Tread your own path

“What a legend!” is probably the most overused cliché of our day and age. In order to please and conform, we’ve sacrificed meritocracy for the sake of political correctness. We no longer respect grey hair and wisdom which comes with maturity; instead, we are mesmerised with influencers still wet behind their ears.

Steve got his callsign before I was even born – and I am sixty. He devoted all those years chasing DX on the magic band. The list of his achievements is a mile long, he chased day and night, during the solar maximum and minimum, when six meter band is dead for months. A mere possibility of an opening kept him glued to the dial, waiting fanatically.

Even if you are a newcomer to 50MHz you know Steve. And you know exactly who I am talking about. This is what makes VK3OT a legend.

We bumped into each other almost 30 years ago, shortly after my arrival to Australia. Keen to get on air I placed a post on a forum looking for a location to operate from, during a CQWW contest. Steve offered his shack and a shiny 10m monobander on the top of a 40m tower. Unfortunately I couldn’t travel all the way down to Victoria, but to this day I appreciate his invitation. From then on, I got interested and started following VK3OT 6m band reports and distance records frequently published in Amateur Radio magazine. Legendary stuff.

Nowadays, Steve lurks around 6 meters chat groups and spotting watering holes. Perhaps not as vocal as it used to be, but still as enthusiastic as ever. Those looking for mentoring, those who are keen to learn how six meter magic works, and those keen to retrace his steps would find his tips priceless. Like this profound pearl of wisdom: “Tread your own path; be a six meter voice not an echo.” Respect.

Happy birthday Steve, you bloody legend.

Nick VK2DX