Tim Robinson

Documentary Film - "On Eyre"

In 1975 an expedition to Lake Eyre South was undertaken by a group of Amateur Radio Operators after unseasonable rainfalls over the past few years had filled the lake to a depth of around two meters.

This trip was primarily for the purposes of an Amateur Radio 'mobile' operation to transmit 'Maritime Mobile" from a catamaran which had been taken to the lake along with a number of licensed radio amateurs for a week long exploratory look at this rare phenomenon.

A documentary film was produced [25min/16mm/colour] about the trip. This is now available on DVD.

This included sailing on the lake [which is normally dry!] and making radio contact with other amateur radio operators around the world. This footage is of interest due to the many fillings of Lake Eyre since and the associated flooding of the inland area following a rather severe drought. Up until 1975 the lake had only filled once or twice [since white settlement] that we are aware of.

The radio operators in the expedition contacted other amateurs from the camp on the shore of the lake as well as from the catamaran which had been launched into the lake for the duration of the expedition. One day saw a group circumnavigate the whole of Lake Eyre south, returning well in to the night.

The expedition was led by Bill Rice VK3ABP [Dec]. Bill also financed the major part of the film.

Others were:

Tim Robinson - VK3YBP [Direction/Camera/Editing and post Production]
Roly Roper [sound]

To view a low resolution video of the expedition you can click on this link.

To read a detailed article abougt the radio life of Bill Rice and the expedition, this article from Old Timers News [OTN], a magazine for amateur radio operators who have had their radio license for more than ten years, click here.

To read an article celebrating the 50th anniversary of the expedition on Lake Eyre, click here.

A  high resolution version is available for digital download for $A10. A DVD is available for $A25 and includes postage within Australia. Payments can be made via paypal [preferred]

For more information about the DVD of this expedition please contact me using the Query Form.

Include your location for postage calculation.

On Eyre Screen Shots

	Lake Eyre South from sand dune	Coastline looking north