Topic: NRMA Article Could Cost Lives

[BuNtEr]

well done richie good too see they took notice.

This will make a great topic on the irc chat tonight ? (at 9pm link is here ----> http://www.cbdomain.com/pijrc/ircsplashscr.htm )

[rsrichie]

Ok peoples here it is Im F____n famous, the NRMA chose to print my letter in responce to the Breaka Breaka article they ran last month. Hopefully it will be read by those with CB's and clear the air

[BuNtEr]

Here is the scan of the NRMA Article that was emailed into us

[BuNtEr]

As a proud acrem member i have to say crest isn't the only group dedicated emergency group, i feel bad that Acrem or any other emergency group arnt notest, as being a volunteer isn't about guts and glory, its about caring about other first and yourself last.

I used to be a member of Auburn SES many year ago, the reason i was a member wasn't for the rush of danger or for the glory of helping people, it was helping anyone in need, i used to put myself in danger to help people and i never gave my self a thought as my intention was to help the people in need.

Crest have been around for along time and they have done lots off good things, but people should remember they are not the only group out there on the ready.

I would like to say to all the un-named Emergency groups out there keep on keeping on.

[acrem]

A copy of the actual article from the page appears on our website, just follow the link on the home page www.acrem.org.au  (you can right click and save the file)

If you still want to whole page let me know and I can scan it for you.

As for the volunteering to liaise idea - been there tried that, seems nobody considers CB to be of any interest, until someone stuffs up like this and they land themselves in deep poop!

[BuNtEr]

if anyone can photo copy the page this is all about for me please, id like a copy

[rsrichie]

 That letter would be a standard format letter that they have on thier system and all they do is change the variables. Bottom line is if they had checked thier facts like they claim to have the article would have been different.
 Perhaps some one from ACREM or similar should voulenter to be a point of contact to the various motoring bodies for instances such as this.  Lets face the majority of CB users are motorists, with an ever increasing population of four wheel drives and people who want to fit them out for trips to remote areas, they will be turning to motoring bodies for advice in all areas including CB''s

[BuNtEr]

Not bad for a cat food tester.................................Meow

No not pet food

There is a place of business that used to used the name cat house hahahahah think harder hahaha sorry again.

[BuNtEr]

Dear Bill,

 

Thank you for your e-mail to the Open Road and your comments regarding the ?Breaka- breaker? article in the May/June issue.

 

We have received a number of letters from members of ACREM alerting us to concerns they have regarding our short article on UHF CB radio channels 5 and 35.

 

The information for this article was supplied to us in what we believed was good faith and was facts checked prior to going to publication.

 

While we strive for accuracy in all our articles it appears we were misinformed on this occasion.  By way of clarification, we will print a letter sent by one of your members in the next issue and the www.acremnsw.org.au website address.

 

Our sincere apologies for any confusion, distress or inconvenience this may have caused.  Our thanks again for letting us know of this error.

 

Thank you for your feedback and for your interest in the Open Road.

 

Yours sincerely,

Needra D?Souza

Editor in Chief

[acrem]

Thanks all, that fairly much sums up the reply that ACREM received as well, almost word for word. Lets just hope not too much damage was done by the original article!

I wonder who would want to provide NRMA with such info in the first place???

[rsrichie]

ok well it would appear that our emails have hit the spot and cuased a retraction here is the responce to my letter

Dear Richard,

 

Thank you for your e-mail to the Open Road and your comments regarding the ?Breaka- breaker? article in the May/June issue.
We have received a number of letters from members of ACREM alerting us to concerns they have regarding our short article on UHF CB radio channels 5 and 35.
The information for this article was supplied to us in what we believed was good faith and was facts checked prior to going to publication.
While we strive for accuracy in all our articles it appears we were misinformed on this occasion.? By way of clarification, we will print a letter sent by one of your members in the next issue and the www.acremnsw.org.au website address.
Our sincere apologies for any confusion, distress or inconvenience this may have caused.? Our thanks again for letting us know of this error.
Thank you for your feedback and for your interest in the Open Road.

 

Yours sincerely,

Needra D?Souza
Editor in Chief





Not bad for a cat food tester.................................Meow

[BuNtEr]

i emailed them also, which should swing a bit weight given who i work for (which shall remain enonymous)

Richie works as a product tester at the local cat house lol sorry.

[rsrichie]

i emailed them also, which should swing a bit weight given who i work for (which shall remain enonymous)

[BuNtEr]

yep seams someone didn't do any of there homework and rushed that out to fill space on the page.

I have emailed them and let them know who i am who i am apart of and that crest are not the only ones that monitor ch5, i also quoted my name and membership number.

[acrem]

In the NRMA magazine Open Road, on page 15 there appears a small article "Breaka-breaka", regarding UHF CB emergency channels.? In part, the article reads "Channels 5 and 35, which are maintained by the Federal Government, are for the exclusive use of Citizens Radio Emergency Service Teams (CREST) to provide communications and other support services during disasters and emergencies."

Not only is this information wrong and extremely misleading, in our opinion it also has the potential to place lives at risk as it is clearly telling people NOT to use the emergency channels or it "may result in the Australian Communications and Media Authority confiscating your equipment and slapping you with a fine."

Contrary to popular belief, the emergency channels are still used for safety-of-life emergencies and many other incidents, especially in places where mobile phones may not work very well. In these regions it is likely that at times other channels may also not be used very much, and our obvious concern is that emergency monitors listening to the allocated emergency channels will be by-passed by people seeking help because of the information in this article.

ACREM has responded to NRMA, with no reply as yet, and has also issued a Media Release. See our page at www.acrem.org.au/nrma.asp for updated information.

We ask that EVERY CB user also contact NRMA Open Road and let them know that the information presented is wrong - that the emergency channels are there for anyone to use, that CREST is not the only group or body permitted to use the channels, and that they are not intended solely to provide communications during disasters.? The Editor of the Open Road can be contacted at:

open.road@mynrma.com.au

Thanks.

Regards

Martin Howells
National Director