VK4FI is an Advanced Class (Full Call) amateur radio station operated by Steven Dudley. I was first licenced as Amateur Radio Operator in 2010. In that year I gained my Foundation Amateur Radio Licence and was issued the call VK4FSRD. I was a late starter to Amateur Radio gaining my first licence at 49, however, I have been involved in Radio and Communications since I first got the bug back the early days of CB radio in Australia in 1977.
I was on CB for a number of years and then in 1984 I enlisted in the Australian Army and was allocated to the Royal Australian Signals Corps. I served in a number of locations within Australia and Overseas during my 24 plus years of service in the Corps. I finished my fulltime military career as a Warrant Officer Class Two (E-8, OR-8) Information Systems Manager in July 2008. I am still serving at the same rank and position as a Reserve Soldier (part-time).
I had planned on studying for an Amateur Licence back in the 1970's but work and personal life seemed more important, so it was only in 2010, that I again got the bug and decided that I needed to do something about getting a licence. So within 4 weeks of deciding that the time was right, I had done some quick study of the current regulations and sat the exam. I passed and was licenced as VK4FSRD.
In 2017 after 6 odd years as an F Call licence holder I thought it was about time that I upgraded and started playing with all the digital modes and open the horizons on new bands and a little more power. I started to look at the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process for an Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - Advanced (AOCP -A), given the many years of Radio and Electronics training I received as a member of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals over the last 3 decades.
I submitted the application and was successful in being granted RPL for Advanced Theory and Practical on WIA RPL application 17006. All I was required to do was sit the Regulations assessment which I did on the 22 Aug 17. Ron (VK2DQ) administered the exam remotely with the assistance of a Commissioned Military Officer, from my place of work, who acted as the local scrutinizer. I was successful in this assessment and it was then just a waiting game until all the paperwork was submitted and processed by the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA).
On the 27 Sep 17, my bright new AOCP-A certificate number 5588 issued 5 September 2017 arrived. At the same time I also applied and was granted WIA assessor status on certificate 4-076, which enables me to conduct assessments for the 3 classes of licence available in Australia. The assessment process has now been taken over by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), our national regulation body, and I am an authorised volunteer assessor for all classes of licence.
Also in 2017 I sat and was successful at completing the US Technician and General Class examinations and was granted the US call KS7EVE. At some point I will attempt the US Extra Class exam as well, why, because I can and it is just another challenge.
In addition to my recognition as an Australian Assessor, I am also recognised by the ARRL as a being a Registered Licence Instructor and a Volunteer Examiner, which allows me to contact assessments for US class licences up to my General Class qualification.
I have been married to Sharan, since 1985 and we have 4 adult children. Our oldest daughter and her family are living in Toowoomba, a short drive from our QTH, we have a son living in Kingsthorpe about a 20 minutes’ drive and our youngest daughter lives in Brisbane the capital city of our state, which is about 2 hours to the east of our QTH. Whilst our oldest son and his daughter are back living with us at the family home.
BrandMeister