[Computerbank] Re: computerbank digest, Vol 1 #51 - 11 msgs

[Rob Crosthwaite]

  Bruce wrote Wed, 26 Sep 2001 09:54:52 +1000

>There's a history behind me getting him interested some time back, 
>initial Computerbank (VIC) enthusiasm to help and then perceived 
>difficulties that stopped it proceeding, but it looks like it will 
>finally be able to go ahead now?
>
>How far off the money am I in what I said?


Bruce also wrote (to me personally) Wed, 26 Sep 2001 09:37:30 +1000

>... Many people now have experience in doing what you will be intending to do.
>
>At the same time as you ask questions everyone will be learning the 
>exigencies arising in starting from the beginning. For some, it'll 
>be a trip down memory lane.


The saga went/goes something like:

We formed a community group of about a half dozen willing souls and 
enthusiastic with the aim of bringing community people together to 
devise and implement a program that would address a raft of community 
issies - youth unemployment, low community esteem, development 
conflicts, vandalism, on and on the list went.

We have a primary school, post office, caravan park, local 
supermarket, garage, pub, postoffice and a variety of microbusinesses 
surviving on local work.

With a population of about 3000, radius 5 km most of the employed 
being commuters to urban Hobart 25 km away.

At one stage a few of us mooted making an application to the stae 
government's Community Access Centre program. This came unstuck and 
the project went on hold. That program is now over .. fully 
subscribed.

It was at that stage I came acfoss Computerbank through the 
Asutraliawide group and made a few enquiries. It seems that the 
Computer bank group jumped the gun assuming that wverything was in 
place to make use of the computers apparently set aside in Melbourne.

And then the Computerbank group appeared to be going through a 
constitutional reaarrangement .. I urged those interested to hold 
their breath while this was sorted .. assuming that we would need to 
have a branch of CB to participate. Wrong, apparently.

Then we went looking for a local Linux capable person who had the 
interst and time to support the project .. and that's where we are at 
the moment.

I am keen to see the project go ahead but have neither the time no 
skill-set to fill that role .. the others are in a similar position.

The project is in limbo until we find that resource. When we do get 
someone who can ensure that the project is sustainable, I'm confident 
that we can kickstart the idea back into action.

That's the history.

Now for the solutions. I'm sure that there is someone, somewhere, 
right under our noses who could fulfil the tech support role .. he or 
she is staying very anonymous for the time being.

I suspect also that those who are supporting the establishment of a 
successful town group are waiting for some signs of successful group 
activity .. there are runs on the board -
successful NHT project
active beach rehabilitation group
several active economic development related cadres
a variety of service club participants
very successful and popular local museum
on it goes.

Much of the community energy is already spoken for, and the activists 
are complaining of pre-withdrawal syndrome. It's a classic case of 
finding new people to drive this project and, at the same time, keep 
the current activities up to speed.

I haven't given up on the original quest.

Rob

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