The Quartz Hill station is now closed for major amateur radio activity while Meridian Energy Ltd is building a wind farm for electricity generation. Our antenna farm has been dismantled to make way for the civil works. Consequently the provision to make station bookings has also been suspended.
Subject to RF noise from the wind farm being sufficiently low level, we are hopeful of being able to build a new antenna farm and recommence activities once the wind farm is in operation. That is expected to be in 2009 or 2010. In the meantime we are working on options for the new station. We will report progress on this web site.
Building a new antenna farm and station will be financially challenging for the club. We continue to be very grateful for contributions from the members of the Quartz Hill Supporters Group and other donations. Click Here if you are interested in joining the Group or making a donation.
For more information on the wind farm project visit http://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/OurProjects/WestWind
QSL processing will be unaffected, so we look forward to receiving your cards either direct or through the bureau
The 2008 annual report on our activities at Quartz Hill was tabled at the Wellington Amateur Radio Club AGM on 19 February 2008. Click here to view a PDF copy of the report (138 KB).
The Quartz Hill Committee is responsible to the Wellington Amateur Radio Club for the development and operation of the club's amateur radio station facility at Quartz Hill.
Wilbert Knol ZL2BSJ has recently stepped down from the Committee, due to his leaving New Zealand to move back to The Netherlands. Wilbert has been an active member of the Committee since it was formed in 1998, and has held the Finance Manager role since 2003. The Committee is extremely grateful to Wilbert for his contribution to the work at Quartz Hill - click here for a tribute to Wilbert.
Ralph Sutton ZL2AOH, existing Committee member and ZL6QH QSL Manager, has kindly agreed to take over the Finance Manager role.
Andrew Goldie ZL2ACG has been seconded as a new Committee member, to cover the gap left after Wilbert's departure. The Committee welcomes Andrew to the team.
BELOW: The outgoing Committee in November 2007 and prior to Wilbert's departure. Front (from left); Brian Miller ZL1AZE (Chair), Mike Kerr ZL2BCW, Wilbert Knol ZL2BSJ (Finance Manager). Rear; Bob Stewart ZL2AMI (Bookings Manager), Ralph Sutton ZL2AOH (QSL Manager), Doug McNeill ZL2AOV, Bob Vernall ZL2CA (insert photograph).
Wilbert Knol ZL2BSJ is leaving Wellington and moving back to his home country (The Netherlands) for work reasons at the end of December 2007.
Wilbert has made an outstanding contribution to amateur radio while he has been in ZL over the past 20 years. His sense of humour, technical knowledge, operating skills and "make it happen' attitude will be much missed by the ZL amateur radio community, and especially the Quartz Hill Supporters Group.
Wilbert has been an enthusiastic supporter of Quartz Hill since the Wellington Amateur Radio Club started developing the station in 1997. Throughout that time he has been a member of the Quartz Hill Committee and has also been the Quartz Hill Finance Manager for several years. Wilbert has done a lot more than just support the business of the Committee – he has participated in almost all of the monthly working bee activities at Quartz Hill, and has also been responsible for establishing key initiatives like the ZL6QH HF pactor system.
Of particular note is Wilbert’s interest in and contribution to HF contest and DX operations. Wilbert was a key member of the ZM2K contest station, the ZL9CI DXpedition, and more recently he has been one of the most passionate and regular participants in the contest operations at ZL6QH. He has also been a member of the Oceania DX Contest Committee since it was formed in 2001.
One of Wilbert’s passions is CW and he is undoubtedly one of the best CW operators in ZL. His CW skills will be greatly missed by the ZL6QH contest team and the club’s Field Day team.
The club sincerely wishes Wilbert all the best with his future endeavours in Europe, and we look forward to keeping in touch with him, both via the internet and in the contest pileups.
BELOW: Wilbert holding the plaque (incorporating a genuine piece of Quartz Hill rock) that was presented to him in December 2007, to recognise his outstanding contribution to the work of the club and ZL6QH.
