Waiouru transmitter envy of allies

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 237, 29 March 1988, Page 10

Waiouru transmitter

envy of allies

Waiouru's new Navy transmitter is the envy of our allies. That was the message given to guests and staff of HMNZS Irirangi at the recent opening of the new transmitter complex. Chief of Navy Staff Rear Admiral Doug Dommett told about 100 guests and staff that the new installation had made foreign allies of the New Zealand Navy envious. The complex also improves the capability and capacity of Naval and Defence communications, he said. Admiral Dommett officially opened the new facility by sending the first signal from the transmitter. Irirangi commanding officer Lt Commander Owen Young told guests the ceremony was a momentous occasion because the equipment being commissioned was much-needed. The new building itself replaced an old Navy-Air Force building that dated back to 1942. The equipment dated back to 1948.

Now the complex brought all three facets, the transmitter, the building and the aerial "farm", into one integrated location. The equipment was supplied by the Harris Corporation of America and had been installed in two stages and within the time schedule. Commander -Young said the gear was "state of the art" and the envy of the Navy's allies. He paid a special tribute to Irirangi's deputy engineer, Warrant Officer Robyn ("Rock") Hudson, who had introduced innovative aerial design to the installation. WO Hudson has been in the Navy for 26 years, 11 at Waiouru. Irirangi staff had built the new aerial "farm" and had worked in harsh conditions throughout last winter, which fortunately had been relatively mild, to complete their project. A tribute was also paid to the builders, McMillan and Lockwood.