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<p>Hi everyone, <br>
</p>
<p>Hope this note finds you all well, and as we head into another
long weekend, please do stay that way. <br>
</p>
<p>As always, we're committed to keeping our membership up to date
on Linux Aus Council activities, both in the interests of
transparency and openness, but also to keep touching base with our
membership and ensuring our activities are in line with what you,
our membership, would like us to be doing. <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>VALA Tech Camp, Melbourne, July 2017</h4>
<p>Linux Australia is partnering with VALA to provide a $2500
Diversity Scholarship to VALA Tech Camp, to be held in Melbourne
in July. The event has a strong open technologies focus for the
Library sector. The Scholarship will be focussed on
under-represented cohorts such as Indigenous and rural and
regional practitioners. We're working through the specific
wording, and more details will be available shortly. Linux
Australia will also be helping to deliver some content around open
APIs on the day, and we've reached out to the Melbourne Python
community - who have responded brilliantly - to deliver some
introductory Python content. I'd like to thank Hugh Rundle and
Lesley Ryall at VALA for their professionalism and desire to help
libraries and technology intersect. <br>
</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://portal.vala.org.au/page-18116">https://portal.vala.org.au/page-18116</a></p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>Discussions with Internet Australia, IT Professionals
Association and Telecommunications Society regarding 'what happens
after NBN'</h4>
<p>Led by George Fong from Internet Australia, several organisations
have met recently to discuss what happens after the NBN rollout. I
will not insult your intelligence by recapping those issues here,
other than to say that some critical thinking at a national policy
level is required to understand how Australia's digital
infrastructure will be shaped beyond 2020. Linux Australia is
delighted to be working with our colleagues across the Australian
technology landscape to drive some of these conversations, and I'd
like to flag that a more formal announcement is being prepared. As
always, your comment and feedback will be actively sought. <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>Linux Australia Grants Programme</h4>
<p>The Council, after considering community feedback, has recently
awarded a $1000 grant to Moe Men's shed, who are in early stages
of development, to deliver some introductory open source
information. We have also considered a grant from Stemformatics at
the University of Melbourne (more info requested and provided, now
for discussion at Council) and University of Newcastle to deliver
open source information in the curriculum (tabled for discussion
April 30th). Another Grant Application has recently been received
from CryptoAustralia to set up a Mastodon node for the Australian
community. <br>
</p>
<p>As always, we appreciate the community's feedback into these
Applications to ensure their alignment with our values. <br>
</p>
<p>More Grant Applications are expected in the coming weeks. <br>
</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://linux.org.au/projects/grants">https://linux.org.au/projects/grants</a></p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>Partnering with WordCamp to help facilitate WordPress related
activities in Australia</h4>
<p>These discussions have been incredibly fruitful and have now
progressed to WordCamp and Linux Australia working on a draft
Memorandum of Understanding to frame the partnership. The draft
MoU is being socialised between the two organisations and further
updates will be provided. If anyone from our community would like
to be involved in this piece, please do let me know. <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>linux.conf.au 2018 Ghosts in Sydney</h4>
<p>Ghosts was held in Sydney in early April, and I'd like to thank
firstly the LCA2018 team, headed by Bruce Crawley and James
Polley, and our incredible Ghosts and assurance team - Michael
Davies, Steve Walsh, Cherie Ellis, Josh Stewart, Hugh Blemings,
David Bell and Katie McLaughlin. An LCA2019 representative from
$super_secret_city was also in attendance to assist with
transition and continuity. Ghosts is an important activity both to
impart useful knowledge and tips, and to provide Linux Australia
with a level of assurance about the readiness of the team to
execute our flagship event. LCA2018 passed with flying colours,
and is on track to deliver an incredible experience. <br>
</p>
<p>You can follow the conference on Facebook at <br>
</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.facebook.com/linuxconferenceaustralia/">https://www.facebook.com/linuxconferenceaustralia/</a></p>
<p>and on Twitter at</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://twitter.com/linuxconfau">https://twitter.com/linuxconfau</a></p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>JoomlaDay Australia Sydney 17-18th June</h4>
<p>Tickets are now available for JoomDay Day Australia in Sydney</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://joomladay.org.au/">http://joomladay.org.au/</a></p>
<p>Huge thanks to Tim Plummer for his incredible organisation work.
<br>
</p>
<p>Follow along on Twitter @JoomlaDayAU <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>WordCamp Brisbane July 22-23<br>
</h4>
<p>Preparations are well under way for WordCamp Brisbane, and
tickets are now available at</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://2017.brisbane.wordcamp.org/tickets/">https://2017.brisbane.wordcamp.org/tickets/</a></p>
<p>Huge thanks to the organising team - Dion Hulse, Ricky Blacker,
Cameron Jones, Hannah Malcolm, Peter Bui and Robert Wilde. <br>
</p>
<p>Follow along on Twitter @wordcampbne</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<h4>Pycon AU Melbourne August 3-8</h4>
<p>The CfP for Pycon AU is now open!</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://2017.pycon-au.org/">https://2017.pycon-au.org/</a><br>
</p>
Get submitting!<br>
<br>
<h4>Rebranding</h4>
Council has been hard at work on a Rebranding Brief, which will help
support the transition to a new Membership Platform and web
presence. We're currently revising the Brief before seeking quotes.
If anyone would like to be involved in this process please do let me
know. <br>
<br>
<h4>Facebook page</h4>
Linux Australia now has our own Facebook page at<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.facebook.com/LinuxAustralia/">https://www.facebook.com/LinuxAustralia/</a><br>
<br>
<br>
As always, your feedback, comments, suggestions and constructive
criticism is warmly welcomed. <br>
<br>
With kind regards, <br>
Kathy<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Kathy Reid
President
Linux Australia
0418 130 636
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:president@linux.org.au">president@linux.org.au</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://linux.org.au">http://linux.org.au</a>
Linux Australia Inc
GPO Box 4788
Sydney NSW 2001
Australia
ABN 56 987 117 479 </pre>
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