[South Florida DX Association] VK9NS SK

[eromagni at bellsouth.net]

>From the ARRL Web site:

 Jim Smith, VK9NS (ex-P29JS), of Norfolk Island, Australia, passed awayTuesday, February 10, after a short illness. He was 80. A noted DXerand ARRL member, Smith was #81 on the Islands on the Air (IOTA) Honour Roll.According to The Daily DXEditor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, Smith was first licensed in 1947 as VS1BQin Singapore: "Through the years, Jim operated as CAR (VU4 Nicobar),VS1BQ, DL2TH, HZ1AB, MP4BER, 9V1PR, P29JS, VR4BJ, H44BJ, G3HSR, C21AA,T3KJ, T3AJ, VK9YS, VK9XS, VK9NS, VK0JS/VK9N, 9M8JS, VK0JS, ZL0AAB,ZM7JS, ZL1BUN, T30JS, T1JS, T32JS, T33JS, A35MR, A51JS, S21U, WR1Z,WR1Z/KH9, S21ZA, VK9WW, A35MR/p, A51MOC, VU2JBS, NO1Z/KH1, VK9WW,WR1Z/KH8, H40AB and A52JS, just to name a few." Smith was originallyfrom Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland.
McClenny said that in 1980, Smith founded the Heard Island DX Association (HIDXA).Three years later, along with wife Kirsti, VK9NL, Smith put the rareVK0/H on the air as VK0NS and VK0NL. "Over the years, Jim put onseveral all time new countries -- as well as many rare ones -- from thePacific and Asia," McClenny said. "In fact, he took part in theregulations for Amateur Radio in several DXCC entities. When not out onDXpeditions, Jim could usually be found on 14.222 MHz."
Mike Tessmer, K9NW/VK9NW, who visited Norfolk Island for a week inNovember 2004, remembered Smith fondly on the Society of MidwestContesters' e-mail reflector: "I spent three wonderful afternoons atJim and Kirsti's house having tea -- coffee in my case -- anddiscussing all things DX. Jim showed me the old Collins gear he wasrestoring. I even picked up a few QSL cards from some of his pastDXpeditions. Great memories!"
In an e-mail to ARRL Membership and Volunteer Services Manager DavePatton, NN1N, Andy Chesnokov, UA3AB, told how he first met Smith firstin Bhutan in 2000 while on the A52A DXpedition."Boy, Jim was quite upset with us operating from 'his territory,'Chesnokov said. "But we went along quite nicely after few minutes, andhe even allowed us to operate his tiny station there. I met him fewtimes after that and he was a true gentleman."
Calling him "a serious DXer," McClenny said Smith worked allcountries on SSB, Mixed and only missing one on CW. In April 1986 Jimwas inducted into the CQ DX Hall of Fame. One of Smith's last bigprojects was writing his autobiography, The Old Timer.Smith is survived by his wife Kirsti, VK9NL, and his four children:Bruce, G3HSR, Stuart, Sheena and Fraser. Condolences may be sent toKirsti via e-mail. -- Some information provided by The Daily DX
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