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2011
Noel and Chris have been regular presenters at our meetings, while other members have also given some excellent presentations. A big thank you goes to you all.
For the first time the members voted Stacey in as a Welfare Officer.
The once a year ‘dine out’ held at The Sunshine Golf Club in November was enjoyed and well attended.
The trip to Bendigo in April, in place of the BBQ the club normally has, was an enjoyable day, the weather was good and the train ride was very comfortable. It was suggested that we go on trips more often.
After having to cancel the workshop organised for June which was formatting a computer, the presentation was given at a club meeting.
Our Christmas break-up evening emphasized the social atmosphere that the Westside Computer Club incorporates into the computer sessions.
We have had many visitors and gained new members during the year and look forward to enrolling more members in the coming year.
Unfortunately a few of our members have passed away, But we do not forget them. May they rest in peace.
We were able to buy some new equipment with the grant of $5,000 from the Federal Government, received in 2010/2011.
2010
Good news and bad news dominated this year. The good news was that the club gained quite a few new members, plus we had several successful program demonstrations presented by seven of our club members. We also had a session on the Apple iPad and other electronic readers, products that commanded great interest by members and guests alike. This presentation was given by guest speaker, Karen. Two very enjoyable workshops were organised, the first one was a picnic/BBQ in country surroundings the other was held at Noel's new business premises and entailed transferring video files to DVD. This proved to be a fun day that all enjoyed. Once again our club was well represented at the Altona Bay Festival in March with the help of club members and an outstanding Power Point presentation that was put together by Noel.
A $5,000 grant from the Federal government was applied for and received.
This will enable the club to purchase some new equipment. A small number of members are not well and unfortunately two long time members passed away. They will always be remembered and greatly missed. The AGM saw the same members returned to the Committee with the welcome addition of Tony Buttergeig.
The club looks forward to 2011 with interest and the gaining of new members.
2009
A change of format regarding presentations was implemented for 2008 to 2009. Instead of demonstrating one topic per meeting; it was decided to present each topic over three meetings. This meant that a more in-depth presentation was given, as opposed to just an overview, as previously shown, with the result that members, not only, gained more understanding of the program being demonstrated, they also gained further computer knowledge.
There have been a few new members join us, which is always pleasing.
During the year members Noel and Chris gave first-rate demonstrations. While in June two other members, Ken and Mario, gave well presented demonstrations. Ken’s topic on e-tax proved to be very helpful for the tax paying members of the club. And Mario, a fairly new member, showed his expertise with a PowerPoint presentation on computer house-keeping - another outstanding demonstration.
Money was well spent on an amplifier in order to help members hear talks clearly.
A BBQ was held at Newport Lakes in April with member attendance down, due to rough weather. While the workshop held on basic computing was well attended and well presented by Noel.
All in all successful year.
2008
This past year has seen several new members joining the club, with each meeting being well attended. Apart from our excellent club member speakers we had 2 guest speakers and 2 workshops. The year went as planned with good demonstrations,given by our members. We also had a BBQ which was held at Sunbury, where there is a 'countrified', extensive park land. An ideal location for a picnic, B.B.Q. or just a quiet day in the country. Much wildlife inhabits the grounds and though the park is close to Melbourne’s busy International airport, the park proved to be very peaceful. We also had our usual spot at Altona Bay Festival. The endofthe year dinner, held at The Millers Inn, was attended by members, family and friends. All in all 2008 has been an enjoyable year.
2007
The first meeting of the year started with the usual question and answer session. Training Officer Chris gave a presentation of producing a newsletter using Microsoft Publisher. The next meeting was a successful group get together. On 1st March Tony gave an interesting demonstration on producing greeting cards, while Chris gave a short session on PDF forms. The next meetings for March were 15th (Group get togethers) and 29th more on PDF forms. On the 18th March club members attended the Altona Bayside Festival and on the 1st April a B.B.Q was held at the Organ Pipes Park in Keilor. The rest of the year went as planned, with lectures and group get togethers.
