By Peter Marks 
The RAOTC Melbourne September luncheon took place on Thursday, 22nd September 2022 at the new venue, the Caulfield RSL located in St Georges Road, Elsternwick.
It took quite a while for us to find a suitable replacement venue for our six-monthly luncheons, but eventually Vice President John Cheeseman VK3XM discovered the Caulfield RSL which satisfied our criteria.
Although not quite up to the high standard of the now defunct Bentleigh Club which we used for our luncheons for several decades, nevertheless it was quite acceptable. We will be going there again for our March 2023 luncheon.
40 members and guests were present to enjoy catching up with old friends and the fellowship of other Club members in a convivial atmosphere.
After those present enjoyed the two-course lunch they settled back to listen to the guest speaker, fellow RAOTC member Don Bainbridge VK3BIG / VK3IT, present his PowerPoint supported talk about Associated Radio.
Associated Radio started Victoria’s first A-Class station, 3AR, in the AM broadcast medium wave band on 26th January 1924 operating from 51-53 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne.
Don’s address was an interesting insight into very early AM broadcasting and some of the equipment used at that time. He answered a number of questions from the interested audience before being presented with an RAOTC engraved crystal wine glass as a memento of the occasion by RAOTC President David Rosenfield VK3ADM.