WICEN NSW, as a support squad of the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association, has now ceased tasking members to assist the NSW RFS. The WICEN Committee would like to thank those members who during the recent bushfire emergency gave their time to assist, often at short notice and in difficult and stressful operating conditions.

A link to the BBC World's "Digital Planet" programme "Tech tracking Australian fires", featuring WICEN, is available here.

While a distinct entity, WICEN NSW is affiliated with the WIA.

A training day is planned for Sunday, February 2nd here at ARNSW in Dural. Members are also encouraged to take advantage of the free courses offered by the Office of Emergency Management, at: https://www.emtraining.nsw.gov.au/

WICEN groups across Australia will be supporting Dementia Australia Memory Walk and Jog events. These short Sunday morning events run for several months from February, with NSW's first event at Penrith on April 5th.

WICEN will also be present at the Wyong Field Day on Sunday, February 23rd.

For Facebook users, there is an official WICEN NSW page; and an informal national WICEN group.

WICEN ACT is part of the Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club, and supports events in the "Capital Country" region, and on the South Coast. The BMSC "NatCap" Rally is March 21st and 22nd. The Canberra Two Day Walk is April 4th and 5th. For more info visit: http://www.crarc.ampr.org

WICEN Victoria is supporting a fun run between Safety Beach in Dromana, and Rosebud this morning. The Pajero Challenge is February 7th to 9th at Walhalla in northern Gippsland. February 14th to 16th is the Oscar's 100 "Hut to Hut". Duncan's Run 100 is planned Turra Bulga in south Gippsland on March 21st. Memory Walk and Jog events include Mildura on March 1st; and Ballarat at Wendouree on March 15th (support TBC). The weekly net is on each Tuesday at 8:30 pm, on 3.6 MHz. WICEN Victoria's website is: http://vic.wicen.org.au

Submitted by Julian Sortland VK2YJS, on behalf of the WICEN State Management Committee.