Kogarah Seniors Computer Club Inc.

Kogarah Seniors Computer Club is a non profit organisation managed and run totally by volunteers 5 days a week. The goal of our Club is to encourage seniors over 50 within the community to learn the use of computers and to learn at a pace comfortable to them.

The Club was founded by Norma Thorburn in 1999 with the first lesson held on Monday, 7th February, 2000. Norma was teaching computers for seniors at U3A in Gymea and seeing the need for such a computer school for seniors in the Kogarah area, managed to obtain the support of Kogarah Council, but particularly the support of Cherie Burton, Member for Kogarah.

Norma contacted every organisation with senior membership plus letterbox drops, giving the date of the first meeting, Tuesday 10th August, 1999 at Kogarah School of Arts and about 100 people attended. At this meeting the Club was formed and named, a Steering Committee appointed and tutors selected. The next meeting was held in September and the Steering Committee was voted in as the Management Committee - Norma Thorburn (President), Margaret McGrath (Secretary), Alfred Gellel (Treasurer), Jim Slaven Public Officer), Daniel Lyne (Purchasing Officer), Patsy Sicard (Social Secretary). Seven secondhand computers were obtained through donations, the two cheques (from Kogarh Council & State Government) were waiting to be banked, membership fees were paid and so incorporation & insurance arranged, our name registered and with 150 members it was January 2000 that Kogarah Council agreed to the lease of a room at the School of Arts.

All necessary items were purchased for our school and the seven computers were put into use operating Windows 95.

We have a set curriculum covering Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint and Internet. All classes were filled and now, after six years of operation, class vacancies do occur from time to time. Today our Club features the latest equipement and technology due to progressive updating over six years of experience and consideration is being given to the introduction of further courses in the near future. A Newsletter is published and Bi-Monthly General Meetintgs are held and provide guest speakers for member information. The Club enjoys the patronage of Cherie Burton, MP and Councillor Michael Kitmiridis. Our current Committee is: Norma Thurburn (President), Margaret McGrath (Vice President), Barry Shephard (Treasurer), Joan Roach (Secretary), Memo Mitrofanis (Public Officer), Joy Waters (minute Secretary), Patsy Sicard (Social Secretary); Richard Buist and Richard Grubb (General Committee).