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Amateur Radio display at the Industries Fair Greymouth ,1958.
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DescriptionAmateur radio display at the Industries Fair Greymouth 1958
Also known as HAM Radio members were often a key part of communications during search and rescue's, Civil defence etc
locals with their respective call signs from left,
Don Campbell of Cobden - ZL3RS
Don Macbeth of Boddytown - ZL3OW
Vern (Ike) Martin of Brunnerton - ZL3WR
Frank Martin of Greymouth - ZL3TK
and Bob Dixon of Dobson - ZL3JTDate of Photo1958Map[1] ContributorNeil Martin
Also known as HAM Radio members were often a key part of communications during search and rescue's, Civil defence etc
locals with their respective call signs from left,
Don Campbell of Cobden - ZL3RS
Don Macbeth of Boddytown - ZL3OW
Vern (Ike) Martin of Brunnerton - ZL3WR
Frank Martin of Greymouth - ZL3TK
and Bob Dixon of Dobson - ZL3JTDate of Photo1958Map[1] ContributorNeil Martin
Shown in this image
Location (city or town)GreymouthPersonDon CampbellDon MacbethVern (Ike) MartinFrank MartinBob Dixon EventAmateur radioGreymouth Industries Fair
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Category Tagradio
From Facebook
LinkFacebookDate Created8th November 2017CommentsSandy Goodall That pipe
Neil Martin Yep apparently it was healthy.
Sandy Goodall Didn't change much, can see him in his radio room
Bazza Morland As I recall Frank Neil Marty , that pipe and a VW beetle !
Kath Merv Moreton I remember "uncle" Bob Dixon's (not real uncle) set up in Taylorville when staying with him and "Aunty Mary" and Kevin when we were kids.Dad used to tune-in our radio at times so we could listen to him ,when we lived in Dobson.
Patricia Niha Kath I remember your mum & dad with great fondness .Playing at yours after school .Climbing the hills behind the house .
Kath Merv Moreton Patricia Niha Hi Pat.I remember those great times. House been gone many years now.Burnt down I believe. Xx
Joyce Elwood-Smith Bob was one of my mother's brothers...my father was also a ham radio operator ZL30Q we had regular skeds with Uncle Bob & Aunty Mary (over the hill...we were in Christchurch ) & with his brother Uncle Cliff (can't remember his call sign). As little kids we had to go out to the shed, aka the radio shack, and say hello! Who would ever have dreamed we would have Skype or Facetime in the future!
Neil Wick He had the same set up in Picton too. Used to visit when mum lived in Blenheim
Trish Rennie I used to work with Russ Garlick and he was an avid ham radio operator...think Marj Brett was too...remember most of these fellows calling in to have a catch up with Russ....
John White I remember Bob Dixon’s set up in Taylorville. Also fond memories of Ike Martin when he ran The Brunner Taxi service in the 60’s. Boy could he tell some stories of the wrecks he had to deliver home early Saturday- Sunday mornings in that PB Vauxhall
Kevin Waters I lived at Dobson years ago and spend time with both Vern and Frank Martin. Plus I also become a Amateur Radio Operator, ZL3KU. Frank was my first working boss also at the Grey Electric Power Board. Great Photo of the past.
Ray Vincent My connection with Ham radio was 1968 or there abouts, though the 70's with AREC and search & rescue comms. Recall sitting in heaps of snow on Arthurs Pass while people lost on Rollerston, Fox glacier looking for crashed deer recovery copters, more than once! As radio crept into work the attentions went to other things. We had some great times, some sad times but great people.
Bev Huston I understand that once the parents moved to Pensioner Flats Dad (Frank) gave up active involvement with AREC and was able to (surrepticiously) get an aerial up for the smaller rig until Coronation Street TV reception to adjoining flats was persistently interupted..unfortunately at the same time as his planned skeds with other like-minded people. If he could have taken the gear to Dixon House he probably would have.
Trish Rennie I remember your parents most fondly Bev...used to have a lot of laughs with them when they came shopping at the supermarket....When I worked at RA Garlick Ltd Frank was a frequent visitor to see Russ...great memories
Bruce Avery I remember sitting with my dad when I was are kid and listeningDavid Rennie
Paul Rennie
Yvonne John Mckenzie
Great photo
Vern Pattinson
A very young Vern Martin there our old taxi driver from Wallsend
Dave Lyes
I'm pretty sure Merv Grewer was ZL3RX
]MurrayandLois Butcher
Dave Lyes My brother Peter Butcher from Christchurch had been ZL3RX, but by then (1958) had moved to North Island and became ZL2AZL
Dave Lyes
MurrayandLois Butcher hmmm ok. I seem to remember doing a global scouts Ham at Hokitika scouts back in early 70s maybe. So that could fit. Thank you.
