Remembering Michael Owen VK3KI: WIA Award Presented in Tokyo
Date :
26 /
09 /
2026
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The international amateur radio community is built on volunteers who quietly contribute years, and sometimes decades, to protecting spectrum, representing amateurs internationally and strengthening the organisations that support our hobby. Few Australians exemplified that commitment better than the late Michael J. Owen VK3KI.
Michael served the International Amateur Radio Union for more than 40 years, including as a Director and Chairman of IARU Region 3, IARU Vice President and Technical Expert. He also made an extraordinary contribution to the Wireless Institute of Australia, including serving as WIA President, and played important roles in international spectrum work surrounding WARC-79 and WRC-03. Michael became a Silent Key in 2012.
An International Award Bearing an Australian Amateur's Name
Following Michael's death, the IARU Administrative Council established the Michael J. Owen VK3KI Memorial Award in 2012. It is one of the IARU's highest forms of volunteer recognition and is reserved for people who have served the IARU, its Member Societies and regional organisations in multiple capacities over a considerable period and whose work has materially benefited the organisation. Importantly, it is not necessarily awarded every year.
Recipients of the IARU Memorial Award listed by the IARU include Wojciech Nietyksza SP5FM and Dr David A. Wardlaw VK3ADW in 2013, David Sumner K1ZZ in 2016, Rod Stafford W6ROD in 2016, Reinaldo Leandro YV5AM in 2019 and Ole Garpestad LA2RR in 2019.
Michael's legacy is also commemorated through a separate WIA award associated with the IARU HF World Championship. The WIA initiated the Michael J. Owen plaque in 2013 to recognise outstanding Single Operator achievement from IARU Region 3 in the championship. Early winners included Katsuhiro Kondou operating JH5GHM, Nick Hacko VK2DX and Champ Muangamphun E21EIC.
2024 WIA Michael J Owen Award Presented in Tokyo
That contest tradition continued in 2026 with a special opportunity to recognise the 2024 recipient, Katsuhiro Kondou JE6RPM, operating JH5GHM.
The WIA announced in July that Katsuhiro had won the WIA 2024 Michael J Owen Award as the highest individual Region 3 scorer recognised by the WIA in the IARU HF World Championship. The 2025 recipient was Vladimir Huzevka VL2A, operating VK2IM.
With representatives from across the international amateur radio community gathering in Tokyo for the JARL Ham Fair and the Japan Amateur Radio League's 100th anniversary celebrations, there could hardly have been a more appropriate setting to make the presentation. The award was presented to Katsuhiro in Tokyo by Oscar Rees VK3TX and WIA Director Lee Moyle VK3GK.
The presentation occurred during a particularly significant year for Japanese amateur radio. The 2026 JARL Ham Fair attracted 42,000 attendances over its two days, while representatives of amateur radio societies from around the world joined JARL's centenary celebrations.
The award is much more than another contest trophy. It keeps alive the name of an Australian amateur whose work helped shape amateur radio internationally, while recognising excellence from today's IARU Region 3 operators.
Congratulations to Katsuhiro Kondou JE6RPM, op JH5GHM, and thank you to Oscar VK3TX and Lee VK3GK for making the presentation during this historic gathering in Tokyo.
IARU: Michael J. Owen VK3KI Memorial Award and Volunteer Recognition - Link
WIA: IARU Contest Region 3 Winners and Michael J Owen Award - Link
WIA: JARL Centenary and Tokyo Ham Fair 2026 - Link
Page Last Updated: Friday, 25 Sep 2026 at 22:24 hours by Justin Giles-clark
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