1984
GOBLIN PATROL
Although a formal club had not yet been established in the area, Almonte radio amateurs were actively performing community service in 1984.
Assisting the Ontario Provincial Police, they provided a volunteer Goblin Patrol on Halloween night with mobile amateur radio stations monitoring activities in town at Blackburn’s garage, Peterson’s ice cream plant, the Royal Bank, library, and the IGA grocery store. The amateur radio control station was also assisted by other mobile volunteers who visited the neighbourhoods of seniors and schools.
Almonte and area radio amateurs who helped out included:
Terry Ainsworth VE3TLC
Bill Barrie VE3AAS
Syd Bateman VE3FSH
Brian Hick VE3BRT
Tom Howe VE3AAT
Larry Schweizer VE3IHZ
Don Stewart VE3PDF
Al Wrenshall, VE3PAW
John Newman VE3DDN
Mark Penney VE3MSP
Art Childerhose VE3CGD
Ron Power VE3FIN
Brian VE3ELQ
1986
This 1986 photo from the weekly Almonte Gazette newspaper is the earliest shot in the AARC archives.
I remember stopping at the amateur radio station that was set up outside the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Almonte, on Bay Hill. I met Larry VE3IHZ, and learned that it was a JOTA operation with the second Almonte scouts. The group was having fun at the microphone, and I stayed to see what amateur radio was all about.
1992
CLUB ESTABLISHED
An amateur radio club was formed on May 1, 1992, for the Almonte area of eastern Ontario, including Pakenham, Carleton Place, Corkery, Blakeney, and Carp. In a news release dated May 9th, it was announced that the Almonte Radio Repeater League (ARRL) had been established, and a meeting was planned for later in the month.
The inaugural meeting of the ARRL was held at the Superior Restaurant in Almonte at 7:00 p.m. on May 24th. The meeting was convened and chaired by Tom Howe VE3AAT, and attended by Bill Barrie VE3AAS, John Kirkwood VE3KLY, Tim Ray VE3XV, Kieran Shepherd VE3OSQ, Peter Williams VE3TFP, and Al Wrenshall VE3PAW.
The need for a club, and the purpose of the meeting, was stated to be (i) the relocation of the VE3AAT repeater to the Highway 15 property of Tim VE3XV, and (ii) the operation of a repeater with better coverage and an auto-patch. Membership was to be open to all interested radio amateurs.
The original SCR1000 30WT VHF repeater, #641 duplexer, VHF duplexer cables, FL-6 filter, lightning protection, and phone patch, was originally purchased in 1984 for $3273.95 by Larry Schweizer VE3IHZ.
The inaugural officers established at the May 24th meeting were President - Tom Howe VE3AAT, Vice President - Tim Ray VE3XV, Treasurer - Bill Barrie VE3AAS, Secretary - Al Wrensall VE3PAW.
The first year of operation was funded by a $20.00 contribution from each member:
Terry Ainsworth VE3TLC
Bill BarrieVE3AAS
Al Hepburn VE3GFZ
Brian Hick VE3BRT
Tom Howe VE3AAT
John Kirkwood VE3KLY
Tim Ray VE3XV
Al Ross VE3DMR
Kieran Shepherd VE3OSQ
Don Smith VE3SPM
Don Stewart VE3PDF
Peter Williams VE3TFP
Bob Ward VE3ZXV
Al Wrenshall VE3PAW
REPEATER RELOCATED
The relocated VE3AAT repeater began operation in July 1992 on a frequency of 147.27 MHz (147.870 output), with a power of 30 watts at 13.8 V, using a Telrex V-2S antenna with two stacked 5/8 sections. The site was provided by Tim Ray VE3XV, and the shack was built by Al Wrenshall VE3PAW and Bill Barrie VE3AAS. John Kirkwood VE3EEV (KLY) supplied the feed line, and Al Ross VE3DMR re-activated the battery and solved the intermod problems.
1993
FIELD DAY
On the weekend of June 26-27, members of the Almonte Radio Repeater League and the West Carleton Amateur Radio Club took part in a 24 hour field day operation, coordinated by Peter Williams VE3TFP, to test their emergency communications skills. Other volunteers at the event were:
Bill Barrie VE3AAS
Dave Burniston VE3LFQ
Brian Crook VE3CRG
Gord Dey VE3PPE
Al Hepburn VE3GFZ
Ken Holt VE3VC
Tom Howe VE3AAT
Vickie Howe VE3VVH
John Kirkwood VE3EEV
Tim Ray VE3XV
Al Ross VE3DMR
Larry Schweizer VE3IHZ
Kieran Shepherd VE3OSQ
Rob Webb VE3UIX