2006
Since moving into the venue of the Altona Meadows Library and Learning Centre, 2 Newham Way, Altona Meadows 3028, the atmosphere of the club seems to have changed.The lecturers are able to give their talks with a minimum of interruptions because the general background noise is minimized due to floor covering. The groups are still new, and we need feed back to tell how they are working. The leader of each group needs to work out how to make their group work to best advantage. Some of the groups appear to be working as the people are having fun.
On a sad note, 3 of our members are at present fighting cancer we wish them all the best. Rosemary has had a big fall and has been unable to come to the meetings. Olive Malin is also in hospital having an eye procedure done, we wish her all the best. The Committee has been meeting at Olive's place for a number of years she has, now, asked that we find an alternative venue to hold the meetings. Olive was given some flowers and chocolates in thanks and appreciation her for all those years she helped us.
2005
The year has been very busy and successful with a lot happening.There are 62 members, including 18 new members. People are connecting more and communication between members has improved, partly due to the formation of, and interaction between, the groups.
On a sad note the Volunteer coordinator has resigned.
2004
The club celebrated it's 10th birthday on 24th September at the premises of the Laverton Bowling Club. A magnificent dinner was served, with more than, plenty for everyone.
A second computer has been set up in the second room, in order to help any member new to computers, or for those who do not wish to participate in the main topic of the meeting. In November a free workshop was held at the Altona Green Community House. Seven members produced bookmarks and a 2004 calendar portraying their own photo's. Their work was then printed, laminated and cut to size. The participants went away feeling very proud of their work.
On 8th December Roy, ably assisted by Ron and Doreen, gave an introductory workshop on Mc2, to the Altona Neighbourhood House computer class members.The end of year eat-out, held at the Altona RSL, was attended by 58 people.
2003
An outdoor digital camera shoot at the Point Cook Coastal Park proved to be very successful, with 17 members taking many photo's which were shown at the next club meeting. A very informative workshop on "Photo Elements" was conducted. As was a demonstration of a computer upgrade. Another interesting workshop was on Internet Essentials. A group of loyal club members marched at the Altona Festival grand parade on March 14th. Some small handouts, which Noel produced, were distributed among the crowd as the parade progressed along Pier street. The club's usual display was set up in the Finnish Hall. Photo's that were taken of the parade were projected onto a screen, which many people showed an interest in. We remembered two ex-members who have passed on.
We continue to support community groups and aged groups.
2002
The club set up a display during the Council sponsored Altona Festival. A Genealogy group has been established and is held once a fortnight in Roy's home. A competition was organised in that the member who best transposed the club logo onto any photograph would receive a DVD player as a prize, The competition is to be judged by an independent person and the winner to be announced at the A.G.M. Roy represented the club at a meeting organised by the Hobson's Bay Council, to learn how to use and benefit from Mc2, a project set up by Vicnet's free Internet service. Roy was then to encourage club members to join Mc2 and form their own community. 3 members volunteered to help Roy, by attending Mc2 training in order to become trainers themselves and so enable them and other groups, nominated by Council, to establish and run their own Mc2 groups. A phone line for an Internet connection, for club use, was installed through the efforts of Olive Malin. The club's own domain name and server time have been purchased from Vicnet.
The winner of the photo/logo competition was announced by Noel, who stated that there had been a very good response with 53 entries, however, there could be only one winner. The independent judge selected the best 5 entries, out of which the winning entry was submitted by Terry Hillman, who was presented with a DVD player.
Special thanks were given to Colin French for his outstanding service to the club. Colin is an original member and was the only member with 100% attendance at the meetings. Roy Warren was elected Life member of the club.
2001
The venue for club meetings moved once again, this time to the premises of the Elderly Citizens club rooms on the corner of Railway Avenue and Donald Street Laverton. A swap meet was held at the Altona Green Neighbourhood House. A display was set up during the Council sponsored Altona Festival. An all day Graphics workshop was organised at the Altona Green Neighbourhood House. Visits to elderly peoples' homes commenced as part of the club's commitment to helping and advising community and charitable organisations.The club lost a valued member with the passing of Alan Giblin. The Christmas breakup was held at So-&-So's restaurant in Laverton.
2000
An all day Internet workshop was organised for August. Roy organised to have the club's brochure printed free of charge by Footprint Cards. During the year lectures and demonstrations on software proved to be successful.
