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MEET the HAMS

Ernie McMurrer, VE1ERN is originally from Dartmouth, NS. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1958 with basic training taken at Cornwallis, NS. He served on several ships, including Fort Erie, Nipigon, Preserver, Terra Nova, and Fraser. Ernie was also posted to bases at Hochelaga, Stadacona, Dockyard, and Shearwater. He moved to Greenwood and served as a PO2 Supply Tech from 1978 until retirement in 1985, when he transferred to the Army Reserve in Camp Aldershot, where he served until “age” retirement in 1996. During his time in the reserves he also worked at a Chrysler dealership and Canadian Tire, and is now employed as a Commissioner at 14 Wing Greenwood. Over the past years, Ernie’s hobbies have included hunting, fishing, CB, and his favorite, camping. Ernie got the bug to be in Amateur Radio in February of 2008, and is now an active member of the Greenwood Amateur Radio Club. Ernie resides near Aylesford,NS.

Brian DeAthe ,VE1RCF/ VA3RCF,  is the current Vice President of our club.  He started playing with Crystal sets in the 50's , those are home-made AM radios, and continued his interest in radio by working as an aircraft radio telecommunication tech until he retired in 1986. He enjoys working with computers and Amateur Radio among other things , such as woodworking and fishing. He has resided in Wilmot since he retired from the forces, and has been driving transport truck from then until last year.

Guy Campbell ,VE1NC,  is the current Secretary of our club.  Guy started playing with radios in his early teen years, that’s a whole while back, and he has been a licensed amateur for more than 35 years. His main activity is collecting vacuum tube communication receivers and antique radio gear, not this new-fangled solid state stuff. For those who may have a need, he has available a fairly large stock of tubes for old radios and tube testers to check your old or “vintage” gear. He is  a very active “Ham”  both in the club and in the community.  Guy has been teaching courses for new Hams, helping out where-ever he can , and helping some of our disabled members

Carol Hutchinson, VE1ICY, is the current Treasurer of our club.


Eric Smith, VE1JW/CFY, is the current President of our club. He has always liked things electronic. He started out as a GRS radio operator. After being shown the GARC ham station, then located in the old control tower atop 1 Hangar and attending a Field Day setup, at which he was allowed to operate, he knew he wanted more. He has held VE1CFY call sign for 29 years. In 2010 he acquired VE1JW the call sign of an old friend and the first ham he had ever met. Eric has been 1 of our primary tower climbers for many years. Eric is active on hf, aprs, sstv, vhf and uhf. Eric hosts and maintains our IRLP Node and assists with the maintenance of our repeaters. One of his other hobbies is web page building. He hosts and maintains our club website as well as the NSARA website. He also served as club secretary, treasurer and EMO rep for several years.


 Alden Spurr (VE1ACK) has been an Amateur Radio operator for approximately 17 years. His interest in radio goes back to his early teens, in the 30’s, however due to the pressure of work and raising a family he was unable to get his license until 1988. Al enjoys building electronic devices for Ham radio, and using computers. He finds that teaching prospective “Hams” is very rewarding. He enjoys the use of radio in EMO (Emergency Measures Organization) activities, as well as meeting fellow Hams from around the world. You can find Al on 3.750 Mhz most evenings at about 6:30PM, as well as many others who take part in the Maritime Net. Al is a very active member of our club who is always trying something new.

Lou Andre - VE1ZXO
 

Len Gentles, VE1LEN
Donna Underwood, VE1LOL The reason she became a Ham was to communicate with VE1WLU, to ask him to bring home a loaf of bread. Lol. For the most part she taught herself Basic Amateur Radio. VE1II was instrumental in her learning and sent her numerous emails helping her with ways to understand Amateur Radio. VE1WLU built her model antennas to study. Donna became a ham in June 2004.  She continued to self-study and received Advanced and Morse Code Certificates.  Although she is not what you would call an active participant of the GARC, her emergency bag is packed and she is ready to be of service. Painting is Donna’s 1st love and she spends many hours at the Artists’ Circle art shack at Margaretsville in the summer, and yes, she takes her hand-held with her and she has used it several times to help the tourists out in various ways

Bill Underwood, VE1WLU  has always been interested in Radio Communications and was a GRS Operator for many years.  After retiring from the Dept. of National Defense, Halifax and moving to the Valley, he saw an advertisement in the Aurora Newspaper for the Amateur Radio Course sponsored by the GARC. Bill took the course and became a Ham in May 2005.He acts as Co-Coordinator for the club for the Monday evening nets at 7pm, on 147.240 and for the “Adopt A Highway Program” of which the club cleans up exit 17W twice a year. His other interests are Vehicle Tracking (APRS), traveling and Geocaching.

Dave McHattie, VE1RCN moved to the valley four years ago from Dartmouth. He was a member of both the Halifax and Dartmouth Radio Clubs, was active in the HRM Emergency Measures Organization, as well as helping to set up the Red Cross Disaster Relief System. Dave holds an Advanced license with morse code qualification, and is accredited by Industry Canada to conduct examinations for Amateur Radio. He has held his license since 1995. Dave served as a Radio Operator and Electronics Technician in the Royal Canadian Navy.

