the first programme with local content was broadcast - Childrens Corner, with Uncle Ben, Aunty Peggy & the Tiny Tots. The first personality to emerge on radio was racing expert Keith Gollan, who gave what was called "Saturdays Racing  & Trotting Anticipations"  The News followed, but only the headlines and relavent paragraphs, cut from Newspapers & pasted up for the announcer.  The ABCs independent
News service came much later, bitterly opposed by some Newspapers.
The rest of the evening was taken up with music. There was no jazz, pop or even dance music even . . . .
      ?another page.
(From same page as above)
Mawson was only 25 when he ventured to the Antarctic as a member of the Shackleton Expedition of 1907-9 and was involved in 2 historic making(Yes, thats right-  according to the article!!) events on that trip. He was a member of a 3 man Australian Party which was the first to reach the South Magnetic Pole, and was in a a Party that made the first ascent of the 3795 metre active volcano,  Mt. Erebus.
His appetite for Antarctica was so keen that he organised an Australian expedition to explore the area directly south of Australia, after the Shackleton trip.
Under the banner of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911 - 14, the Mawson-led party established bases at Commonwealth Bay, the Shackleton Ice Shelf and on Macquarie  Island. The expedition mapped more than 1000km of new coastline and collected valuable information.  It was the first to transmit Radio messages from Antarctica and the first to take an aeroplane south - though it never left the ground due to a mishap..  It had been intended to use the plane as a tractor for hauling sledges, especially over crevasses.  The expedition was the youngest, and under the youngest leader ever to adventure into the Antarctic.  It turned out to be a perilous trip for Mawson, who almost perished.
Mawsion's flirtation with the Antarctic (he spent six summers & 2 winters there) continued, and in 1929 he organised & led the British , Australian, New Zealand Antarctic Research Expeditions. By that time, Mawson had been knighted for his work with the Australasian  Antarctic Expedition.  The combined expedition had spent 2 summers (1929-30  & 1930-31) exploring and mapping vast amounts of new territory south of Australia. During  it,  British Soveriegnty was proclaimed at 7 localities along the Antarctic coast.  It lead to the establishment 2 years later of  The Australian Antarctic Territory.  Soveriegnty came into force on August 24th 1936.
Sir Douglas Mawson became an important member of the planning committee when the Australian Government decided to establish The Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions in 1947.
From "The Western Wireless"
November 7th 1923  P.5.
THE DISCOVERY AND GROWTH OF
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.
(By Colin A.Reid  Ph. Ch.)
Ask the average man who it was that invented wireless telegraphy, and the reply would be prompt - Marconi.
This, to a great extent , is true: but it would be more correct to say that it was Marconi who commercialised wireless.
It was many years before Marconi began to experiment that a Scottish schoolmaster, one James Clerk Maxwell, a "crank on mathematics" carried out several experiments in "induction and magnetism" , with the object of calculating the length and frequency of ether waves.
He was subjected to a great deal of ridicule by the masses, but persisted with his experiments, and ultimately laid what is now the foundation of present-day wireless: but not before he had spent all his money, for he died a pauper - unhonoured & unsung.
A young German named Hertz, having heard of Maxwell's experiments, and concluding that there was "some method in his madness" became interested. Possessing a mechanical knowledge  - which Maxell lacked - he set about and succeeded in constructing an  apparatus by which he demonstrated the existance of ether waves, and also measured them up to a distance of 10 feet from the apparatus. Hertz was complimented for this, and the demonstration was considered a scientific curio amongst the scientists of the world.   
It was not until some considerable time after this episode that Marconi came into prominence. Being a practical engineer, he hit on the idea of using Hertzian waves (so named  after Hertz) for the transmission of the dots & dashes of the Morse Code. Failures were numerous, but nothing daunted this young Italian engineer, and he ultimately succeeded in transmitting and receiving messages on a rather 'crude' set, up to a distance of about 100yds  later increasing the distance to one mile, then two & so on.
It was at this stage that he placed his discovery before the Italian Government, but they turned him down.  More determined than ever, Marconi set sail for England, where he  eventually persuaded an English scientist to finance him in placing the thing on the market.
The first big station was erected at POLDHU, Cornwall and the corresponding one at Newfoundland, the object being for the purpose of Trans-Atlantic Tests.  These were highly successful, with the result that since then wireless has advanced in leaps and  bounds.
The coherer, which was first used by Marconi, was very soon superseded by the crystal receiver: this in turn had to take second place to the more modern & present-day Thermionic valve. As further evidence of the progress being made in the science, the old Spark Transmitter is being rapidly replaced by the Poulsen Arc, and Vaccuum valve continuous wave transmitter of the present day.
So rapidly is the art of radio telegraphy & telegraphy advancing that it is practically  impossible to state when and where it will all end, or what wonders we shall witness during the next decade.
It had already been noted (Western Wireless October 24th 1923)  that
Mr.Colin Reid, President of the Fremantle Rdio Society
, who recently gained his Ph.Ch.
degree has tripped off to Melbourne to continue his studies.  The genial Colin is after his M.B. May his ambition be fulfilled is the wish of his many friends in the local wireless  
world.