Our story
From a flea-market chat to a national association
AWASA traces its origins to March 2000, when Cliff ZS6BOX, together with Basil ZS6BDS, Willem ZS6ALL and Bushy ZS6YQ, gathered at a Pretoria Radio League flea market and proposed a Collins-collector interest group. "Southern African" was chosen deliberately, to welcome members as far afield as Harare.
The first net went to air the following Saturday on 40 metres. Word spread by letter and by ear — Cliff wrote to every operator he heard running a Collins rig — and the group grew steadily. On 22 March 2003, it was formally incorporated as the Southern African Antique Wireless Association, with Cliff ZS6BOX as founding President and Willem ZS6ALL continuing as Net Controller.
Today the Association's collection is housed at the SAIEE Innes House Museum in Observatory, Johannesburg, under the callsigns ZS6IEE and ZS0AWA — a home secured through the efforts of long-time member Richard ZS6TF. Annual gatherings have moved through Rand Airport, a Highveld farm, and several amateur radio clubs before settling at the SAIEE.
What we do
Three ways we keep the valves glowing
Preserve
We rescue antique wireless sets, transmitters and components from farm sheds, deceased estates and attics before they're lost, and archive their history for the record.
Restore
Members share schematics, sourcing tips and bench know-how so valve sets, transistor portables and amateur rigs can be brought safely back to working order.
Connect
Weekly nets, an annual AGM and fleamarket, and active chapters keep collectors from Cape Town to Harare in regular contact — on air and off.
Leadership
Run by members, for members
AWASA is guided by a small volunteer Committee elected at each Annual General Meeting. Office bearers have included founding President Cliff ZS6BOX and Net Controller Willem ZS6ALL, with Renato ZS6REN and Jacques ZS6JPS among more recent Committee members. For current office bearers and chapter contacts, please reach out via the Contact page.
Gauteng (HQ)
SAIEE Innes House Museum, Observatory, Johannesburg
Western Cape
Weekly net, Saturdays 07h00 on 3640 kHz SSB
Affiliated clubs
South African Radio League · West Rand Amateur Radio Club · Kempton Amateur Radio Technical Society
Zimbabwe & region
Southern African membership welcomed since the Association's earliest days
Governance
Constitution & Rules
AWASA is administered under a member-approved Constitution covering the aims of the Association, membership, the Committee, AGM procedure and the management of the museum collection. Business matters are handled by the Committee, keeping membership itself free and informal.
Constitution & Rules (PDF)
Request the current, member-approved copy from the Committee.
Request a copyJoin the Saturday morning net.
Membership is free, by association. Introduce yourself on 7125 kHz, or reach out through the Contact page.