Burt became a silent key May 25, 2010

Burt Amero, VE1AMA has had this call since 1971 when he received his license and started teaching Amateur Radio classes soon after in Summerside PEI.  Three years later he went to Lahr Germany and re-started the club there. He taught new members and increased the club membership to over 60 before returning to Summerside again.  Shortly after returning he volunteered to take the Amateur Radio position in The Golan Heights, where he spent 6 months keeping Canadian service folks in touch with their families via Amateur Radio phone patch. Involved with just about every aspect of radio from providing checkpoints in national car rally’s, and transmitting info to one of the US astronauts onboard the MIR Space station.  Amateur Slow Scan TV both analogue and digital image and voice transmissions are among the latest interests on both HF and satellite applications.   In 1986 he started “NETWORK 105” A Canadian-US wide HF/VHF packet network, which is still growing and very active today on the 20-metre band at 14.105. This network is always on standby for any emergency such as Katrina, ice storms etc and aids travelers wishing to link back home, plus daily keyboard chats and messaging. Together with VA1PR, Burt and Phyllis operate a packet radio bulletin board and world gateway using the Linux OS. Satellite and digital experimenting are his main interests. Always ready to assist anyone, especially new Amateurs. 

He invites all comers to come to the Greenwood ARC and “Come on On” – “The air’s fine” – 7 3

Phyllis Amero, VA1PR was born in NFLD and moved to Greenwood, NS, after a visit with her daughter, who was stationed here at the time. She met her husband, Bernard Amero (VE1AMA), at Greenwood and decided to stay. He taught her all about Amateur Radio. She loved it so much that she went on to get her Advanced License & CW qualification. Her true love is using the Satellite capabilities of Amateur Radio to chat with the International Space Station.

Became a Silent Key Feb 13, 2012

Peter Rafuse, VE1PFR

Leo Slade VE1LS retired in 1989 after 34 years service in the RCAF and DND Communications, as a COMOP. He presently lives in Dartmouth but enjoys life in the Valley from April until the end of October at his trailer in Wilmot. Leo obtained his Amateur Radio License Basic/12 WPM Morse Code/Advanced in 1991 and is an Ex-President/Vice President of the Dartmouth Amateur Radio Club. He is a member of the Dartmouth and Greenwood Amateur Radio Clubs, RSGB, RAC and NSARA. His Ham Radio areas of interest are HF, VHF/UHF, Digital modes and working with computers. For many years he operated CW (Morse Code) as his favorite mode as well as SSTV, (Slow Scan TV), RTTY, Amtor and Pactor. In recent years he has been using the Digital Modes such as PSK31, MFSK and Digital SSTV. A part of our hobby that he likes is contesting, using mainly CW. He is part of the EMO HRM Communications group.  His other interests are playing guitar, golfing, and traveling.


Glenn Wright VE1GWW had his interest in radio sparked in 1958, as an Infantry Signaler. After his retirement, and with the approval of “The Love of His Life”, Ida, Glenn obtained his certificate of proficiency in Amateur Radio in 1966. He presently resides in the Kingston/Greenwood area, which fits in perfectly with his other hobbies of fishing, hunting, photography, and fly tying. Glenn’s main areas of interest in Amateur Radio are Dxing (long distance communications) and SSTV (Slow Scan TV). During good weather, when the season is open, he can be found at one of his favorite fishing places (sometimes talking on his 2Mtr radio), and when the weather is bad, he often can be seen having a coffee with his friends in the Greenwood Mall.


Bruce Harvey, VE1II  became interested in amateur radio when he was a student at MRHS in Middleton.  He was given a small crystal radio kit as a Christmas gift and after building the radio he was disappointed to discover that he could hear only hear two stations on the little radio.  One station was Radio Moscow and the other station turned out to be a ham radio operator in Middleton.  One day a few days later his dad took him to visit the amateur radio operator who lived just a few houses away.

After being introduced to the ham in Middleton and listening as he chatted with hams all around the world, the teenager became captivated by amateur radio and decided that he had found a new hobby.  A year or so later, in 1961, he wrote the amateur radio exam and received his license.

Bruce was interested in many areas of science and so after graduating from MRHS in 1963, he went on to study at University and become a teacher.  He taught physics and chemistry and other science courses including computer science until retiring in 1997, after a 33-year career in education. 

Bruce and his wife Nan live in Truro, Nova Scotia but they enjoy spending as much time as possible at their cottage on Zwicker Lake. 

Enjoying the technical side of amateur radio he spends most of his hobby time in building radio related equipment. He maintains two of his own VHF repeater installations as well as two APRS nodes (the amateur radio method for tracking other stations using GPS satellites) and he also helps maintain Club owned repeater sites in the Valley and in the Truro area. Over the years he has taught several amateur radio courses and is always eager to help anyone wishing to learn about amateur radio.  Bruce is an accredited examiner for Industry Canada Amateur Radio examinations. Although new amateur radio operators are not required to learn to send and receive International Morse code, he still enjoys that method of communications.

