A tribute to John Stacy, VK2JT

A decade ago, Eric Rogers, callsign G3MWN, operating from his amateur radio station in South Yorkshire, England, put out a general call on the 20 metre shortwave band and was greeted by a cheery, "Hello G3MWN this is VK2JJS calling you". This was the start of a long friendship and countless, almost daily radio contacts with one John Stacy of Gordon, NSW! John's callsign eventually changed to VK2JT but the person remained as the same cheerful, jolly and remarkably courageous one who made that first call so long ago. It wasn't long before other UK radio amateurs, Ted Holmes, G4TLY, Peter Day G3PHO, John Lee, G0OPA, Gordon Holdom, G4SVU and Ron Barker, G4JNH, joined Eric in both morning and evening conversations with John. The regular "net" that developed saw these radio contacts develop into personal friendships as both Ted, Peter and Ron met up with John and Ailsa during trips to Australia while Eric and John had the pleasure and privilege of showing the couple some of the UK during their holiday a few years ago. It wasn't long before others joined in these short wave chats…. Boris Nikitin, UA3MCJ in Central Russia and Ron Dower, VK3UZZ in northern Victoria popped in regularly.

It was plain to all of us that John was a special person, a real gentleman in fact. This attribute was obvious from the on air contacts but was even more so to those of us who met him in person. Peter Day G3PHO and his wife Judy have very happy memories of their stay at Rosedale Road in 2008 when John and Ailsa arranged a wonderful three days of visits, dinners and sightseeing. John seemed to really love coming on the radio to speak to us or send us emails with samples of his photographic work so it was a very sad time indeed when he told us of his daughter Helen's illness and subsequent passing. This alone would have been enough to crush the enthusiasm for life from of any one of us but John maintained his forward looking and positive attitude, the same attitude that carried him through years of personal medical problems. He didn't like things to stop him enjoying life and, in particular, his family. He greatly valued his radio amateur friends, both in Australia and overseas.

We will all miss his cheery voice very much indeed. Our hobby is the much the poorer now that he is gone from the airwaves. To John, VK2JT, we would like to wish a final "73" and "55" which, in the radio amateur Morse Code means Best Wishes and Peace be with you. To his loving and supportive wife Ailsa we send our "88" (love and kisses) and hope that the coming weeks will see the sadness ease. We know she has a lovely family to help her though this difficult time.

It's been our privilege to know John Stacy.

From: Eric Rogers, Ted Holmes, Peter Day, John Lee, Gordon Holdom, Ron Barker, Ron Dower and Boris Nikitin