WICEN’s contribution to the current bush fire emergency is continuing. The group is providing several general and aviation radio operators in the Mid North Coast. Further operators are staffing the Bush Fire Information Line, located close to Olympic Park Station. Other VRA Squads, including AusCAP, the Australian Civil Air Patrol, are also active.

Members are 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 Memory Walk and Jog events. These short Sunday morning events run for several months from February, and are a great first event for new members. It is also possible for radio clubs and other groups to run "DIY" events.

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.

The WICEN Mid North Coast Region monthly meeting is held on the first Saturday of the month, at SES HQ, Central Road, Port Macquarie, beginning at 15:30. The region runs an HF net on Thursday evenings at 19:00, on the WICEN frequency, 3.600 MHz.

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 Rallye de Femmes was yesterday, while their NatCap Rally is mid-March. For more info visit: http://www.crarc.ampr.org

WICEN Victoria will support the Pajero Challenge, from February 7th to 9th at Walhalla in Gippsland. February 14th to 16th is the Oscars 100 "Hut to Hut", a high-country adventure, raising funds for Autism. The weekly net is on each Tuesday at 8:30 pm, on 3.6 MHz. WICEN Victoria's website, which includes a write-up of the Stockmans Rally, is at: http://vic.wicen.org.au

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