Christian served as the Governor's appointee on the Pitcairn council for forty years.[4] In 1983, Christian was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire.
When Christian was 17, he left the island for New Zealand and stayed for three years, where he was trained to operate the radio station ZBP, first set up by the New Zealand military during World War II.[1] In 1989, according to People magazine, Christian was the highest paid native islander, earning $10,000 a year.[3]
The Telegraph reported that Christian had spent other relatively brief periods off-island, that he had always been attracted to life off-island, and never expected to stay on the island so long.[2] Christian, like most Pitcairn Islanders, was a follower of Seventh-day Adventism, and worked for six months at a Seventh-day Adventist radio station in California. He also made several cruises as a radio operator on a freighter vessel. In later years, Christian visited the outside world where he delivered lectures on Pitcairn and its history.[1]
Christian was described as one of the two most sought after amateur radio operators in the world.[1] Christian, with call sign VP6TC/VR6TC, served as "the voice of Pitcairn" from the mid-1950s to his retirement in 2004. His radio hut was atop Spyglass Hill, which, at 870 feet (270 m) elevation, is the highest point on the island.[3]
Christian died of the after-effects of a stroke.[1] He and Betty had four daughters, Darilene, Sherilene, Jacqueline, Raelene, and six grandchildren. According to the American Radio Relay League, he had been diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer's disease in 2009, and his health and awareness of his surroundings had steadily deteriorated since then.[4] His daughters Jacqueline and Raelene are also amateur radio operator.
Referencesedit
^ abcdef Margalit Fox (24 August 2013). . The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
^ ab . The Telegraph. 19 August 2013. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013. Christian, one of the few Pitcairners of his generation to be educated abroad, became an internationally known amateur radio operator, and as chief radio officer of the island maintained the islanders' link with the rest of the world for many decades. Among other things, he imported the first electric fridges, battery lights and motorcycles to Pitcairn; served on the island's governing council; and developed a sideline as an entrepreneur, selling such things as postcards, mail-order filmstrips, and carvings.
^ abc Harriet Shapiro (17 April 1989). . People. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013. Christian rides to work on a battered Honda motorbike, jouncing over the rough-cut road that runs like a red dirt ribbon up the steep flank of a spyglass hill. At the windblown summit, 870 feet above sea level, Christian, 51, parks his bike outside the single-story building that houses the Taro Ground radio transmitter. As chief radio officer, he is responsible for maintaining the only official link between the 46 men, women and children of Pitcairn Island and the rest of humanity.
^ ab . American Radio Relay League. 30 July 2013. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013. Tom Christian, VP6RC/VR6TC, a long-time radio amateur who became known as "the Voice of Pitcairn," died July 7 on the tiny South Pacific Island that was his lifelong home.
January 01, 1970
christian, november, 1935, july, 2013, citizen, pitcairn, island, long, serving, radio, operator, during, lifetime, christian, profiled, number, publications, including, national, geographic, people, magazines, leaders, pitcairn, island, community, descended, . Tom Christian MBE 1 November 1935 7 July 2013 was a citizen of Pitcairn Island and was its long serving radio operator 1 2 During his lifetime Christian was profiled in a number of publications including National Geographic and People magazines 3 Tom ChristianMBETom Christian one of the leaders of the Pitcairn Island community descended from Royal Navy deserters and Polynesian womenBorn 1935 11 01 1 November 1935Pitcairn IslandDied7 July 2013 2013 07 07 aged 77 Pitcairn IslandNationalityPitcairn IslanderOccupationRadio operatorKnown forThe voice of Pitcairn Christian served as the Governor s appointee on the Pitcairn council for forty years 4 In 1983 Christian was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire When Christian was 17 he left the island for New Zealand and stayed for three years where he was trained to operate the radio station ZBP first set up by the New Zealand military during World War II 1 In 1989 according to People magazine Christian was the highest paid native islander earning 10 000 a year 3 The Telegraph reported that Christian had spent other relatively brief periods off island that he had always been attracted to life off island and never expected to stay on the island so long 2 Christian like most Pitcairn Islanders was a follower of Seventh day Adventism and worked for six months at a Seventh day Adventist radio station in California He also made several cruises as a radio operator on a freighter vessel In later years Christian visited the outside world where he delivered lectures on Pitcairn and its history 1 Christian was described as one of the two most sought after amateur radio operators in the world 1 Christian with call sign VP6TC VR6TC served as the voice of Pitcairn from the mid 1950s to his retirement in 2004 His radio hut was atop Spyglass Hill which at 870 feet 270 m elevation is the highest point on the island 3 According to his New York Times obituary Christian and his wife Betty Christian took a firm stand during the Pitcairn sexual assault trial of 2004 against the idea that Polynesian people had different standards about the sexual initiation of minors 1 Christian died of the after effects of a stroke 1 He and Betty had four daughters Darilene Sherilene Jacqueline Raelene and six grandchildren According to the American Radio Relay League he had been diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer s disease in 2009 and his health and awareness of his surroundings had steadily deteriorated since then 4 His daughters Jacqueline and Raelene are also amateur radio operator References edit a b c d e f Margalit Fox 24 August 2013 Tom Christian Descendant of Bounty Mutineer Dies at 77 The New York Times Archived from the original on 29 August 2013 Retrieved 24 August 2013 a b Tom Christian The Telegraph 19 August 2013 Archived from the original on 23 August 2013 Retrieved 25 August 2013 Christian one of the few Pitcairners of his generation to be educated abroad became an internationally known amateur radio operator and as chief radio officer of the island maintained the islanders link with the rest of the world for many decades Among other things he imported the first electric fridges battery lights and motorcycles to Pitcairn served on the island s governing council and developed a sideline as an entrepreneur selling such things as postcards mail order filmstrips and carvings a b c Harriet Shapiro 17 April 1989 Trouble in Christian s Paradise People Archived from the original on 29 August 2013 Retrieved 24 August 2013 Christian rides to work on a battered Honda motorbike jouncing over the rough cut road that runs like a red dirt ribbon up the steep flank of a spyglass hill At the windblown summit 870 feet above sea level Christian 51 parks his bike outside the single story building that houses the Taro Ground radio transmitter As chief radio officer he is responsible for maintaining the only official link between the 46 men women and children of Pitcairn Island and the rest of humanity a b Tom Christian VP6TC VR6TC SK American Radio Relay League 30 July 2013 Archived from the original on 22 October 2013 Retrieved 25 August 2013 Tom Christian VP6RC VR6TC a long time radio amateur who became known as the Voice of Pitcairn died July 7 on the tiny South Pacific Island that was his lifelong home Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tom Christian amp oldid 1217484250, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
