Keynote Speakers
Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales
Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir is Governor of NSW. The Governor's ceremonial role includes representing NSW at special occasions like ceremonies or visits by foreign Heads of State.
The Governor also acts as patron to many community organisations and charities; visits and supports worthwhile community activities; and presents awards and recognition to people for special service.
The Hon. Kristina Kerscher Keneally, MP
The Hon. Kristina Keneally has been the member for Heffron in the NSW Legislative Assembly since 2003, and the Minister for Ageing, and Minister for Disability Services since April 2007.
The principal suburbs in Heffron are Alexandria, Beaconsfield, Daceyville, East Botany, Eastgardens, Eastlakes, Erskineville, Eveleigh, Kensington, Kingsford, Mascot, Pagewood, Redfern, Rosebery, St Peters, Sydenham, Tempe, Waterloo, Zetland.
Senator the Hon Helen Coonan
Unfortuntely longstanding portfolio commitments have prevented Senator Coonan from being able to attend the conference but she has been delighted to provide us with a pre-recorded video message which has been made specially for the Conference. The DVD will be shown during the Conference.
In July 2004 Senator Coonan was appointed to Cabinet as the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts and in 2006 she was appointed Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate. The Minister is one of three women in the Federal Cabinet and the first woman to be appointed to the Coalition's leadership team. The Minister has portfolio oversight of the Australian broadcasting and telecommunications industries as well as the ICT sector and Australia Post. Senator Coonan is the Senior Minister responsible for the Arts. More...
Presentations and workshops
Nan Bosler, OAM
Nan Bosler is the president of the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA). Before retiring Nan worked in local government and was an adviser/ lecturer at the University of Technology, Sydney in the Faculty of Adult Education. She completed a six year term as a member of the NSW Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing in 2003; has served a term on the Senior Portal Editorial Board and is a board member of COTA (NSW). She represents ASCCA on the Telstra Consumer Consultative Council, Australian Communications Industry Forum CAC and Consumers Telecommunications Network.
She was over 50 when she first went to University, has five tertiary qualifications covering Adult Education, Community Organisation, Local and Applied History and completed her last qualification, Masters in Local Government Management in 1995.
David Bennett
David spent 40 years working in the UK computer industry on the design and manufacture of a computer systems with G.E.C. and for McDonnell Douglas, before starting a consultancy on the use of computers in the manufacturing process.
He came to Australia eight years ago looking for a quiet life away from computers, but now spends two days each week teaching retired butchers, bakers and candle stick makers the uses and misuses of the PC - at Northern Beaches Computer Pals. David has recently been appointed as an ASCCA director.
John Blades
John Blades is 47 years of age and has had MS for 25 years. He worked for 16 years as a structural engineer designing buildings and bridges and stopped working in March 1998. He has limited use of his arms and legs and now, as of six years ago, drives a motorised wheelchair with a chin control. He considers his computer as a valuable tool.
Lynton Bradford
Lynton is a Past President, and a current committee member of Computer Pals for Seniors - Epping Inc., and currently President of Anglican Retirement Villages Residents Computer Club Castle Hill. He has been involved in training and preparing computer training courses for seniors over the last six years. His sport and hobby (apart from computers), was racing small yachts for some 29 years and is a Past National President and life member of the The Hartley TS16 Association of Australia. TS16s are a 'one design' trailerable yacht class. q
Sandra Brophey
Sandra Brophey was a trainer at Forest Computer Pals for Seniors and says that her 4th career -retirement - is by far the most interesting and wondrous due to the exciting variety. She taught children for 22 years and as well as teaching the young ones was responsible for managing up to 108 computers in the school by the time she left. With the continuous changes in technology it is fun to stay current, for instance using on-line brokers to maintain an ever growing share portfolio. Meanwhile her love of sound has meant that she is currently studying the old language, Sanskrit, and learning from overseas lectures via Skype; and converting tapes to audio CD. So Skype, audio CDs and MP3 players and recorders are her current passion. She finds that her MP3 player is quickly replacing all her earlier equipment.
Teresa Corbin
Teresa Corbin has worked for the Consumer Telecommunications Network (CTN) since 1995 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2003. She has an indepth understanding of the needs of residential consumers in Australia after more than ten years of experience in telecommunications policy. She has built up strong links with consumer groups on a regional, national and international level.
Teresa has been involved in the self-regualtion processes of the telecommunications industry since the Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) - now the Communications Alliance - was formed. She was a member of the ACIF Board from 2004-2006. She has also held the position of Chairperson of the Communications Alliance (CA), Consumer Council (CC) since 2004 and she is currently the Deputy Chair of the CA Consumer Issues Reference Panel.
Joan Craymer
Joan Craymer is a foundation member of Computer Pals for Seniors - Epping Inc. and has served for three years as Secretary; followed by two years as President, and is currently President yet again. Joan hosts and enjoys the Creative Writing Group and is also an active member of the Genealogy Special Interest Group. She has been involved in training in Genealogy, Managing Your Computer, Works, Image Enhancement, Introduction to Computing and Newsletter Creation using Microsoft Publisher.
Her original motive for joining the computer club was a desire to learn new skills to apply to her many personal interests; including genealogy, history, writing and painting. However, she soon became so inspired by the eagerness and generosity of spirit, of both the volunteers and learners she encountered, she could not resist helping and joined the Committee.