Butch Cadigan
Dave Lyes ZL3PJ
Tom Kilkelly
Went to school with Ike Martins son Kenny remember when he went for his drivers license in Ike’s Vauxhall put in the ditch in Taylorville don’t think they gave him his license lol
Trish Rennie
Paul Garlick Peter Garlick
Margaret Mulloy
Was the best taxi driver we had always looked after us locals
Iain Hayes
My dad Roy Hayes was ZL3VU , he grew up in Shenandoah prior to WW2 , and I remember many trips to the coast ( with a mobile rig in the car ) when we worked as an advisor to Ministry of Ag and a club jet boat trip on the Buller
Kath Merv Moreton
Bob Dixon was a good friend of ours when we were kids.Bob,No relation,but Uncle Bob,aunty Mary and son Kevin lived in Taylorville.David Mulloy
yeah tommy kenny told me the same story pissed myself laughing
· Reply · 9h
Heather Reid
Yes he took mum an me up to church
· Reply · 7h
Rob Elwood
Bob Dixon ZL3JT lived in Taylorville at the time, working in the Dobson mine. Later moved to Picton & changed radio callsign (as you did in those days) to ZL2LA. My uncle.
Heather Newby
Rob Elwood wow.. i remember him
Judy Ann Hinde
I think all of these men and in particular Don McBeth were very good friends with my father Dave Oates ZL3MF of Carter’s beach Westport.
Paul Agnes Smith
I remember that.. I was 10 !!
Donny Macbeth
My dad 2nd left and 2 uncles on the right
Lesley Oakley
Donny Macbeth hi Don I thought that was your Dad. Remember your uncles
Donny Macbeth
Lesley Oakley Thanks!
Trish Rennie
I'm surprised that Russ Garlick is not in that picture...
Des Kennedy
Bec Huston, there is your dad ZL3TK
Bev Huston
Des Kennedy yes. When he died the call sign was retired which was a nice gesture.
David Mulloy
vern was our taxi driver
Vern Pattinson
I remember Vern living around near the Tylerville Bridge with those high radio masks
Thelma Wilkins
Vern and his wife had the taxi in Brunner
Vern Pattinson
Thelma Wilkins yes Carol there daughter was in my class 3G3 at Grey high
John White
Not to forget Bob Dixon on the right. From Taylorville and lived next door to Hardy and Zona Browning. Moved to Picton with their son Kevin around the time Wallsend closed from memory.
Thelma Wilkins
That's right John .Gosh how that time has gone by
Deane Macartney
They're a great resource even now. Cellphones don't work through perods of earthquakes and storms.
1h
Reply
Les Horncastle
Ray Douglas , would have been the tea boy !
Donny Macbeth
Dad,Don Macbeth and two Uncles Vern and Frank
Lesley Oakley
Donny Macbeth hi Don is your Dad the second one in?
y
Hemi Mason
Wow love the old photos you put up Heather that was the year i was born
Heather Newby
Hemi Mason thanks.. was a good time back then. I was born 1952.
Hemi Mason
Heather Newby nice keep them coming
Neil Martin Yep apparently it was healthy.
Sandy Goodall Didn't change much, can see him in his radio room
Bazza Morland As I recall Frank Neil Marty , that pipe and a VW beetle !
Kath Merv Moreton I remember "uncle" Bob Dixon's (not real uncle) set up in Taylorville when staying with him and "Aunty Mary" and Kevin when we were kids.Dad used to tune-in our radio at times so we could listen to him ,when we lived in Dobson.
Patricia Niha Kath I remember your mum & dad with great fondness .Playing at yours after school .Climbing the hills behind the house .
Kath Merv Moreton Patricia Niha Hi Pat.I remember those great times. House been gone many years now.Burnt down I believe. Xx
Joyce Elwood-Smith Bob was one of my mother's brothers...my father was also a ham radio operator ZL30Q we had regular skeds with Uncle Bob & Aunty Mary (over the hill...we were in Christchurch ) & with his brother Uncle Cliff (can't remember his call sign). As little kids we had to go out to the shed, aka the radio shack, and say hello! Who would ever have dreamed we would have Skype or Facetime in the future!
Neil Wick He had the same set up in Picton too. Used to visit when mum lived in Blenheim
Trish Rennie I used to work with Russ Garlick and he was an avid ham radio operator...think Marj Brett was too...remember most of these fellows calling in to have a catch up with Russ....
John White I remember Bob Dixon’s set up in Taylorville. Also fond memories of Ike Martin when he ran The Brunner Taxi service in the 60’s. Boy could he tell some stories of the wrecks he had to deliver home early Saturday- Sunday mornings in that PB Vauxhall
Kevin Waters I lived at Dobson years ago and spend time with both Vern and Frank Martin. Plus I also become a Amateur Radio Operator, ZL3KU. Frank was my first working boss also at the Grey Electric Power Board. Great Photo of the past.
