History
August 2000 the club began with just over 50 people. Since then the group's annual active membership remains around 400 people and over 3000 people have passed through the club.
2002 we had a permanent home at Islington Public School (see above) in a heritage building with rooms for our computers as well as meetings.
The Club started with only 4 men as tutors but now have over 40 volunteer tutors who are the backbone of the club.
Our original training methods have improved considerably since our beginnings with printed training manuals, a training CD and the use of a software program which allows the lead tutor to display one screen on all computers.
At the end of 2004 and the first quarter of 2005 we saw the arrival of new desks.
Now the room looks professional and we've received numerous compliments on the practicality and the appearance of the design. We have new computers and provide long and short courses in Windows XP and Windows 7.
Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA) conduct annual competitions Australia-wide for the many affiliated clubs in website design, newsletters, digital photography and creative writing.
Some Awards that have come our way
2010 - 1st Place in ASCCA Club Website Competition to ComputerPals Newcastle. Click HERE to see award.
2011 - ASSCA Champion Club Creative Writing - 1st Place ComputerPals for Seniors Newcastle Inc.
2011 - click HERE for a list of the awards received
2012 - Our club was the recipient of an Award for Organisations in Lifelong Learning at the NSW Seniors Week ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS CEREMONY. Click HERE to view award and click HERE for the presentation to Bruce and Lindsay.
2012 - Computerpals Newcastle's WriterPals won the national Grand Champion Award. Carmel Smith was awarded Grand Champion Writer at the presentation.
2013 - The big one went to Fred Shinkel with Highly Commended for his story “Out of the Blue”, another for his poem “1914”, First Place and top accolade for his poem “Glencoe” which was named as Best Poem of the Competition.
2014 Our Writerpals again did well: In Poetry - 3rd place, Poetry Seascape - Barbara Bartlett with “At Home”, 2nd place, Fred Schinkel with “Sonnet on a Seascape”, and 3rd place in Poetry No Escape - Carmel Smith with “No Escape”. Then in Prose - He Who Laughs Last section - 3rd place - Barbara Bartlett with “Bennie”, in the One Monday Morning section - 3rd place - Barbara Bartlett “Imagine”, 1st place - Carmel Smith with “One Monday Morning”, in the Make mine a.... section - Fred Schinkel with “Make Mine a Strawberry”. Finally, Carmel Smith was awarded overall Best Story and Champion Writer, and Newcastle was announced the 2014 Champion Club. Click HERE to view awards
Our Digipals members were also distinguished for their photography - 3rd place in Photo Journalism - Barry Keen with “Hanging in the Balance”, and in the Creative Photography - Extreme Manipulation - Carolyne Keane with “Colour Wheel”. Click HERE for the photography awards.
Some milestone years .....
2007
- purchased new computers and flat screen monitors
- new courses using Vista
- expanded our range of "short courses"
- planned additional social activities for members
- visiting speakers presented topics
2008
- installed a split system air conditioner
- installed a hearing loop
- formed a digital photography interest group DigiPals
2009
- reviewed and improved course range
- introduced courses using Office 2007
2010
- triple booted computers in XP, Vista and Windows 7
- Guest speakers explored new technologies ( iPad and the NBN )
- 10th Birthday Celebrations
2011
- purchased new computers and large LCD TV to assist with course presentations
- arrangement with Domayne Kotara, presenting store workshops
- Interest groups for Writers and Geneology. Special deals for ComputerPals members
2012
- All computers and monitors updated to latest technology, capable of using Windows 8
- Purchased laptop for Windows 8 demonstration
- Another successful Christmas function
2013
- Began implementing Windows 8 courses
- Purchased larger TV for demonstrations for lessons
- Retirement from tutoring and committee of long serving foundation member, past President and Education Officer Bruce Deitz. Click HERE to read Bruce's last report.
- changing technology created the need for our next special interest group - Tabpals for people with iPads and Android tablets and 'smart' phones
- Windows 8.1 was installed on all the classroom and laptop computers
- New Website provider and Web Master had to be found. Welcome to our new Web Master, John Hendricks, who took over from retiring Bruce Carter in August.
- Foundation member Bruce Dietz was presented with a plaque in recognition of his valued contribution over many years as Education Officer, Tutor, President and for the writing of numerous courses.
- Introduction of Tablet courses and Cloud Computing courses