Can I be the first (I hope!) to offer hearty congratulations to Esther GI0AZA on achieving the Mountain Goat Award from her local summit of Benbradagh GI/SM-009 this morning Sunday 25th January 2026.
Many will recognise Esther above with Poppy or as we knew Poppy, Mountain Dog.
Sadly Poppy and her sister Roxy (a year younger), passed last year so they weren’t able to join us all on the summit for the tremendous event today.
Esther started activating in March 2016, on the same summit on which she achieved MG.
Some 344 activations later with 860 activator points and 141 winter bonus points, she made it over the 1000 point mark for the award.
With 196 unique summits spread over 10 associations and 32 regions, I for one, know that Esther has worked very very hard these last 9 years and 10 months to achieve the tally.
Time and time again, activating had to be paused or halted until it was the right time again.
Never was the option picked of stopping, that just doesn’t feature in anything that AZA does!
So many people and clubs have supported you in this run up to this day, to me seeing and experiencing the social support from individuals and groups, including non radio individuals, bears hope for what can be achieved if the will to help is genuinely available.
So today this award is added to a past list of achievements in the various hobbies that have and continue to keep AZA active.
From the coveted Cubbit Award which she achieved with the Pony Club to the numerous achievements in radio Special Interest Groups and not to mention other sporting achievements in hockey and shooting,
I know that our family is tremendously proud of Esther, we support her in all that she does and we never doubt her commitment to what she wants to achieve or her outstanding support to everyone she helps, either in radio, clubs, SIGs or just in life generally.
In closing, very very well done Esther. I know it will take a day or so for this to sink in, what an accomplishment and achievement.
Good luck in your next adventure, I know you have talked about another challenge, not just the usual ‘onwards to MG number x’ so rest easy and as a family we will continue to enjoy these new adventures in the world of radio.
Remember:
IT ALWAYS SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE, UNTIL IT IS DONE.
Ian
GI0AZB EI3KT
this morning. Thanks for sending this Dave. 
or 
maybe with those temperatures - hi!
