ROBERT HARCOURT
1943-2005
A
TRIBUTE TO A DEAR FRIEND
BY BOB PADULA, OAM (
The world-wide radio monitoring community,
has been saddened at the passing of long-time radio monitoring enthusiast, Robert Harcourt Chester, following an
illness, at his home in the
My last conversation with Robert was in mid December,
after a period of hospitalisation, and he was hopeful for a full recovery from
the debilitating illness with which he had been inflicted.
I had known Robert for some 45 years, due to our shared
interests in the radio monitoring hobby.
Robert’s initial involvement with radio monitoring began
in the early 1960s. At that time, there was no Australia-wide DXing
organisation, and Australian hobbyists enrolled in either or both of the New
Zealand Radio DX League or the NZ DX Radio Association.
There had been an all-Australian DX Club in operation
until around 1949, when it was abandoned due to lack of interest.
In the early 1960s, the few survivors in
By the mid-1960s, interest in organized radio monitoring
across
Robert had strongly supported the concept of a new national
Club, and was one of 23 enthusiasts, along with myself, who were the founding
members of the new Club. He was the only foundation member in
In January 1969, Robert took up his first official position
in the new club, responsible for a key editorial function devoted to
long-distance medium-wave monitoring. He held that position continuously for 20
years, until December 1989. During those two decades, he developed a superb
knowledge of Australian mediumwave broadcasting operations, meticulously researching
and compiling the first “Australian
Mediumwave Guide”. In subsequent years, he produced several further
editions of the Guide, which had become an accepted reference worldwide.
For several years in the 1970s and 1980s he was responsible
for assembling the Australian mediumwave listings in the World Radio TV Handbook, a task which he undertook with a very high
level of dedication, care, and an extraordinary attention to detail.
In mid 1967, he accepted a continuing responsibility which
was to endure for ten years as a script writer and announcer for the weekly DX
session “World at Your Fingertips”, heard
over the Victorian country mediumwave station 3NE, Wangaratta. This work was
done in conjunction with me, alternating weekly.
In 1972, he joined the script writing team for Radio
From late 1972 until 1986, Robert was the Manager of the South Australian regional Branch of the
national Club. From mid-1986, he was appointed as the South Australian Advisor to the Club’s Melbourne-based Management
Committee.
In January 1973, Robert was awarded Life Membership of the national Club, in recognition of his outstanding service over many years to
the Club and to the hobby. The Award was announced at the second national
Convention of the Club, in
In his hobby career over some 45 years, his dedication, loyalty,
and interest in were of the highest order, not only in supporting the Clubs he
had joined, but also with his willingness to actively share his hobby activities
and accomplishments, and to guide, help, and develop other persons who had
entered the hobby.
He attended the first National
Convention of the national Club in
Robert had also been prominent in the “Southern Cross DX Club”, a relatively small regional group based
in
Whilst his main DX interests had been with medium-wave, he
was also a very accomplished short-wave
hobbyist. He was a volunteer technical monitor for the large German
broadcaster Radio Deutsche Welle, a role which he had maintained for many years
up to the time of his passing. He had also been officially recognized by
various other international broadcasters for his volunteer monitoring efforts,
and at various times he was a member of other DXing organisations outside of
He had also amassed many hundreds of mediumwave and shortwave
QSLs, in his quest for QSLs from as many different broadcasters as possible. His
reception reports were amazingly comprehensive.
At the time of his passing, Robert was an enthusiastic
member of the world-wide Electronic DX
Press Radio Monitoring Association, based in
Even though Robert’s demeanour was quiet, modest, and
unassuming within the radio community, he was never afraid to make his views
known, in a responsible and thoughtful style, for the betterment and
advancement of the hobby and the organisations which he had joined.
Robert maintained many other interests. For many years, he
was actively involved with FM Christian religious broadcasting stations in
Robert’s contribution to the Australian monitoring hobby over
four decades was outstanding. His
loyalty, kindness, moral strength, and sincerity to everyone whom he knew are
qualities which stand out amongst many others.
He never failed to offer strong moral support,
inspiration, and encouragement to other hobbyists during times of sorrow, need,
hardship, or any other adversity.
Robert is survived by his wife Beryl, sons Nathan and
Paul, daughter Heidi, sisters Loretta, Royce, and Arlene, and their respective
families.
Robert was laid to rest on Thursday January 6, 2005,
following a service at the
All hobbyists who knew him are mourning his passing.
Sadly missed.
Bob Padula, OAM
E-mail: bobpadula@mydesk.net.au
Note: Expressions of sympathy may be
sent to the family of the late Robert H. Chester, at
Republication of
this Tribute, within your own community, would be welcomed, which should not be
abridged or modified.