A History of
The Otago Branch of New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters Inc.

ZL4GR Myrt Earland

MYRTLE EARLAND - ZL3AG/ ZL4GR
Licensed 6 February 1930 and an exponent of CW. During WWII "Myrt" and OM Fred ZL4AM monitored bands and recorded coded enemy messages which were sent via direct telephone 'wire' to Dunedin - 120 miles away, "the longest antenna she's ever had".   Apart from contacts with King Hussein of Jordan, Senator Barry Goldwater of the United States and numerous other "boys" worldwide one of her most exciting contacts was with an operator on board the prime recovery ship for the Apollo X astronauts on 28 May 1969.   A very active operator for many search and rescue operations over the years. During the Napier earthquake of 1931 she was a relay station for messages and also played a prominent role as a base at the time of the Queenstown snowstorm in 1970 with all messages sent by CW.   They were also on duty again at the Green Island Civil Emergency HQ during the Abbotsford landslip in August 1979.    In 1980 the NZ Women Amateur Radio Operators presented her with their first "50 Year" certificate and elected her as an Honorary Life Member in recognition of her years as a licensed amateur radio operator.    At the time of her death on 31 January 1986 she was only 6 days short of having achieved 56 years as an amateur.    NZ WARO further honours the memory of Myrtle with the "Myrtle Earland Memorial" Rosebowl awarded to their "YL Amateur of the Year" for special achievement or services to NZ WARO.






The QSL card to the right was received by Alan ZL4PZ from Myrt after a contact with her on 13 April 1980.


The lower one was for a contact between Myrt and ZL4KQ Jack/John Symonds of Clinton on 13 November 1949 which is the year Jack was licensed.


First 25 years.

Years 1987-2002.