The Bayside and Districts Amateur Radio Society (BDARS) proudly participated in the Redlands Coast Museum Open Day on Saturday, 30 May 2026.
The Open Day formed part of the Museum’s efforts to promote itself as a key tourist attraction in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic Games, while also showcasing the important role that local community groups play in the Redlands region.
BDARS was honoured to be among a select group of community organisations invited to attend and demonstrate the many facets of amateur radio to the public. The day provided an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of our hobby, engage with local families, and strengthen our connection with the wider community.
Our display featured a range of activities and exhibits designed to capture visitors’ interest. Recorded HF signals were demonstrated through our SDR display, giving attendees an insight into radio communications from around the world.
Vice President John VK4JBE presented his impressive CubeSat exhibit, including two full-size CubeSat models linked by an RF communications system. Live camera images transmitted between the satellites were displayed on a laptop computer, generating considerable interest and prompting many engaging discussions with visitors about space communications and amateur radio technology.
A special highlight for younger visitors was the interactive area coordinated by Eddie VK4TJE, our BDARS Museum Coordinator. Eddie enthusiastically welcomed families to the display, where children enjoyed experimenting with an audio-envelope “oscilloscope” and a microphone-fed voice changer program specially prepared by VK4YA for the occasion. The hands-on activities proved extremely popular throughout the day.
The strong public interest and positive feedback received demonstrated the value of BDARS participating in community events such as this. Opportunities to showcase amateur radio to new audiences do not come along every day, and the success of this event was made possible by the members who volunteered their time and expertise. Those who were unable to attend certainly missed an enjoyable and rewarding day promoting both our club and the amateur radio hobby to the local community.
One area identified for improvement was our promotional material. While the existing club flyer served its purpose, a more professional and visually appealing brochure would help us make an even stronger impression at future public events.
If any members have experience in graphic design, printing, or have contacts within those industries, the committee would welcome your assistance in developing a new promotional brochure for BDARS.
The BDARS display was staffed throughout the day by John VK4JBE, Eddie VK4TJE, and Bob VK4YA, with a supportive visit from our President Martin VK4MCU who was attending to matters at the clubhouse earlier that day. Their enthusiasm and willingness to engage with visitors contributed greatly to the success of the event.
We were also pleased to receive and welcome a first visit from Graham VK4GRE and his wife during the day. A sincere thank you goes to all those members who gave their time to pop down and support their amateur radio colleagues.
Community events such as this provide an invaluable opportunity to promote amateur radio and our club, and additional member participation at future events would help us make an even greater impact.
BDARS extends its thanks to the Redlands Coast Museum for the invitation and looks forward to supporting future community events.
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