Ray Vincent My connection with Ham radio was 1968 or there abouts, though the 70's with AREC and search & rescue comms. Recall sitting in heaps of snow on Arthurs Pass while people lost on Rollerston, Fox glacier looking for crashed deer recovery copters, more than once! As radio crept into work the attentions went to other things. We had some great times, some sad times but great people.
Bev Huston I understand that once the parents moved to Pensioner Flats Dad (Frank) gave up active involvement with AREC and was able to (surrepticiously) get an aerial up for the smaller rig until Coronation Street TV reception to adjoining flats was persistently interupted..unfortunately at the same time as his planned skeds with other like-minded people. If he could have taken the gear to Dixon House he probably would have.
Trish Rennie I remember your parents most fondly Bev...used to have a lot of laughs with them when they came shopping at the supermarket....When I worked at RA Garlick Ltd Frank was a frequent visitor to see Russ...great memories
Bruce Avery I remember sitting with my dad when I was are kid and listeningDavid Rennie
Paul Rennie
Yvonne John Mckenzie
Great photo
Vern Pattinson
A very young Vern Martin there our old taxi driver from Wallsend
Dave Lyes
I'm pretty sure Merv Grewer was ZL3RX
]MurrayandLois Butcher
Dave Lyes My brother Peter Butcher from Christchurch had been ZL3RX, but by then (1958) had moved to North Island and became ZL2AZL
Dave Lyes
MurrayandLois Butcher hmmm ok. I seem to remember doing a global scouts Ham at Hokitika scouts back in early 70s maybe. So that could fit. Thank you.
Butch Cadigan
Dave Lyes ZL3PJ
Tom Kilkelly
Went to school with Ike Martins son Kenny remember when he went for his drivers license in Ike’s Vauxhall put in the ditch in Taylorville don’t think they gave him his license lol
Trish Rennie
Paul Garlick Peter Garlick
Margaret Mulloy
Was the best taxi driver we had always looked after us locals
Iain Hayes
My dad Roy Hayes was ZL3VU , he grew up in Shenandoah prior to WW2 , and I remember many trips to the coast ( with a mobile rig in the car ) when we worked as an advisor to Ministry of Ag and a club jet boat trip on the Buller
Kath Merv Moreton
Bob Dixon was a good friend of ours when we were kids.Bob,No relation,but Uncle Bob,aunty Mary and son Kevin lived in Taylorville.David Mulloy
yeah tommy kenny told me the same story pissed myself laughing
· Reply · 9h
Heather Reid
Yes he took mum an me up to church
· Reply · 7h
Rob Elwood
Bob Dixon ZL3JT lived in Taylorville at the time, working in the Dobson mine. Later moved to Picton & changed radio callsign (as you did in those days) to ZL2LA. My uncle.
Heather Newby
Rob Elwood wow.. i remember him
Judy Ann Hinde
I think all of these men and in particular Don McBeth were very good friends with my father Dave Oates ZL3MF of Carter’s beach Westport.
Paul Agnes Smith
I remember that.. I was 10 !!
Donny Macbeth
My dad 2nd left and 2 uncles on the right
Lesley Oakley
Donny Macbeth hi Don I thought that was your Dad. Remember your uncles
Donny Macbeth
Lesley Oakley Thanks!
Trish Rennie
I'm surprised that Russ Garlick is not in that picture...
Des Kennedy
Bec Huston, there is your dad ZL3TK
Bev Huston
Des Kennedy yes. When he died the call sign was retired which was a nice gesture.
David Mulloy
vern was our taxi driver
Vern Pattinson
I remember Vern living around near the Tylerville Bridge with those high radio masks
Thelma Wilkins
Vern and his wife had the taxi in Brunner
Vern Pattinson
Thelma Wilkins yes Carol there daughter was in my class 3G3 at Grey high
John White
Not to forget Bob Dixon on the right. From Taylorville and lived next door to Hardy and Zona Browning. Moved to Picton with their son Kevin around the time Wallsend closed from memory.
Thelma Wilkins
That's right John .Gosh how that time has gone by
Deane Macartney
They're a great resource even now. Cellphones don't work through perods of earthquakes and storms.
1h
Reply
Les Horncastle
Ray Douglas , would have been the tea boy !
Donny Macbeth
Dad,Don Macbeth and two Uncles Vern and Frank
Lesley Oakley
Donny Macbeth hi Don is your Dad the second one in?
y
Hemi Mason
Wow love the old photos you put up Heather that was the year i was born
Heather Newby
Hemi Mason thanks.. was a good time back then. I was born 1952.
Hemi Mason
Heather Newby nice keep them coming
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West Coast New Zealand History (13th Jan 2026). Amateur Radio display at the Industries Fair Greymouth ,1958.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 3rd May 2026 02:47, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/22325