VK2AMW is the callsign of the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society and was issued in 1948. It was issued to the first amateur radio club in Wollongong which was then known as the Wollongong Amateur Radio Club. In 1962 a group of amateurs reformed the club and re-named it the ILLAWARRA AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY. The new club acquired the callsign VK2AMW from one of the former club members that had kept paying for the callsign. VK2AMW has been worked by many on HF, VHF and UHF as well as VHF and UHF EME. The ILLAWARRA AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY has 5 VHF repeaters (4 x 2 Metre repeaters and a Six Metre Repeater) and 2 UHF voice repeaters. They also have a packet digipeater and a APRS digipeater. The clubs main voice repeater is VK2RMP on 146.850MHz. It covers the Illawarra and South Coast as well as much of the Sydney area. The club also has a Lawrence Hargrave award. To qualify for this award overseas staions need to have 5 contacts with club members confirmed by QSL's. Australian stations must have 10 contacts. If you hear a station from Wollongong ask them if they are a member of the Illawarra Amareur Radio society so you can get your award. This year 2008 is our 60th anniversary and we have a special event callsign which is VI2AMW60. We plan to be active between the 10th and 30th of June 2008. Please call if you hear us. The club meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm (except for January)and visitors are always welcome. See www.iars.org.au Hope to see you soon.