["Wireless on the s.s. Koombana", The Hedland Advocate (Port Hedland, WA), Saturday 12 August 1911]
Wireless on the s.s. Koombana
The enterprising A.S.S. Co. has the Nor'-West mail boat equipped with Marconi wireless apparatus. All along the coast great interest has been manifested in the equipment, the details of which were courteously explained by the operator, Mr J. L. Mulholland. In order to obtain an efficient service the Marconi Wireless Co. insists on the working of both ship and stations by officers trained to obey the same rules and regulations. Hence the apparatus on the Koombana is the property of the Marconi Co. and is worked by that Co.'s own operator. It is the usual ship's set, as installed on the English mail boats. There is also an emergency set aboard, which is worked independently of the ship's electric supply.
On Wednesday of last week, while off Hedland (on the up-trip) the Koombana was in communication with the Karoola, which vessel was steaming past Cape Leeuwin. The Karoola recently communicated with Cocos Island over a distance of 2,250 miles.
During the trip from Fremantle the Koombana communicated for several days in succession with the Ascanius, Osterley, China, Seuvic, and the Karoola.
There are now nearly 600 merchant ships fitted with the Marconi wireless system.
