Sep 2013: 20th Anniversary of Auckland Radio closure

On 29 September 2013, Musick Point Radio Group marked the 20th anniversary of the closure of Auckland Radio ZLD on 30 September 1993.

Former staff of the station were invited to a reunion at Musick Memorial Radio Station, and members of the Group operated a special event station from 10am to midnight local time.

Guests

Ross Wedge, seen here with his wife, was an operator at ZLD from 1943 to 1946! Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Neil Denize was a technician at ZLD from 1961 to 1968. Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Bob Shimmin brought along a photo album which he is seen showing to Paul Chamberlin. Bob was a ZLD operator from 1956 to 1960 before becoming a radio inspector. Paul was a ZLD technician up until the station's closure and is a member of MPRG. — Bob Shimmin brought along a photo album which he is seen showing to Paul Chamberlin. Bob was a ZLD operator from 1956 to 1960 before becoming a radio inspector. Paul was a ZLD technician up until the station’s closure and is a member of MPRG. Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Ralph Boshier ZL4AG worked at NZPO radio stations all over the country, and was at the Auckland Depot from 1984 to 1986. Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Former radio inspector Jack Sullivan examines a semi-automatic key. Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Lionel Fuller. — Lionel Fuller, former ZLD technician. Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Robert Hoeksema, seen with his wife, was a chief tech at ZLD. Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Neil Rowe was a technician at ZLD in the mid 1980s. Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Paul Tolenaars, former chief technician at ZLD. Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Event Organisers

Rick Taylor ZL1WOT operating 15m SSB. — Rick Taylor ZL1WOT operating 15m SSB at ZL1ZLD. Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Peter Scott ZL1AAM adjusts the preselector for the 475 kHz receiver. — Peter Scott ZL1AAM, a former ZLD technician, adjusts the preselector for the 475 kHz receiver at ZL1ZLD. Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Neil Sanderson ZL1NZ handled the Twitter updates. — Neil Sanderson ZL1NZ handled the Twitter updates during the special event operation. Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Paul Chamberlin ZL1BBR. — Paul Chamberlin ZL1BBR, who worked as a technician at ZLD until the station’s closure in 1993. Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Barbara Shephard ZL1UFT and Brenda Scott. Photo: Merv Thomas ZL1SK

Camera shy: Ann Walker ZL1BFB

Videos from our special event on the air

Our 475 kHz radiotelegraph signal as heard on a vintage National NC-156 receiver

From an amateur radio operator in Spain

Break-In magazine (NZ Association of Radio Transmitters)

Cover of Nov-Dec 2013 issue of Break-In magazine — It was an honour to have our 20th anniversary event featured on the cover of Break-In.