Communications Support

Townsville Amateur Radio Club runs an active communications support program, providing volunteer radio operators for community events across the Townsville region — horse endurance rides, off-road racing, open water swims, and cyclone/disaster preparedness activities.

• Horse Endurance Rides
  B2B Paluma Passion & Spring Shore rides at Bluewater Park Equestrian Centre
• Off-Road Racing
  NQORA short circuit & championship rounds at Millchester MSRC
• Open Water Swims
  TOWSA Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim
• Disaster Preparedness
  Cyclone season readiness & council emergency events

2027 Events We Support

2027 dates are taken from the News from the North newsletter and may change — they are confirmed closer to each event.

• Australia Day Long Week Family Radio Camp
  Sat 23 – Wed 27 January, Bluewater Girl Guides Training Centre, Toolakea Beach Rd (radio, antennas, digital modes, cooking, outdoor activities and camping)
• Defence Welcome to Townsville Expo
  Sat 30 January, 9:30am – noon, Emmaus Hall, Ryan Catholic College, Kirwan (TARC amateur radio demonstration, setup from 7:30am)
• John Moyle Memorial Field Day
  Fri 19 – Sun 21 March, Mount Fox Camp Ground
• Australian Military Radio Operators Weekend
  Sat 24 and Mon 26 April, military-radio-themed on-air activity
• AM & CW on ANZAC Day
  Sun 25 April, amateur radio AM and Morse code activity
• Clairview Gathering
  Fri 7 – Sun 9 May, or Fri 7 – Mon 10 May if the longer calendar dates apply (end date to be confirmed), BarraCrab Caravan Park, Clairview (Saturday mega-auction, raffles and possible foxhunt)
• B2B Autumn Escalade Horse Endurance Rides
  Sat 15 – Sun 16 May, Bluewater Park Equestrian Centre (volunteers sought)
• Valley Riders / Dee Jay Arabians Endurance Rides
  Sat 22 – Sun 23 May, Denison Creek near Nebo
• WRERA Tropical Winter Endurance Ride
  Sat 29 – Sun 30 May, Euri Gold Farm
• Snow 4’s Famous Foxhunt
  Sat 5 June, from 1:00pm, Townsville area
• Greg Willoughby Memorial Endurance Rides
  Sat 19 – Sun 20 June, Denison Creek near Nebo (date per the newsletter feature schedule — to be confirmed)
• Dee Jay Arabians Endurance Rides
  Sat 3 – Sun 4 July, Denison Creek near Nebo
• B2B Paluma Passion Horse Endurance Rides
  Sat 17 – Sun 18 July, Bluewater Park Equestrian Centre
• Bombing of Townsville 85th Anniversary HF Activation
  Thu 29 July, special HF activation at the historic WWII Wulguru bombing site
• B2B Blue Hills Bash Horse Endurance Rides
  Sat 31 July – Sun 1 August, Bluewater Park Equestrian Centre (clashes with the Greg Willoughby Memorial Rides — operators will be split across both events)
• Greg Willoughby Memorial Endurance Rides
  Sat 31 July – Sun 1 August, Denison Creek near Nebo (date per the newsletter calendar — to be confirmed) (clashes with the B2B Blue Hills Bash — operators will be split across both events)
• Ingham Forest Rally
  Sat 28 August, rally HQ at Abergowrie–Longpocket QCWA Hall and special-stage start/stop points
• B2B Spring Shore Horse Endurance Rides
  Sat 4 – Sun 5 September, Bluewater Park Equestrian Centre

2026 Events We Support

• B2B Paluma Passion Horse Endurance Rides
  Sat 18 – Sun 19 July, Bluewater Park Equestrian Centre
• NQORA Charters Towers Short Circuit Off Road Racing
  Sat 25 – Sun 26 July, Millchester MSRC
• TOWSA Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim
  Sat 15 August, from 5:30am, Strand Park
• B2B Spring Shore Horse Endurance Rides
  Sat 5 – Sun 6 September, Bluewater Park Equestrian Centre
• NQORA QLD Off-Road Championship Round 1
  Sat 19 – Sun 20 September, Millchester MSRC
• JOTA/JOTI — Jamboree on the Air
  Fri 16 – Sun 18 October, worldwide Scouts and Guides radio and internet weekend (activations at Bluewater, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone and Bundaberg)
• TARC Annual General Meeting & Pancake Breakfast
  Sun 22 November, breakfast from 7:00am then AGM, Rossiter Park, Aitkenvale (RSVP for catering by 17 November)
• TARC Christmas Party & Monster Auction
  Sun 13 December, from 10:00am at VK4ME, Lake Herodes, Kirwan (auction 11am, BBQ 12:30pm, mystery present auction 1pm)
• TARC Monster Christmas Lights Tour
  Fri 18 December, gather 7:00pm, drive-yourself Townsville lights tour, monitor 146.550MHz (finish around 10pm, start location to be announced)
• New Year’s Day Countdown
  Thu 31 December, on-air countdown from 12:45 UTC (daylight-saving locations) or 13:45 UTC (standard-time locations)

These events run every year on a similar cycle, alongside occasional one-off requests (Scout activities, council emergency preparedness days, and similar). Exact dates are confirmed each season — see the Events & Nets page for the current schedule, including our weekly emergency-readiness net.

Get Involved

No special equipment is usually required beyond a handheld or mobile VHF/UHF radio — checkpoints and mobile positions are briefed beforehand, and experienced operators are always happy to show newer members the ropes. It’s genuinely good fun: a day outdoors, useful radio practice, and a chance to directly support your local community.