[Linux-aus] Open source training at the Marree Rural Transaction Centre

[Janet Hawtin]

Open source training at the Marree Rural Transaction Centre

Penny Dadleh, Lizzie Khan, Dorothy Bremert, Colleen Roberts and Roylene 
Warren of Marree and Colin Wilkinson of Copley all participated in 
training at the Marree Rural Transaction Centre last week.

Bettong.org trainers Robyn Manning, Karl Goetz and Janet Hawtin used the 
Ubuntu Linux distribution on Live CDs to work through the INGOTs 
international grades for office technology. Karl Goetz also provided an 
introduction to computer networking for Colin who is aiming to return to 
Copley to help with a Linux network in development there.

Bronze Ingots were awarded to Penny Dadleh, Colleen Roberts, Roylene 
Warren, Colin Wilkinson, and also to Karl Goetz and Janet Hawtin. Bronze 
Assessor was awarded to Janet Hawtin. A Silver Ingot award was awarded 
to Penny Dadleh, who was also awarded a Silver Assessor.

Janet commented that Penny had covered a lot of material during the week 
and that it was great for Marree that Penny had been awarded an 
Assessor. This will enable those people who are still working through 
their courses to complete them and will enable other people in Marree to 
try the same program.

ITShare forms were left for people to complete in order to apply as a 
recipient of a refurbished computer. Robyn provided forms for both 
organisations and individuals to make an application.

Robyn also installed two Ubuntu dual boot computers. Now it is possible 
to try Linux on the Marree RTC network. There are also a number of 
Ubuntu CD's both live and install CD's at the Marree RTC for people to 
take home.

Janet explained that the great thing about open source software is that 
the software is intended to be shared. This makes it possible for 
ITShare to distribute computers with free software on. It also makes it 
possible for the Bettong.org group to share the software they work with.
People are able to burn copies of the software and give them to friends. 
The software is developed by community members who contribute their code 
to the public domain.

The Bettong.org group heard about the Marree RTC from Noven divi Flamen 
who has been maintaining the Marree RTC network. Karl commented that the 
network was a very tidy and well maintained system and a credit to both 
Noven and Penny. Noven has also been involved in the network at Copley 
and is soon to leave for Indonesia to establish a Linux network for a 
large not for profit organisation. We wish him all the best!

The trip to Marree was made possible by the SA ACE funding program which 
enables not for profit organisations to provide training to the 
community sector. The Bettong team was very happy to have had the 
opportunity deliver training in Marree. The Transaction Centre is an 
excellent facility and we hope that other organisations are able to 
bring their training and projects to this friendly town.

Marree Rural Transaction Centre (08) 8675 8222 outback.marree at bigpond.com
INGOTS: 	http://www.theingots.org/www/content.php
Ubuntu: 	http://www.ubuntu.com/
SA ACE 	http://www.training.sa.gov.au/OVETstudents/pages/default/fundace
Bettong.org	http://www.bettong.org
ITShare: 	http://www.itshare.org.au
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