The Radio Amateur Society of Australia

Congratulations go out to the newly formed “Radio Amateur Society of Australia” (RASA).   
Their website (Click HERE) states that the organisation is made up of
active radio amateurs who want to see progress in their hobby, and that 
their primary efforts will be focused on improved education and 
awareness in the areas of regulation and administration, as well as
strong evidence based representation with their national
telecommunications regulator.

It’s great to see individuals standing up and making things right after years of abysmal performance by 

the Australian equivalent of RAC, the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA).  From articles available on 

the web it’s clear to see that many clubs feel disenfranchised with the WIA and feel there is a great need 

for change.

Much like here in Canada, many clubs also feel very disenfranchised with RAC.  We have questions too, 

what is RAC actually doing for clubs and club members?  Other than the public liability insurance, what 

value does a club (or its members) receive by being a member of an affiliated club?  Why don’t the 

membership have the pleasure of personally being able to cast a vote the RAC presidents position?

I’m sorry, but I expect a hell of a lot more for my annual membership subscription, especially at its 

current price, than what is on offer.

But, the big issue is the fact that RAC refuses to represent ALL amateurs in Canada.  They insist that if 

you’re not a paid up RAC member they do not represent you at any level.  There needs to be a lot more 

openness, accountability and leadership at the Executive level than what we see these days.

So, perhaps we need to take a leaf out go the RASA play book and form a new national Canadian amateur 

radio society, one that is not an old boys clique, or one filled with cronyism, and one that truly represents 

ALL Canadian amateurs, paid members or not.