Jim Smith, VK9NS, Norfolk Island Jim Smith, VK9NS (ex-P29JS), of Norfolk Island, Australia, passed away Tuesday, February 10, 2009 after a short illness. He was 80. A noted DXer and ARRL member, VK9NS was #81 on the Islands on the Air (IOTA) Honour Roll. Jim Smith was originally from Letih, Edinburgh, Scotland. He got his licence in 1947 as VS1BQ in Singapore. "Through the years, Jim operated from many DX locations through the world. To menion a few: as CAR on VU4, VS1BQ, DL2TH, HZ1AB, MP4BER, 9V1PR, P29JS, VR4BJ, H44BJ, G3HSR, C21AA, T3KJ, T3AJ, VK9YS, VK9XS, VK9NS, VK0JS/VK9N, 9M8JS, VK0JS, ZL0AAB, ZM7JS, ZL1BUN, T30JS, T31JS, T32JS, T33JS, A35MR, A51JS, S21U, WR1Z, WR1Z/KH9, S21ZA, VK9WW, A35MR/p, A51MOC, VU2JBS, NO1Z/KH1, VK9WW, WR1Z/KH8, H40AB and A52JS, In 1980, Jim Smith founded the Heard Island DX Association (HIDXA). Three years later was Jim QRV from the very rare Heard Island. His wife Kirsti joined him and they put VK0NL and VK0NS on the air. This was the start of many DXpeditions from Asia and the Pacific. "In fact, he took part in the regulations for Amateur Radio in several DXCC entities. When not out on DXpeditions, Jim was often on the air from Norfolk Island on 14.222 Mhz. Mike Tessmer, K9NW/VK9NW, who visited Norfolk Island for a week in November 2004, remembered Smith fondly on the Society of Midwest Contesters' e-mail reflector: "I spent three wonderful afternoons at Jim and Kirsti's house having tea -- coffee in my case -- and discussing all things DX. Jim showed me the old Collins gear he was restoring. I even picked up a few QSL cards from some of his past DXpeditions. Great memories!" In an e-mail to ARRL, Andy Chesnokov, UA3AB, told how he first met Smith in Bhutan in 2000 while on the A52A DXpedition. "Boy, Jim was quite upset with us operating from 'his territory,' Chesnokov said. "But we went along quite nicely after few minutes, and he even allowed us to operate his tiny station there. I met him few times after that and he was a true gentleman." Jim Smith, VK9NS, worked all countries on SSB, Mixed and only missing one on CW. In April 1986 Jim was inducted into the CQ DX Hall of Fame. One of Smith's last big projects was writing his autobiography, The Old Timer. Smith is survived by his wife Kirsti, VK9NL, and his four children: Bruce, G3HSR, Stuart, Sheena and Fraser. Jim managed his own HIDXA website, which is now obsolede. Before this happened I made a copy of the website, telling about many of his DXpeditions. You can find some of these adventures of Jim and Kirsti. I was also able to QSO Jim and Kirsti a couple of times. Also this happenings are on this part of my site. Kirsti,VK9NL (second wife of Jim Smith VK9NS) died peacefully on August 31, 2025. at home on Norfolk Island, aged 89. Jim’s son, Bruce G3HSR, did sent the picuture (right) to DX-World. Kirsti operated alongside her husband, Jim Smith (VK9NS), and was involved in several major DXpeditions. For example, she was an operator during the 1992 Willis Island expedition and the 1988 Howland Island expedition. ogether with Jim, Kirsti helped run this non-profit organization from Norfolk Island after its formation