Willis Island (OC-007)

Between 1 October 2022 and 29 April 2023, Sands VK4WXW from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia was on Willis Island.

Sands was one of two Observers who joined the four-man Australian Bureau of Metrology for their tour of duty on Willis Island.

Sands used the callsign – VK9WX [WX is used when transmitting morse code to refer to weather] while on the island and was activate on CW, SSB and Digital modes across the 40m, 20m, 10m and 6m amateur radio bands.

Willis Island weather monitoring station which was established in 1921 is used by the Australian Bureau of Metrology as of the Queensland early cyclone warning service.

Willis Island is located in the Coral outside the Great Barrier Reef approximately 450km (280 miles) East of Cairns. The island which is orientated Northwest to Southeast is sine 150m (490 feet) wide and 500m (1,600 feet) long with an area of 7.7ha (19 acres). The maximum height above sea level is 9m (30 feet)

Amateur Radio Reference Data:
DXCC: VK9W – Willis I.

IOTA: OC-007 – Willis I.

CQ zone: 30