After the 1939 bushfires, the Forests Commission Victoria invested heavily in a radically new communications network. After suffering some inevitable delays due to the war, radio VL3AA switched into full operation in October 1945 proudly beaming out 200 watts across the State. But by today’s standards, the technology was primitive and the reception poor unless the user was on a high point somewhere. The radio signal was "line-of-sight" and bounced between fire towers and relay transmitters across the mountains back to the District offices. The advent of solid-state electronics in the 1960s replaced the more delicate valve sets which enabled greater use of vehicle mounted radios. The Commission continued to research, develop and build new radios at its many workshops around Victoria. The network was supported by a large team of skilled radio technicians. The more secure and versatile State Mobile Radio (SMR) digital trunk system came into operation in about 1995. Upgraded Tait Radios were purchased in 2014 after recommendations of the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission. But it was the convergence of separate technologies such as 5G mobile phones, high-capacity and light-weight lithium batteries, Wi-Fi, the ever-expanding internet, cloud data storage, digital cameras, GPS, personal organisers and hundreds of supporting Apps into powerful smartphones and tablets which revolutionised bushfire communications from the mid-2000s. SSB Long Range Transceiver including aerial wire and operation card (1992)Codan SSB transceiver 6924Bbushfire, radios, forests commission victoria (fcv)

This transceiver was made by Merv Collins, a long-time resident of Wodonga. His call sign VK3AF) is attached to both of the radios. "Merv" Mervyn Aubrey Lascelles Collins was born near Horsham Victoria in 1922. He and his family moved to Wodonga in 1965 so that he could work at the newly opened TV transmission station at Mt Baranduda, to Wodonga's south. He was passionate about electronics and radio, becoming an Amateur Radio (Ham) operator in the 1950s. He had an amazing understanding of the science, allowing him to build the majority of his equipment from scratch, often without a circuit diagram. Through his resourcefulness, Merv frequently modified old black and white TV's and other equipment destined for landfill, incorporating them into gear ranging from transceivers to test equipment. Merv’s handiwork allowed him to talk to people all around the world. He lived in Leonard Street, Wodonga for over 40 years, and the antennas that rose from the back yard were a local landmark. He passed away in 2010, a proud Wodonga resident and keen "Ham" to the end.This item is significant because it was owned by a local resident who operated it in Wodonga for over 40 years.Two radio transmitters used by a ham radio operator in Wodonga.merv collins wodonga, ham radio transceiver, amateur radio, radio communications

From the Imperial War Museums website (IWM UK): Second World War period transceiver set widely used by US, and Allied, Armed Forces in Italy, N W Europe, and the Pacific. The US Signal Corps developed the SCR-536 early in the Second World War, It was produced from 1942 onwards by the Galvin Manufacturing Co. By 1945 130,000 had been produced. The SCR-536 was an extremely popular set and was colloquially known as a "Handie-Talkie". It consisted of a five-valve, low-power, battery operated, AM (HF) transceiver that was designed for portability and ease of operation. It featured a single channel crystal control between 3.5 and 6Mc/s, and it had an R/T communication range of 1 mile over land and 3 miles over salt water. The set was switched into a receiving mode by extending the telescopic aerial, and to transmit the press-to-talk switch was depressed. The aerial was protected by a connected cover. The set was well-engineered and designed and could be held in one hand, hence "Handie-Talkie" . It was used virtually everywhere in the world, weighed only 2kg, and was proofed against fungi and moisture.The SCR-536 was also modified for use in military gliders under the designation SCR-585.Short range portable transceiver. A large green-painted metal box with perforated small round holes in the shape of hexagons (original perforated round black earpiece and mouthpiece missing). On the back is a long green webbing carrying strap. (not original)Between the earpiece and mouthpiece is a plaque that reads "SIGNAL CORPS US ARMY RADIO RECEIVER AND TRANSMITTER BC-611-C. SERIAL NUMBER: 3017. ORDER NUMBER: 1345-WF-43. MADE BY GALVIN MFG CORPORATION CHICAGO ILLINOIS. On label : FREQUENCY 3996 Kev/ CHANNEL/ BAT. DATE Red square stamp walkie talkie, handie talkie, telecommunication, ww2, world war 2, american, wireless equipment, signal corps, us army, transceiver, bc 611 c