This web page is to recognize and to thank the individuals and organizations who have generously supported the Tower Fund.
During the violent record breaking wind storm on the night of December 13/14, 2006, WARA’s repeater tower on Mount McDonald was badly damaged. Because of the tower’s precarious nature, and because another wind-storm was imminent, the tower had to be cut down to save neighbouring emergency structures. There was no time to save parts of the tower or any of the antennas mounted on it. As a result, the tower and most of the antennas were destroyed.
It wasn’t long before a committee was struck to solicit contributions for the purchase and erection of a new tower. Alice Uher, VA7ALU, kicked-off the project in fine style with a cheque made out to the WARA Tower Project, presenting her cheque to Al Muir, VE7BEU, WARA’s President and Technical Director.
This tower was the centre for a network of radio repeaters that spanned Greater Victoria, the Gulf Islands and parts of Northern Washington. Its loss is keenly felt both by Amateur Radio operators and by emergency organizations. Because of the forest of antennas and guy wires in the immediate proximity of the downed tower, the CRD specified that any new structure must be free-standing, and engineered (no guy wires).
- 2011 – Final contract with CRD has been signed and received.
- October 2011 – Final contract with Bell Mobility is being completed for submission.
- Spring 2015 – Antenna cable ducts finished and antennas ready for tower mounting.
- December 2017 – January 2018 – All antennas mounted on main tower, heliax and coax run to repeater shack, repeater shack clean up and connect to new antennas
- Spring 2018 – New contract to be made with CRD who are the current site owners.
WARA depends on the generosity of donors!
| Patron (over $3000) | |
| Victoria Airport Authority | Contribution in kind |
| Muir Communications | Confidential |
| Swiftsure International Yacht Race & Royal Victoria Yacht Club | Tower replacement hardware fund. |
| Supporter (over $2000) | |
| Donor (over $500) | |
| Comprod Communications: Duplex antenna Filters | Confidential |
| Contributor (under $500) | |
| Kustom Towing | Building moves in kind |
| Donald and Sharon Thomas | |
| Ruth and Ian Noble | |
| June Cook | |
| Doug & Penny Watt | |
| WARA Supporters | |
| Alice Uher VA7ALU | |
| Anonymous | |
| Patty-anne Lea VA7PTY | |
| John Darroch Baillie VA7BTL | |
| E.G. White VE7CZY | |
| Len Howland VE7BSA | |
| Darrell Wick VE7OB | |
| Darryl McLeman VE7AII | |
| Bruce Martin VA7SGM | |
| Orlene & Keith Lacey VA7KWL | |
| Ruth Reader VE7BAG | |
| Neil Blackburn VE7EDO | |
| Paul Hill VE7PHI | |
| Jerzy Pisarzewski VE7JRZ | |
| Mike VA7MLM | |
| Ronald VE7AIX | |
| George VE7DJ |
Estate donations and donations in memory of silent keys:
- Neil Goldie VE7DAZ
- Ford Warner VE7DDF
- Whit Whittle VE7DCI
- Joe Slyth VE7DVE
- Mark McBride Georgia USA, Cousin of VE7DVE
- Alex Barta VA7AB
- Doug VE7DFL
- John VE7GMP
- Burt KN7R