Scouting's Sunrise and the Amateur Radio Network

On August 1, 2007, a vast network of amateur radio stations spanned the globe to support Scouting' s Sunrise around the world.

The Sunrise Network

The Sunrise Ceremony took place on August 1, 2007 at 8:00 AM local time in each country. Starting in the East and continuing towards the West as time progressed.

31 July at 19:00 GMT, the radio station of Brownsea Island changed its call sign from GB100BI to the centenary call GB100S.
Two Scouts from every nation on earth had travelled from the Jamboree site at Hylands park to Brownsea Island to be present at the Sunrise Ceremony. The amateur radio station recorded their messages to the world and transmitted them to the other stations in the network for their Sunrise ceremony:

The amateur radio station at Brownsea was operating from battery power, as there is no electricity grid on the island. This meant that for each message transmitted, the Scouts cranked the energy from a generator bike. During good weather, they were helped by large solar pannels. A wind generator bridged the days with less sunshine.

BROWNSEA SPEAKS TO BROWNSEA
The Amateur Radio base at Brownsea Island linked up with Scout activities around the world on 1 August in the SUNRISE RADIO NETWORK. Messages of peace and friendship from Scouts at Brownsea went out over the airwaves and many were received as well from Scouts world-wide. The tallest point on the Island, the antenna mast of Amateur Radio base GB100S, facilitated direct contacts around the world.
When the Sunrise of Scouting's new century commenced in Kiribati, messages started to come in to Brownsea via the radio. In Perth, Australia, the Brownsea replica camp set up on an island in the Swan river, was the first to send "happy birthday" greetings to Brownsea Island. Replica camp leader Steve said it was a great experience to Scouts camping in Bell tents. Western-Australia commisioner Liz remarked that feeling the atmosphere of friendship amongst the Scouts was the best experience to them all.
GB100S subsequentely transmitted friendship messages from Scouts at Brownsea and recordings from the Sunrise Ceremony on the Island to the other Sunrise events around the world. Tokyo Japan, Hong Kong,Tapei Taiwan, Dronten Netherlands, Kandersteg Switzerland, World Bureau Geneva, Buenos Aires Argentina, Picarquin chile, Guatemala and Calgary Canada were amongst the many contacts made. The Sunrise Ceremony in Calgary assembled many thousands of Scouts at the olympic bowl and played the friendship messages from Brownsea at the main stage.
Chief Scout Peter Duncan, WOSM world committee chairman Therese Birgmingham and secretary general Eduardo Missoni recorded their personal messages to the world; the amateur radio base transmitted them to the world. As the radio station was battery powered, Eduardo sat a while on the generator bike, to crank enough energy for his message to be transmitted.

More photo's.

Overview of stations at former World Jamvboree sites and others taking part in the Sunrise Network:

For those Scout radio amateurs who like awards, the sunrise stations are worth 5 points for the radio-scouting centenary award.

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