Stories from the Edge - Volunteer Now

“It’s an excuseto play radios”Gordon Bannister, holds down a day job but can clock up dozens of hours in the evenings andeach weekend as a volunteer. He knows what it is to work unsocial hours. Gordon is anelectronic whiz kid who has a job with the BBC. This means that his shift work varies a lot. Headmits going into work on a Friday evening can be a real pain. But he is quick to point out thepositive, that his working time allows him the space for volunteering. Gordon, with the help of several dozen others is partof a unique organisation who use radios to talk to each other. He admits, “It's an excuse to play radios.” His enthusiasm issimilar to the way youngsters use two cans connected by apiece of cord.Gordon BannisterHe is the local co-ordinator for Belfast and Down branch ofRAYNET which is an acronym for Radio Amateurs EmergencyNetwork. There are four active RAYNET groups in the Northwith about 60 members. Gordon volunteers as a secondarycommunications operator. Twenty years ago Gordon wasintroduced to other hams who were helping first aid peopleprovide emergency cover at sporting and social events. His jobis to provide back up in the form of communication to theemergency services at numerous events from car rallying to thegruelling Mourne Mountain Marathon.“it is a highlyskilled role”Car rallies would be impossible without proper communications. Someone has to count the high powered vehicles out andback in again at the numerous check points. Gordon and RAYNET set up a radio communication network with a controllerand others posted to various parts of the rally or motor biking circuit like the North West 200. RAYNET is in constantdemand by First Aid groups and sports organisers. They are capable of keeping an electronic eye and ear on events andallow the organisers to decide on the proper course of action if anything should happen.