History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Peter Robert Challen

Peter Robert Challen
Frank Randell Bradley was an early wireless experimenter, holding callsign 3ZK Sandringham (later A3ZK, OA3ZK, VK3ZK) from as early as 1923, through to 1930. The Wireless Regulations were altered in 1924, requiring examinations in telegraphy skills and wireless reception and transmission theory. While his position within the Postmaster-General's Department would likely have permitted an exemption, he took the examination and was awarded Amateur Operator's Proficiency Certificate No 2, being the first in Victoria. He relocated to Sydney for his employment from 1931 and in accordance with the regulations of the day, was allocated callsign 2JB (VK2JB). He does not seem to have been prominent in amateur radio circles during the 1920s and 1930s, but this requires further research. Amateur radio operations were closed down in 1939 with the commencement of hostilities for the Second World War. At the conclusion of the war, after a period, amateur radio again commenced, however Bradley did not reapply for a licence.

Bradley was born in South Australia and was educated there at the School of Mines and the University of Adelaide. He excelled academically with strong results in all subjects. He commenced with the Postmaster-General's Department in the usual way as a telegraph messenger. He transferred to Melbourne about 1920 for promotion within the PMGD, concluding there in 1930 as Superintendent of Telegraphs. Another transfer to Sydney occurred in 1931 for a further promotion within the PMGD. In 1946 he transferred to Brisbane as Deputy Director of Posts and Telegraphs, Queensland, a position formerly held by James Joseph Malone.

A comprehensive biography of Peter Robert Challen has not yet been prepared, however the following resources have been assembled in preparation:


 * Transcriptions and Notes - Peter Robert Challen - More than 20 transcriptions and notes


 * Photos, QSL cards and other graphics - Peter Robert Challen - Nothing uploaded as yet


 * Frank Randell Bradley's 1934 article on the History of the Electric Telegraph in Australia - Essentially complete excepting formatting


 * Work-in-progress of Wikipedia Article on Peter Robert Challen - Just started

In the National Library of Australia's Trove website, more than 300 articles (Newspapers & Gazettes) have been tagged as "Peter Robert Challen" (search publictag:Peter Robert Challen)

A search in Trove on "P. R. Challen" identifies more than 700 articles, the majority of which refer to Peter Robert Challen, those tagged to date are a quick review to identify the most important for this Wikibook. Articles transcribed for Notes are tagged: "Wikibooks - Challen". Articles reviewed and considered either duplicates of other articles or not of sufficient importance for inclusion are tagged: "Wikibooks - Challen Not"