victor charles john nightingall was a scientist and prolific inventor. he was an early pioneer of x-rays victoria, undertook experiments with radioactive irradiation of seeds and soils and invented powerful electromagnets. in a letter to the editor of the age 12 august 1909 in response to the likely loss of the waratah, states that he has been experimenting with a new system of wireless telegraphy, nearing completion, with input by typewriter rather than morse key. he states that the system will eliminate the need for a skilled wireless operator with very substantial savings. that announcement was silently received, but subsequently a report in february 1910 from adelaide that carnotite, a radioactive ore from the radium hill mine was being used by nightingall with great effect (presumed a new form of contact detector) became national news. these experiments led to detailed scrutiny of the obstacles placed in the way of licensing of wireless experimenters, and eventually to the opening of the flood gates for private experimentation. nightingall's wireless telegraphy system is fully described and beautifully illustrated in the leader of 12 march 1910. nightingall is recorded as licensed with callsign xkk in the 1914 wiv list of experimenters. his stature in the wireless industry was reflected in his election as first president of the reformed wireless institute of victoria in 1919.