[Linux-aus] Software Freedom Day in Melbourne

[James Purser]

Software Freedom Day
Saturday 16 September 2006
http://www.sfd06.org/melb

Software Freedom Day is a global, grassroots effort to tell people about
the virtues and availability of Free and Open Source Software. Three
teams in Melbourne are organising activities for Saturday 16 September.

In Melbourne on September 16, three teams will come together to
celebrate digital freedom on Software Freedom Day along with 150 other
teams from around the world. Free and Open Source software is becoming
increasingly popular in schools, businesses and the home as people
become aware of the benefits it offers. 

Software has traditionally been the domain of geeks, but Software
Freedom Day is an opportunity for everyone to join in to celebrate
technology and how it helps them get things done. Now into it's third
year, this annual event aims to promote the benefits and philosophies
that are the foundation of the Free and Open Source Software movement.
 
"We're very excited to be hosting an event at Melbourne's Town Hall"
said Kylie Davies, President of Computerbank Victoria. Computerbank
recycles computers using open source software such as Linux, Open Office
and Firefox. The computers are distributed to disadvantaged individuals
and community groups, free training is also provided. Hardware that is
too old and can't be reused is disposed of in a responsible manner. "If
it weren't for Software Freedom, we would not be able to do the work we
do."

http://vic.computerbank.org.au/
Event: Software Freedom Day Bazaar
Where: Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street Melbourne.
When: 11am - 5pm, Saturday 16 September
Cost: Free!
 
For the past two years Linux Users of Victoria have taken Software
Freedom to the streets. Handing out a thousand CDs in 35 minutes
surprised LUV President, Andrew Chalmers who said "In 2004 they flew out
of our hands. We went looking for discarded CDs once we'd run out, and
found none." This year LUV is hosting an installfest. For those people
who have done their homework and decided they want to give Linux a try,
an installfest is the perfect opportunity to have an expert set it up on
their computer. Linux Users of Victoria holds a monthly meeting where
invited guests speak about linux and other open source related Linux
technologies.

http://www.luv.asn.au/
Event: Linux Installfest and BBQ
Where: Unitarian church, Grey Street, East Melbourne.
When: 1pm - 5pm, Saturday 16 September
Cost: Free!
 
The Dutch class at the Victorian School of Languages will also be
celebrating Software Freedom Day whilst the VCE students prepare for
their Final exams. Free software such as Audacity has revolutionised
language teaching and learning. With Audacity, students are able to edit
spoken language, like they can edit written language with a word
processor. Word processing in languages other than English is easy with
OpenOffice.org which is freely available in over 60 different languages.
Best of all is students can have a copy on their home computers too.
http://www.dutchclass.net/
 
Other schools taking part this year include St Michael's Grammar School,
and Westall Secondary College. School based events are not accessible to
the general public.
 
For more information on Software Freedom Day see the website: 

http://www.softwarefreedomday.org/
All the details on the Melbourne events will be posted to
http://www.sfd06.org/melb
 
Press enquiries:
Donna Benjamin - Open Source Victoria
donna at cc.com.au 0418 310 414

Kylie Davies - Computerbank Victoria
mailkylie at optushome.com.au  0412 099 304

Andrew Chalmers - Linux Users of Victoria
president at luv.asn.au

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