INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY AUGUST 20th

From the Southgate Amateur Radio News website, August 20 – 21 is  International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW) and International Lighthouse Day is August 20, so mark it on your calendar. Maybe we can make this a Canadian event as well!

“Next month, the Leeuwin lighthouse in Western Australia is among those to be illuminated and joined by lighthouses across the world to celebrate their guardianship of seafarers over the years.”

“The West Australian reports that the celebration is part of the International Lighthouse Day on August 20, and the public are invited to take torches to shine in unison at the Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste lighthouses.”

“Similar events occur on the third full weekend of August to coincide with the International Lighthouse Day an event organised by the International Association of Lighthouse Keepers.”

“Both are entered by Wally Gelok VK6CLL in the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend of August 19th and 20st. More than 440 lighthouses, from almost 50 countries, are expected to take part.”

To read the newspaper report:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/9861939/
world-ready-to-honour-safety-beacons/

To read the latest on the ILLW visit:
http://illw.net/

 

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From the ILLW history page:

“A few years ago the International Association of Lighthouse Keepers (on Facebook) decided to have an annual open day for lighthouses all around the world to encourage visitors to visit at their lighthouses. They decided that no better day could be decided upon other than the Sunday of the ILLW. This move has been highly successful as the media have become involved in quite a few of the countries involved in the event.”

“This year’s event takes place on the 3rd full weekend in August so if you haven’t done so already, find a lighthouse nearby and get a group together or do it solo and fire up a lighthouse station. In most cases if you don’t intend operating from within the lighthouse itself or one of its cottages, you really don’t need to get any approval. Most first time entrants are so enthused with the event that they return year after year. A report from the Burlington ARC, Canada summed their first participation in these few words:”

“The greatest delight of the day was the active participation of the visiting children who showed a remarkable interest in the whole idea of amateur radio, especially the use of Morse Code. It was an honour and a delight to participate in this adventure and we look forward with increased enthusiasm to next year’s participation.”

“As you can see from the website, Mike Dalrymple passed away in December 2005. He was the Treasurer of the Ayr Amateur Radio Group and one of their members has taken on Mike’s roll as the PR man and main co-ordinator. The event is now dedicated to Mike’s memory as is this official ILLW web site where you will find the event guidelines, an on line entry form and lists of participating lighthouse since 1999.”