Michael Davis
Michael Davis is a trainer at the ARV Computer Club and a former trainer at Penrith. He is in high demand by ASCCA member clubs to present on transferring vinyl to CD and creating and editing music files. Michael first presented for ASCCA at the Woy Woy residential workshop in 2005.
James Donohoe
James Donohoe is descended from ten of transported convicts, including four who arrived in the First Fleet. As a specialist historian focusing on the 80 years of Australia's transported convict era, James has produced over a dozen books on this subject. These include the "Paracensus of Australia 1788-1828 which lists in alphabetical order with families 150,000 people resident in Australia in the first 40 years of British settlement together with individual bibliographies for each person. Another work lists in alphabetical order together with a cross reference to their Units, 34,000 British Soldiers who served in Australia during the convict era.
Brian Graham
Brian Graham has been using computers since 1973. He is a trainer with the COTA Computer Club.
Neville Hall
Neville Hall is a retired electrical engineer with extensive experience in telecommunications, digital electronics, large scale computer planning and installation, radio frequency spectrum management, technical training, and skill development programs for young people. He is currently owner/building a steel framed house on 5 acres located 15 km from Tamworth in northern NSW.
Neville is President of Tamworth and District Seniors Computer Club.
Ron Hare
Ron Hare has had many years working with computers. On leaving the RAF in 1947, Ron graduated in electronics and then worked on the second largest analogue computer in the world for the Royal Aircraft establishment at Farnborough, UK. From there he moved into digital computers where (ASCCA's) Dave Bennett worked with him. After other positions with Plessey UK, he moved to Plessey Pacific in Sydney. He later set up his own systems consultancy until partially retiring in 1986.
Ron is currently a tutor at Computer Pals for Seniors Northern Beaches. In recent years he was a tutor at TAFE and community colleges.
Dr June Hazzlewood, OAM
June Hazzlewood is Vice Chair Launceston OPEN Seniors Computer Club. June returned to formal study following retirement 'into' rather than 'out of' the community and is co-founder and rostered volunteer tutor at Launceston's OPEN Seniors Computer Club. She gained her PhD in 2006.
June's interests are centred around research into education, ageing and technology issues and the practical application in relation to third age learners in retirement. The promotion of health and well being by facilitating the uptake of ICT, information and communication technology is seen as a means of alleviating loneliness and depression as people's work life and social networks shrink as they age.
Nick Hodge
Nick Hodge works - a self proclaimed "Geek" works for Microsoft. More information about Nick can be found at www.nickhodge.com.
Tony Lenn
Tony Lenn is ASCCA's Office Manager and also a trainer at Computer Pals for Seniors - Mosman. Tony studied as an electrical engineer at the UNSW and after touring Europe worked in Holland. He returned to Australia and then worked in IT for over 30 years as an analayst, IT Manager and Consultant.
Daryn McKenny
Daryn McKenny is the General Manager of Awarbukarl CRA and has been working within his Aboriginal Community for the last seven years. His main work revolves around reviving Australia's Indigenous languages and assisting his people from all over Australia to best utilise technology for language reclamation. He has also been involved with Microsoft's UP program from inception and the previous emPower program.
More recently, Arwarbukarl's partnership with Dimension Data (a Microsoft Gold Partner) was recognised as a finalist reaching the final three at the 2007 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Awards for Citizenship.
John Moxon
John Moxon is president of Parramatta Computer Pals for Seniors, and a training professional, particularly in the area of customer service, disability awareness and management development. He now puts his training skills to use in a voluntary capacity for ASCCA and his local computer club.
As a director of Moxon, Green & Associates, John managed and provided content for ASCCA's consultancy project Barrier Free Access Resource Kit, which resulted in the publication of two brochures on overcoming difficulties with using a computer keyboard and screen, and ASCCA's Barrier Free Access website www.ascca.org.au/barrierfreeaccess/access.htm.
Joanne O'Malley
Joanne runs a company called Remember Me When Memories, dedicated to digital scrapbooking. Her interest in scrapbooking began when she became a mother, since she didn't want to forget. She had grown up with an Irish grandmother who was an eleventh sibling, and heard so many wonderful stories, many now forgotten; and photos of relatives now forgotten.
Johanna Plante
Joanna Plante was appointed as a part-time member of the Australian Communications and Media Authority in July 2005 for three years.
Johanna was the former Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Communications Industry Forum. She has held senior positions with KPMG, Telstra, Pacific Star Communications, and Coopers and Lybrand, was a member of Austel and a board member of Networking the Nation.
Michael Pocock
Michael Pocock works for the Australian Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. He is part of the new group called BroadbandNow, announced by the Prime Minister on 18 June 2007, to provide a one stop information shop for consumers on broadband and related issues.
Peter Stanhope
Peter Stanhope is ASCCA's Training Officer, as well as President of the Illawarra Computer Enthusiasts, based at Unanderra and president of Bulli Seniors Computer Club. In recent years, he has developed a strong interest in multimedia. He is a retired teacher and high school deputy principal.
Annette Stuckey
Annette is a member of the Westlakes Seniors Computer Club on beautiful Lake Macquarie, and was elected Secretary in June 2000 and has held the position since then. Annette also fills in as tutor in various courses. She conducts workshops in Photo Story and Sounds of Music.
Annette was elected to the Board of ASCCA in 2006.