Radio Club News July 2025
Welcome to the Radio Club News for July 2025
It’s been a quiet month for us with the weather continuing to not play fair. Still, it gives us all a chance to catch up on that boat maintenance and revise our seafaring skills.
This month we invite you to join our free radio course with Gordon Kimpton. We outline the radio repeaters in our area, some tips on float line snapper fishing and a recipe for fish tacos, plus our regular info and statistics.
If you would like to contribute an article or three that may be of interest to your fellow boaties, fishos or radio chatterers, send us an email at radioclub.portmacquarie@marinerescuensw.com.au
Free Marine Radio Usage Course
In one day, Gordon Kimpton will cover the theory and practical aspects of marine radio operation. You will help us to help you! You will be equipped to take the exam if you wish to get the Marine Radio Operators license*.
*The course is free for financial members. There is a cost for the license. This is beyond Marine Rescue’s control.
When: Saturday 23 August 2025. 0900 – 1530
Where: Emergency Centre, Central Road (near Fire Station)
Bring: Nothing! Light lunch, tea, coffee and biscuits are provided.
Enrol Now! Email Gordon Kimpton at kimptongl@gmail.com or message to 0407 108 350
Marine Radio Repeaters Regional Coverage Map
Marine Radio Repeater Regional Coverage
Which channel should I be calling on?
While the initial call should be made on VHF channel 16, there will be some locations that will have poor coverage. Channel 16 operates in a ‘line of sight’ mode. Locations that are shadowed from the line of sight will experience poor or no reception. To reach further distances we utilise a radio repeater station.
A radio repeater is a combination of a radio receiver and a radio transmitter that receives a signal and retransmits it, so that two-way radio signals can cover longer distances. A repeater sited at a high elevation can allow two mobile stations, otherwise out of line-of-sight propagation range of each other, to communicate (from Wikipedia).
To the North of Port Macquarie the VHF repeater channel is 80 and further north again (Coffs Harbour) is Ch 81.
The South repeater channel is 21.
The repeaters operate for 30 seconds and then cut off. If you have a longer message, then you will need to break transmission every 30 seconds.
In Port Macquarie we also monitor channels VHF 71 and UHF (CB) 88.
Float Line Fishing for Snapper
By Jim Gardner – Ned Kelly’s Bait n Tackle
Snapper
In this article, we will talk about catching snapper using a technique called ‘float line fishing’.
https://marinerescueportmacquarie.com.au/radioclubnews/float-line-fishing-for-snapper.pdf
Statistics
| Month | Vessels Logged On | POB | Radio Calls | Search & Rescue Assists | Vessel Assists | Value of Assisted Vessels | Volunteer Hours (24/7) |
| Dec 2024 | 460 | 1208 | 360 | 0 | 7 | $372,000 | 1203 |
| Jan 2025 | 232 | 738 | 367 | 1 | 8 | $180,000 | 1372 |
| Feb 2025 | 301 | 738 | 309 | 1 | 11 | $310,000 | 1372 |
| Mar 2025 | 301 | 623 | 297 | 0 | 7 | $600,000 | 1372 |
| Apr 2025 | 385 | 767 | 361 | 0 | 5 | $160,000 | 1139 |
| May 2025 | 145 | 367 | 131 | 0 | 11 | 1147 | |
| June 2025 | 331 | 819 | 193 | N/A | N/A | 1107 |
App Log On/Log Off
The Marine Rescue NSW app can be downloaded free from the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android devices. Search for ‘Marine Rescue NSW’. Please remember to Log Off.
Not a Radio Club member yet? Join the club at:
or drop into the radio base.
Visit us:
On the Web: https://www.marinerescueportmacquarie.com.au
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrnswportmacquarie
Or call in at the radio base:
2/15 Elliot Way, Port Macquarie
Ph: 02 5547 9100
Email: radioclub.portmacquarie@marinerescuensw.com.au