The 36th ALARA Contest was held 26-27 August 2016.

Name	Callsign	Result	Notes
Linda	VK7QP	5770	Top overall, Top VK7 ALARA member (Plaque) Phone
Jean	VK3VIP	4296	Top VK3 Member Phone & Echolink
Shirley	VK5YL	2775	Top VK5 Member Phone & Echolink
Lyn	VK4SWE	2480	Top VK4 Member Phone, CW & Echolink
Bev	VK6DE	1197	Top VK6 Member, Top Echolink Echolink
Helen	VK2FENG	1152	Top VK2 Member, Top Foundation (Plaque) Phone & Echolink
Diane	VK4DI	8112	Checklog Phone
Ngaire	ZL2UJT	105	Top ZL Member Phone
Hilary	VK2IUW	5111	Top OM Overall, Top ZL OM Phone, CW & Echolink
Col	VK4CC	320	Top VK4 OM Phone & CW
Ian	VK7IF	275	Top VK7 OM Phone
Mike	V3AJV	275	Top VK3 OM Phone
Geoff	VK5HEL	120	Top VK5 OM Phone
Ian	VK6DW/P	100	Top VK6 OM Phone
Gordon	VK2FAIB	100	Top Foundation OM Phone
Bill	ZL3VZ	510	Top ZL OM Phone

This year's ALARA Contest saw some changes to the rules with a return to a straight 24 hour contest and the introduction of multipliers to give the contest a bit more interest.

I did notice that a number of YL participants didn't realise that the exchange format had changed.

The rules were up on the website from late May and printed in AR Magazine prior to the date of the contest.

I also had a number of announcements on the WIA news. The rules for next year won't change significantly. The majority of contacts were on phone with only 3 members using echolink exclusively, and no 2m contacts at all. The inclusion of echolink has resulted in a number of negative comments directed at the contest format, but as we have a few members who can only use echolink it will remain in the short term.

Mike VK3AVV kindly updated his VKCL Contest Logging program to incorporate the new rules.  The ALARA contest has been included in this VK specific contest log for over 10 years. Mike is very generous in providing the program free.

A total of 25 logs were received which is 5 more than last year.
Conditions weren't that great for DX but there was a reasonable amount of VK /ZL activity.
Once again there weren't a lot of YL's on air and I wonder if this is because they think contests are difficult and maybe just need to gain confidence to get on and have a go.

Perhaps asking a local club to assist with learning computer logging or getting involved with a field day will give the YL's some extra skills to make this contest great again.

The ALARA Contest isn't one where you need to operate at breakneck speed, but is one where newer operators can get involved comfortably.

Diane Main VK4DI - ALARA Contest Manager

25 Logs  submitted
14  x VK ALARA members
1 x ZL Member
no YL Non-Members
9  x VK OM Logs
1 x ZL OM Log