Recognition of WICEN

The year 2000 and the associated “Millenium Bug” posed significant risks to the community and the state’s infrastructure, particularly the essential services. If some predictions of widespread failures to electricity and telecommunications networks had been realised, the community would have been exposed to significant risks.

I am advised that WICEN members devoted a great deal of their time to designing communications corridors, installation of antennae, repeaters and cabling at various coordination centres.

The dedication of volunteers who contribute their time and skill to promoting community safety often heartens me. WICEN volunteers’ diligence in testing the network and their preparedness to operate it over the year 2000 transition period is exemplary.

I would be grateful if you would convey my appreciation, and that of my staff who have emergency response responsibilities, to all the WICEN members who contributed to the development or operation of the radio network.

I look forward to a continuing relationship between WICEN and Victoria Police.

WICEN is a volunteer group of radio amateurs with communications and information transfer skills and equipment. This organisation can be called upon by response and recovery agencies and the general community in times of emergency. WICEN’s major role is the coordination of the response of the general amateur radio service in times of need.

Inspector Mackey of the Victoria Police acknowledged that WICEN performs a major role in the provision of back-up communication in the event of disasters in the state:

WICEN is our main back-up for communications within this State. If we were to lose telecommunications, our normal radio frequencies become overloaded. WICEN basically becomes our one and only back-up frequency until we perhaps get assistance from Defence, but still they would stay as our number one backup.

19th October, 1993

Mr. David Tilson
Australian Disaster Management Information Network
1st Floor
4 Riverside Quay
SOUTH MELBOURNE VIC 3205

Dear Mr. Tilson,

I would like to place on record both my personal and the VICSES’ sincere appreciation for WICEN’s assistance, co-operation and commitment during the recent floods in northern Victoria. Whilst this service is the combat agency for response to floods in Victoria, in an event of this magnitude it was impossible for us to be self sufficient, and even though we know and accept that Victoria’s arrangements are based upon agencies helping each other in times of disaster, nevertheless it is pleasing to know that there is such a willingness by other agencies to provide meaningful assistance when it is really needed.

Your support at local, regional and state level certainly contributed in no small measure to our completing a successful operation in which, thankfully, no lives were lost and injuries were few and minor. Whilst one hopes that there will be no further events of this nature we all know that this is unlikely to be the case and it is with a great deal of pleasure that I look forward in confidence to your ongoing support the next time it is needed.

Thank you again for your assistance and please pass on to all those who helped my sincere thanks for their contribution.

Kind Regards,

[signed]
Rhys Maggs
Director