Since retiring one of the most pleasurable aspects of amateur radio has been being involved in the many activities of the Greenwood Amateur Radio Club. Bruce is always trying to find ways to increase other ham radio operator's interest in building projects and equipment.

He feels that there should be many more young amateur radio operators and he would like to see more opportunities for young people to experience the many exciting aspects of amateur radio rather than the stereotype of hams talking to hams in far away places.  "Young people can do that anytime they want to, using their cell phones and computers".  They might wonder why they should be interested in becoming amateur radio operators; but chatting with a scientist in Antarctica, or an astronaut on the International Space Station is really neat!  Talking daily with a ham radio operator working on a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker while the ship travels through the Northwest Passage or while it is stuck in the ice, would be an exciting activity for any young person.  This is even more exciting when you realize that you might someday be the ham at the other end of a similar conversation.   Many careers in radio communications, electronics and even space travel have happened because a student became involved in amateur radio.

Bruce says that if anyone feels they would like to find out what amateur radio might offer them as a hobby (and possibly even developing an interest in a field that could lead them toward a career in electronics), they should make that interest known to someone in a local amateur radio club. If you are a mom or a dad of a young person who is interested in such a hobby, or if you have a friend who is also interested, bring them along to a club meeting or to a club activity and get them started on a fantastic hobby!  It is always more fun when starting a new hobby to have someone else you know to work along with you.  Most importantly, "keep your foot in the door until someone notices that you are serious about learning about amateur radio!"

The Greenwood Club would be an excellent place to get started, as club members are always anxious to assist anyone who shows an interest amateur radio. 

 

Nan Harvey, VE1VZ  was born in a strawberry field on a farm in South Farmington, Nova Scotia and she became a strawberry picker at a very early age.   She didn't really aspire to be an amateur radio operator but finally gave in to all of the prodding and she passed her exam and was licensed in 1971.  That kind of makes her the "granny" of the Greenwood Club, but don't mention that when she is within striking distance! 

Nan's ham radio activities consist mainly of using the radio for communications when traveling in the car. Nan now lives in Truro, Nova Scotia. She worked for several years at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro. She now works at the Colchester Historical Museum and Archives, as the archivist, and she helps folks trace their early relatives. Nan actually enjoys going to work in the morning!   As a hobby she has been gathering information on her family.

Nan and her husband Bruce spend their summers at their cottage at Zwicker Lake and they have enjoyed taking part in the various activities of the Greenwood Amateur Radio Club.

Roger Adams, VE1VK, has been a amateur radio operator since retiring in 1991. He  is currently the station manager of VE1ARC,  the Greenwood club. His interest in amateur radio was due to a visit by the Boy Scouts to a local amateur radio operator, and having the chance to make a contact on the radio.  That was an experience that was never forgotten.  It has been a long time between the first and second contacts, almost 50 years. Now with a room full of radio gear, he is trying make up for lost time .

Glen Stillwell, VE1GLN, is a retired school teacher living in Wilmot, NS. He was first introduced to electronics while serving for eight years in the Air Force as Communications Technician Ground. His interest in Amateur Radio was aroused while attending the annual Flea Market put on by the GARC in 2008. While talking to some of the members he was advised that a basic course in Ham Radio would be offered that winter. He attended the course and wrote the test the following summer and received his Basic+ licence in July 2009. He immediately joined the GARC and is one of the clubs most recent graduates.

John MacInnis, VE1BA has been an amateur radio operator since 1978 and joined the Greenwood Radio Club at that time. It is through John that the Greenwood Club and the local Amateur Radio operators donate their time and equipment to aid and monitor the Saint Andrews Half Marathon every year in Middleton. He is also interested in, alternate power such as wind power, and antique autos. John also enjoys low power (QRP – less than 5 watts) operation using Morse code (CW) mode, which includes mobile and portable operation.John says “Thanks to the folks who have given so much of their time to make the Greenwood Radio Club such an excellent club”. 73, John

Became a Silent Key Feb 8, 2012

Charles Bennett, VE1MYR, is an active participant of the Greenwood Amateur Radio Club (GARC) at 14 Wing Greenwood. Charles, proudly displays his grade “A” Braille Certificate at a recent Thursday project night. Charles can be heard on the 2 meter band, high frequency bands and taking part in many “Nets”, including the “White Cane Net”.



Wanda MacInnis,VE1WMM making her first contact at Field Day 2007

 

Paul Trenholm, VE1MVM Paul became interested in amateur radio in his early days as a policeman in 1991. Once the CF recognized that he had some talents in this arena, they gave him special training in electronic warfare. Since that time, Paul has endeavored to become a part of the amateur community in each of his postings in the Air Force. Paul has expressed that this is an excellent way to integrate into each new community he posted to, and share friendships with wonderful people that truly care about their community. Paul enjoys camping with his partner Christy, and enjoys listening in to the daily nets from his office in the Headquarters in 14 Wing Greenwood. Paul maintains memberships in Edmonton AB, and St-Jean QC, and ensures that he brings to Nova Scotia fraternal greetings from the West.


Pieter Gerlach - VE1PPG



Sharon Campbell - VE1NCC