*R.I.P.* 43DA195 John

– August 23, 2011Posted in: Meet the Members

Joining the Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) in August 2011, 43DA195 John is one of his country’s most well-known and experienced DXers.

An old member of the famous GRI Alfa Tango (43AT186), Lakeside CB and Sierra Bravo groups and previously known on 11m as 43JDW195 as an associate of the Jack Daniels Whiskey club, John has been around the traps for decades and brings with him to the DA-RC ranks an abundance of insightful hobby knowledge and skills.

A resident of the Australian state of Victoria, John is commonly one of the loudest of signals to hit foreign shores.  His home QTH is Whittlesea, a town in Melbourne, 40 kilometers north-east from Melbourne’s central business district with a community of just 4563 people.

Local attractions here, according to John, include the Funfields Fun Park toboggan park, Torourrong Reservoir, Yan Yean Reservoir, Bear’s Castle and the old Court House…just to name a few!

John’s achievements in the area of DX Hunting are impressive with no less than 175 DXCC worked and confirmed in the bank.  In fact, it’s in this area where he qualifies for DA-RC membership.

In addition to chasing DX with the reliable support of his RCI-2950 and 3 element yagi (pictured above) which overlooks the picturesque country landscape of the Plenty Valley, 43DA195 John enjoys scanning frequencies across the full radio spectrum, exchanging QSL cards with exotic stations, using UHF and VHF radio, and rag chewing with radio mates when the DX is in a lull.

When he’s not kicking back in the shack with a radio mag either, John likes to escape to the fresh and salt waters near his home where he enjoys fly fishing.  This is an angling method where hand tied flies resembling natural invertebrates or other food organisms are used to catch fish and by all reports John’s fishing outfit is quite a weapon!

Another of John’s hobbies is astronomy and his love for star gazing is well known among close friends.  Whether or not this pastime includes studying the sun’s solar activity to inform propagation forecasts, John hasn’t let on yet…  Maybe you’ll just have to ask him next time you meet on the air!

Sadly, John passed away in late Januray 2012.  He was a dear friend to many in the hobby and a valued club member.  Rest in peace, mate.