ANARE Telegraphic Code – WYSSA

A.N.A.R.E. Telegraphic code

The ANARE telegraphic code was used for communication between the expeditioners on bases and Australia prior to email and internet. The five letter coded groups were based on military system of communications using morse code. The communications officers typed up the coded message on telex machines for sending. The code ceased to be used in the early 1990’s when internet and file transfer protocols were developed.
Expeditioners were allocated an annual limit. In the early days this was around 160 five letter coded groups per year and increased to 400-500 five letter coded groups in later years. Many expeditioners modified the official codes to create personal phrases for family members, thus allowing a small amount of privacy in the message.