Terry Hillman gave a demonstration of an airoplane program that he uses, showing members what can be done with software.
1999
Arrangements were made for a monthly article, about computing tips and the club's news and activities, to be placed in the Around Laverton (AL) local newspaper. Noel arranged the donation of a club banner from Distinctive Signs of Laverton. A successful application for a grant was submitted, which was funded by the Dept. of Sports and Recreation Victoria, under its Disabilities Services Program. Supported once again by Mr. Peter Doull of the Councils Disabilities Access Development Officer, and Ms. Maureen Judd from the Laverton Community Centre. A grant was also received from the Governments International Year of the Older Person. Noel and Colin were granted Honorary Membership, for one year, for their continued service to the club. The end of year Christmas break-up was held at the Point Cook Coastal park.
1998
Roy organised a tour of the Melbourne PC User Group's premises in South Melbourne. Displays were held outside the local Comben's supermarket and at the Altona Central Square shopping centre. A video of a training session, on how to build a computer, was taken and added to the video library. A member survey was carried out to assist the committee in giving better services to the members. The Laverton Community Centre became a member of the club.
An application for a grant, under the Governments International Year of the Older Person, was submitted with the support of the Council's Disabilities Access Development Officer, Mr. Peter Doull and the Laverton Community Centre's Maureen Judd. The local council took control of the Historical Old School and raised the rent, which means the club had to find new premises.
1997
A members' free library was established, consisting of books, CD's and videos.A demonstration table was again set up at the Altona Meadows shopping centre, and another letter box drop was conducted. This was done in order to recruit new members. Two guest speakers were invited to give talks. Jack Retman from OfficeNet Computer Systems informed members about printer inkjet refilling, and Stan Johnstone, who explained the workings and benefits of the Melbourne PC Users Club, which is a large computer club.The Secretary applied to Hobson's Bay to have the Westside Computer Club listed in the Council Community Directory.
1996
A letter box drop was conducted, and club promotion's were held during the second Laverton Expo, also at the Central Square shopping centre, resulting in a lift from 16 to 29 members.
1995
September 1995 saw the club's first all-day workshop, which was held in Roy's home. A display table was set up at the Laverton Expo, organised by the Community Centre. The venue for club meetings was changed to Pam Wilson's house in Werribee. A competition to design a club logo was held, resulting in the adoption of the current logo.
A majority of members requested a change of name for the club and the 'WESTSIDE COMPUTER CLUB' was decided on. In January 1996 The Laverton Historical Old School became the new venue for meetings.
In September 1996, at the Annual General Meeting, the club adopted a Constitution and a new set of rules and regulations, plus a full Committee was elected to share the duties of running the club. Membership for the year was 16.
1994
During 1994 and 1995, efforts were made, to entice people to join the club, by placing articles in the local AROUND LAVERTON (AL) newspaper, and notices in local shop windows, these efforts saw a gradual increase in membership. A set of rules for governing the club was produced, as was a membership application form. The completion of the club's first year of 23 meetings saw an average increase, of member attendance, to the meetings from 3.5 to 7.5.
The origins of the Westside Computer Club go back some years. Before the club came into being Noel Sutherland was involved in an Amstrad computer group. Noel and Roy Warren, who is a member of the Melbourne PC Users Group, first met when Noel was a friend of Roy's son, before Roy's son's untimely death in 1979. At the time Roy was running a special interest group for computer users in the western suburbs. Roy and Noel met again at a computer club held in Werribee where Colin French was also a member. When the Werribee club folded Noel and Colin started a small PC club in Laverton, Roy then joined up with the pair and old friendships were renewed. In 1994 The small club was struggling to survive with only a few members. However, it was decided to give the club a rebirth by giving it a new name. As the local electorate district of Hobsons Bay had just come into being, the club was named THE HOBSONS BAY COMPUTER CLUB. The official birth date of the new club was 1st September 1994, with Noel looking after the technical side of things and Roy attending to administration. Meetings were originally held in the church hall situated at the corner of Campbell and Bellin Streets Laverton, before moving to Roy's home in order to minimise costs. Membership, in those days, could be counted on the fingers of both hands. Interestingly two of the members are still paid up members today
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