1999 has been yet another busy and active year for the Section.

This year although again fairly quiet for SAR, there have been a number of callouts, including the major Mt Grey search that went on for 6 days. Another to note was the Kirsty Bentley search right on New Year. We still had a number of other activations, most of which we were stood down before, or soon after we arrived on site.

As well as these callouts we were also involved with the District SAREX at Windy Point in the Lewis Pass area. Other SAR activities included a Sector SAREX, training for a Sector, the PAPEX, and the Harris Trophy SAR Competitions. We also worked with SAR by hosting a "Managing SAR Operations" training session, and a Computers in SAR workshop at the Clubrooms, most of the setup and presentation for the latter by two of our members.

This year again many members, and other hams, were involved in the three part Operation Pandora Exercise activating Region and all the Area HQ’s over a period of a couple of months.

We were also involved in rescue Exercise AllStars at QEII, and provided communications assessment and timing support for the CD Light Rescue Inter-Firm and Cliffdale Trophy Competitions.

Another major commitment for CD has been preparations for Y2K, Geoff and myself attending quite a number of meetings, and a number of us saw midnight in on the 9/9/99 as part of an exercise for the big event. There will be another exercise later in November, and also a small team active on New Years eve, but we would like to see as many as possible available in a stand-by mode on the night just in case.

Geoff has also continued providing on-going communications training for CD Volunteers during the year.

As usual a small but dedicated team headed out into the cold and wet conditions during the winter months. They were active for 4 monthly races on local rivers, a week away for the NZ River Racing Championship in the North Island. Still to come this month is another race and then their final race on the Waimak in December.

As always there have been a number of other activities and events to help us exercise during the year. Again the biggest of these, the Coast to Coast went off well, with another big team effort. We were involved with the Hurunui Endurance race again, and the Canterbury Rally. Our thanks again go to North Canterbury Section for their support in the Rally. We also provided a talk-in station and Displays for the NZART Conference, and hosted the AREC Forum.

As well as these we have had a number of training sessions and working bees, and a number of us attended quite a few meetings of various kinds, so all in all a pretty busy year.

Coming up shortly are the NZ Motor Cycle Grand Prix, the City Council Shakedown event, and the Arawa Canoe Club Classic Kayak race, so still plenty to keep us busy before Y2K.

The new Command Vehicle has been an on-going project this year, having finalised or purchased additional equipment for this asset to the group. We also said farewell to the old Bedford, going to the Marton Section in the North Island, its sale assisting our finances for the new vehicle. There are still a few jobs to be done, but this has been a great success and we have a superb facility that we can all be proud of, again my thanks to all, especially Geoff, that have put in extra effort for this project.

During the year we have also purchased another TS130S Transceiver for Jetboating and other activities, another IC706MKII, this one for the Daihatsu, and a CB Set for the Civilian.

Again from me, a very big thank you to all members for your support and efforts through the year, I know that at times I have managed to leave people out in my reports, but your efforts are not forgotten, it is a team effort. I know how hard it is to find the time for the activities that we are involved in, so again a big Thank You, and there will be a late New Year's party announced later. My special thanks to Jeni, Dave and Mike for their work as my Deputies and as the Section Secretary, and also to Geoff for his support and assistance, for without them I would not have been able to operate the Section as I have.

I am again willing to continue as the Section Leader if this is the wish of you all.

73

Steve Davis ZL2UCX