During the past few days we have seen some severe hail storms across the country and we sincerely hope this is just a once-off at the beginning of summer and that things will eventually settle into a normal pattern.
On the East Rand this week, one storm over the Boksburg Brakpan and Springs area was so bad it actually brought traffic to a standstill and those who ventured on to the roads were caught unawares on slippery surfaces which resulted in many accidents!
Pictures that appeared on Facebook showed gardens absolutely white – like snow and heaps of ice that resembled snowmen. This time around the stones were not as large as the previous ones but damage was caused where wind blew the stones into windows which eventually cracked and broke.
Although Hamnet was not called out, we are aware of many of the Gauteng South members being on 2 m and listening out for any calls. The countryside also suffered damage. In Delareyville in the North West Province, the roof of a supermarket collapsed under the shear weight of the ice and a strong wind did not exactly help things either.
This coming week, starting as of this evening, delegates will be arriving for the 8th Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications conference or GAREC, which this year is being held in Kuala Lumpur in Indonesia.
The conference kicks off on Monday the 12th with welcoming address by various delegates including Johnny Tann 9M8DB and Seppo Sissato OH1VR. Also attending will be the various Regional Delegates responsible for Emergency Communications for Regions 1, 2 and 3.
The Agenda looks packed with interesting items with Alan Kan, VK2KY discussing emergency Power Supply and Jyri Putkonen, OH7JP discussing safety exercises.
Other attendees include Dave Sumner K1ZZ of the ARRL and Greg Mossop G0DUB representing Region One and RAYNET plus various members of other Eastern block countries, Australia and Japan.
The meeting ends on Wednesday afternoon with a tour of Kuala Lumpur as well as a Gala Dinner that evening where the banner for the next conference to be held in Switzerland, will be handed to Stefan Streiff, HB9TTQ. This conference will in all probability be held in Friedrichshafen to coincide with the Swiss Hamfest in 2013.
Reporting for Hamnet, this is Francois Botha, ZS6BUU.
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